Chase Freedom Promo: $100 Sign-Up Bonus + 5% Rotating Rewards


This is an updated re-post of the limited-time Chase Freedom Visa – $100 Bonus Cash Back promotion which offers a $100 Bonus Cash back if you sign up and make $500 in purchases in your first three months (sources indicate offer ends soon). In addition, as a rewards credit card it is better than the plain vanilla 1% cashback cards, with its 5% cashback on rotating categories like gas, home improvement and department stores. The categories usually include at least one big-spending area, and seem to go with the seasons (home improvement for spring, gas and travel for the summer).

5% Cash Back Categories (Updated)
Between July 1st and September 30th, 2012, you can get 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent in the following categories:

  • Gas Stations
  • Theme Parks
  • Lowe’s

Check out my other post about using how I use this and other credit cards like Swiss army knives. You must enroll each quarter at ChaseBonus.com. All other purchases earn the standard 1%, with no tiers or expiration of rewards. No annual fee.

If you’re interested in a bigger $400 sign-up bonus and human-with-no-hold-times on customer service (but no 5% cash back), check out the new Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. This card does have an annual fee, although it is waived for the first year.

By Jonathan Ping | Credit Cards, Deals & Offers | 8/3/10, 12:58am


Comments

  1. Seth @ Boy Meets Food Says:
    August 3rd, 2010 at 5:46 am

    It has been a decent card. I think I am liking the Citi Forward one better though. I’m really not a big fan of the rotating rewards. I liked it better when they just offered the same promotions all the time. Now I have to write on post-its on the backs of my cards to know where to use each at different times.

  2. Rachel Says:
    August 3rd, 2010 at 10:20 am

    I was searching around and couldn’t find the answer on the Chase site or in their terms and conditions: does the 5% apply retroactively? Do you happen to know if I can still get that 5% on my gas purcahses from earlier this quarter if I missed signing up at the rewards site until now?
    Thanks!

  3. Seema Says:
    August 3rd, 2010 at 10:57 am

    Are you sure no annual fee? I had this card for years, when the 5% was on gas and groceries but not rotating categories and I recently cancelled because they changed the annual fee to $30.

  4. Jonathan Says:
    August 3rd, 2010 at 1:39 pm

    @Rachel – I don’t know the answer (might have to call them), but I would still sign up ASAP and get rewards from today onwards at least.

    @Seema – There seem to me a lot of different versions of Freedom cards running around, but the front page (and fine print) of this application clearly say no annual fee.

  5. Jimmy Says:
    August 3rd, 2010 at 2:02 pm

    @ Rachel – I don’t think you can get 5% back retroactively. You have to enroll for each quarter, so sorry :(

  6. Will Says:
    August 3rd, 2010 at 4:20 pm

    @Rachel – Actually the Chase 5% is retroactive (unlike say Discover’s). I spoke with a CSR last night to verify if I was enrolled b/c I never received an email confirmation. She enrolled my card and assured me that prior purchases will retroactively qualify as rewards are calculated at the end of the promotional period. I also received a last chance email during their last promotion which had the following text:

    “Even if you sign up today, all of your eligible purchases from April 1st through June 30th earn you 5% cash back!. “

  7. Will Says:
    August 3rd, 2010 at 4:27 pm

    @Seema – Chase has two versions of the Freedom program. Both cards give 1% cashback and 5% rotating categories. If you pay the $30 fee you get the additional 2% on gas, groceries, and drugstores, which is capped @ $600/mo in purchases. I didn’t want to pay the $30, so they just switched me to the other program, so i’ll no longer get get the additional 2%.

    BTW – Not sure if everyone is eligible, Chase Freedom card is also offering a buy 1 get 1 free movie ticket at movietickers.com:

    http://www.movietickets.com/freedom

  8. Seema Says:
    August 3rd, 2010 at 7:18 pm

    @Will – thanks for the info. funny how they didn’t offer the no annual fee card to me when i called them to cancel and told them the reason why. i did love that card, maybe i’ll sign up again for this one. maybe i’ll be eligible for the bonus.

  9. dima Says:
    August 4th, 2010 at 9:58 am

    A decent offer, however, for some people the other two promos for Chase cards might provide better value – the Southwest Airlines CC (no fee first year, one free round trip flight, up to $500 in gift cards after XX in spending) and Continental airlines 40,000 miles card. Free flights might be worth more than $100 to some people :)

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