Today, Doctor of Credit posted about a 10% welcome bonus on grocery purchases that was popping up on the Chase website as a new cardmember welcome bonus on the Chase Freedom Flex℠. We were able to independently confirm this welcome offer, which, if maximized, could mean $1,200 (as 120,000 Ultimate Rewards® points) if you maximize it completely. Details are in our coverage of the best Chase Freedom℠ Flex welcome bonuses.
What wasn’t mentioned is that it’s likely going to be possible to get a whopping 14% cash back on groceries with this offer. Here’s how.
The bonus stacks with the quarterly categories on the Chase Freedom Flex℠
We’ve reported previously on the 9% cash back stack that is possible by stacking a similar 5% gas and grocery bonus with the Chase Freedom℠ Flex quarterly bonus categories. It appears that the 10% bonus popping up on Chase.com has similar terms and conditions and should also stack with the quarterly categories.
Here is the relevant portion of the welcome bonus terms and conditions from Chase.com:
10% Cash Back in the grocery store category (excluding Walmart and Target) until the earlier of the end of your first 12 months or first $12,000 spent: You’ll earn 10% Cash Back rewards total for each $1 spent on purchases in the grocery store category (excluding Walmart and Target) made within your first 12 months from account opening, or until you reach $12,000 in grocery store purchases, whichever occurs first (9% additional Cash Back rewards on top of the 1% Cash Back rewards earned on each purchase). Please note, if grocery stores is a quarterly bonus category during your first 12 months, you can earn both this 10% new cardmember bonus and the 5% quarterly bonus offers simultaneously until you reach the spend cap for each. However, because both bonuses are earned as additional Cash Back rewards on top of the 1% Cash Back rewards earned on each purchase, the most you will earn is 14% Cash Back rewards: 1% on every purchase, plus 9% on grocery stores through this new cardmember bonus, plus 4% on grocery stores through the quarterly bonus.
Chase Freedom Flex℠ welcome bonus terms and conditions
How to get 14% cash back on groceries with this offer
Getting 14% cash back on groceries with the 10% grocery offer is simple in principle. Here’s what you need to do:
- Apply and be approved for a new Chase Freedom Flex℠ card with the 10% grocery bonus offer.
- Have not exhausted the $12,000 of grocery store spending that you get a 10% bonus on.
- Charge eligible grocery purchases to your card when groceries is also a quarterly bonus category on the Chase Freedom Flex.
While there’s no guarantee that Chase will bring back groceries as a bonus category on the Chase Freedom Flex℠, history is promising. Grocery stores has been a bonus category every year for at least the past 6 years:
- January-March 2024: Grocery Stores (excluding Walmart and Target), Fitness Clubs & Gym Memberships, and Self-Care & Spa Services.
- January-March 2023: Grocery Stores, Target, Fitness Clubs & Gym Memberships.
- January-March 2022: Grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Target purchases.)
- July-September 2021: Grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Target purchases) and select streaming services.
- April-June 2020: Grocery stores and home improvement stores.
- April-June 2019: Grocery stores and home improvement stores.
Bottom line
As of publication, the 10% grocery store offer is still showing up for some at Chase.com. To see if the bonus is still active, check out our coverage of the best Chase Freedom Flex℠ welcome bonuses. If it is, you can get 10% cash back on up to $12,000 of grocery purchases with a new card, which becomes 14% if you can stack it with the card’s quarterly bonus categories.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get 14% on groceries with the Chase Freedom Flex℠?
To get 14% on groceries with a new Chase Freedom Flex card, you’ll need to apply and be approved for a welcome offer that gives you 10% on up to $12,000 of grocery store spending and stack the bonus with the card’s quarterly cash back categories when groceries is a category.
Why can I only earn 14%, not 15%?
With the 10% grocery offer, you’ll earn 9 bonus points on a limited amount of grocery store purchases in addition to the 1 base point you earn on all purchases. When groceries is a quarterly bonus category, you’ll earn 4 bonus points in addition to the 1 base point. Since you don’t earn the base point twice, you’ll get 9 + 4 + 1 = 14 points per dollar.
Can I get 14% on groceries as an existing cardmember?
If you already hold the Chase Freedom Flex℠, you’re out of luck—the 10% grocery bonus that makes this possible is only available to new cardmembers.
