Discover 5% cash back categories for the second quarter of 2023 | CNN Underscored

The Discover it® Cash Back credit card features a rotating set of bonus categories that earn 5% cash back, up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter. And with winter coming to an end, the issuer just released its categories for the second quarter of the 2023 calendar year.

The rotating categories on the Discover it Cash Back card for the second quarter of 2023 — which runs from April 1 to June 30 — are restaurants and wholesale clubs.

Those two categories offer plenty of opportunities to earn 5% cash back. On the restaurant front, you can use your Discover it Cash Back card every time you dine. Or, if you find yourself not eating out much right now, you can always go to your favorite restaurant and purchase a gift card to use at any point throughout the year. Just be sure to make the purchase in-store instead of online to ensure it codes correctly.

And for those who don’t have a wholesale club membership, some clubs like BJ’s Wholesale give guests the opportunity to receive a one-day pass for online shopping. You’ll also find that Groupon often sells discounted yearly memberships to many of the well-known wholesale clubs. Keep in mind that while BJ’s Wholesale Club and Sam’s Club accept Discover credit cards both in-store and online, Costco Wholesale only accepts Discover credit cards for online purchases.

For those who already have the Discover it Cash Back card, the current categories for the first quarter of 2023 are still in effect — grocery stores, drugstores and select streaming services. With one month left, you’ll find that many of these stores sell gift cards to use at their own stores — or even at other stores — making it incredibly easy to reap your 5% cash back.

Since the Discover rotating bonus categories are capped at $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter, card holders can earn up to $75 in quarterly bonus cash back just by enrolling in the categories each quarter, and then making sure to use their Discover card at the right merchants.

If you’re thinking about getting a Discover it Cash Back credit card, in addition to earning cash back rewards, the card also comes with an introductory APR offer for new card holders on both purchases and balance transfers.

You’ll pay a 0% APR on all purchases for the first 15 months you have the card, as well as a 0% APR on balance transfers for 15 months from the date of first transfer, for transfers under this offer that post to your account by May 10, 2023, with a 3% intro balance transfer fee (then up to a 5% fee on future balance transfers, see terms). The APR on both offers jumps to a variable 16.24% to 27.24% after the introductory periods end, so just make sure you pay off your debt before that.

New Discover it Cash Back card holders also get a match of all the cash back they’ve earned at the end of the first year of having the card. That turns the 5% cash back categories into 10% cash back categories for year one. The card also earns 1% cash back on all other purchases, which equals 2% cash back in the first year with the cash back match.

If you’re interested in other credit cards that offer bonus categories that change regularly, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ also features quarterly rotating categories that earn 5% cash back, along with a trio of fixed bonus categories. And the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card automatically earns 5% cash back on the eligible category you spend the most in each billing cycle, up to $500 in purchases.

Looking for a new credit card? Check out CNN Underscored’s list of the best credit cards currently available.

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