Category bonuses and category caps
strategy · 4 min read
The pattern
"5x on groceries" sounds unlimited. It's rarely unlimited. Most category bonuses are capped.
| Card | Category | Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Amex Gold | US Supermarkets | $25k/year at 4x, then 1x |
| Blue Cash Preferred | US Supermarkets | $6k/year at 6% |
| Chase Ink Cash | Office supplies + telecom | $25k/year at 5% |
| Chase Freedom Flex | Quarterly rotating | $1.5k/quarter at 5% |
| US Bank Altitude Connect | Travel, dining, streaming | $50k combined |
Strategy
If you'd max out the Amex Gold supermarket cap ($25k/year at 4x → 100k MR), pair it with a second card that takes over groceries after the cap — Blue Cash Preferred covers up to $6k at 6% cash back, which outperforms 1x MR.
The merchant code gotcha
"Restaurants" means category code 5812. Target in-store, Walmart, and many fast-food chains don't code as restaurant even though you're eating there. Always test a small purchase before assuming a category code.