Key Points:

• Customizable rewards cards let you earn higher rates in categories that match your actual spending, with options ranging from automatic 5% back to manual category selection.
• Top cards include Citi Custom Cash (automatic 5% on top category), Chase Freedom Flex (rotating 5% categories), and U.S. Bank Cash+ (choose two 5% categories).
• Pairing with premium cards like Chase Sapphire Preferred or Citi Premier converts cash back into transferable points worth 2-5 cents each for travel redemptions.

Introduction

Traditional rewards cards assume you spend heavily on dining or travel. But what if your biggest expenses are gas, utilities, or home improvement? Customizable rewards credit cards solve this by letting you earn bonus rates where you actually spend—either automatically tracking your top category or letting you choose quarterly bonus categories.

This guide covers the best customizable cards in 2025 and shows you how to maximize their value through strategic pairing with premium travel cards.

Top Customizable Rewards Credit Cards

Citi Custom Cash Card

The Citi Custom Cash automatically earns 5% cash back on your top eligible spending category each billing cycle, up to $500 spent (then 1%). You earn 1% on everything else.

Eligible categories: Restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming, drugstores, home improvement, fitness clubs, and live entertainment.

No annual fee. Welcome bonus: $200 cash back after $1,500 spend in six months.

Why it's valuable: Zero effort required—the card automatically applies 5% to whichever eligible category you spend the most in monthly. Maximum earning: $25/month or $300/year from bonus category.

Strategic pairing: Pool earnings with Citi Premier to convert cash back to transferable ThankYou Points for airline transfers. Learn more in Understanding Citi ThankYou Points.

Chase Freedom Flex

The Chase Freedom Flex earns 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories you activate (up to $1,500 per quarter), plus 5% on Chase Travel, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on everything else.

Recent categories: Amazon, streaming services, gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores, department stores, wholesale clubs, PayPal.

No annual fee. Welcome bonus: $200 cash back after $500 spend in three months.

Why it's valuable: The $1,500 quarterly cap allows up to $300 annual earnings from rotating categories. Requires activation each quarter but announces categories in advance so you can plan purchases.

Strategic pairing: Transfer to Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve to convert cash back to Ultimate Rewards points for airline transfers. See Transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards to Airline and Hotel Partners.

Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards

The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards lets you choose one category for 3% cash back (up to $2,500 quarterly), plus 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (also capped at $2,500 quarterly), and 1% on everything else.

Choice categories: Gas and EV charging, online shopping (including streaming/internet), dining, travel, drugstores, home improvement and furnishings.

No annual fee. Welcome bonus: $200 after $1,000 spend in 90 days.

Why it's valuable: Change your 3% category quarterly to match upcoming spending. The 2% grocery/wholesale club rate runs concurrently, effectively giving you two bonus categories.

Preferred Rewards boost: If you maintain $100,000+ in Bank of America/Merrill accounts, earn 5.25% on your choice category (up from 3%) and 3.5% on groceries (up from 2%).

U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature

The U.S. Bank Cash+ lets you select two 5% cash back categories quarterly (up to $2,000 combined), one 2% everyday category (uncapped), with 1% on everything else.

5% category options: Fast food, restaurants, gas stations, ground transportation, clothing, sporting goods, furniture, electronics, department stores, utilities, cell phone, internet/cable/streaming, gym memberships, movie theaters.

2% everyday options: Grocery stores, gas stations.

No annual fee. No current welcome bonus.

Why it's valuable: Two 5% categories provide flexibility. The uncapped 2% everyday category continues earning after you hit the $2,000 quarterly cap, effectively giving you a 2% flat-rate card on baseline spending. Maximum $400 annual earnings from 5% categories, unlimited from 2% category.

U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards

The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards earns 6% cash back at two eligible retailers you choose (up to $1,500 quarterly), 3% at eligible home, clothing, and electronic stores, and 1.5% on everything else.

Eligible 6% retailers: Amazon, Target, Costco, Walmart, Kroger, Nike, Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe's, Kohl's, and 20+ others.

No annual fee. Welcome bonus: $200 after $1,000 spend in 90 days.

Why it's valuable: Six percent is the highest customizable rate available. If you concentrate retail spending at one or two major chains, this delivers exceptional returns—up to $360 annually from 6% retailers alone, plus uncapped 3% on retail categories.

Strategic Pairing for Maximum Value

Chase Ecosystem Strategy

Pair Chase Freedom Flex with Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve. Transfer Freedom cash back to your Sapphire card at 1:1 ratio, converting it to Ultimate Rewards points that transfer to airlines like United or Southwest.

Example: Max out the $1,500 quarterly cap at grocery stores earning $75 cash back. Convert to 7,500 Ultimate Rewards points. Transfer to United for a domestic one-way ticket worth $150-300. Effective return: 10-20% instead of 5%.

Learn more in Transfer Chase Points to United and How to Rack Up Chase Ultimate Rewards Points Faster.

Citi Ecosystem Strategy

Pair Citi Custom Cash with Citi Premier. Pool Custom Cash earnings (converts at 1:1) with Premier ThankYou Points, then transfer to airline partners like Turkish Airlines or Singapore Airlines.

Example: Earn $300 annually from Custom Cash ($25/month × 12). Pool to get 30,000 ThankYou Points. Transfer to Turkish Airlines during a bonus for 37,500-45,000 miles—enough for business class within the U.S.

Details in Understanding Citi ThankYou Points.

Which Card is Right for You?

Choose Citi Custom Cash if: You want passive earning with no activation needed and have variable monthly spending patterns.

Choose Chase Freedom Flex if: You can plan purchases around announced categories and want to pair with Chase Sapphire cards for point transfers.

Choose Bank of America Customized Cash if: You bank with BofA and can unlock Preferred Rewards bonuses, or want simple quarterly selection.

Choose U.S. Bank Cash+ if: You have consistent spending in two specific categories like utilities and cell phone bills, and want the uncapped 2% baseline.

Choose U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards if: You concentrate retail spending at one or two major chains like Amazon, Target, or Costco.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Forgetting quarterly activation: Set calendar reminders for January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 to activate Chase Freedom Flex categories.

Exceeding spending caps: Once you hit caps, you're earning 1% instead of 5%. Track spending through your card's app.

Not pairing with transfer partners: Converting 5% cash back to transferable points through strategic pairing can triple your value when redeeming for travel.

Choosing categories you don't use: Be honest about actual spending. Select categories based on past spending data, not aspirational habits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have multiple customizable cards from the same bank?

Usually yes. Chase allows Freedom Flex and Freedom Unlimited simultaneously. Citi typically limits one Custom Cash per person. U.S. Bank generally permits both Cash+ and Shopper Cash Rewards.

Do category selections carry over if I forget to update them?

U.S. Bank Cash+ keeps previous selections. Bank of America maintains your choice until you change it. Chase Freedom Flex automatically starts new categories but requires re-activation.

Can I change my category selection mid-quarter?

No for most cards. Bank of America allows one change per quarter. U.S. Bank and Chase lock selections for the entire quarter.

Do these cards have foreign transaction fees?

Most charge 3% foreign transaction fees. Exception: Chase Freedom Flex has no foreign transaction fees.

What happens to cash back if I close the card?

Redeem rewards before closing. If you have a paired card (like Sapphire with Freedom), transfer first. Unredeemed rewards may be forfeited upon closure.

Do customizable cards count toward 5/24?

Yes. Chase Freedom Flex counts toward 5/24 rule. Bank of America cards count toward their 2/3/4 rule. Factor into your application strategy.

Can I use these cards with mobile wallets?

Yes. All work with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, earning full bonus category rates.

Do small businesses qualify for personal customizable cards?

Personal cards are for personal use only. For business expenses, consider business cards like Chase Ink Business Cash. See Best Category Bonus Credit Cards 2025.

Conclusion

Customizable rewards cards offer flexibility that fixed-category cards can't match. Whether you prefer automatic optimization with Citi Custom Cash, planned quarterly earning with Chase Freedom Flex, or specific category control with U.S. Bank Cash+ and Shopper Cash Rewards, there's an option for your spending style.

The real value emerges through strategic pairing. Converting 5% cash back to transferable points through Chase or Citi ecosystems turns solid earning rates into exceptional returns for travel redemptions.

Start by analyzing your past six months of spending. Identify your top three categories. Choose the customizable card that serves those categories with the management level you're comfortable with. Add a paired premium card for point transfer capability. You'll maximize returns without changing your spending habits.

This article contains affiliate links. If you apply through our links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you, which helps us continue sharing points and miles strategies with the community.