If you carry an American Express, Chase, Citi, Discover or U.S. Bank card with quarterly perks, the clock is ticking. Most Q3 statement credits and rotating bonus categories reset after Sept. 30, 2026, so anything you haven't used by then simply disappears — and with it, value that helps offset some hefty annual fees.
American Express holders have the most to juggle. The Amex Platinum ($895 annual fee) offers up to $100 per quarter at eligible U.S. Resy restaurants and up to $75 per quarter at Lululemon, in-store and online. The Business Platinum also carries a $895 fee and two credits: up to $90 per quarter with Indeed and up to $50 per quarter at Hilton properties, though the latter requires enrolment in the Hilton for Business programme.
Hilton loyalists have several options. The Hilton Honors Aspire card includes up to $50 per quarter in airline flight credits (book direct, via Amex Travel, or the app), while the Hilton Business card offers up to $60 per quarter and the Hilton Surpass up to $50 per quarter on purchases at Hilton properties — including incidentals like dining and spa treatments, not just room rates.
On the cash back side, activation is the trap. Chase Freedom Flex (and legacy Freedom) cardholders earn 5% on gas and EV charging, public transit, select live entertainment and United Way donations this quarter, on the first $1,500 of combined spend — but you must activate by Sept. 14. Discover it Cash Back's Q3 categories are gas stations, transportation and drugstores, also capped at $1,500 in spend per quarter. Citi Dividend (closed to new applicants) covers gas stations and home improvement stores against a $6,000 annual bonus cap, and the U.S. Bank Cash+ lets you pick two categories from a list that includes streaming, gyms, fast food and home utilities, good for 5% on up to $2,000 of combined spending.
For travellers, the Hilton credits are the standout: even a dinner or spa visit during a Hilton stay can trigger $50–$60 back per card, and the Aspire flight credit stacks with any airline booking. The Amex Resy credit is an easy win too — no reservation needed, just pay with the right card at an eligible restaurant. A few minutes checking your accounts before the end of September could recover hundreds of dollars across your wallet, and it's worth bookmarking a quarterly reminder so next quarter's credits don't lapse the same way.
The deadline to remember: enrol where required, activate rotating categories early in the quarter, and spend down credits before Sept. 30, 2026.