us365

[1/16 Update] US Bank has quietly increased the sign-up bonus on this card. For a no-annual-fee credit card that earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases, a $150 bonus is pretty solid, especially since the usual offer is $100. The AMEX version also has the extra perk of being eligible for AMEX Offers. Unfortunately, AMEX Offers have become less attractive lately, and many of the best deals are targeted, so this card often can’t take advantage of them.

US Bank Cash 365 American Express Card Review

Application Link

Key Features

  • Sign-up bonus: $100-$150 ($500 spending within 90 days, requires US Bank Relation*)
  • Cash back: 1.5% on all purchases
  • Cash back redemption: Redeem directly as cash, with no minimum requirement
  • 0 APR: 0% APR on Balance Transfers for the first 12 months
  • No annual fee

*US Bank Relation: Any US Bank credit card, loan, checking, or saving account. If you don’t have any of the above when applying, you can open a checking account within 90 days. Choose gold checking, which has no monthly fee if you hold a credit card. This will also satisfy the sign-up bonus requirement.

Highlights

  • Unlimited 1.5% cash back: If you don’t like juggling a lot of cards and aren’t into points and miles, this is a good everyday card to use without overthinking it. At the very least, it earns 50% more cash back than a standard 1% cash back card.
  • AMEX Offer: Although this card is issued by US Bank, transactions are processed through the AMEX network, so the card can be used for AMEX Offers. However, AMEX Offers do not appear in the card’s account interface. You can only add them through Twitter and then use them. See: AMEX OFFER Twitter Enrollment Guide
  • Balance Transfer 0APR: Useful if you need to move balances around and lower your interest rate. However, note that BT still comes with a 3% fee. For a detailed discussion, see: 0APR Guide
  • Waives Gold Checking monthly fee: If you have a US Bank Gold checking account, holding a US Bank credit card and choosing online statements can waive the monthly fee.

Cons

  • You need a US Bank checking account to receive the sign-up bonus
  • Adding AMEX Offers is somewhat cumbersome, and authorized user cards do not get separate AMEX Offers

My Take

This card is a solid option for people who don’t want to spend too much time optimizing credit cards or dealing with points and miles. If you already have a US Bank checking account and want to waive the monthly fee, this is a card you can keep long term since it has no annual fee. Just remember that to receive the sign-up bonus, you need to have a checking account, or open a gold checking account.

Application

  • Approval difficulty: Relatively easy, ideally apply when you already have a US Bank checking account
  • Application status: US BankCheck Application Status Online
  • Things to note: You need a US Bank relation to receive the sign-up bonus

Application Link