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About US Bank Credit Cards
US Bank has gradually rolled out several solid credit cards in recent years, and some are definitely worth applying for. The main drawback, however, is that its points cannot be transferred to airline miles, so you cannot increase their value through transfer partners. In addition, points are not shared across different cards, so you cannot do what Chase allows: earn a large number of points with no-annual-fee cards, then use a premium card to transfer to miles or redeem at a higher value. Hopefully this improves in the future—following the lead of AMEX, Chase, and Citi would be a good start.
That said, many people may not be very familiar with US Bank’s card lineup, so this article will go over which cards are worth applying for.
Consumer Cards
No Annual Fee
US Bank’s no-annual-fee cards are quite good, especially because they cover a number of niche categories that many other credit cards do not.
- This card is similar to a rotating-category bonus cash back card, but the advantage is that you can choose your own categories, with both 5% and 2% options. US Bank’s 5% categories are also broken down very specifically, which makes the card stand out.
Choose your own 5% and 2% cash back categories, with no annual fee!
- Welcome bonus: $250 cash back (spend $1,000 within 90 days)
- Rewards: Choose two categories for 5% cash back: TV, internet, streaming services, utilities, ground transportation, electronics stores, fast food, furniture stores, gyms, movie theaters, select clothing stores, sporting goods stores, cell phone providers, and department stores; choose one category for 2% cash back: gas stations, restaurants, and grocery stores
- Redemption: Cash back redeemed directly
- Annual fee: $0
- Apply now>>
- This card is especially strong for dining, with unlimited 4% cash back, making it a great fit for people who spend a lot on dining.
U.S. Bank Altitude Go Credit Card
4% on dining; $15 annual streaming credit; no annual fee!
- Welcome bonus: 20,000 points (spend $1,000 in 90 days)
- Rewards: Dining/takeout/delivery 4x; supermarkets, gas, and streaming services 2x
- Redemption: Cash back
- Annual fee: $0
- Apply now>>
Cards With an Annual Fee
The main selling point of US Bank’s annual-fee cards is simply higher cash-back rates; beyond that, they do not have many especially distinctive features. There is also not much synergy between them and the no-annual-fee cards, so whether to apply mainly comes down to whether your spending rewards can cover the annual fee. Altitude Reserve is the one exception and is particularly worth considering.
- This card can be viewed as a premium cash-back card. Its bonus categories, including Amazon, Target, and Walmart, are fairly unusual, so you just need to run the numbers and see whether the annual fee is worth it for your spending.
U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Credit Card
Choose your own 6% and 3% categories; usable at Amazon, Walmart, Costco, and Target!
- Welcome bonus: $250 (spend $2,000 within 120 days of account opening)
- Rewards: Each quarter, choose two 6% cash back merchants and one 3% cash back category (each capped at $1500 in spending); all other purchases earn 1.5% cash back
- Redemption: Redeem for cash back directly
- Annual fee: $95（No annual fee for the first year）
- Apply now>>
- This is essentially a premium travel cash-back card, and unlimited 4% is quite nice. Most travel cards also come with airline-mile transfer functionality, though; if you are not interested in those features, this card may be a simpler option to hold.
US Bank Altitude Connect Credit Card
4 Priority Pass visits per year!
- Welcome bonus: 20,000 points (spend $1,000 in 90 days)
- Rewards: 4% on gas and EV charging; 2% on groceries, delivery, dining, and streaming; 1% on all other purchases
- Redemption: Direct cash back redemption
- Annual fee: $0
- Apply now>>
- This is US Bank’s premium card. The travel credit is easy to use, bringing the effective annual fee down to $75. Considering the tangible benefits—lounge access, 3x on mobile wallet purchases, and 1.5x value on travel redemptions—that $75 is well worth it.
US Bank Altitude Reserve Credit Card
A premium travel card with up to $325 in annual travel credits! Earn 3x on travel and mobile wallet purchases!
- Welcome bonus: 50,000 points (spend $4,500 in 3 months)
- Rewards: 3x on travel (airfare, hotels, car rentals, etc.) and mobile wallet purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Redemption: Redeem for travel at 1.5 cents per point, or 1 cent per point for cash back
- Annual fee: $400
- Apply now>>
Business Credit Cards
US Bank’s business credit cards are also not especially innovative and are still mostly focused on cash back. The good news is that the welcome bonuses are quite solid.
U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Business Credit Card
3% on gas, restaurants, cell phone services, and office expenses; plus up to $100 in annual software statement credits!
- Welcome bonus: $750 cash back (spend $6,000 in 150 days)
- Rewards: 3% on gas, restaurants, cell phone services, and office supplies; 1% on all other purchases
- Redemption: Cash back
- Annual fee: $0
- Apply now>>
U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect Business Credit Card
4x on travel, 2x on dining; complimentary airport lounge access
- Welcome bonus: 75,000 points (spend $6,000 within 180 days of account opening)
- Rewards: 5x on hotels and car rentals booked through its own website; 4x on travel (up to $15k per year); 2x on dining and cell phone bills; 1x on everything else
- Redemption: Redeem directly: 100 points = $1 cash back
- Annual fee: $95（$0 annual fee for the first year）
- Apply now>>
Application Tips
US Bank can be fairly picky when it comes to credit card applications. Without an existing relationship, you may still get denied even with a strong credit score and credit history. A common recommendation is to first open a US Bank Checking account, or apply for one of its no-annual-fee credit cards first; after that, approvals tend to become easier.