Best U.S. Bank Credit Cards

U.S. Bank rarely partners with travel providers such as airlines and hotels to offer co-branded cards. Instead, most U.S. Bank cards are designed around cash-back rewards, featuring competitive earning rates and a variety of bonus categories tailored to meet the needs of shoppers, travelers, small businesses, and more. 

Check out our picks for the best U.S. Bank credit cards below, and see which ones can boost your return on spending.

Best U.S. Bank Credit Card

• U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card : Best overall
• U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card : Best for dining rewards
• U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card : Best for gas rewards
• U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card: Best for flexible bonus categories
• U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card : Best for Amazon, Target, and Walmart
• U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® : Best for small businesses
• U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa® Secured Card : Best for building or rebuilding credit
• U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card : Best for introductory 0% APR

Compare the Best U.S. Bank Credit Cards

 

 

U.S. Bank Credit Card Frequently Asked Questions

Best U.S. Bank Credit Card Reviews

Best Overall: U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Card

As U.S. Bank's entry into the premium credit card space, the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Card offers valuable rewards and a compelling package of benefits that can help you easily justify its $400 annual fee.

To start with, you will earn a welcome bonus of 50,000 points after you spend $4,500 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. You'll also earn 5 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Altitude Rewards, 3 points per dollar on other travel purchases and mobile wallet purchases, and 1 point per dollar elsewhere. Few credit cards offer bonus points for mobile wallet purchases, so this card is a great fit for anyone who regularly uses apps like Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay.

Points are worth 1.5 cents when you redeem them for travel through the Altitude Rewards Center, or for other travel purchases using U.S. Bank's Real-Time Mobile Rewards. Those redemption options don't have the same upside as airline and hotel transfer partners offered by other rewards programs, but they do provide a consistent and lucrative return on spending if you travel regularly. Otherwise, you have the option to redeem for cash at a flat rate of 1 cent per point.

The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Card's foremost benefit is statement credits that cover up to $325 in travel and dining purchases. The credit works automatically, offsetting most of the annual fee as long as you spend that amount in eligible categories each year. You'll also get a credit of up to $100 every four years to cover the cost of application fees for select expedited security programs like TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry. 

Beyond credits, the card offers airport lounge access via a 12-month Priority Pass Select membership, plus strong travel protections like primary rental car insurance and trip delay insurance that applies after only six hours.

Learn more about this card in our full U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Review.

Best for Dining Rewards: U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card offers an excellent return for a card with no annual fee, especially on dining. You'll earn 4 points per dollar for purchases in that category, which includes restaurants, takeout, and delivery. You'll also earn a respectable 2 points per dollar at grocery stores, gas stations, and EV charging stations, and on a long list of streaming services like Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Hulu. All bonus categories are uncapped, so you'll earn at those rates for every dollar you spend on eligible purchases, plus 1 point per dollar spent elsewhere.

The card offers a welcome bonus of 25,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in eligible net purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. You also get a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 billing cycles, followed by a 18.24% - 29.24% Variable APR.

Points have a flat redemption rate of 1 cent apiece. You can redeem for statement credits to your account with a minimum redemption of 2,500 points, or for travel and gift cards starting at 1,000 points. These rewards don't expire, so there's no rush to use them, but also no incentive to save them up.

On top of competitive rewards, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card offers a $15 annual streaming credit valid on the same services that earn 2 points per dollar spent. The credit is applied automatically following 11 consecutive months of payments to eligible streaming services. You'll also get basic Visa Signature benefits and pay no foreign transaction fees.

Learn more about this card in our U.S. Bank Altitude Go Card review.

Best for Gas Rewards: U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature

The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature offers a generous earning structure, especially for travel and gas, all for an annual fee of $0.

Cardholders earn 5x points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked through the Altitude Rewards Travel Center, 4x points on travel, gas stations, and EV charging stations, 2x points at grocery stores, grocery delivery, dining, and eligible streaming services, and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

New cardholders start off with a welcome bonus offer of 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in eligible net purchases in the first 90 days from account opening (worth $500 in cash back, gift cards, merchandise, and more). You'll also receive a $30 streaming credit each year when you use your card to pay for eligible streaming services for 11 consecutive months.

This card comes with a slew of benefits that, when maximized, can be worth much more than the annual fee. Cardholders receive a Priority Pass Select membership with four free visits per year, SmartDelay protection that offers free airport lounge access in the event of a flight delay of 120 minutes or more, a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck® application fee credit, cell phone protection, and decent credit card travel insurance. 

Read more in our U.S. Bank Altitude Connect card review.

Best for Flexible Bonus Categories: U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card

Unlike other 5% cash back credit cards, the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card lets you choose which purchases earn the most rewards. Each quarter, you'll earn 5% cash back on up to $2,000 of combined spending in two bonus categories, including fast food, home utilities, TV, internet and streaming services, department stores, electronics stores, cell phone providers, sporting goods stores, furniture stores, movie theaters, gyms and fitness centers, ground transportation, and select clothing stores.

You'll also earn unlimited 5% cash back on prepaid travel booked through the U.S. Bank travel portal, 2% cash back on your choice of groceries, restaurants, or gas stations and EV charging stations, and 1% back on other purchases. While the list of 5% categories includes several uninspiring options, it also features highly useful (and uncommon) ones like home utilities, cell phone providers, and TV, internet, and streaming services.

The card comes with a welcome bonus of $200 bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening, and offers a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles (then a 19.74% - 29.74% Variable APR). The relatively high cap on bonus spending, the flexibility to choose your own bonus categories, and no annual fee help the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card stand out. However, the card charges foreign transaction fees and imposes a minimum threshold of $25 to redeem rewards. Also, rewards expire 36 months after the billing cycle in which they were earned, so you can't hold onto them indefinitely.

Read our full U.S. Bank Cash Plus card review.

Best for Amazon, Target, and Walmart Purchases: U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards

The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards yields an excellent return on purchases from a select list of retailers, including Amazon, Target, and Walmart. If a high cashback rate appeals to you and you shop frequently at those stores or others on the list, then this card is worth a look.

You'll earn 6% cash back on your first $1,500 of combined spending each quarter with two eligible retailers of your choice. The list includes Home Depot, Best Buy, Macy's, and others in addition to the big names above. You'll also earn 5.5% cash back on prepaid rental car and hotel reservations booked through U.S. Bank, and 3% cash back on up to $1,500 of eligible purchases in your choice of one everyday category (like wholesale clubs, gas and EV charging stations, bills, and utilities). All other purchases earn 1.5% cash back.

The card comes with a welcome offer of a $250 bonus after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening. Cashback is the main attraction, so this card doesn't offer any premium benefits, but it does offer basic Visa Signature benefits like extended warranty and return protection. The card has an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $95, so you can try it out at no cost.

While 6% cash back is hard to beat, it may not be your best option if you shop primarily at one of the eligible retailers and not others, or if you tend to spend a lot more than $1,500 per quarter at eligible retailers. In those cases, you may be better off getting a store-branded card (like the Prime Visa or Target Circle™️ Credit Card) that earns an unlimited 5% back with no annual fee.

Read our full U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards card review.

Best for Small Business Owners: U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®

The U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® card makes our list of best rewards business credit cards by offering well-rounded cash-back bonus categories with no annual fee. You'll earn unlimited 3% cash back at office supply stores, gas stations and EV charging stations, restaurants, and cell phone service providers. You'll also earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked through the U.S. Bank Rewards Center, plus 1% cash back on other purchases.

The card offers a welcome bonus of $500 cash back after spending $4,500 on purchases on the account holder's card in the first 150 days of opening your account, as well as 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles (followed by a 19.24% - 28.24% Variable APR). You'll get Mastercard World Elite benefits, and an annual $100 credit for recurring software subscriptions (like QuickBooks or FreshBooks).

Read our U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards card review.

Best for Building or Rebuilding Credit: U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Secured Card

The U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Secured Card functions much like the regular U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card discussed above, offering unlimited 4 points per dollar on dining purchases, as well as unlimited 2 points per dollar at grocery stores, gas stations and EV charging stations, and eligible streaming services. All other purchases earn an unlimited 1 point per dollar.

Points have a consistent redemption value of 1 cent apiece toward statement credits, travel, and gift cards, with similar minimum redemption thresholds and no expiration. The U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Secured Card also offers the same $15 annual streaming credit, which is an uncommon perk for a secured credit card with no annual fee.

The card deviates from the regular version by not offering a welcome bonus or introductory 0% APR, and by requiring a minimum security deposit of $300. The secured card also incurs foreign transaction fees and lacks Visa Signature benefits, but U.S. Bank will periodically assess your eligibility for an upgrade to the regular version, so it's a useful stepping stone for those looking to build or rebuild credit.

Read our full U.S. Bank Altitude Go Secured Credit Card review.

Best for 0% introductory APR: U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card

The U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card doesn't offer a welcome bonus and doesn't earn rewards of any kind, so it's not a good fit for long-term spending. What it does offer is a long 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 18 billing cycles (then a 18.74% - 29.74% Variable APR). There are 0% APR card offers available with longer introductory rates (up to 21 months), as well as some with 18-month or 15-month introductory periods that earn rewards. Still, this card is a viable short-term solution for anyone who needs interest-free purchasing power and wants to stay in the U.S. Bank ecosystem.

The U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card has no annual fee, but it does charge foreign transaction fees. The one benefit you'll get with this card is cellphone protection against theft and damage when you use your card to pay for your wireless bill. The coverage applies up to $600 per claim with a $25 deductible. Cell phone protection is a useful benefit, but it's one you can find on more rewarding credit cards. In short, if you're not getting this card for the introductory APR, then you can almost certainly do better.

Learn more about this card in our U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card review.

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Chose the Best U.S. Bank Credit Cards

Personal Finance Insider's credit cards team examined the U.S. Bank portfolio of personal and small business credit cards to determine which are most useful and valuable to cardholders. We narrowed our list by focusing on cards that offer competitive rewards, unusual benefits, and/or strong overall value.

We evaluated the cards based on several factors, including:

• Rewards earning potential — If the card earns rewards, are the earning rates competitive with similar cards? Are the bonus categories useful, and are any of them capped at a certain spending amount?
• Benefits — Does the card offer perks that make it stand out from similar cards, such as statement credits, increased award redemption rates, or travel protections?
• Fees — How does the annual fee compare to the value cardholders can expect to get from the card? Are there other fees or a high APR to be aware of?
• Introductory offers — Does the card come with a strong incentive to apply?

Here's a guide to how we rate credit cards at Personal Finance Insider for a full breakdown of our methodology, and how we determine our list of the best credit cards.

Peter Rothbart

Peter Rothbart is a credit card connoisseur and award travel guru based in Seattle, Washington. A former aerospace engineer and long-time touring musician, he now covers a wide range of topics from business and personal finance to art, sports, and human interest stories. When he's not writing, Peter can often be found planning his next adventure, raking in poker chips at Las Vegas casinos, or crushing the dodgeball courts of the Pacific Northwest.

Read more Read less

Angela Fung

Marketing Compliance and Operations Manager

Angela Fung is the marketing compliance and operations manager for Business Insider’s personal finance team. She is a personal finance expert and has been a part of Business Insider for nearly four years. ExperienceAngela leads the compliance team in identifying and reducing risk for readers, the editorial team, and external partners. Her team aims to provide readers with accurate, up-to-date information about financial products and maintain reader trust. She ensures regulatory and partner marketing guidelines are upheld for partners and adheres to the personal finance team’s editorial standards so they can maintain editorial independence. Angela likes helping readers better understand personal finance so that they can build a strong foundation for their financial plan and, hopefully, give themselves the freedom to do more in other facets of their lives.ExpertiseAngela has expertise in and oversees compliance in the following areas of personal finance:

• Personal credit cards
• Business credit cards
• High-yield savings accounts
• CDs

She also has a thorough knowledge of federal regulation for consumer financial protection. A few examples include:

• Regulation Z, Truth in Lending
• Unfair, Deceptive, Or Abusive Acts Or Practices (UDAAP)
• Regulation N, Mortgage Acts and Practices Advertising Rule
• Endorsement Guidelines

EducationAngela graduated from the University of Chicago with a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience. In her free time, she shoots lifestyle photography, volunteers at Meals for Unity, and plays tennis.

Read more Read less