FUNDSamentally Rating: 3.5 Stars
U.S. Bank Cash+ Card® Visa Signature® Card
ANNUAL FEE: $0
REWARDS RATES: 1%-5% Cash Back
INTRO OFFER: $200
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE: 690-850
(Good – Excellent)
Pros
- No annual Fee
- 0% Intro APR
- High rewards rate
Cons
- Complicated Rewards
- Requires good to excellent credit
Rates/fees
Annual fee | – $0 |
Sign up bonus | – $200 rewards bonus after $1,000 in eligible purchases in the first 120 days of opening your account |
Reward Rate | – 1% – 5% |
Intro APR | – 0% for the first 15 billing cycles |
Ongoing APR | – 19.49% – 29.74% Variable APR |
Balance transfer fee | – 3% of the transfer amount or $5, whichever is greater |
Foreign transaction fee | – 3% |
Additional Benefits | -Earn 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel, and car reservations booked directly in the rewards travel center -Get your cash back as a statement credit, a rewards card or directly deposited into your U.S. Bank checking or savings account. Enjoy flexible options designed to fit your needs. -Receive a new cardmember $0 fee offer on ExtendPay Plans opened in the first 60 days after account opening. |
Detailed Overview
If you are a frequent traveler looking to maximize rewards while also maximizing debt payoffs with zero interest, consider the U.S. bank cash+ Visa signature card.
The U.S. Bank Cash+ Card is a personally tailored balance transfer card. The strongest feature this card boasts has to be its intro APR. At 0% for the first 15 billing cycles, cardholders have ample opportunity to pay off debts without added fees. It also offers strong rewards rates, at up to 5% cash back. However, the rewards process can be complicated.
For those who won’t mind dealing with the difficult rewards, you can certainly maximize your cash back while enjoying a low intro APR offer for an extended period. The U.S. bank cash+ visa signature card is a strong competitor in the high cash back card space. If it weren’t for the complicated rewards system, this card would be rated much higher.
Card type: Cash back.
Annual fee: $0.
Sign-up bonus: $200 bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening.
Rewards:
- 5% cash back on the first $2,000 in combined eligible net purchases each quarter in two categories you choose, from a list of 12.
- 2% cash back in one “everyday” category that you choose (such as grocery stores, gas and EV charging stations or restaurants).
- 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in U.S. Bank’s Rewards Center.
- 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases.
You must opt in to the 5% and 2% bonus categories each quarter to earn the higher rewards rates; otherwise, you’ll earn only 1% back on all purchases.
Full list of 5% categories on the U.S. Bank Cash+
- Fast food.
- Home utilities.
- TV, internet and streaming.
- Department stores.
- Cell phone providers.
- Electronics stores.
- Sporting goods stores.
- Movie theaters.
- Gyms/fitness centers.
- Furniture stores.
- Ground transportation.
- Select clothing stores.
Rewards can be redeemed for statement credit, a U.S. Bank Rewards gift card or a deposit into an eligible bank account with U.S. Bank.
Interest rate: 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 19.49%-29.74% Variable APR.
Balance transfer fee: 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee: 3%.
Additional Benefits
Generous bonus spending capacities
For most category cash back cards, they only provide you with the bonus 5% cashback for the first $1,500 spent in a category, per quarter. With the U.S. Bank Cash+ Card® Visa Signature® Card you get a higher spending ceiling in bonus categories. For the Bank Cash + card, you will receive 5% cashback up to $2,000 instead of the normal $1,500. That’s potentially an extra $400 in bonus rewards per year, assuming you hit the spending cap each quarter.
Extra Uncapped bonus category at 2% Cash back
With the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card, you can choose an extra category for unlimited 2% cash back. In early 2020, options like gas stations, restaurants, and grocery stores were available. Unlike the capped 5% spending categories, these rewards have no limit.
Comparison to other 5% cashback cards
Considering the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card? You’re likely aware of Discover it® Cash Back and Chase Freedom Flex℠. Unlike its counterparts, the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card offers customizable 5% bonus categories with a higher spending cap of $2,000 quarterly. Plus, enjoy unlimited 2% back in an everyday category. However, the right choice depends on your spending habits.
Explore how all three compare.
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card | Discover it® Cash Back | Chase Freedom Flex℠ | |
Annual Fee | – $0 | – $0 | – $0 |
Bonus offer | – $200 bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening. | – INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300. | – Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. |
Intro APR offer | – 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 19.49%-29.74% Variable APR. | – 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 17.24%-28.24% Variable APR. | – 0% intro APR on purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months, and then the ongoing APR of 20.49%-29.24%, Variable APR. |
Is it easy to plan spending around bonus categories? | – Yes. Categories are displayed on the website all year. | – No, Categories get revealed a quarter at a time (starting in 2024) | – No, Categories are announced quarterly too |
Activation requirements | – You must choose your two 5% categories and your 2% “everyday” category each quarter. – Bonus rewards are not retroactive. This means you earn bonus cash back only after you activate your categories. If you forget and don’t activate until, say, mid-quarter, any purchases before then would earn only 1%. | – You must activate the 5% category each quarter. – Bonus rewards are not retroactive. | – You must activate the 5% category each quarter. – Bonus rewards are retroactive. You’ll earn 5% cash back on all spending in the category for the quarter as long as you activate by the deadline (usually the middle of the last month). |
Is it The Right Card For You?
Opting for your preferred bonus categories provides a competitive edge. If maximizing rewards is paramount, the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card suits your preference.