US Bank Cash Plus Credit Card Review
Key Takeaways
The U.S. Bank Cash Plus card is not recommended for travelers seeking travel rewards. The primary drawback of all U.S. Bank cash back cards is their inability to redeem rewards for travel. Unlike other cash back cards that allow reward redemption through travel portals, U.S. Bank restricts travel portal access to their Altitude cards only. Additionally, the bank lacks airline and hotel transfer partners, which significantly diminishes the value of their rewards system. With its modest welcome offer and no standout benefits, this card is not worth using a 5/24 position. Consider alternative cards offering genuine travel rewards instead, as there are many superior options available.
Why This Card Could Be Right For You
The U.S. Bank Cash+ Signature card offers several compelling benefits for organized spenders who track their expenses carefully:
- No annual fee - Keep more money in your pocket with zero ongoing card costs
- $200 welcome bonus - Earn this after spending just $1,000 in the first 90 days
- Customizable 5% cash back categories - Select two categories to earn 5% back on your first $2,000 in combined purchases quarterly
The card's flexibility allows you to maximize rewards based on your specific spending patterns. If you plan large purchases like furniture or electronics, you can strategically select these categories to earn substantial cash back.
Additionally, when you prepay for travel through their rewards center, you'll receive 5% back. The card also provides 2% back on one everyday category of your choice each quarter, giving you further customization options.
Your rewards can be redeemed in multiple ways:
- Statement credits applied directly to your balance
- Rewards cards for future spending
- Direct deposits into your U.S. Bank account
Be aware that purchases at discount stores, supercenters (Target, Walmart), and wholesale clubs (Sam's Club, Costco) only earn 1% on grocery, supermarket, gas, and EV charging purchases. Consider this limitation when evaluating if this card matches your primary spending habits.
When The Usual Advice Doesn't Apply
This card might not be suitable if:
- You want travel rewards, as this card only offers cash back
- You lack the organization or time to maximize the spending multipliers by tracking expenses and planning ahead
How The US Bank Cash Plus Credit Card Fits In The Cash in Cents Ecosystem
U.S. Bank offers numerous cash back and rewards cards. If you have an account with the bank (a requirement for most card approvals) and want one of their credit cards, here's how the no-annual-fee options compare:
U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards
- 6% cash back on your first $1,500 in combined quarterly purchases at two retailers of your choice
- 3% cash back on $1,500 of purchases in one everyday category of your choice
- 1.5% back on everything else
- $250 welcome bonus after spending $2,000 in the first 120 days (highest welcome offer among U.S. Bank's personal cards)
U.S. Bank Altitude Cards (both Go and Connect offer 20,000 point welcome bonuses after $1,000 in purchases within 90 days):
U.S Bank Altitude Go
- 4x points on dining, takeout, and restaurant delivery (first $2,000 quarterly)
- 2x points on streaming services, grocery stores, gas stations, and EV charging stations
- $15 streaming service credit after 11 months of streaming service payments
U.S Bank Altitude Connect
- 4x points on travel, gas, and EV charging (first $150,000 annually)
- Priority Pass Membership with 4 complimentary lounge visits
- $100 TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit
- Various travel protections
A key advantage of both Altitude cards is that they allow reward redemption for travel purchases through the portal at a rate of 1 cent per point, unlike the Cash Plus card which only offers cash back redemption options.
When comparing these cards to the Cash Plus card, consider your spending patterns and whether you prefer flexible cash back options or the ability to use rewards for travel. For travelers, the Altitude Connect offers substantially more value despite having no annual fee, making it a superior choice to the Cash Plus card for most consumers seeking travel benefits.
Card Information
Bonus Points | Minimum Spend | Point Value | Annual Value | Annual Fee |
1st Year Value
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
20,000 | $1,000 | 1.0 ¢ | $1 | $0 |
$211
|
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