U.S. Bank is one of the country’s largest banks and one of the biggest issuers of credit cards. Though this Minneapolis-based bank operates branches primarily in the West and Midwest, anyone can apply for its credit cards — and it has some good ones. Here’s a quick look at the best.
Best for cash rewards: U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card
Benefits of the U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card
The U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card has an unusual, customizable cash-back structure. You get:
- 5% cash back on the first $2,000 in combined spending each quarter in two categories that you choose. Options include department stores, fast-food restaurants, fitness clubs, wireless phone providers, electronics and more.
- 2% cash back on an “everyday category” of your choice, such as groceries or gas, with no limit.
- 1% cash back on everything else.
The annual fee is $0. Since it’s a Visa Signature card, you get the perks from that program, including access to experiences like food and wine events, sports and entertainment, plus travel protections, purchase protection and other benefits.
Drawbacks of U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card
You must log into your account online and choose 5% and 2% categories every quarter. The categories are subject to change, so all categories might not be available in all quarters. To maximize your cash back, then, you’ll need to plan ahead. Also, you need excellent credit to be considered for this card.
Bottom line
Few cards offer 5% cash back, and those that do usually don’t let you choose your own bonus categories, so this card is excellent if your spending aligns with its options. Getting unlimited cash back in the 2% and 1% categories is nice, too.
» MORE: Read our full review of the U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card.
Best for flexible redemption: U.S. Bank Perks+ Visa Signature® Card
Benefits of the U.S. Bank Perks+ Visa Signature® Card
With the U.S. Bank Perks+ Visa Signature® Card, you earn 2 points for every dollar spent on gas and groceries and 1 point on everything else, with no limit on how many points you can accumulate. The plus in the perks is how you redeem the points: You can get cash back or redeem for merchandise, gift cards or airline travel. You can choose from more than 150 airlines, and there are no blackout dates.
Like the U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card, this card comes with the Visa Signature benefits. The annual fee is $0, and it comes with an appealing introductory APR period: 0% for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 12.24% - 22.24% Variable .
Drawbacks of U.S. Bank Perks+ Visa Signature® Card
You must have a certain minimum number of points before you can redeem. For example, you need 2,500 points for gift cards, 5,000 for cash back and 25,000 for one airline ticket, with a maximum price of $400. That $400 limit on the cost of an airline ticket means you probably won’t be flying off to Paris on these points.
Like the U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card, this card requires excellent credit.
Bottom line
The U.S. Bank Perks+ Visa Signature® Card rewards you for all your spending and offers many ways to use the points. But the minimums for redemption mean you probably won’t be cashing them in every month.
Best for bad or no credit: US Bank Secured Card
Benefits of the US Bank Secured Card
The US Bank Secured Card is designed for those who are just starting to build a credit history or who are trying to repair their poor credit. It’s a secured credit card, which means you must put down a deposit — in this case, at least $300. You then get a credit limit equal to the amount of your deposit. Because the deposit protects the lender in case you don’t make your payments, you can qualify with less-than-great credit. In addition to the security deposit (which is refunded if you close the account in good standing), the annual fee is $29.
This card offers a longer grace period — 24 to 30 days — than many credit cards. The grace period is the time between the end of the billing cycle and the date your payment is due. If you pay your bill in full every month, you don’t get charged interest during the grace period. If you carry a balance from one month to the next, however, interest will accrue.
The US Bank Secured Card comes with Visa protections: zero fraud liability, fraud notification and car rental insurance. You also get access to U.S. Bank’s FlexControl, where you can set alerts for your account, set up AutoPay, and choose your payment due date.
Drawbacks of US Bank Secured Card
There’s an annual fee, and you don’t get any rewards. These are standard for secured cards, but that doesn’t mean they’re pleasant. Your goal should be to improve your credit and graduate to a better card.
The ongoing APR is 19.24%, which is on the high end of interest rates.
Bottom line
If you need a card to build credit and good habits, US Bank Secured Card will do the job and offer you tools to help.
» MORE: Read our full review of US Bank Secured Card.
Best for business
Benefits of the U.S. Bank Business Edge™ Cash Rewards Card
Getting cash back when you spend on common expenses is as good for small-business owners as it is for consumers. The U.S. Bank Business Edge™ Cash Rewards Card offers a lot to new cardholders: Earn a new cardmember bonus of $150 after you spend $500 in net purchases on your card within the first 90 days of account opening. The annual fee is $0*, and you get an introductory APR of 0% for 9 months on purchases, and then the ongoing APR of 12.24% - 18.24% Variable .
The cash back categories are geared toward small businesses: 3% on gas, office-supply store purchases and cellular services, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. There’s no limit to the amount of cash you can earn.
Another benefit of the U.S. Bank Business Edge™ Cash Rewards Card is the annual bonus: 25% of your cash back earnings, up to $250 per year. While other cards offer a one-time sign-up bonus, U.S. Bank Business Edge™ Cash Rewards Card gives you a bonus every year.
Cardholders also have access to U.S. Bank’s FlexControl to help manage your account, ScoreBoard to track your spending, and U.S. Bank Connect, a community of business owners.
Drawbacks of the U.S. Bank Business Edge™ Cash Rewards Card
You need excellent credit to apply for this card, so if you’ve got a fledgling business, you may not qualify. Also, the card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee (or 2% for overseas transactions denominated in U.S. dollars), so if you’re doing business internationally, you’ll be paying more for your purchases.
Other business cards offer higher cash back percentages for spending on cellular service and other common business expenses, so it pays to compare with other cards.
Bottom line
If you have excellent credit, this is a good card for small business. You get unlimited cash back plus an annual bonus with no annual fee.
» MORE: Read our full review of the U.S. Bank Business Edge™ Cash Rewards Card.
Ellen Cannon is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: ecannon@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @ellencannon.
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