Our Verdict
The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card is unlikely to be the best primary credit card in most wallets. It has a complicated earnings scheme that will take work to maximize: 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center, 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter on two categories of choice, 2% cash back on one everyday category such as gas stations, grocery stores or restaurants, and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases. The 5% category options likely won’t be great for most people, and your earning rate drops to 1% after hitting the quarterly spending cap on purchases in those categories. Those looking to add a second card to their wallet who are willing to put some work in could benefit from the U.S. Bank Cash+ Card.
Pros
- Up to 5% cash back in eligible categories
- 2% cash back in different eligible categories
- Welcome bonus
- 0% intro on purchases for 15 billing cycles
- No annual fee
Cons
- 5% cash-back rate limited to first $2,000 in combined purchases in chosen categories each quarter
- You have to choose your 5% categories, meaning you can miss out on elevated rewards
- Foreign transaction fee
Highlights
- $200 rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
- 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter on two categories you choose.
- 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center.
- 2% cash back on one everyday category, like Gas Stations and EV Charging Stations, Grocery Stores or Restaurants.
- 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
- 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR currently 19.49% – 29.74%.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms and conditions apply.
Introduction
The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card isn’t the simplest credit card, but it could be rewarding for the right user. The card earns 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center, 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter on two categories of choice, 2% cash back on one everyday category such as gas stations, grocery stores or restaurants, and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
The card has the ability to offer solid cash back, especially when paired with other credit cards, but it’s going to take some work to truly maximize, mainly because the 5% cash-back category options aren’t likely to see large spending with most consumers.
The card offers a welcome bonus: Earn a $200 rewards bonus after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
Other notable card benefits include a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles, then a standard APR of 19.49% - 29.74% variable APR applies. A balance transfer fee of 3% ($5 minimum) applies and balances transferred must be completed within 60 days from account opening.
Quick Facts
- $0 annual fee
- Welcome bonus: $200 rewards bonus after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening
- 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center, 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter on two categories of choice, 2% cash back on one everyday category such as gas stations, grocery stores or restaurants, and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles, then a standard APR of 19.49% - 29.74% variable APR applies. A balance transfer fee of 3% ($5 minimum) applies and balances transferred must be completed within 60 days from account opening
U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Credit Card Rewards
Earning Rewards
The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card earns 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center, 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter on two categories of choice, 2% cash back on one everyday category such as gas stations, grocery stores or restaurants, and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
The 5% category options include:
- TV, internet and streaming services
- Fast food
- Cellphone providers
- Department stores
- Home utilities
- Select clothing stores
- Electronics stores
- Sporting goods stores
- Movie theaters
- Gyms/fitness centers
- Furniture stores
- Ground transportation
This card also offers a $200 rewards bonus after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
Redeeming Rewards
U.S. Bank Cash+ cash back can be redeemed for a statement credit, a rewards card or directly into a U.S. Bank checking or savings account with a minimum redemption of $25. You can also enroll in Real-Time Rewards, which lets you put your rewards toward purchases with a $10 minimum. Cash rewards expire at the end of the calendar month, 36 months after the billing cycle in which they were earned.
Rewards Potential
To determine the rewards potential of the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card we consider what an average household might spend on a credit card each year. Forbes Advisor uses data from various government agencies to determine baseline income and spending averages across various categories. The 70th percentile of wage-earning households bring in $118,438 annually and we base spending on that number.
Forbes Advisor estimates that the average household has $39,337 in annual expenses that can be reasonably charged to a credit card. Assuming a cardholder maxes out their two chosen 5% cash-back categories each quarter, they would earn $400 for the year. An additional $7,243 is spent at grocery stores and earns 2% cash back for $144.86 on those purchases. If the remaining credit card expenses of $24,094 are charged to the card, it would earn $240.94 in cash back.
Altogether, the cardholder in this example would earn a total of $785.80 in annual cash back.
0% Introductory Rates
The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card offers a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles, then a standard APR of 19.49% - 29.74% variable APR applies. A balance transfer fee of 3% ($5 minimum) applies and balances transferred must be completed within 60 days from account opening.
Other U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card Benefits
- Zero fraud liability. Cardholders are not liable for unauthorized charges.
- Contactless payments. Tap to pay whenever you see the contactless symbol.
- ID Navigator identity theft protections. Enroll in this complimentary service from Norton LifeLock and get credit monitoring and assistance if your identity is compromised
- Cardholder inquiry service. Get 24-hour access to a Visa representative with any questions about your account.
- Lost or stolen card assistance. You can report your lost or stolen card 24 hours a day seven days a week. Visa will work with you and your issuing bank as needed to put a hold on your missing account, issue a replacement card and/or arrange for an emergency cash disbursement.
- Visa Signature benefits. As a Visa Signature card, you’ll get perks including discounts with participating partners and access to special status at hotels that are part of the Visa Signature collection.
Fine Print
Interest Rates
- Regular APR: 19.49% - 29.74% Variable
- Purchase intro APR: 0% intro on purchases for 15 billing cycles
- Balance transfer intro APR: 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 billing cycles
Fees
- Annual fee: $0
- Balance transfer fee: Either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater.
- Foreign purchase transaction fee: 3% of each foreign transaction
How the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card Stacks Up
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Those looking for a simple cash-back credit card should look at a card like the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. The card earns 2% cash rewards on purchases. This is a much more straightforward way to earn cash back than trying to optimize the categories the U.S. Bank Cash+ offers.
There’s a welcome bonus of $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
The Active Cash also comes with an introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers. Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR applies. Balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a fee of up to 5%, with a minimum of $5 applies.
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card vs. Chase Freedom Flex℠
Someone looking for a card with a little more earning potential than a flat-rate rewards card may consider the Chase Freedom Flex℠. The Freedom Flex earns 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in categories that rotate quarterly (requires activation), 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on dining and drugstores and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
You’ll also get a 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24% applies. Balance transfer fee of up to 5% (min. $5) of the amount of each transfer applies.
The card also comes with a welcome offer of $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card vs. U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card*
Those looking to maximize a 0% APR balance transfer offer should consider the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card*. It doesn’t offer rewards, but it does offer a lengthy introductory APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 21 billing cycles, followed by a variable APR of 18.74% - 29.74%. A balance transfer of 5% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater, applies.
Compare the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Credit Card With Other Cards
Is the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Credit Card for You?
The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card is not likely to be the best primary or only credit card in someone’s wallet. While it can be a good additional card, it is not easy to maximize earning rewards and will require selecting the appropriate categories and keeping track of spending. Most people will probably have an easier time maximizing rewards with a different card.
Methodology
Forbes Advisor considers a variety of criteria when assigning credit cards a rating. Cards are graded based on numerous factors, including:
- Annual fees
- Welcome bonus offers
- Ongoing earning rates
- Value of individual points or miles
- Included travel or merchant credits
- Additional cardholder benefits
Card features we expect cardholders to use the most often are weighted more heavily in our ratings. Altogether, the factors come together to provide a star rating for each individual card.
To learn more about our rating and review methodology and editorial process, check out our guide on how Forbes Advisor rates credit cards.
*The information for the following card(s) has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor: U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
