U.S. Bank Cash+ Review: 5% Cash Back That You Can Customize
The Bottom Line
4.5
This card is a good match for avid rewards optimizers — those who juggle cards strategically to get the best return for every dollar. It works fine as an everyday card, but keep in mind that it requires some work on your part.
Rates, fees and offers
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-5%
Bonus offer
$200 rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
Intro APR
0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers
Ongoing APR
APR: 18.74%-28.99% Variable APR
Cash Advance APR: 31.49%, Variable
Balance transfer fee
Either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
3% of each foreign transaction
More details from U.S. Bank
- $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, or Grocery Stores (excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs).
- 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 18.74% - 28.99%.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms and conditions apply.
Pros and Cons
Pros
No annual fee
Bonus categories
High rewards rate
Cons
Complicated rewards
Detailed Review
The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card stands out from competitors in the 5% cash-back space by giving you the freedom to choose the categories where you'll earn that top rate.
Most cards that offer 5% cash back in rotating bonus categories up to a quarterly spending cap — but those categories are determined by the issuer and can be hit-or-miss. That makes the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card a more flexible and potentially more lucrative option.
The card lets you select two 5% cash-back categories each quarter from a list of 12 (see the list below), and it features a higher combined quarterly spending cap than the competition. Plus, you'll choose a 2% cash-back category every quarter from a list of three, and there's no spending cap on that category. Finally, you get 5% back on certain travel bookings through U.S. Bank.
To be sure, it's not the simplest rewards structure. You'll have to put in some work in terms of category tracking and activation. But if you value choice and high rewards-earning potential on everyday spending, it can be an ideal pick.
» MORE: Best 5% cash back credit cards
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card: Basics
Card type: Cash back.
Annual fee: $0.
Sign-up bonus: $200 rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 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. (See list below.)
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 18.74%-28.99% Variable APR.
Balance transfer fee: 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee: 3%.
Compare to Other Cards
Benefits and Perks
5% rewards categories you can customize
With the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card, you can select bonus categories based on your spending. You can also repeat the same bonus categories each quarter, as long as they're still available as choices for that quarter. In the first quarter of 2022, for example, you could choose from among 12 categories for 5% back, including home utilities, cell phone providers, ground transportation, gym and fitness centers, department stores, fast food and movie theaters.
Keep in mind that the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card lets you pick two 5% cash-back categories each quarter. Competing cards sometimes offer multiple 5% categories per quarter, but not always. And even when they do, those categories are still chosen by the issuer.
Generous spending cap for 5% rewards
With other 5% rotating category cards, there's a quarterly spending cap of $1,500 for bonus categories, meaning your bonus earnings top out at $75 in a three-month period (not including the 1% back you'd get on "all other spending.") But the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card has a higher ceiling on spending eligible for 5% rewards. You'll earn 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in eligible purchases each quarter on the combined two categories you pick. That's potentially an extra $400 in bonus rewards per year, assuming you hit the spending cap each quarter.
Extra bonus rewards categories
The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card allows you to select an additional category in which you get unlimited 2% cash back. The 2% options in the first quarter of 2020 were gas stations, restaurants and grocery stores. Again, unlike the 5% spending categories, these rewards aren't capped.
On top of the categories you select, the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card earns 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car booking made through the issuer's Rewards Center. You don't have to opt in to be eligible for the 5% travel rewards.
How it compares with other 5% cash-back cards
If you’re thinking about getting the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card, you may already know about two of the other biggest players in the 5% game: the Discover it® Cash Back and the Chase Freedom Flex®.
Those cards also offer elevated rewards in rotating bonus categories, but the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card differs in key ways:
Its 5%-back categories are customizable, and you can pick two of them each quarter.
The combined quarterly spending cap for those 5% rewards is $2,000, as opposed to $1,500.
You also get an unlimited 2% back in one everyday category.
But this doesn't mean the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card is the clear winner for all spenders. The Discover it® Cash Back and the Chase Freedom Flex® have plenty going for them, too.
Here’s how all three stack up:
Empty Table Header | U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card | Discover it® Cash Back | Chase Freedom Flex® |
|---|---|---|---|
Annual fee | $0. | $0. | $0. |
Bonus offer | $200 rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 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 18.74%-28.99% Variable APR. | 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 18.74%-27.74% Variable APR. | 0% intro APR on purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months, and then the ongoing APR of 19.99%-28.74%, Variable APR. |
Is it easy to plan spending around bonus categories? | Yes. Categories are displayed on the website all year. | Not recently. Discover used to release the full 5% calendar at the start of the year. In 2023, the issuer started announcing categories one quarter at a time. | No. Categories are only announced quarterly. |
Activation requirements |
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Drawbacks and Considerations
The rewards system is complex and requires maintenance
The bonus categories on the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card are less of a mystery compared with, say, those of the Chase Freedom Flex®, which doesn't announce its categories until a new quarter is near. But you still have to keep track of categories and remember to opt in each quarter, and the additional 2% categories make the card more complicated than its direct competitors. (Will you remember, for instance, that "fast food" is a 5% category, while "restaurants" is a 2% category?)
One other consideration: In recent years, the Chase and Discover cards have frequently offered 5% rewards at restaurants, gas stations and grocery stores — "everyday" categories that the U.S. Bank card limits to 2% cash back.
If you prefer a much-lower-maintenance option that you don’t have to think about, the Citi Double Cash® Card earns a flat 2% on all purchases: 1% when you buy, and 1% when you pay them off. There are never any categories to remember. It has a $0 annual fee.
It's an expensive travel companion
The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card has broad merchant acceptance overseas, but its foreign transaction fee could strain your travel budget. The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; 5% on hotels and rental cards booked through Capital One Travel; 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target); and 1% on all other purchases. Plus, it skips the foreign transaction fees. It has a $0 annual fee, broad international merchant acceptance and a sign-up bonus: For a limited time, earn a $250 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
You must bank with the issuer for cash redemptions
You can redeem your rewards for straight-up cash — as opposed to a statement credit — only if you have a bank account with U.S. Bank. Credit cards like the Discover it® Cash Back and the Chase Freedom Flex® let you redeem your rewards for deposits into eligible bank accounts at other institutions.
If you're looking for more potential alternatives, visit NerdWallet's roundup of the best credit cards to have.
How To Decide If It's Right For You
Getting to choose your own bonus categories gives you an advantage, and if maximizing rewards is a top priority, the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card is a good fit for your style. But if you prefer simplicity, you’re better off exploring other rewards credit cards.
If you'd prefer a card with a solid rewards rate on everything, rather than an array of categories to keep track of, this is a great choice. You get 2% cash back on every purchase: 1% when you buy it and 1% when you pay it off.
Looking For Something Else?
Methodology
NerdWallet reviews credit cards with an eye toward both the quantitative and qualitative features of a card. Quantitative features are those that boil down to dollars and cents, such as fees, interest rates, rewards (including earning rates and redemption values) and the cash value of benefits and perks. Qualitative factors are those that affect how easy or difficult it is for a typical cardholder to get good value from the card. They include such things as the ease of application, simplicity of the rewards structure, the likelihood of using certain features, and whether a card is well-suited to everyday use or is best reserved for specific purchases. Our star ratings serve as a general gauge of how each card compares with others in its class, but star ratings are intended to be just one consideration when a consumer is choosing a credit card. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.
Frequently asked questions
What are the rewards on the U.S. Bank Cash+ card?
The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card, earns 5% cash back on the first $2,000 in combined eligible net purchases each quarter in two categories you select yourself. The categories can change each quarter, but in the last quarter of 2020, they included select clothing stores, electronics stores, sporting goods stores, gyms and fitness centers, furniture stores, home utilities, cell phone providers, ground transportation, department stores, fast food, movie theaters and TV, internet and streaming services. In addition, you earn 2% cash back in one "everyday" category (groceries, gas or restaurants) that you also choose. All other purchases earn 1% cash back.
How do I choose my U.S. Bank Cash+ bonus categories?
Log into your account online and opt into the 5% and 2% bonus categories you want. Or you can call the number on the back of your card. You can choose your categories for a quarter as early as 45 days before the quarter begins, up until five days left in the quarter. You'll earn bonus rewards only on purchases you make after you opt in. If you don’t make any selections, then you earn 1% back on all purchases.
How do I redeem rewards with the U.S. Bank Cash+ card?
You can redeem rewards as a statement credit, a U.S. Bank Rewards gift card or a deposit into an eligible account with U.S. Bank.
Is it hard to redeem U.S. Bank Cash+ rewards for actual cash?
To get your rewards as cash, you must have a bank account with U.S. Bank. Otherwise, you can redeem as a credit on your statement, which effectively leaves more cash in your pocket. Many other credit card issuers allow you to take your rewards as a deposit into any bank account, regardless of where it is.
Do rewards from the U.S. Bank Cash+ card expire?
If they are not used, rewards expire 36 months after they are earned. If the account is closed, you forfeit any unused rewards.
