Rewards Plan
Sign up Bonus
Our Rating
0% Intro
Annual Fee
APR
- TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry®
- Annual Fee Waived First Year
- Limited Redemption Options
- Limited Travel Benefits
Rewards Plan
Sign up Bonus
Our Rating
PROS
- TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry®
- Annual Fee Waived First Year
CONS
- Limited Redemption Options
- Limited Travel Benefits
APR
20.24% - 28.24% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$95 (waived first year)
0% Intro
N/A
Credit Requirements
Good - Excellent
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is a rewards credit card that is designed for people who want to earn rewards on travel related purchases as well as on everyday purchases. It offers a range of benefits, including a generous rewards program, no annual fee, no foreign transaction fee and a variety of travel and purchase protection benefits.
Cardholders can earn 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center; 4X points on travel, gas stations, and EV charging stations; 2X points on grocery stores, grocery delivery, dining, and streaming services; and 1X points on all other eligible purchases. Points can be redeemed for travel, merchandise, gift cards, and more.
An attractive perk that sets this card apart from others at its tier is the inclusion of airport lounge access through a Priority Pass™ Select membership. Cardholders enjoy four complimentary visits annually, granting access to over 1,300 VIP lounges worldwide. The card also offers reimbursement for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry® application fees, up to $100 every four years.
However, the card does have some drawbacks. For example, there are no premium travel perks such as annual credit, free baggage check, or airline perks. Also, the options for redemption are less diverse compared to Chase, Amex, or Capital One cards.
Why did U.S. Bank deny my application for the Altitude Connect Visa Signature card?
U.S. Bank may deny an application for reasons such as poor credit history or insufficient income.
How to use the U.S. Bank Real-Time Rewards?
After enrolling, redeeming points with the U.S. Bank Real-Time Rewards is a simple process. After making a purchase, you'll receive a text message asking if you want to use your points to redeem immediately. Your points will be deducted from your balance and will be redeemed as a credit on your monthly billing statement.
Should you move to U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature card?
If you're looking for a card with rewards on both travel and everyday spending, this can be a goos idea. However, if you're looking for premium rewards or a variety of ways to redeem your rewards, you may want to look for different cards.
Overall, Whether or not you should move to the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature card depends on your spending habits and the benefits of the card compared to other credit card options.
In this Review
The Potential Rewards: A Comprehensive Analysis
The table below presents a rewards simulation that offers an overview of the potential benefits of using the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature card, based on both general usage and spending across different categories.
This simulation can provide you with valuable insights into the rewards you could earn from using this card.
However, it's important to keep in mind that the figures shown in the table are estimates and your actual rewards may differ depending on your unique spending habits and other factors.
| |
|---|---|
Spend Per Category | U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card |
$10,000 – U.S Supermarkets | 20,000 points |
$4,000 – Restaurants
| 4,000 points |
$5,000 – Airline | 20,000 points |
$5,000 – Hotels | 25,000 points |
$4,000 – Gas | 16,000 points |
Estimated Total Annual Points | 85,000 points |
Pros and Cons
Just like any other credit card, the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature has some advantages and disadvantages:
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Welcome Bonus | Limited Redemption Options |
Annual Fee Waived First Year | No Points Transfer Among U.S. Bank Altitude Cards |
No Foreign Transaction Fee | Annual Fee |
Airport Lounge Access | |
TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry® |
- Welcome Bonus
The card earns 60,000 points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on the account owner's card within the first 180 days from account opening.
- Annual Fee Waived First Year
While the card has an annual fee, it's waived the first year, making it a good option to review whether it fits your needs.
- No Foreign Transaction Fee
The card doesn't charge afee for purchases you make abroad.
- Airport Lounge Access
The inclusion of Priority Pass™ Select membership provides four complimentary visits per year to over 1,300 VIP lounges globally, enhancing the travel experience.
- TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry®
You can receive a statement credit of up to $100 to cover your application fee once every four years.
- Limited Redemption Options
When compared to the array of choices available with other rewards programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards and the Amex Membership Rewards, the U.S. Bank Altitude program provides a limited selection of redemption options for your points.
The inability to transfer points to travel partners limits the flexibility of reward redemption compared to some other travel cards.
- Annual Fee
The card charges an annual fee of $95 (waived first year). While this is lower compared to premium cards, it's still something to take into account.
- No Points Transfer Among U.S. Bank Altitude Cards
Points earned on the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card cannot be combined with those from other U.S. Bank Altitude cards, limiting flexibility for cardholders with multiple Altitude cards.
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Unlocking Rewards: Points Redemption Options
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card offers a variety of options for redeeming points earned through its rewards program.
Cardholders can redeem their points for travel-related expenses, such as flights, hotels, and car rentals via the U.S. Bank Travel Portal. However, it's important to note that U.S. Bank has strict and inflexible terms and conditions when it comes to travel reservations.
U.S. Bank offers the option to activate real-time mobile rewards on your account. You can search for the best deals, apply discounts and coupons, and use shopping portals to get the most out of your rewards. Once you've found what you're looking for, you can redeem your rewards with a simple text message.
You can use your Altitude points to redeem gift cards at a flat rate of 1 cent per point? This means that regardless of which U.S. Bank Altitude card you have, you'll receive the same value for your points.
While redeeming points for gift cards is a great option, the least preferred method is to use your points to purchase merchandise. You'll receive a value of around 0.9 to 1 cent per point with this method, which is not as favorable as other redemption options.
How It Compared To Other U.S. Bank Credit Cards?
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card distinguishes itself among other U.S. Bank cards through its balanced combination of rewards and benefits.
When compared to the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card, its sibling in the Altitude series, the Connect card offers a more extensive points structure, with up to 5x points in various categories and a higher welcome bonus. However, both cards share similarities in their straightforward rewards system and the inability to combine points between them.
In contrast to the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card, a premium travel card in the Altitude family, the Connect card lacks some advanced features like points transferability to travel partners. The Reserve card, with a higher annual fee, offers a more luxurious travel experience, including an annual travel credit, greater point values, and enhanced airport lounge access.
Comparing the Altitude Connect Visa Card to the U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature Card, a cashback-focused option, reveals different reward structures. The Connect card is geared toward travel enthusiasts, earning points across diverse categories, while the Cash+ card allows users to choose cashback categories. Each card caters to distinct spending preferences.
The last option is the new Shopper Cash Rewards card. While it charges an annual fee of $95 ($0 on first year), it offers attractive rewards rate of 1.5% – 6%.
Card | Rewards | Sign-up Bonus | Annual Fee |
| 1X – 5X
5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center, 3 points per dollar on eligible travel purchases and mobile wallet spending and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible net purchases
| 50,000 points
50,000 points worth $750 on travel after spending $4,500 in the first 90 days of account opening
| $400 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1% – 5%
5% cash back on purchases in two categories of your choice (up to $2,000 in combined purchases per quarter, then 1 percent). 5% back on prepaid air, hotel, and car reservations through the Rewards Center. 2% cash back on one choice everyday category. 1% back on all other purchases
| $200
$200 bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening.
| $0 | |
| U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card | 1.5% – 6%
6% cash back on your first $1,500 in combined eligible purchases each quarter at two retailers you choose, 3% back on your first $1,500 in eligible purchases each quarter on your choice of one everyday category, 1.5% back on all other qualifying purchases. Also, 5.5% back on reservations for hotels and prepaid car rentals when you book through the U.S. Bank Rewards Center.
| $250
$250 bonus after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening
| $95 ($0 on first year) |
| 1X – 4X
4x points at restaurants, take-outs & deliveries, 2x points at supermarkets, gas stations & streaming servicesm and 1 point for 1 dollar on all other purchases
| 20,000 points
20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening
| $0 | |
| None | None | $0
|
Is This Card Right for You?
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is a good choice for people who want to earn rewards on everyday purchases and enjoy a range of travel and purchase protection benefits. Here are some specific situations when you may want to consider this card:
You spend a lot on travel, gas, and groceries: The card offers higher rate of points on travel, gas station purchases, grocery store and dining purchases. If you spend a lot in these categories, you can earn a significant amount of rewards.
You want to enjoy travel-related perks: The card offers a variety of travel-related benefits, including trip delay reimbursement, trip cancellation assistance, and SmartDelay options.
You want to earn rewards on everyday purchases: The card's rewards program is designed to reward cardholders for their everyday spending. This can be a great way to earn rewards on your everyday purchases.
You want to test the card with no annual fee on the first year: The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card has no annual fee in the first year, which can be a good opportunity to test the card and see if it fits your needs.
How To Apply For The Altitude Connect Signature Card?
Here's how you can apply for the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card:
Go to the U.S. Bank website: Start by visiting the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card page on the U.S. Bank website. From there, click on the “Apply Now” button to start the application process.
Fill out the application: Next, you'll be asked to provide your personal information, such as your name, address, and social security number. You'll also need to provide information about your income, employment, and housing status.
Review the terms and conditions: Before submitting your application, make sure to read through the terms and conditions of the card to ensure it's similar to what you see on the original offer and for your expectations.
Submit your application: Once you've reviewed the terms and conditions and filled out the application, click on the “Submit” button to submit your application. After submitting your application, you should receive a decision from U.S. Bank within a few minutes or a few business days, depending on the complexity of your application and your credit situation.
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FAQs
Can I get pre-approved
U.S. Bank doesn't have an online tool to check pre-approval status, unlike other banks such as Chase, Capital One, or American Express. Pre-approval offers are only available through mail or email and are offered to existing customers through their online accounts.
What is the initial credit limit?
The initial credit limit for the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature card varies depending on the applicant's creditworthiness, but yo can expect for at least $1,000 if you have an good-excellent score.
What is the main reason to avoid the card?
The main reason to avoid the card is the limited redemption offers and rigid restrictions when redeeming, especially if you want to use it for travel.
Compare U.S. Bank Altitude Connect
While the Altitude Go is a great no-annual-fee card, the Altitude Connect is our winner with a great points rewards ratio and travel perks.
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect vs. U.S. Bank Altitude Go: How They Compare?
While the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve offers better travel perks than the Altitude Connect, we don't think it is worth the higher annual fee.
Both cards offer great cashback rates. The Shopper Cash Rewards wins for everyday spending, while the Altitude Connect is best for travel
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect vs U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards
