Rewards Plan
Sign up Bonus
Credit Rating
0% Intro
Annual Fee
APR
- TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry®
- Annual Fee Waived First Year
- Limited Redemption Options
- Limited Travel Benefits
On U.S. Bank Secure Website
Rewards Plan
Sign up Bonus
0% Intro
PROS
- TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry®
- Annual Fee Waived First Year
CONS
- Limited Redemption Options
- Limited Travel Benefits
APR
20.49% - 28.49% Variable
Annual Fee
$95 (waived first year)
Balance Transfer Fee
3% or $5, whichever is greater
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.
One of the main benefits of the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is its rewards program. 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.
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.
- Rewards And Welcome Bonus
- Annual Fee Waived First Year
- No Foreign Transaction Fee
- Flexibility In Redemption
- TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry®
- Limited Redemption Options
- Limited Travel Benefits
- Annual Fee
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 |
|---|---|
Rewards And Welcome Bonus | Limited Redemption Options |
Annual Fee Waived First Year | Limited Travel Benefits |
No Foreign Transaction Fee | Annual Fee |
Flexibility In Redemption | |
TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry® |
- Rewards And Welcome Bonus
Cardholders are eligible for 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.
In terms of sign up bonus, you can earn 50,000 bonus points when you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of 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.
- Flexibility In Redemption
Although the card's redemption options may be limited, the points earned are quite flexible.
Cardholders can use their points for statement credits or to offset travel purchases, making it easy to redeem rewards in a way that works best for them.
- 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.
- Limited Travel Benefits
The card offers some travel benefits, such as trip cancellation and interruption, trip delay reimbursement, and SmartDelay, but it doesn't offer the same level of travel perks as some premium 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.
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.
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card | 1X – 5X
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
| 50,000 points
50,000 bonus points when you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening
| $95 (waived first year) |
| 1% – 5%
5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter on two categories you choose, 2% cash back on one everyday category, like gas stations, grocery stores or restaurants, 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
| $200
$200 rewards bonus after you apply online and spend $500 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening
| $0 | |
| 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
|
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.
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.
