U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card Review

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® credit card Review

The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® is one of the best cash back credit cards that can bring you many returns if you use it reasonably. Numerous perks like a 0% intro APR period for 15 months, potential high rewards, a sign-up bonus of $200, etc. look outstanding considering the $0 annual fee. Even though the rewards system might seem complex, you can enhance and complement your credit cards list with the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card. Apply for the card, and get the decision in as little as 60 seconds.

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature®: pros and cons

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature®: rewards system in a nutshell

The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® provides a 5% cash back on 2 categories that you have to choose at the beginning of each quarter. Those categories are fast food; home utilities; TV, internet, and streaming; department stores; cell phone providers; electronic stores. 5% or 2% cash back is based on how merchants classify the purchase. You can earn 5% cash back on one of these categories up to $2,000 per quarter spent. It gives you $400 potential rewards every year if you are hitting the spending cap each quarter.

But the 5% U.S. Bank rewards categories are quite narrowed, so it is going to be hard to reach the spending ceiling. A 2% cash back category offsets this drawback since you can choose one unlimited everyday spending category with 2% cash back from grocery stores and grocery delivery, restaurants, gas stations, and EV charging stations. Every other eligible purchase will bring you 1% unlimited cash back.

5% cash back can also be earned on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center without any caps.

The redemption is not as flexible as you might have wanted. You can redeem your rewards towards a statement credit, a gift card, or a deposit to your U.S. Bank checking or savings account. The inflexibility is that you can’t make a direct deposit into another bank savings or checking account (many other credit cards provide such an option). There is no minimum redemption amount except for gift cards ($20 minimal redemption in $5 increments).

The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® rewards system is pretty complicated. On the one hand, the credit card requires higher maintenance since you have to choose two 5% cash back categories, and one 2% cash back category. If you are not opted in before the start of the quarter - you will only earn 1% cash back on everything. On the other hand, it allows you to get the biggest possible benefit by choosing the category yourself and having an opportunity to change it if your spending habits change.

Who can benefit from getting the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® credit card?

Reasonably choosing the cash back categories at the beginning of each quarter, almost everyone can benefit from a U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® credit card. The possibility of getting $400 in cash back only for the 5% categories will attract many. But to get the highest rewards you will have to analyze your spending habits before the start of each new quarter and make a clever choice.

Everyday spending is not bypassed as well. You will get a 2% unlimited cash back at either of categories: grocery stores and grocery delivery, restaurants, gas stations, and EV charging stations. With the addition of the $200 sign-up bonus, an intro APR period, and a $0 annual fee, the credit card may enhance your credit cards list

However, tourists that are often traveling abroad will not find this credit card as attractive. The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® credit card has a foreign transaction fee of 2% or 3% depending on the currency of payment. In this case, consider applying for one of the travel or airline credit cards. But there is a notable benefit in the form of the 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center.

If you are not ready to follow your spending habits and choose cash back categories yourself - there might be better options for you. For example, the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card allows you to earn a high 5% cash back on top spending category that is adjusted automatically with very little maintenance.

Or, if you know for sure that one of the categories takes the biggest part of your budget - you can choose a credit card based on this information. For example, if you are spending a lot on groceries - the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express will suit you better thanks to the 6% cash back up to $6,000 annually spent at U.S. supermarkets.

Are there any other benefits?

The full list of the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® benefits can be found below:

• U.S. Bank ExtendPay™ Plan. Divide your $100+ purchases into small fixed monthly payments and pay no interest keeping your rewards active.
• 24/7 customer support service. The U.S. Bank customer support is working 24/7 and always ready to help you with any concerning questions about rewards, credit card details, application status, etc.
• Real-time rewards. The real-time rewards option is an interesting feature from the U.S. Bank that provides instant rewards redemption after the purchase is made.
• Cash back never expires. The accumulated cash back has no expiration date, so you can redeem them whenever you want.
• Rewards center Earn Mall access. Get access to the Rewards Center Earn Mall to earn additional cash back for making online purchases.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a credit card with a $0 annual fee, potentially high rewards, a sign-up bonus, and an intro APR period - the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® credit card is an ideal option for you. But you have to be ready to spend some time adjusting cash back categories yourself.

Despite its relatively high APR after the intro period ends - we would still recommend applying for the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® credit card if you want to get the biggest benefit from your rewards. If you don’t want to explore such a complex cash back system yourself - there are better rewards credit cards for you that won’t require as much effort from you.