U.S. Bank credit cards 2023: Which one is best for you?

The best U.S. Bank credit cards

U.S. Bank offers the variety of credit card options and cobranded cards you’d expect from the fifth largest commercial bank in the US. When choosing our U.S. Bank credit card picks, we compared the card’s features, including rewards opportunities, annual fees, purchase APRs other perks that a consumer might consider when browsing cards. We chose our list based on those cards that outperformed the others in a given category.

In 2023, we added the Harley-Davidson® Visa® Secured Card to our list, as it performs quite well at helping users build credit, despite the branding of the card.

Best for 0% intro APR

U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card

Finder Rating: 4.8 / 5★★★★★

Terms apply, see rates & fees

While it lacks rewards, the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card offers a longer than average introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers. This length is a great opportunity for savings, though not currently the longest on the market.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Intro APR period. Make purchases and balance transfers at a 0% intro APR for your first 18 billing cycles of card membership. After the intro period expires, your rate reverts to variable 18.99% to 28.99%.
  • Cell phone protection. Pay your cell phone bill with your card and get coverage for your phone against damage or theft up to $600, with a $25 deductible.
  • No annual fee. You won't pay an annual fee for the life of the card.

  Cons

  • No signup bonus. Most credit cards offer a signup bonus after you meet specific criteria. Unfortunately, this card doesn’t have one.
  • Balance transfer limits. Make sure you transfer your balances within 60 days of card membership. Otherwise, you won’t get the intro APR period on balance transfers.
  • Potentially high APR. If you have a weak credit history, you may be given an interest rate up to 28.99% variable. That’s high, considering the average APR is around 16%.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0
  Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 18 billing cycles (then 18.99% to 28.99% variable)
  Balance transfer APR	0% intro for the first 18 billing cycles (then 18.99% to 28.99% variable)
  Welcome Offer	N/A
  Rewards	None

Welcome Offer	n/a
Rewards	None
Annual fee	$0
Minimum credit score	670

Terms apply, see rates & fees

Best for travel rewards

U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Gold American Express® Card

Finder Rating: 4.3 / 5★★★★★

Terms apply, see rates & fees

The U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Gold American Express® Card ups the ante on the old FlexPerks travel card by increasing the bonus points earned and signup bonus while keeping the simplicity and perks that made the prior such a solid card. You'll earn up to 5x FlexPoints on eligible purchases while enjoying solid travel perks for a modest annual fee.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Reward earnings. Earn 5x FlexPoints on prepaid hotels and car rentals, 3x points at restaurants, 2x points at airlines and gas stations, and 1x points on everything else.
  • Signup bonus. Earn 30,000 bonus FlexPoints after spending $2,000 within 4 months of account opening.
  • Travel perks. Enjoy a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck statement credit, up to $25 in reimbursement for baggage fees or in-flight food and drinks, access to a global dining program and more.

  Cons

  • Annual fee. You’ll pay a yearly fee of $85 to own the card.
  • No intro APR period. The card comes with a purchase and balance transfer APR of 18.99% to 28.99% variable right off the bat.

• More details

  Annual fee	$85
  Purchase APR	18.99% to 28.99% variable
  Balance transfer APR	18.99% to 28.99% variable
  Welcome Offer	30,000 points worth $450, after spending $2,000 in the first 4 months
  Estimated welcome offer value	$450 based on Finder's valuation
  Rewards	Up to 5x points

Welcome Offer	30,000 points
Rewards	Up to 5x points
Annual fee	$85
Minimum credit score	670

Terms apply, see rates & fees

Best for business rewards

U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Credit Card

Finder Rating: 4.4 / 5★★★★★

Terms apply, see rates & fees

Though some of U.S. Bank's other business cards might offer more customization or a travel focus, the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Credit Card offers great raw value when it comes to cash back. Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases along with a solid introductory bonus.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Intro APR period. Get a 0% intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles following your account opening. A variable APR of 15.49% to 24.49% applies thereafter.
  • Cashback. Earn 3% cash back on gas up to $200 per purchase, 1% after that, and 3% back on office supplies and cell phone purchases. Everything else you buy earns 1% cash back.
  • Signup bonus. Spend $4,500 within your first 150 days to earn $500 bonus.
  • Annual cashback bonus. Earn 25% bonus based on the cash back you earned during your previous year. The maximum bonus you can get is $250.
  • No annual fee. There's no annual fee to own the card or to add additional employee cards.

  Cons

  • Potentially high APR. Depending on your creditworthiness, you could receive an ongoing purchase and balance transfer APR as high as 24.49% variable.
  • Penalty APR. U.S. Bank may raise your purchase, balance transfer and cash advance APR up to 29.99% fixed after one late or returned payment or if you exceed your credit limit two times in 12 consecutive months. This rate applies until you make six consecutive minimum payments on time and don’t exceed your credit limit in that same period.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0
  Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 15 billing cycles (then 15.49% to 24.49% variable)
  Balance transfer APR	0% intro for the first 15 billing cycles (then 15.49% to 24.49% variable)
  Welcome Offer	$500 after spending $4,500 in the first 150 days
  Rewards	Up to 3% cash back

Welcome Offer	$500
Rewards	Up to 3% cash back
Annual fee	$0
Minimum credit score	740

Terms apply, see rates & fees

Best for establishing credit

Harley-Davidson® Visa® Secured Card

Terms apply, see rates & fees

Despite the cobranding, the Harley-Davidson® Visa® Secured Card is a terrific option for just about anyone looking to rebuild their credit. This card actually gains rewards as well, though they can only be used on Harley Davidson merchandise.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Build your credit. The card reports to all three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. This means you could quickly build your credit if you keep your utilization low and pay your balance on time.
  • No annual fee. You won't have to pay an annual fee to use this card.
  • Rewards. Sure, you're earning Harley Davidson points, but it's more than most secured cards offer.

  Cons

  • Big minimum security deposit. You'll need to put down at least $300 to get started with this card.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0
  Purchase APR	27.49% variable
  Balance transfer APR	27.49% variable
  Welcome Offer	N/A
  Rewards	Up to 1x points

Welcome Offer	n/a
Rewards	Up to 1x points
Annual fee	$0
Minimum credit score	300

Terms apply, see rates & fees

Best for cash back

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

Finder Rating: 4.4 / 5★★★★★

Terms apply, see rates & fees

The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card offers up to a sizable 5% cash back on eligible bonus categories of your choice, such as grocery stores or gas stations. This card also features an intro APR on balance transfers for cardholders, making it a solid one-two punch of long-term value.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Signup bonus. Get a $200 cash back bonus once you spend $1,000 in your first 120 days of card membership. Competitor cards offer similar bonus amounts but you need to spend up to $1,500 to claim it.
  • Cash back. Earn 5% cash back on up to $2,000 each quarter you activate in combined purchases in two categories of your choice, after that you get 1% back. You also earn 2% back on one category like gas or groceries, and 1% back on everything else you buy. Redeem cash back as a statement credit or as a deposit made to your U.S. Bank savings, checking or money market account. Alternatively, get your cash back as a U.S. Bank rewards card.
  • Intro APR period on balance transfers. Enjoy a 0% intro APR period on balance transfers for the first 15 months following your account opening for transfers completed within 60 days of card membership. After that, a variable APR of 18.99% to 28.99% will apply.

  Cons

  • Must enroll in rewards. Each quarter, you must go online and register which two categories where you want to earn 5% and 2% cash back. Enroll 45 days before the beginning of or during each quarter. Otherwise, you'll earn 1% back on these categories.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0
  Purchase APR	18.99% to 28.99% variable
  Balance transfer APR	0% intro for the first 15 months (then 18.99% to 28.99% variable) Balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
  Welcome Offer	$200 after spending $1,000 in the first 120 days
  Rewards	Up to 5% cash back

Welcome Offer	$200
Rewards	Up to 5% cash back
Annual fee	$0
Minimum credit score	670

Terms apply, see rates & fees

How to apply for a U.S. Bank card

Apply for a U.S. Bank credit card in person or online. You’ll need to be 18 years of age, a legal resident of the United States and have a Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, as well as your personal information, income and employment information. To apply online:

1. Head to the U.S. Bank site, hover over Personal and click on Credit cards.
2. Click on Credit cards (overview) to view the various credit card categories.
3. Select your card category and select the name of the card you want.
4. On the new credit card page, scroll down and choose Apply now.
5. Fill out your personal information and hit Next to complete the application.

How many U.S. Bank credit cards can I have?

U.S. Bank hasn’t stated a restriction on the number of credit cards you can have.

There are 4 types of U.S. Bank credit cards

While not as well known as Chase or Amex, U.S. Bank offers some surprisingly valuable cards for consumers. Notably, U.S. Bank’s dining rewards options, travel options, low interest options and secured cards are all varied and strong picks in their categories.

The only major type of card U.S. Bank lacks is a student card. But students can always become authorized users of someone else’s U.S. Bank credit card, they can enjoy the card’s benefits and build credit at the same time.

What U.S. Bank credit cards charge no annual fee?

The Minneapolis-based U.S. Bank offers a suite of credit cards with no annual fee, including a cobranded credit cards for airlines and supermarkets like Harris Teeter and Ralphs. Some earn you cash back, while others shine for long intro APR periods on balance transfers that can save you hefty fees. Your U.S. Bank no annual fee card options include:

More rewards means you’ll pay an annual fee

Generally for most credit cards, a higher annual fee is commensurate with additional perks and features as well as better rewards rates.

U.S. Bank annual fee credit cards tend to result in the following perks.

• Higher signup bonus. Earn from $350 to $750 in reward value, depending on the card you choose. However, the spend criteria to earn the bonus is also higher than no-annual-fee counterparts.
• High rewards on purchases. Earn up to 3x points on purchases at restaurants or travel, as opposed to the typical 1x points of a no-annual-fee U.S. Bank credit card.
• TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee credit. Enjoy up to $100 in statement credit reimbursement for the TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee.
• Additional travel perks. Select cards come with Priority Pass lounge access, no foreign transaction fees, an annual travel credit, Boingo Wi-Fi and more.

Summary of U.S. Bank cards

U.S. Bank rewards program

U.S. Bank offers a rewards program called FlexPerks. By using certain cards, you can collect points called FlexPoints that you can redeem for rewards through the rewards center.

U.S. Bank balance transfer credit cards

U.S. Bank offers three credit cards with a 0% intro APR period on balance transfers:

• U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
• U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
• U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card

The first two cards offer rewards, while the third currently has the longest intro APR period for both purchases and balance transfers than any credit card on the market as of January 2022. What all three cards have in common is the balance transfer fee.

How to compare balance transfer credit cards

Before you start your balance transfer process, here’s what to keep an eye out for:

• Balance transfer fees. All U.S. Bank credit cards come with a 3% balance transfer fee, with a $5 minimum fee. This means, a balance transfer of $5,000 will cost you $150 in transfer fees.
• Balance transfer amount. U.S. Bank doesn’t disclose the amount you can transfer. Typically, though, banks accept transfers of either 95% or 100% of your available credit limit.
• Originating bank. U.S. Bank won’t accept balance transfers from other U.S. Bank credit cards. All transfers must be made from other banks and financial institutions that aren’t affiliated with U.S. Bank.
• What happens after the intro period ends? If you still have any unpaid balance, you start to accrue interest with the revert APR.
• No rewards on balance transfers. Even if the card earns rewards on all purchases, you won’t earn any rewards on balance transfers.

Why choose a U.S. Bank business credit card?

Despite the limited availability of the issuer, U.S. Bank business credit cards still offer a variety of strengths. Note that these perks aren’t necessarily included on all U.S. Bank business credit cards.

• Spending controls. Set controls on your employees’ cards based on time, amount and location. You can also customize due dates and set alerts.
• Fraud liability protection. You won’t be held liable for any unauthorized charges made with your card.
• Travel and car rental insurance. You’re covered against accidental death and dismemberment when traveling on a common carrier when you pay the ticket entirely with your card. You also get coverage against theft and damage when you rent a car.
• Online banking. Log on to your online banking account at the U.S. Bank website to pay bills and manage your spending.
• Relationship rewards. Earn more rewards whenever your customers pay you with a credit card.
• U.S. Bank mobile app. Download the mobile app and send payments, set alerts, find nearby ATMs and more.

How to choose the best U.S. Bank credit cards

There are several aspects to take into consideration when deciding which credit card is best for your business. Here are a few:

• Do you live in a state with a U.S. Bank branch? If you don’t, you won’t be able to get any of their business credit cards.
• Does your business spend on gas and office supplies? In that case, the best card for your company could be the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Credit Card. You’ll get to earn higher cash back on these categories, plus you’ll get a bonus — based on your spending — of up to $250 every year. And what’s better is you get everything without having to pay an annual fee.
• Do you want a low APR? For businesses with cashflow difficulties, a card with an intro APR for balance transfers and purchases and an overall low APR after that could be the right choice. The U.S. Bank Business Platinum offers a long intro APR period and, depending on your creditworthiness, you could get an APR as low as 16.49% variable.
• Does your business require frequent travel? If it does, the U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Business Travel Rewards could be a good pick. You get to earn points on a category you spend the most on each month, and you can redeem your points for travel rewards, shopping or cash back. Plus, if you spend at least $24,000 a year, U.S. Bank will credit your card’s annual fee.
• Do you often fly with Korean Air? For frequent Korean Air flyers, the SKYPASS Visa Business Card could be most useful. It lets you earn SKYPASS miles with every purchase, plus you get two Korean Air lounge coupons every year.
• Do you stay at Radisson hotels? If your business travels often lead you to Radisson hotels, the Radisson Rewards™ Business Visa® Card could be the best choice. You’ll earn points on every purchase, and the signup bonus alone is enough for nine Category 1 standard room redemptions.

Full list of U.S. Bank credit cards

Bottom line

Whether you’re rebuilding your credit, growing your business or looking for no-annual-fee options or a premium card, you’ll find a competitive choice in most U.S. Bank credit card categories.

While it lacks rewards, the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card offers a longer-than-average introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers. This length is a great opportunity for savings, though not currently the longest on the market.

But if you feel like you’re missing something, check out some products from alternative issuers to compare your options.