A card with high cash back on rotating categories and an intro APR period on balance transfers.
30-seconds take
- Get this card if you want high cash back on specific categories.
- Pick something else if you want unlimited cash back and an intro APR period on purchases.
- Apply with a good to excellent credit score of 680 or higher.
| Product Name | U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card |
|---|---|
| Card Type | Visa |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| APR (Annual Percentage Rate) for Purchases | 15.99% to 24.99% variable |
| Introductory Balance Transfer APR | 0% for the first 12 billing cycles (then 15.99% to 24.99% variable) |
| Balance Transfer Fee | $5 or 3% of the transaction, whichever is greater |
| Cash Advance Rate | 25.99% variable |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 3% of the transaction value |
| Cash Advance Fee | $4 or 4% of the cash advance amount, whichever is greater |
| Interest Free Period | Up to 24 days |
| Late Payment Fee | $38 |
| Returned Payment Fee | $35 |
| Additional Cardholder Fee | $0 |
| Minimum Age | 18 years of age |
|---|
The basics
The U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card comes with high cash back on rotating categories of your choice. It even comes with a relatively high quarterly cap, so you can earn at a higher rate for longer.
You also get a decent signup bonus, which is easy to clear — and you get a long intro APR period on balance transfers. This could be useful if you’re stuck with a high APR on another card.
The perks
Signup bonus.
Get $150 cash back bonus once you spend $500 in your first 90 days of card membership. Competitor cards offer the same bonus amount but you need to spend from $1,000 to $1,500 to claim it.
Cash back.
Earn 5% cash back on up to $2,000 per quarter 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 12 billing cycles following your account opening for transfers completed within 60 days of card membership. After that, a variable APR of 15.74% to 24.74% will apply.
No annual fee.
You get this card without paying an annual fee.
How much cash back rewards can I earn with the U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card?
| Where you spend: | The amount you spend: | Cash back earned: |
| Dining | $2,000 | $40 |
| Gas | $2,000 | $40 |
| Groceries | $3,000 | $60 |
| Furniture | $2,000 | $100 |
| Electronics | $2,000 | $100 |
| Clothing stores | $1,500 | $75 |
| Everything else | $6,000 | $60 |
| Total | $20,500 | $475 |
Suppose your annual spending is similar to our example. In this case, you would earn $475 cash back in a year. And if you clear the signup bonus, you would earn $625 for the first year.
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Visa Signature benefits.
Get travel and emergency assistance services and Visa Concierge to help you with travel plans, dining reservations and special event bookings. Also take advantage of the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection.
No penalty APR.
This is one of the rare credit cards where you only pay fees for late or returned payments. With other cads, you’ll pay the fee plus you could get a penalty APR of up to 30% for a single late or returned payment. In some cases the penalty APR can even last indefinitely.
Digital payments.
You can use Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay, Microsoft Wallet, Fitbit Pay, Garmin Pay and Visa Checkout to pay with a touch, tap or click.
U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card cash back categories
What to watch out for
You must keep enrolling in cash back categories.
Each quarter, you must go online and register which categories you want to earn 5% and 2% cash back in. You can enroll 45 days before the beginning of or during each quarter. If you don’t, you’ll earn 1% back on these categories.
Potentially high APR.
If you have a weaker credit history, you may be given a higher interest rate of 24.99% variable.
Foreign transaction fees.
When you travel abroad, you’ll pay 2% fee for each transaction made in US dollars and 3% fee for foreign currency transactions.
Balance transfer limits.
To use the intro APR period, you must complete all balance transfers within 60 days of card membership.
Consider other cards if …
You want a similar card from another bank.
The Discover it® Cash Back card lets you earn 5% back on rotating categories for purchases up to $1,500 per quarter. After that, you earn 1% back, which also applies to everything else you buy. In addition, you get a long intro APR period on balance transfers and purchases.
Alternatively, the Chase Freedom® could be a good choice. You earn 5% back on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter on rotating categories. With this card, you also get a long intro APR period on balance transfers and purchases.
You want unlimited cash back.
Both the American Express Cash Magnet™ Card from American Express and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® offer unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, and both cards offer a long intro APR period on balance transfers and purchases.
The U.S. Bank Cash 365™ American Express® Card also offers unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, but it only offers an intro APR period on balance transfers.
You can get unlimited 2% back on everything you buy with the Citi® Double Cash Card and with the PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card when you become a PenFed Honors Advantage member. Furthermore, both cards offer intro APR period on balance transfers.
Compare cash back credit cards
How does a balance transfer work with this card?
Complete your balance transfers within 60 days of card membership to get the 0% intro APR period for 12 billing cycles following your account opening. A variable APR of 15.74% to 24.74% will apply after that.
Each balance transfer will cost you $5 or 3% of the transaction, whichever is greater. This means you’ll pay a $90 fee for a $3,000 balance transfer.
You can call U.S. Bank using the number on the back of your card or log on to your online account to initiate a balance transfer. It can take up to two weeks for your balance transfer request to be fully processed. Make sure to continue making payments to the account you’re transferring from until the transfer finishes.
What should I know before I apply?
You must be at least 18 years old and a US citizen.
You’ll also need to provide personal information, such as:
- Your full name and contact information.
- Your residential status.
- Your annual income and employment information.
- Your Social Security number.
What credit score do I need?
Apply with a good to excellent credit score of 740 or higher. To increase your chance of approval, get a low APR and a higher credit limit make sure to apply with a high credit score and low credit utilization.
What do customers say about the U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card?
U.S. Bank earns B rank from the Better Business Bureau, which accredited it in 1970. The U.S. Bank customer reviews at BBB mostly complain about poor customer service for the bank in general.
As for the card, users are generally happy with the cash back rate on rotating categories, but they claim the categories are restrictive. Some even complain that the merchants where they often shop don’t qualify for the higher cash back.
How to apply for the U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card
- Go to the U.S. Bank website and find the U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card. Click Apply now.
- Complete the application with your personal details.
- Review and submit your application.
How long will it take to get my U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card?
Automated preapproval means that you’ll likely get a decision within a minute. If additional information is needed, U.S. Bank will send you a response within a few business days to a few weeks.
Once approved, expect your card to arrive in the mail within 7 to 10 business days.
I got the card. Now what?
- Download the U.S. Bank mobile app. Use it to make payments, send money, monitor your accounts, find a nearby ATM and more.
- Avoid interest. Your due date is between 24 and 30 days after the close of each billing cycle. Pay your balance before that to avoid paying interest.
- Avoid fees. You’ll pay up to $38 fee for late payments and up to $35 for returned payments. Balance transfers and cash advances also come with fees.
- Customer service. Contact U.S. Bank at 1-800-872-2657 if you have questions, or reach them with the U.S. Bank mobile app.
How do I redeem rewards from U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card?
Redeem your cash back as a:
- Statement credit
- Reward card
- Deposit made to your U.S. Bank savings, checking or money market account.
If you’re looking to get a reward card, you need a $20 minimum to redeem. Also, the rewards card must be in $5 increments. For the other redemption options there’s no minimum.
Bottom line
This can be a decent card if you spend up to $2,000 every three months on purchases from specific categories. Furthermore, you get a long intro APR period on balance transfer to help you move balances from other non-U.S. Bank accounts and to pay them without interest.
However, if you usually spend more than $8,000 per year — or if you don’t spend much in the categories offered by U.S. Bank — a flat cashback card could be a better choice.
Check out other credit cards that offer cash back and compare your options to find the best card for your needs.
Frequently asked questions
Images: USBank.com
