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U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature Review: The One Retail Card to Rule Them All?

Review Updated
Brittney Myers
Author: Brittney Myers
Brittney Myers
Brittney Myers
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Brittney started her writing career in the world of science, putting her physics degree to good use. Her journey into finance started with building her personal credit, but soon grew into a borderline obsession with credit cards and travel rewards. For the last 7 years, she has enjoyed the ability to share her expertise with readers, as well as the opportunity to interview companies and individuals making an impact on our financial lives. She wholly believe most problems can be solved with the right research -- and a good spreadsheet -- and she specializes in translating complex financial topics into actionable advice to help educate and empower readers.

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Nathan Alderman
Fact Checked: Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman
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OFFER STATUS

U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature® is unavailable on Motley Fool Money. All information was collected independently and not reviewed for accuracy or provided by the credit card issuer. Some items may be out of date.

The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature® is good for folks who frequently shop at major brands and don't want multiple store cards. Without the annual fee, this card would be an ideal cash back option for big shoppers, but the fee -- plus the spending cap -- really limit the potential. A few of the retailers show promise, but most options can be replaced via no annual fee cards.

Check out all of the card's rewards, perks, and fine print in our detailed U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature® review.

Ratings Methodology

U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature®

U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature®
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good (670-850)
Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Good (670-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

19.24% to 29.24% (Variable)

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. 6% cash back on your first $1,500 in combined eligible purchases each quarter with two retailers you choose. 3% cash back on your first $1,500 in eligible purchases on your choice of one everyday category (like wholesale clubs, gas and EV charging stations, bills and utilities). 1.5% cash back on all other eligible purchases.

1.5% - 6% cash back

Annual Fee

$0 for the first year; $95 per year thereafter

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $250 bonus after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening.

$250

  • This card has some interesting potential for shoppers, but the annual fee makes it harder to justify after the first year. Whether this replaces store cards and/or other cash back cards will depend a lot on your spending.

    • Competitive welcome bonus
    • Multiple high-rate bonus categories
    • Choose your categories each quarter
    • Annual fee after the first year
    • Spending caps limit earnings
    • Rewards management takes work
    • Foreign transaction fees
    • Earn a $250 bonus after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening.
    • 6% cash back on your first $1,500 in combined eligible purchases each quarter with two retailers you choose.
    • 3% cash back on your first $1,500 in eligible purchases on your choice of one everyday category (like wholesale clubs, gas and EV charging stations, bills and utilities).
    • 1.5% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
    • $0 intro annual fee for the first year ($95/year thereafter)
U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature® is unavailable on Motley Fool Money. All information was collected independently and not reviewed for accuracy or provided by the credit card issuer. Some items may be out of date.

Credit card comparison

We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.

Offer Our Rating Welcome Offer Rewards Program APR Learn More
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash back on rotating categories 		Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. 1% - 5% Cashback Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Intro:

Purchases: 0%, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months

Regular: 18.49% - 27.49% Variable APR *Rates as of December 12, 2024.

Apply Now for Discover it® Cash Back

On Discover's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash rewards on everyday spending 		$200 cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. 2% cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening

Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers

Regular: 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR

Apply Now for Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

On Wells Fargo's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for unlimited rewards on purchases 		25,000 points Circle with letter I in it. 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases 1.5 points per dollar Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.49% - 28.49% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers.

Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Regular: 18.49% - 28.49% (Variable)

Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

On Bank of America's Secure Website.

U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature® review

Is the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature® worth it?

Whether the math works on this card depends on your specific spending habits and what other cards you have (or are willing to get). That's because you can get nearly the same return from no annual fee cards by either:

  • Getting the retailer's store credit card, or
  • Getting a comparable cash back rewards card.

For example, I have store cards for 5% back at Target and Amazon. I also have no annual fee cash back cards for 5% back on hardware store and department store purchases. So, this card would only earn me an extra 1% back if I chose those retailers. With a $1,500 quarterly cap, the extra 1% is only worth $60 a year -- less than the annual fee.

The only real exceptions I see are Walmart (in store), Chewy.com, and Apple. If you shop those heavily, the fee may end up being worth it for extra rewards. Do the math for yourself before applying.

Author's note

I don't shop enough to make this card worthwhile, but I've had the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card and U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® for several years now. Overall, I'm happy with my U.S. Bank experience.

The mobile app is convenient, rewards are easy to use, and I like that I get reminders to activate my rewards each quarter. While I don't often change my bonus categories, I appreciate that I can choose to do so if my spending habits change throughout the year. I plan to keep these cards for the foreseeable future.

Different folks have different strokes, so it can be useful to get multiple opinions. Take a look at what other folks are saying about the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature®.

What our competitors think

Average competitor rating: 4.1 / 5.0 stars

We took a look at reviews from five of our top competitors, and boy are they all over the place! While the average rating was 4.1, scores ranged both higher and lower.

While everyone agreed that the welcome bonus was great, opinions were split after that. Competitors who really liked the card raved about the high rewards rates, but I feel as if they discounted the annual fee, as well as the fact that other cards can earn nearly as much without said fee.

Even the fans acknowledged that the rewards system can get complicated, what with having to activate categories and keep track of spending caps. And none of us were happy about the foreign transaction fees.

Social media consensus

It's not often that people agree online, but they seem to be mostly of one mind about this card: It's good for the first year, then…not so much. Overall, folks want either:

  • A lower (ideally no) annual fee, or
  • A (much) higher spending cap.

Commenters point out that you can get similar rates from no annual fee cards in most categories. Walmart in-store purchases and Apple purchases are the noted potential exceptions. Multiple users specifically mention using it to maximize rewards on groceries at Walmart stores.

U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature® features and benefits

Have a $250 shopping spree when you earn this welcome bonus

Most cards are good cards for at least the first year thanks to the welcome bonus, and this card offers a pretty competitive welcome bonus. Earn $250 in cash back when you spend $2,000 in the first 120 days. This is a very reasonable spending requirement.

Add on the fact that the annual fee is $0 for the first year; $95 per year thereafter, and you have an excellent return on Year One card ownership. Whether it makes sense after that will depend on rewards and your spending habits.

Earn up 6% back at two of your favorite retailers

This is definitely an eyebrow-raising feature, especially at first glance. Cardholders can choose two retailers and earn 6% cash back on your first $1,500 in combined eligible purchases each quarter with two retailers you choose (then 1%).

You'll need to choose your bonus categories every quarter, from a list that includes:

  • Ace Hardware®
  • Apple®
  • Amazon.com®
  • Anthropologie®
  • Bed, Bath, & Beyond®
  • Best Buy®
  • Chewy.com®
  • Crate and Barrel™
  • Disney®
  • Home Depot®
  • Ikea®
  • Kohl's®
  • Lowe's®
  • Lululemon®
  • Macy's™
  • Menards®
  • Nordstrom™
  • Pottery Barn®
  • QVC®
  • Restoration Hardware™
  • Target®
  • Walmart®
  • Wayfair.com
  • Williams Sonoma®

You can also activate to earn 3% back on your first $1,500 in eligible purchases on your choice of one everyday category (like wholesale clubs, gas and EV charging stations, bills and utilities).

This is definitely the highest rewards rate I know of for most of these retailers. That said, you can also earn 5% back at most of them with other cards -- many of which have no annual fee.

Change your bonus categories as your shopping habits evolve

Yes, having to activate categories every quarter is kind of annoying. But I have several cards like this, and I have to say, I actually like that I have the option to change up my bonus categories throughout the year.

I think this would be especially key with this kind of card that features so many different retailers.

For example, maybe you don't normally spend much at Apple, but you're going to buy a new laptop soon. You can pick Apple for a quarter and really maximize your cash back. Then, switch over to Chewy.com the next quarter to stock up on dog toys and kibble.

What could be improved

You're stuck paying an annual fee after the first year

It's great that the annual fee is waived for the first year. But few of us are getting a credit card just for a year -- we want one we can keep for many years. Unfortunately, this card charges an annual fee from the second year on.

Although I would (and actually do) pay that much for a 6% cash back rewards card, the low bonus rewards cap on this card makes this much less appealing. This is particularly true since there are so many no annual fee options that earn nearly as much -- or sometimes more -- than this card in some categories.

Rewards activations and cap tracking take time and energy to manage

This is not a low-effort rewards card. At minimum, you need to remember and take the time to activate your bonus categories each quarter. (On the plus side, you can opt in for U.S. Bank to send you reminders.)

Beyond that, those annoying spending caps? Yeah, you're going to need to keep track of that, especially if you're really trying to maximize your rewards. As soon as you reach the $1,500 cap, your rewards rate will drop from 6% to 1% -- that could be a lot of lost rewards if you don't notice you're over the limit.

Spending caps on bonus rewards limit your earnings

Speaking of the spending cap, that feature is a big downside to this card. A cap of $1,500 per quarter works out to $500 a month. If you're using this card to maximize rewards at somewhere you spend a lot of money, like Walmart, Amazon, or Target, it can be all too easy to reach that cap before the quarter is over.

Moreover, while $1,500 is a pretty standard cap for these kinds of cards, comparable cash back cards don't have an annual fee to make up. In terms of rewards, 6% of $1,500 is $90, while 5% of $1,500 is $70. That works out to an extra $60 a year from the 6% card, which is less than the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature®'s annual fee.

Foreign transaction fees makes this a bad choice when abroad

This card has an unfortunate 3% foreign transaction fee, which applies when you make purchases in a foreign currency or that route through a foreign bank.

While you probably aren't going to spend much time at Ikea while on vacation, don't underestimate how annoying this fee can be for other bonus categories. For instance, want to swing into Costco while in Montreal for the weekend? Your 3% back is now going to the FX fees. And the same thing applies if you're trying to gas up while abroad.

What to know before applying

U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature® credit score

U.S. Bank generally recommends good credit (typically a score of 670 or higher) when applying for its cards. You can get approved with a lower score, though, as U.S. Bank will consider your entire credit profile, income, and banking history when looking at your application.

Pre-approval process

U.S. Bank doesn't offer an online pre-approval tool. Instead, you may receive a pre-approval offer by mail, in your existing online U.S. Bank account, or by visiting a branch in person.

Regular APR

The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature® doesn't have an intro APR. As such, the APR on purchases and balance transfers is just the standard APR of 19.24% to 29.24% (Variable).

Fees

  • Annual fee: $0 for the first year; $95 per year thereafter
  • Foreign transaction fee: 3% of each foreign transaction
  • Balance transfer fee: Either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater.

Credit limit

U.S. Bank doesn't publish credit limits for its cards, so we have to rely on user reports. As far as I can tell, the lowest starting limit being reported is just $500. However, other users are reporting starting limits as high as $15,000.

Alternatives to consider

A good combination of cash back and store cards could give you the same results. Check out these picks to start, or see our full list of card reviews.

If you want no annual card fee: I love the Citi Custom Cash® Card for bonus rewards at the hardware store, but it offers a variety of categories to meet your needs. You'll earn 5% back on the first $500 in purchases in your top spending category each month, with no activation required. Oh, and you won't pay any sort of annual fee.

If you want to earn at more stores: The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card has a slightly lower rewards rate, but the spending cap is higher and the categories much broader. Earn 5% back in two categories you activate each quarter -- such as department stores or select clothing stores -- on up to $2,000 in combined 5% category purchases. You can also choose an unlimited 5% category, and you'll pay no annual fee.

Should you apply for the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature®?

The first year fee waiver makes this a solid option for year one. Beyond that, if you can maximize the 6% cash back category for Walmart, Chewy, and/or Apple each year, then this card could be worthwhile. Otherwise, skip the annual fee and grab a flexible cash back or store card to cover the other retailers you shop with.

Our credit card methodology

At Motley Fool Money, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.

FAQs

  • You can redeem your rewards through your online banking account or through the U.S. Bank mobile app. You can also redeem over the phone by calling the number on the back of your card.

    Rewards can be redeemed as:

    • A statement credit
    • A rewards card
    • Merchant gift cards
    • A direct deposit to a U.S. Bank checking or savings account

  • You can activate your bonus categories each quarter through your online banking account or through the U.S. Bank mobile app. Simply choose your card, select Rewards, then select Choose Your Categories. Once you choose your categories for the quarter, click Activate Categories.

  • No, cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing.