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U.S. Bank Cash+ Review: 5% Back in Bonus Categories of Your Choice

Review Updated
Lyle Daly
Author: Lyle Daly
Lyle Daly
Lyle Daly
Writer

Lyle Daly is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. His work with Motley Fool Money and The Motley Fool has appeared syndicated in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia.

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Nathan Alderman
Fact Checked: Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman
Fact checker

Nathan Alderman has been a full-time Motley Fool employee since 2005, making errors his arch-enemies in a variety of roles including a six-year stint as the dedicated fact-checker for The Motley Fool's premium newsletter services. As Motley Fool Money's Compliance Lead, he makes sure that all the site's information is accurate and up to date, which ensures we always steer readers right and keeps various financial partners happy. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan spends his spare time volunteering for civic causes, writing and podcasting for fun, adoring his wife, and wrangling his two very large young children.

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OFFER STATUS

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card 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 Some items may be out of date.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 Cash+® Visa Signature® Card puts you in control of your rewards. Every quarter, you can pick and activate two categories where your card will earn 5% back on up to $2,000 in combined purchases. Is that offer as great as it sounds? Find out in this U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card review.

Ratings Methodology

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
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/Excellent (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/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR Circle with letter I in it. 0% on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles on purchases billing cycles, and after that 18.99% - 29.24% (Variable).

Purchases: 0%, 15 billing cycles on purchases

Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 billing cycles

Regular APR

18.99% - 29.24% (Variable)

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. 5% cash back back on up to $2,000 of quarterly spending in two categories of choice and for travel booked directly in U.S. Bank's Rewards Travel Center, unlimited 2% back in one "everyday" category of choice, 1% back on other purchases

1% - 5% back

Annual Fee

$0

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $200 bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.

$200

  • You get the power to choose not one, but two bonus 5% cash back categories every quarter with this U.S. Bank card. Plus, you get 5% on travel spending when you book through U.S. Bank. No annual fee, a generous welcome bonus, and 15 billing cycles of 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers round out the perks on this card.

    • Sign-up bonus
    • Bonus categories of your choosing
    • No annual fee
    • 0% intro APR offer
    • Lackluster 5% back categories
    • Cash back redemption minimum
    • Foreign transaction fee
    • $200 rewards bonus after you spend $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
    • 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter on two categories you choose
    • 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Center
    • 2% cash back on one everyday category, like Gas Stations and EV Charging Stations, Grocery Stores or Restaurants
    • 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
    • 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR currently 18.99% - 29.24%
    • No Annual Fee
    • Terms and conditions apply.
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card 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.

Full U.S. Bank Cash+ review

This credit card is a good fit for: Cardholders interested in picking where they'll earn bonus cash back every quarter.

Top perks

The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card has several valuable features.

$200 sign-up bonus

As a new cardholder, you can earn $200 in bonus rewards after you spend $1,000 on eligible purchases within 90 days of account opening. That's in line with the biggest sign-up bonuses we've seen from no annual fee credit cards. To get more, you usually need to go with a card that has an annual fee.

MORE OPTIONS: Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses

Flexible rewards program

The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card lets you choose the spending categories where you earn bonus cash back. Here's how much you can earn:

  • 5% back on up to $2,000 of quarterly spending in two categories of choice
  • 5% back on travel booked directly in U.S. Bank's Rewards Travel Center
  • 2% back on one "everyday" category of choice
  • 1% back on other purchases

You must activate your bonus categories each quarter to earn the higher cash back rates. Categories can change from quarter to quarter, although many remain the same.

Being able to pick your bonus categories is a big plus with this card. The spending cap in its 5%-back categories is also higher than other cards with rotating rewards. Most of them cap bonus cash back at $1,500 in bonus category spending per quarter.

SEE MORE: Best Cash Back Credit Cards

No annual fee

Most cash back cards are no annual fee credit cards, and that's the case with this one. That means you can get value from it no matter how much you use it. Even if you already have another card you use often, you could add this U.S. Bank card to your wallet solely to earn 5% back in a couple more categories every month.

0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles

This card offers a 0% intro APR for purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles. Here are the important rules to know if you plan to use this benefit:

  • Balance transfers must be made within the first 60 days of account opening to qualify for the 0% intro APR.
  • A balance transfer fee applies: Either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater. This is a standard balance transfer fee amount.
  • After the intro period, the go-to 18.99% - 29.24% (Variable) APR applies.

With this 0% intro APR, you can pay down big purchases over time without interest charges. Or, you can transfer over credit card debt to avoid interest charges during the intro period. However you use it, do your best to pay off your balance within the intro period. If you have a lot of credit card debt, keep in mind that some of the best balance transfer credit cards offer a longer 0% intro APR period.

What could be improved

There are a few areas where this cash back card could be better.

Lackluster 5% back categories

The 5% back options for the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card may not be the best for everyone. Here are some examples of categories U.S. Bank has offered:

  • Fast food
  • Movie theaters
  • Gyms and fitness centers
  • Furniture stores
  • TV, internet, and streaming services
  • Home utilities

These aren't broad, everyday categories like gas and groceries. You can pick an everyday category, too. But that's a 2% back category, not a 5% category, and you only get to pick one. While choosing your bonus categories is a nice perk, it loses some appeal if you don't spend much in any of the available options.

Make sure to review the bonus category options before you apply. If you see a category that fits your spending habits, then this card could be a great fit for you. If not, you're probably better off browsing more credit card reviews.

Cash back redemption minimum

Although you can potentially earn lots of rewards by maxing out your 5% categories each quarter, you won't necessarily be able to redeem that cash back right away. This U.S. Bank card has a $25 minimum redemption if you want to use your cash back as a statement credit or deposit it to a U.S. Bank account. It has a $10 redemption minimum if you use Real-Time rewards to apply it toward purchases you make.

Cash back rewards also expire 36 months after the billing cycle in which they're earned. These aren't huge issues, but they're inconvenient and frustrating, considering many rewards cards let you redeem cash back any time, with no minimum.

SEE MORE: Best Credit Cards

Find the best credit card for your needs
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Suggested credit score

The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card is aimed at consumers who have good to excellent credit scores, which means a FICO® Score of at least 670 is recommended. Your credit score isn't the only factor that decides whether you get the card or not, but a higher score does give you a better chance of an approval.

The U.S. Bank Cash+ is right for you if:

You can take advantage of its unique 5% cash back categories. If your biggest expenses are in popular categories, such as groceries or dining, other cards can earn you more back. What makes the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card is that it has bonus categories that most other cards don't. If you spend heavily in any of those categories, then this cash back card could be a winner.

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

  • The credit limit for the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card typically varies from $300 to $20,000 or more. U.S. Bank has not published the credit limits for this card, so all values are self-reported by cardholders.

  • Yes, the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card charges a foreign transaction fee of 3%.

  • It can be somewhat hard to get the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card, according to reports from applicants. U.S. Bank normally only approves applicants with good or excellent credit. A credit score of at least 670 is recommended, and some reports suggest a score of 700 or more.

    There are also rumors that U.S. Bank prefers applicants who haven't opened many recent credit accounts. You may have trouble getting approved if you've opened more than one credit account in the last six months or more than two in the last 12 months.