New U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Credit Card Offers 4X Back on Travel and Gas
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» The rewards on this card have changed
As of January 2022, U.S. Bank added an additional bonus category: 5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked through the Altitude Rewards Center. See our details page on the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card for the current offer.
U.S. Bank has launched a new credit card that might be an ideal road-trip card, offering 4 points per $1 spent on travel and gas purchases in addition to other useful bonus categories. The new U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is the latest addition to the bank’s lineup of Altitude-branded travel credit cards.
Details: U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
Annual fee: $0 intro for the first year, then $95.
Bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus points when you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening. That's a $500 value redeemable towards travel, gift cards, cash back, merchandise and more..
Rewards:
4 points per $1 spent on travel and at gas stations.
2 points per $1 spent on dining, at grocery stores and on streaming services.
1 point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
Perks:
Up to a $100 statement credit for your TSA Precheck or Global Entry application fee.
$30 credit for annual streaming service purchases such as Netflix and Spotify.
Credit required: Good to excellent (FICO scores of at least 690).
Quick take
The 4X rewards rate on travel and gas makes this card a top contender for bonus rewards in those categories.
The sign-up bonus is generous for a card in this annual-fee tier.
If you can fully use the streaming credit, it makes up for part of the annual fee. (Together, the sign-up bonus and streaming credit make up for the annual fee over a whopping nine years.)
The 2X rewards categories are highly useful for everyday spending, but the rate is uninspiring, considering top cash-back cards give you 2% back on everything.
A different card — the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express — isn’t marketed as a travel card, but it has a similar annual fee and offers similar rewards categories with a different mix of rewards rates. It emphasizes purchases at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. streaming services by offering 6% cash back in those categories, but offers lower rewards on gas (3% back.) Terms apply — see rates and fees.
Other cards in the Altitude family
The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card is the midtier option in the Altitude portfolio, sitting between two existing Altitude cards in terms of its annual fee and its accompanying rewards and perks. Here's a look at the other two Altitude cards:
U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
Annual fee: $0.
Bonus: Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
Rewards:
4 points per $1 spent on dining and takeout.
2 points per $1 spent at grocery stores, gas stations and on streaming services.
1 point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
Perks:
$15 credit for annual streaming services purchases such as Netflix and Spotify. Terms apply.
U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
Annual fee: $400.
Bonus: Earn an enrollment bonus of 50,000 points worth $750 on travel. Just spend $4,500 in the first 90 days of account opening.
Rewards:
5 points per $1 spent points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center.
3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases.
3 points per $1 spent on mobile wallet purchases.
For a limited time: 3 points per $1 spent on takeout, food delivery, and dining. Valid on purchases through 6/30/21.
1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Perks:
Travel credit: $325 annually. The credit is applied automatically to spending directly with airlines, hotels, car rental companies, taxis, limousines, passenger trains and cruise line companies.
Up to $100 in statement credit every four years to reimburse the application fee for either TSA Precheck or Global Entry.
12 free Gogo in-flight Wi-Fi passes per year.
Airport lounge access through Priority Pass Select — limited to four visits per year, but includes one guest each time.
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