Best of
Best U.S. Bank Credit Cards of 2019
NerdWalletJuly 12, 2019
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Our pick for
Cash back
on US Bank's website
on US Bank's website
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
16.24% - 25.74% Variable APR
Intro APR
0% Intro APR* on purchases and balance transfers for 12 billing cycles
recommended credit score
The U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card has an annual fee of $0 and the most customizable cash-back structure of any card on the market.
Pros
You earn 5% cash back on the first $2,000 in combined spending each quarter in two categories that you choose from a list. Options have included things like department stores, fast-food restaurants, fitness clubs, wireless phone providers, electronics and more. You'll also get uncapped 2% cash back on an "everyday" category of your choice, such as gas stations or grocery stores, and 1% cash back on everything else. Other cards offer 5% cash back in categories that they choose for you; this one puts you in control — and the unlimited 2% cash-back on an everyday category is a sweet extra. Plus, if you apply through NerdWallet, you can get a 0% introductory APR period on both purchases and balance transfers.Cons
This is a high-maintenance card. You have to log into your account each quarter to choose and activate your 5% and 2% categories, then keep track of what spending qualifies for which bonus. (For example: “Fast food” is a 5% category, but “restaurants” is a 2% category). If you're looking for cash-back redemptions of your rewards, as opposed to a statement credit, you'll have to have an account with U.S. Bank.- Earn up to $550 cash back in the first year.
- $150 bonus after spending $500 in eligible net purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
- 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible net purchases ($100 per quarter) on two categories you choose. That adds up to $400 cash back!
- 2% cash back on your choice of one everyday category, like gas stations or grocery stores.
- 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases.
- 0% Intro APR* on purchases and balance transfers for 12 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR currently 16.24% - 25.74%.
- No limit on total cash back earned.
- No annual fee*
- Great Offer from U.S. Bank, a 2019 World's Most Ethical Company® - Ethisphere Institute, February 2019
- View Rates and Fees
Our pick for
Balance transfers or 0% period
on US Bank's website
on US Bank's website
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
12.24% - 20.24% Variable APR
Intro APR
0%* on purchases and balance transfers for 20 billing cycles*
recommended credit score
The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card comes with a lengthy interest-free period: 0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 20 billing cycles, and then the ongoing APR of 12.24% - 20.24% Variable APR. With an annual fee of $0 it won't cost you anything to keep the card after you've paid off the balance.
Pros
With well over a year of interest-free breathing room, the card gives you time to pay down a big purchase or tackle a big balance. If you pay your cell phone bill every month with this card, you’ll get coverage for damage or theft up to $600, with a $25 deductible, for up to two claims for a total of $1,200 per 12-month period.Cons
You won't earn any rewards on the card. And if you're transferring a balance, know that the card comes with a balance transfer fee of 3%.- 0% Intro APR* on purchases and balance transfers for the first 20 billing cycles. After that variable APR currently 12.24% - 20.24%*
- No annual fee*
- Zero fraud liability* protects you against unauthorized transactions
- View Rates and Fees
Our pick for
Poor credit or no credit
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
25.24% Variable
Intro APR
N/A
recommended credit score
If your credit score is in the slow lane, a secured card can help fast-track you to success. The U.S. Bank Harley-Davidson® Visa® Secured card is an intriguing choice for its lack of an annual fee and its ability to earn rewards; both are rare when it comes to secured cards.
Pros
The annual fee is $0. It earns 1 point per dollar spent. Rewards are redeemable for Harley-Davidson gift cards, which you can redeem at dealerships or online at the Harley-Davidson store. (Once you accumulate 2,500 points, you get a $25 gift card.)Cons
The minimum opening deposit is $300, higher than many other secured cards require, which can be an obstacle for some. If you're not a Harley enthusiast, the rewards probably won't be of much interest — but again, it's not like you're paying for those rewards with an annual fee.- Earn one H-D™ Genuine Rewards point for every $1 in net purchases
- Redeem 2,500 points for a $25 H-D™ Gift Card
- Every purchase on your card earns you an entry for a chance to win a motorcycle in our H-D™ Visa Free Ride Sweepstakes
- No Annual Fee
- Zero Fraud Liability
- Fraud Protection
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
- Online Banking
- Automatic Bill Pay
- View Rates and Fees
Our pick for
Small business
on US Bank's website
on US Bank's website
Annual Fee
$95
Regular APR
18.74% Variable APR
Intro APR
N/A
recommended credit score
The U.S. Bank Business Leverage™ Visa Signature® Card doesn't just offer customized rewards. It also automatically customizes those rewards each month according to your business spending, ensuring that you earn the maximum in rewards.
Pros
This card maintains a list of 48(!) bonus categories. Every month, you earn unlimited 2 points per dollar in the two categories where you spend the most. All other spending earns 1 point per dollar. The automatic adjustment makes this a great card for businesses with a wide range of expenses. There's also a bonus offer that could be worth as much as $1,000: Earn up to 100,000 bonus points in the first 365 days of account opening with an additional point on all eligible net purchases. You can also earn bonus rewards if your company uses U.S. Bank to process card payments.Cons
There's a $95 annual fee. If your spending tends to be consistent from month to month, you may be better off with a flat-rate card or one that pays a higher rate in preselected bonus categories. The first-year bonus is paid out in monthly increments rather than all at once.- Earn up to 100,000 bonus points in the first 365 days of account opening with an additional point on all eligible net purchases.
- Earn 2X points per dollar spent on eligible net purchases made in the top two categories where you spend the most each month - automatically.
- Earn 1X points per dollar spent on all other eligible net purchases.
- No caps or limits on the total points you can earn.
- Earn even more rewards when you link you card to your U.S. Bank payment processing account. Only U.S. Bank rewards you for both taking payments and making purchases. Learn more at usbrelationshiprewards.com
- Free employee cards
- View Rates and Fees
Last updated on July 12, 2019
Methodology
NerdWallet's credit cards team selects the best cards in each category based on overall consumer value. Factors in our evaluation include fees, promotional and ongoing APRs, and sign-up bonuses; for rewards cards, we consider earning and redemption rates, redemption options and redemption difficulty. A single card is eligible to be chosen in multiple categories.
