How the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Card Stacks Up vs. the Competition

» Editor's note: U.S. Bank stopped accepting applications for the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card, so this card is no longer available to new customers.

For anyone who wants the choose-your-own-adventure credit card experience, the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card offers a selection of spending categories that earn up to 6% cash back. But in exchange for that high rewards rate, there’s an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $95.

Rewards:

• Earn 6% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined quarterly spending at two eligible retailers of your choice from a list of 24. (See the retailers below.)

• Earn 3% back in one everyday category on up to $1,500 in spending per quarter. Eligible categories include wholesale clubs, gas and electric vehicle charging, bills and utilities. (Note: gas purchased at discount stores, supercenters and wholesale clubs doesn't qualify.)

• Earn 1.5% back on all other purchases.

You must choose your 6% and 3% categories each quarter. If you decline to do so, you’ll earn only the base rate of 1.5% back.

Sign-up bonus: Earn a $250 bonus after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening.

APR: The ongoing APR is 18.74%-28.74% Variable APR.

Other benefits: Earn 5.5% back on prepaid hotels and rental cars booked through the U.S. Bank Rewards Travel Center.

Here’s how the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card compares with other cards that earn impressive amounts of cash back.

» MORE: Credit cards that offer customizable rewards

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95

Rewards:

• Earn 6% cash back* on up to $6,000 in spending per year at U.S. supermarkets.

• Earn 6% back on select U.S. streaming service subscriptions.

• Earn 3% back at U.S. gas stations and on transit including taxis and ridesharing services, parking, tolls, trains and buses.

• Earn 1% back on all other purchases.

• Terms apply, see rates and fees.

Welcome bonus: You may be eligible for as high as $300 cash back after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Cash back is received as Reward Dollars, redeemable for statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. Terms Apply.

Other benefits:

• $120 in statement credits toward Disney streaming subscriptions (as a $10 monthly credit). Enrollment required.

• Terms apply.

APR: 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 19.74%-28.74% Variable APR.

How it compares with the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card: Both cards have similar annual fees and earn up to 6% cash back, an enviable rate. But the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a bit simpler to use because you don’t have to select new merchants each quarter. It comes down to where you spend more: If the bulk of your budget goes toward groceries (and you don't buy those groceries at big-box retailers like Target or Walmart), the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express could be a fit. If you’d prefer to earn more cash back on other spending, like home improvement, furniture or clothing, the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card offers a wide variety of eligible retailers to choose from.

» MORE: U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards vs. AmEx Blue Cash Preferred: How they compare

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

Annual fee: $0.

Rewards:

• Earn 5% cash back on up to $2,000 in combined quarterly spending in two categories you choose, from a list. (See it below.)

• Earn 2% back on one everyday category you choose each quarter, including gas stations and electric vehicle charging, grocery stores or restaurants.

• Earn 1% back on all other purchases.

You must choose your 5% and 2% bonus categories each quarter. If not, you’ll earn only 1% back on everything.

As you can see from the list above, 5% categories include various shopping; services and utilities; and entertainment.

Sign-up bonus: $200 rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.

Other benefits: Earn 5% back on prepaid airfare, hotels and rental cars booked through the U.S. Bank Rewards Travel Center.

APR: See terms.

How it compares with the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card: The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card comes up a wee bit short of the cash-back rate you can get with the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card, but the annual fee is a hard-to-beat $0. Plus, the 5% categories are broader. Instead of, say, Macy’s, you can earn more cash back at department stores in general. If an annual fee is a dealbreaker, or you’re willing to sacrifice a top rewards rate for some more flexibility, the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card wins out — though it, too, will require some maintenance in terms of tracking bonus categories and quarterly spending caps.

» MORE: U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards vs. U.S. Bank Cash+: A clash of customizable cards

Store cards

The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card includes the big three of big-box stores among its 6% merchants: Amazon, Target and Walmart. Here’s how it compares with those merchants’ store cards:

» MORE: NerdWallet’s best store cards

Prime Visa

The Prime Visa earns 5% cash back on Amazon.com, at physical Amazon stores and at Whole Foods Market; 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and local transit and commuting; and 1% back on everything else. Though the annual fee is $0, you must have an Amazon Prime membership to get this card, meaning you effectively pay $139 per year. You don’t need a Prime membership with the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card, but if you shop on Amazon.com a lot anyway, you might already be paying for Prime.

» MORE: Best credit cards to use at Amazon

Target Circle™ Credit Card

The Target Circle™ Credit Card offers 5% off most in-store and online Target purchases. You also get an extra 30 days to return or exchange items. Note that some Target purchases are excluded from earning 5% back, such as prescriptions, Target Optical eye exams, Target gift cards and prepaid cards. The annual fee is $0, and there’s no spending cap on that 5% discount. Loyal Target shoppers who spend more than $7,200 per year there will come out on top with the Target Circle™ Credit Card. But if you don’t spend that much or you want the flexibility to switch to other merchants, the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card could win out.

The store card competition at a glance

Of the 24 possible 6%-back retailers you can choose from with the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card, many of them already offer $0-annual-fee store credit cards that earn rewards as high as 5% back. Here's a list: