U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card Review

The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card is a strong contender to make our regularly updated list of the best cash back credit cards for U.S. consumers. It has a generous cash back program that includes 5%, 2% (unlimited), and 1% (unlimited) tiers – one of the more favorable constructions around. You can designate two favored spending categories for the 5% tier and one for the 2% tier. The 1% tier covers all other eligible purchase spending.

With no annual fee, the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card is great for any budget, provided you can align your spending to the favored categories you’ve selected. There’s no limit to how much you can earn in the aggregate – so, if you have big spending plans and need a new credit card, now’s the time to get started.

Here’s what you need to know about U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card’s features, advantages, disadvantages, and overall suitability.

Key Features of the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

What should you expect from the Cash+ card? From a solid sign-up bonus to a rewarding cash-back program, there’s plenty to like here.

Sign-Up Bonus

Earn a $200 bonus after you spend at least $1,000 in eligible purchases within 120 days of account opening.

Earning Cash Back

This card has a three-tiered cash back program.

First, designate 2 cash back categories from a list that includes gym and fitness centers, restaurants, grocery stores, department stores, and more. Those categories earn 5% cash back on eligible purchases, up to $2,000 in combined spending per quarter ($8,000 max spending per year).

Second, designate an additional cash back category to earn unlimited 2% cash back on eligible purchases.

All other eligible purchases earn unlimited 1% cash back.

There’s no limit to your aggregate point earnings. Unused cash rewards expire 36 months after the billing cycle during which they’re earned. Category options are subject to change quarterly, and you must register for your chosen categories on a quarterly basis.

Redeeming Cash Back

You can redeem your accumulated cash back for statement credits to your Cash+ account; direct bank account deposits to a U.S. Bank checking, savings, or money market account; or U.S. Bank Rewards Card (gift card).

There’s no minimum redemption threshold for statement credits or bank account deposits. Reward card redemptions are subject to a $20 minimum and must be made in $5 increments.

Visa Signature Benefits

Cash+ has some useful benefits backed by the Visa Signature program:

• Complimentary Rental Car Insurance: You’re entitled to complimentary rental car coverage (loss and damage) for rentals paid in full with your Cash+ card.
• Retail Protection: This benefit provides reimbursement after certain adverse shopping events, subject to key limitations and restrictions. Read your account disclosures for more details.
• Concierge Service: This 24/7 benefit is ideal for travelers who need to make complicated restaurant, entertainment, or travel reservations in unfamiliar places, even where they don’t speak the language.

Other benefits may be available as well – check your credit card agreement and disclosures for specifics.

Introductory APR

Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles. After that, variable APR applies, currently 19.24% to 29.24%. See rates and fees for more information.

Overdraft Protection for U.S. Bank Deposit Account Holders

As a U.S. Bank deposit account holder, you can link your Cash+ card to your qualifying deposit account to protect against overdraft transactions. This opt-in protection automatically executes deposit account transactions that would normally result in negative account balances or NSF denials. U.S. Bank then draws a corresponding cash advance on your credit card’s cash advance line to cover the shortfall.

Most bank accounts charge daily fees for this service, typically $7.50 to $12.50. Some higher-end accounts waive these fees. Your cash advance begins accruing interest at the regular cash advance rate as soon as it’s executed, so it’s in your best interest to pay it off as soon as possible.

Important Fees

There is no annual fee. Foreign transactions cost 2% for U.S. dollar-denominated transactions and 3% for transactions denominated in foreign currency.

Balance transfers cost the greater of $5 or 3% of the transferred amount, even during the introductory period. Cash advances cost at least the greater of $5 or 3% of the advanced amount. Some types of cash advances, including overdraft protection transfers, cost more.

Credit Required

This card requires good to excellent credit.

Advantages of the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

This card has a slew of advantages, including a solid sign-up bonus, good ongoing cash-back rate in favored categories, no annual fee, and a long 0% APR introductory promotion on purchases and balance transfers.

• No Annual Fee. The U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card has no annual fee. If you don’t spend heavily enough to offset recurring levies, or simply (and understandably) want to maximize your return on spending, that’s music to your ears.
• Solid Sign-up Bonus. When you spend at least $1,000 in eligible net purchases within 120 days of opening your account, you get $200 bonus cash. That’s a solid rate of return and should be fairly easy to attain when you use this card for everyday spending in your favored category.
• Very Good Ongoing Cash Back Rate in Favored Categories. This card’s rate of return on spending is impressive. Earn up to 5% cash back on $2,000 in combined quarterly spending in your 2 top categories and unlimited 2% cash back in your next favorite category. If you choose your 2% category right, you can really rack up the returns there.
• 15-Month 0% APR Promotion on Purchases and Balance Transfers. This card’s 15-month, 0% APR promotion is great news for new cardholders who’ve previously struggled with high-interest credit card debt and those planning new purchases.
• No Minimum Redemption Amount for Select Redemption Options. You don’t have to worry about minimum redemption thresholds for statement credits or bank account deposits here – you can redeem in any amount, at any time.
• Visa Signature Benefits. U.S. Bank Cash+ comes with a nice lineup of Visa Signature benefits, including complimentary rental car insurance and concierge service. That’s a big advantage over Visa Platinum cards, which aren’t nearly as generous. If you take full advantage of your Visa Signature perks, you can save hundreds each year – particularly if you’re a frequent car renter.
• No Penalty APR. This card doesn’t charge penalty interest. This is good news for cardholders who sometimes miss statement due dates because of cash flow issues or unexpected expenses that they can’t pay off in a single month.

Disadvantages of the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

This card does have some important drawbacks, including mediocre baseline cash back and a foreign transaction fee. There’s a time limit on cash-back earnings too.

• Mediocre Cash Back Baseline. This card’s baseline cash back rate is a mere 1%. That’s better than nothing, but far from competitive with top-earning cards like Citi Double Cash Card (unlimited 2% back on all eligible purchases).
• 2% to 3% Foreign Transaction Fee. This card adds 2% to 3% to each foreign transaction. Dollar-denominated transactions are cheaper, but some comparable cards (including Capital One Quicksilver) waive foreign transaction fees altogether.
• Cash Back Points Expire After 36 Months. Unused cash back earned with this card expires in 36 months. That’s a substantial drawback relative to cash back cards whose unused cash back never expires, and a potential dealbreaker for occasional users.

Final Word

The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Signature Card is just one of several credit cards issued by U.S. Bank. If you prefer to earn flexible loyalty currency that you can redeem for gift cards, general merchandise, travel credits, and other items, you might prefer one of the bank’s FlexPerks cards. If your primary concern is securing a low introductory or ongoing APR, the no-frills U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card may be a better fit. Whichever you choose, you can count on the same great service and value-added perks you’ve come to expect from U.S. Bank.