MoneyGeek's Take

U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card Review

If you have excellent credit, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card might be a good rewards credit card option. With this card, your points never expire, and you can trade points for cash back on eligible purchases at grocery stores, gas stations, EV charging stations, and even streaming services.

Advertising & Editorial DisclosureLast Updated: 11/13/2022
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Last Updated: 11/13/2022

MoneyGeek reviewed the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card to help you determine if it’s the rewards card for you. It offers 5x points on prepaid hotels and car rentals through the Altitude Rewards Center, 4x points for travel and gas purchases, 2x points when you shop at grocery stores or go to restaurants, and more. You get a $0 intro annual fee for the first 12 months. If you spend $2,000 within the first 120 days, you get points redeemable for $500.

Card Details to Know Up Front
  • Bonus, Fee or Feature
    Has or Not
  • Has Annual Fee
  • Has Balance Transfer Offer
  • Has APR Offer
  • Cash Back Rewards
  • Travel Rewards
Click to see this card’s rates, fees and how they compare to other cards in our dataset.
OUR REVIEW AT A GLANCE

U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card at a Glance

For individuals with excellent credit, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card benefits and added features are generous. A fantastic benefit of the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is that points you earn from eligible purchases never expire, so you can save them long-term if you want a bigger reward.


  • U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card

    A good rewards card with multiple bonus categories

    • ExcellentRecommended Credit
    • $95Annual Fee
    • 1-5 pointsRewards Rate
    • 5xRewards Rate at Hotels
    • 4xRewards Rate on Gas

    Terms, rates and fees apply

    Compare this credit card with other top-rated credit cards.

Pros & Cons Explained

Before completing the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card application, it’s important to weigh both its benefits and downsides.

Pros

  • Benefits
    Description
  • Unlimited points that don’t expire
    If you’re looking to save your points for a bigger purchase, your points don’t expire with the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card. You also benefit from no limit on how many points you can earn.
  • No foreign transaction fees
    The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card doesn’t charge transaction fees if you make a purchase outside the United States. Many other cards have a 3% fee for foreign transactions.
  • Cell phone protection
    If you use the card to pay your cell phone bill, you get up to a $600 reimbursement if your phone is damaged or stolen.

Cons

  • Drawbacks
    Description
  • High APR
    The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card has a high annual percentage (APR) rate of 19.74% to 27.74%. If you don’t pay your monthly bill in full, the accumulated interest can be high. If you tend to carry a balance, another rewards card with a lower APR may be a better choice.
  • Annual fee of $95
    Before applying, consider the benefits, rewards redemption, your needs and monthly expenses to see if paying the annual fee is worth it.
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LOOKING FOR THE BEST CREDIT CARDS OF 2022?

MoneyGeek breaks down credit cards every month to rank the best for rewards, by credit score, balance transfer offers, and more. The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card benefits did not surpass other rewards cards to make our best-of list. But, you can browse through the best credit cards for individuals with excellent credit to see our top choices.

Bonuses & Rewards Explained

You can earn 50,000 bonus points with your U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card by spending $2,000 within the first 120 days — that equals a $500 reward. Another perk is that points never expire, and you can earn points on everyday purchases, like at gas stations, EV charging stations, grocery stores, restaurants and streaming services. There are various ways to use your points:

1

Statement credit

You can apply the cash value of your points to your statement balance.

2

Transfer cash value to a U.S. Bank savings or checking account

You can send the cash value of your points to your U.S. Bank savings or checking account as a deposit.

3

Gifts cards, travel or merchandise

You can use your points to purchase gift cards, apply them towards travel purchases or merchandise through the Altitude Rewards Center.

Other Features Explained

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card benefits and features also include:

  • Card Feature
    Description
  • Contactless payments
    You can pay by tapping your card if there’s a Contactless Symbol.
  • Mobile wallet
    To earn points at your convenience, you can connect your card to your mobile wallet.
  • TSA PreCheck or Global Entry reimbursement
    Get up to $100 in statement credits once every four years to reimburse your application fee.
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MONEYGEEK QUICK TIP

To maximize earning points, make sure to use the card for purchases that have a high reward value. For example, gas and EV station purchases earn 4x points, which is high. Travel has the same points reward. Also, with the streaming bonus of $30 plus 2x points, you’ll want to use this card for your streaming service payments.

Understanding the Fine Print

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is a rewards card that you can earn many points with if you spend money in the categories with the highest point earning potential. But, it’s advisable to read through the fine print before completing the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card application to guarantee you get the most out of it and know its fees, like the APR and annual fee.

  • Card Feature
    Amount or Rate
  • APR
    19.74% – 27.74%
  • Annual Fee
    $95
  • Cash Back Rewards
  • Rewards Rate
    1-5 points
  • Airline Benefits
  • This is an icon

    Annual Fee

    The annual fee is waived for the first year, and then $95 after that.

  • This is an icon

    Regular APR

    The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card has an annual percentage rate of 19.74% to 27.74% for purchases, which is fairly high. Your creditworthiness determines the rate when you apply, and it is variable afterward based on the Prime Rate.

  • This is an icon

    Balance Transfer and Cash Advance Fees

    For every balance transfer, you pay 3% of the amount or $5, whichever is more. For a cash advance, the fee is 5% of the amount or $10, whichever is the higher amount. Take note, the cash advance APR is a variable 26.24%.

  • This is an icon

    Points Reward Rate

    You don’t have a limit when earning points with this card. You have a rewards rate of 1-5 points for eligible purchases, like 4x points at U.S. gas stations, 2x points at U.S. grocery stores and 2x points on dining and streaming services. Therefore, if you spend $1,000 a month on groceries, you earn 24,000 points in a year, which translates to around $240 in redeemable cash back.

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WHERE TO FIND THIS INFORMATION?

To compare the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card with another rewards card you’re considering applying for, visit the credit card issuer’s website to review its details. To compare it with a card you already have, look at your online account or last billing statement. Information is also available through the credit card agreement database of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

Who Should & Shouldn’t Consider U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card?

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Other Considerations for U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card

Consider your plans for the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card before applying since there are pros and cons to having it either as your only card or an additional card.

Things to Consider if This Will Be Your First or Only Credit Card

You need to have excellent credit to qualify for the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card, so it may not be an option for first-time credit card applicants. If this is the only card you’ll use, you might want to reconsider if you plan to have a balance on the card that you don’t pay off monthly because of the high APR. But, if you pay your balance off monthly and your purchases can offset the $95 annual fee after the first year, this card might be a good option.

Things to Consider if This Will Be an Additional Card in Your Wallet

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card could be a good addition to your wallet if you travel a lot since you get generous points in that category and no foreign transaction fees. But, make sure you consider the annual fee on this card and any other cards, so you use it enough to earn rewards that validate paying for the credit card.

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WHY TRUST OUR REVIEWS

MoneyGeek reviews hundreds of credit cards using a thorough methodology; our six-step process includes examining long-term value, standardizing data points for convenient comparisons, gathering information from the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau’s database and regularly reassessing data.

How U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card Compares to Other Cards

U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is a great option if you’re looking for rewards and want points that don’t expire. However, it has a high annual fee and high APR. Comparing this card to another rewards credit card can help you determine if it’s a good fit for your needs.

Quick Comparison of the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
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U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card

  • Annual Fee: $95 after the first year
  • Average APR: 19.74% – 27.74%
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: 0%
  • Rewards Rate: 1-5 points for eligible purchases
  • Mini Verdict: Best for people with excellent credit that can offset the high APR and annual fee with rewards
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Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa®

  • Annual Fee: $95
  • Average APR: 26.99%
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: 3%
  • Rewards Rate: 5% for bonus purchases and 1% for other purchases
  • Mini Verdict: Ideal for those with fair to excellent credit looking to earn rewards

Other Helpful Decision-Making Q&As

To help you determine if the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card benefits are right for you, read through the most commonly asked questions about this rewards credit card.

Still not sure about this card? Consider these options.

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is a great option for those with excellent credit that enjoy earning points. But if you’re unsure about this card, consider other types of cards or cards with a lower APR and annual fee. You might find more suitable options for a rewards card or a travel card.

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*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity.
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