U.S. Bank credit cards
Long 0% intro APR cards (24 billing cycles on the Shield) and category cash-back cards.
About U.S. Bank
U.S. Bank is a national bank best known in cards for long 0% intro APR offers, such as the U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card with 24 billing cycles, and for choose-your-own-category cash back on the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card. It also issues the U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card for dining, the U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature Card and the U.S. Bank Business Shield Visa Card.
U.S. Bank suits you if you want time to pay down a large purchase or balance, prefer to pick your own cash-back categories, or need a secured card with a path to an unsecured one. Many card pages let you see if you are pre-approved without affecting your credit. The limitation: it publishes no fixed application rules, but it is widely reported to be sensitive to recent inquiries and new accounts, so applicants with several new cards are often declined.
Notable U.S. Bank cards
- U.S. Bank Shield Visa
- U.S. Bank Business Shield Visa
- U.S. Bank Altitude Go
- U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature
- U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature
U.S. Bank cards compared
| Card | Annual fee | Rewards | Intro APR | Foreign fee | Credit needed | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa InfiniteMobile-wallet-first spenders who want premium travel perks |
$400/yr | 3x on travel and mobile-wallet purchases, 1x other; points worth 1.5¢… | None | None | Excellent (740+) | |
U.S. BankCash+ Visa Signature 4155 5817 4749 4432 VALID THRU 08/29CASEY BROOKS U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature CardPeople willing to manage quarterly 5% category picks |
None | 5% on two chosen categories (first $2,000 combined per quarter), 2% on… | 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 billi… | 3% | Good to Excellent (700+) | |
U.S. BankAltitude Go Visa Signature 4192 5546 4223 7938 VALID THRU 12/31AVERY PATEL U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature CardFrequent diners who want 4x with no fee |
None | 4x on dining and takeout, 2x at grocery stores, gas/EV charging and st… | 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 billi… | None | Good to Excellent (700+) | |
U.S. BankSmartly Visa Signature 4133 4644 9862 1346 VALID THRU 10/31MORGAN LEE U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature CardU.S. Bank depositors with large balances chasing a high flat rate |
None | 2% cash back on all purchases, boosted up to 4% when you hold qualifyi… | None | None | Good to Excellent (700+) | |
U.S. BankCash+ 2026 Category Refresh 4885 8568 9534 1529 VALID THRU 10/29MORGAN LEE U.S. Bank Cash+ (2026 Category Refresh)Cash+ fans awaiting the confirmed category refresh |
None | Expected to keep choose-your-own 5% categories with possible list and… | Expected 0% intro APR offer (terms TBD) | 3% | Good to Excellent (700+) | — |
U.S. BankShield Visa 4173 2865 9895 7291 VALID THRU 12/32AVERY PATEL U.S. Bank Shield Visa CardPaying down debt or financing a large purchase interest-free |
None | 4% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car booked via U.S. Bank Travel… | 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 24 billing cycles | See issuer | See issuer | — |
U.S. BankBusiness Shield Visa 4223 0074 3163 6060 VALID THRU 04/31AVERY PATEL U.S. Bank Business Shield Visa CardSmall businesses financing purchases interest-free |
None | 5% cash back on prepaid travel booked via U.S. Bank Travel Center | 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 18 billing cycles… | See issuer | See issuer | — |
Approval rules and tips
No written rules; sensitive to recent inquiries and new accounts; some cards use 'last 5 years' bonus language.
- Look for 'See if you're pre-approved' on U.S. Bank card pages; the check does not affect your credit.
- U.S. Bank publishes no numeric application limits, but it is widely reported to decline applicants with many recent inquiries or new accounts.
- Some offers use 'last five years' bonus language for the same card, so read the offer terms before applying.
- Building credit? The Altitude Go Secured card takes a deposit of $300 to $5,000 and may graduate to the unsecured version.
How to apply for a U.S. Bank card
Apply at usbank.com, in the U.S. Bank Mobile app or at a branch. Many card pages include a 'See if you're pre-approved' check that does not affect your credit; a full application triggers a hard inquiry. Have your Social Security number, date of birth, address, income, employment details and housing payment ready. If you received a mailed offer, you can retrieve it online using the details in that offer.
Customer service: www.usbank.com · 800-872-2657
U.S. Bank FAQs
What credit cards does U.S. Bank offer?
U.S. Bank's notable cards include U.S. Bank Shield Visa, U.S. Bank Business Shield Visa, U.S. Bank Altitude Go, U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature, U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature. See the cards we review below for fees, rewards and APRs.
Does U.S. Bank have special approval rules?
No written rules; sensitive to recent inquiries and new accounts; some cards use 'last 5 years' bonus language.
How do I apply for a U.S. Bank credit card?
Apply on www.usbank.com. Check any pre-qualification tool first — it uses a soft inquiry that does not affect your credit score.
How do I activate a new U.S. Bank card?
See our step-by-step guide to activating a U.S. Bank credit card — online, in the app or by phone.
Does U.S. Bank offer secured credit cards?
Yes. U.S. Bank offers the Altitude Go Secured Visa and the Cash+ Secured Visa. The Altitude Go Secured takes a deposit of $300 to $5,000, held in an FDIC-insured savings account that earns interest, and you may be able to graduate automatically to the unsecured Altitude Go card and get your deposit back.
Do U.S. Bank cards charge foreign transaction fees?
It varies by card. The Altitude Go, Altitude Reserve and Smartly cards list no foreign transaction fee, while Cash+ charges 3% on purchases made abroad. Check the pricing terms for the Shield cards before you travel, since fees are set card by card and can change between product versions.