Best US Bank Cards of 2026
No-fee cards that out-earn the competition, if you can get approved.
US Bank builds high-earning cards and charges nothing for most of them. The tradeoff is approval: US Bank is sensitive to recent new accounts and noticeably easier on applicants with an existing banking relationship. Open the checking account first and the cards follow.
By Alex Compton · Updated
· ratings independent of compensation| Card | Annual fee | Bonus | Headline earn rate | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature | $0 | 20,000 pts (≈$200) | 4x Dining, takeout and delivery | ★ 8.3 |
| 2.U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature | $0 | $200 (≈$200) | 5x Two categories you choose each quarter | ★ 8.2 |
| 3.U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature | $0 | $250 (≈$250) | 2x All purchases (base rate) | ★ 7.8 |
| 4.US Bank Altitude Connect | $0 | 20,000 pts (≈$200) | 4x Travel, gas stations, EV charging | ★ 7.6 |
| 5.US Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards | $0 | $500 (≈$500) | 5x Prepaid hotels and car rentals via the US Bank travel portal | ★ 8.0 |
Best overall
4x Dining, takeout and delivery
2x Grocery stores, gas and EV charging, streaming
1x Everything else
Why we chose it
Four points per dollar on dining with no annual fee, a rate most banks reserve for $95 cards. Groceries, gas, and streaming earn too. For anyone whose biggest category is restaurants, this is the free card to beat.
Skip it if: Points are fixed value with no transfer partners · U.S. Bank approvals favor existing customers
Best for choosing categories
5x Two categories you choose each quarter
5x Prepaid air, hotel and car rentals via the U.S. Bank rewards center
2x One everyday category (gas, grocery or restaurants)
Why we chose it
Five percent back on two categories you pick each quarter, including unusual ones like utilities and internet. Pointed at fixed monthly bills, it earns 5 percent on money you were spending anyway. No other issuer lets you aim this precisely.
Skip it if: Quarterly activation required or you earn 1% · $2,000 quarterly cap on the 5% spend
Best flat rate
2x All purchases (base rate)
2.5x All purchases with $5,000+ in U.S. Bank deposits or investments
3x All purchases with $50,000+ combined balances
Why we chose it
A flat-rate card whose earning climbs with your US Bank balances, topping out above every standalone 2 percent card. It is the relationship play, the same way Preferred Rewards works at BofA. Park the savings there and the card outpays the market.
Skip it if: Top tier requires $100k parked at U.S. Bank · Terms have been nerfed once already and caps now apply to new cardholders
Best for travel
4x Travel, gas stations, EV charging
2x Dining, streaming, grocery stores
1x All other purchases
Why we chose it
Strong travel and gas earning with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee. It covers the road-trip categories most travel cards ignore. A free card that holds its own on vacation.
Skip it if: Points are fixed value with no transfer partners · Quarterly cap on the gas and EV 4x
Best for business
5x Prepaid hotels and car rentals via the US Bank travel portal
3x Gas and EV charging, office supply stores, cell phone providers, restaurants
1x All other purchases
Why we chose it
Three percent back at gas stations, restaurants, office supply stores, and cell phone providers with no fee. Those are the line items on every small business card statement. It earns like a premium business card and costs nothing.
Skip it if: Cash back only, no points ecosystem · 3% FTF
The Bottom Line
US Bank is the value pick for people who hate annual fees. The Altitude Go and Cash+ together cover dining, bills, and chosen categories at rates the big issuers charge for. Build the banking relationship first and the approvals get easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which card on the Best US Bank Cards list has no annual fee?
U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature, U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature, U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature, US Bank Altitude Connect, US Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards all have a $0 annual fee.
Which card on the Best US Bank Cards list has the most valuable welcome bonus?
The US Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards currently has the most valuable bonus on this list: $500, worth roughly $500 by our valuations.
What is the highest-rated card on the Best US Bank Cards list?
The U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature carries our highest rating on this list at 8.3/10, with a $0 annual fee.
How we rank: picks are ordered by our independent 0-10 ratings, current bonus value at our points valuations, annual fee, and earning structure. Compensation never changes an order or a rating. Read our full rating methodology.
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