U.S. Bank launches rewards card with 50,000-point sign-up bonus


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After weeks of speculation, the new, premium rewards card from U.S. Bank has finally launched. The metal card, the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card, offers luxury-card level perks and costs, including a generous sign-up bonus and a lavish rewards program, along with a hefty annual fee.
The Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite card allows cardholders to earn the following rewards:
- 50,000-point sign-up bonus – Earn 50,000 points after spending $4,500 in the first 90 days of account opening.
- 3 times the rewards on travel – Earn 3 points per dollar spent on travel when purchased directly through airlines, hotels and other qualifying travel vendors.
- 3 times the rewards on mobile purchases – Earn 3 points per dollar spent on items purchased through mobile wallets, such as Apple Pay and Android Pay.
The triple-point bonus on mobile wallet purchases is an industry first. According to the president of U.S. Bank Retail Payments Solutions, John Steward, it sets the card apart for consumers who “live life on the go,” putting the cardholder “in charge of their own spend categories so they can earn triple points on the things they like to buy – not just the categories a card presets for them.”
While the reach and use of mobile wallets is still limited, the value of the card’s unique rewards program should grow as more businesses accept mobile payments and more consumers use their smartphones as a payment method.
Travel-oriented perks
In addition to a generous sign-up bonus – which can be
redeemed for $750 worth of airfare, hotel stays or car rentals – the Altitude
card offers several other benefits geared toward travel, including:
- $325 in travel credits – Receive a reimbursement of up to $325 each year for eligible travel purchases.
- No foreign transaction fees – You won’t be charged foreign transaction fees for any purchases made while traveling outside the U.S.
- Priority Pass Select membership – Cardholders receive a complimentary, 12-month Priority Pass Select membership, which grants access to more than 1,000 airport lounges globally.
- Complimentary Wi-Fi – Enjoy free internet access with 12 complimentary Gogo Inflight Wi-Fi passes each year.
- $100 application credit – Receive a statement credit of up to $100 when applying for Global Entry or TSA Precheck every four years.
- Save on chauffeured rides – Book a chauffeured ride through GroundLink black car service, and receive 15 percent off, as well as $30 off your first ride.
- Travel and concierge services – Cardholders receive complimentary membership to travel planning service Andrew Harper and access to Visa Infinite concierge service.
The most luxurious of
luxury credit cards?
In the realm of travel credit cards, the U.S. Bank Altitude
Reserve Visa Infinite Card definitely has competition. For example, the
Platinum card from American Express offers a higher sign-up bonus than Altitude
(60,000 points), but it also comes with a higher annual fee ($550). The Chase
Sapphire Reserve, on the other hand, offers a 50,000-point sign-up bonus for
spending $500 less in the first three months than the Altitude card.
See how the Altitude card stacks up against other premium travel rewards cards:
COMPARING THE LUXURY CREDIT CARDS | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Credit card | Sign-up bonus | Estimated value of bonus* | Statement credit | Annual fee |
U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve | 50,000 points after $4,500 spend in 3 months | $750 | $325 | $400 |
Chase Sapphire Reserve | 50,000 points after $4,000 spend in 3 months | $630 | $300 | $450 |
Citi Prestige | 40,000 points after $4,000 spend in 3 months | $440 | $300 | $450 |
Platinum card from American Express | 60,000 points after $5,000 spend in 3 months | $714 | $200 | $550 |
*Bonus value is based on our estimated value of each card’s rewards points. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date. Please see the bank’s website for the most current version of the offer. |
COMPARE THE LUXURY REWARDS CARDS | |||
---|---|---|---|
Sign-up bonus | Estimated value of bonus* | Statement credit | Annual fee |
Platinum card from American Express | |||
50,000 points after $4,500 spend in 3 months | $750 | $325 | $400 |
Chase Sapphire Reserve | |||
50,000 points after $4,000 spend in 3 months | $630 | $300 | $450 |
Citi Prestige | |||
40,000 points after $4,000 spend in 3 months | $440 | $300 | $450 |
Platinum card from American Express | |||
60,000 points after $5,000 spend in 3 months | $714 | $200 | $550 |
*Bonus value is based on our estimated value of each card’s rewards points. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date. Please see the bank’s website for the most current version of the offer. |
Exclusive to existing U.S.
Bank customers
The Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite card is currently only
available to existing U.S. Bank customers. However, what defines a U.S. Bank
account holder is somewhat broad, and includes anyone who has a checking or
savings account, CD, mortgage, home equity loan, home equity line on credit,
auto/boat/RV loan, personal loan, private banking account or consumer credit
card issued by U.S. Bank.
If you have any of these, you can apply for the Altitude card immediately. But if you do not, you will not be eligible to apply for the card until you have had an account open with U.S. Bank for a minimum of 35 days.
See related: American Express Platinum card amps up sign-up bonus to 60,000 points, Chase offers hefty 50,000-point sign-up bonus to new United MileagePlus Explorer cardholders, American Express Platinum card makeover adds $200 Uber credits
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