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As travel continues to ramp up around the world, the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card is adding a new way to be rewarded. Cardholders can now earn an uncapped 5% cash back on travel purchases booked directly through the Rewards Travel Center. This new bonus earning category is in addition to the card's usual 5% and 2% cash back on selected categories.
Let's take a look at these changes to the card.
New Travel Portal Purchases Bonus Category
For some time, U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa cardholders have been able to select two categories to earn 5% cash back on up to $2,000 spending, plus one everyday spending category to earn 2% cash back. Now, there's an additional travel category that everyone gets: earning 5% cash back without limit on travel purchases.
All you need to do is book your flights, hotels, and car rentals directly through U.S. Bank's Rewards Travel Center to earn 5% cash back on all purchases. You don't need to activate this category, and there is no limit to how much you can earn. Note that the terms say the bonus earnings apply specifically to prepaid air, hotel, and rental car reservations paid for with your U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa.
- Earn a $200 bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible net purchases within the first 120 days of account opening.
- 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in eligible net purchases each quarter on the two categories you choose, 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center, 2% cash back on one everyday category (like gas or groceries), 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases
- No annual fee
- 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in eligible net purchases each quarter on the two categories you choose
- 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center
- 2% cash back on one everyday category (like gas or groceries)
- 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases
U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Rotating Categories
For those not familiar with the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa, here's how it works. Unlike Citi and Chase — which determine their own bonus categories each quarter — U.S. Bank lets you choose the categories where you want to earn 2% or 5% cash back. Specifically, you can choose two of the following categories to earn 5% cash back:
- TV, internet & streaming services
- Home utilities
- Ground transportation
- Select clothing stores
- Cell phone providers
- Electronics stores
- Gyms/fitness centers
- Fast food
- Sporting goods stores
- Department stores
- Furniture stores
- Movie theaters
There is a combined cap of $2,000 spending between the two categories each quarter. Once you reach this cap, your purchases will earn only 1% cash back.
Additionally, you can choose one of three everyday-spending categories to earn unlimited 2% cash back:
- Gas & EV charging stations
- Restaurants
- Grocery stores
All other purchases, including the categories you didn't select, earn unlimited 1% cash back. For more, see this guide to the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa categories.
To select your categories, simply go to usbank.com/cashplus or call the number on the back of your card. Make sure to select your category up to 45 days before the beginning of each quarter. To see which selected merchants are included in each category, go to cashplus.usbank.com/merchants. It's probably a good idea to see which categories are offered by Citi and Chase before selecting your U.S. Bank categories. In this way, you'll have as many different categories for bonus earnings as possible.
See also: Credit Cards Featuring Rotating Quarterly Bonus Categories
Our Take
With travel restrictions relaxing around the world, it's great to see bonus cash back for a travel category. Don't forget to also check Cashback Monitor to make sure you're using the best card and booking portals to get the most cash back. For that matter, not everyone will be able to utilize the 5% categories US Bank offers, so make sure to consider whether the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa is right for you. If it is, you should be excited about increased opportunities for bonus earnings.
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I cannot find the travel portal to reserve a hotel. please help
Hi Paul – Here are the instructions for both accessing via desktop and mobile app: https://www.usbank.com/customer-service/knowledge-base/KB0069655.html