US Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card Review
Written by
Daria Uhlig
Edited by
Lindsey Kloosterman
Commitment to Our Readers
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20 Years
Helping You Live Richer
Reviewed
by Experts
Trusted by
Millions of Readers
GOBankingRates Score
-
Rewards
4.7
Pros
- There's no annual fee.
- $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days earn 20,000 bonus points worth $200.
- Dining out, restaurant delivery and takeout earn 4x points.
- There are no foreign transaction fees on purchases you make outside the U.S.
- You can earn a $15 streaming credit each year.
Cons
- U.S. Bank doesn't disclose ExtendPay fees in advance.
- Travel purchases earn just 1 point per dollar spent.
US Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card Overview
Rewards and perks are among the top reasons Americans use a credit card, according to a recent GOBankingRates survey of over 1,000 Americans from across the country. The U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card delivers on both, with an easy-to-follow rewards program offering points for purchases in frequently used categories that include dining out, groceries, streaming services and fuel — gas and EV charging. Cardholders also have the option of paying over time with ExtendPay, a no-interest “buy now, pay later” plan.
What’s more, the card offers a 12-month 0% promotional APR on purchases and balance transfers, plus 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 within the first 90 days of opening an account. And there’s no annual fee.
Key Features
There’s a lot to consider when you’re shopping for a new credit card. Here’s a look at some of the features that helped Altitude Go earn a high score.
Annual Fee
Credit card rewards can add a lot of value to your card, but annual fees can wipe out the savings. GOBankingRates’ survey revealed that annual fees are the thing respondents hate most about credit cards, and no annual fee is their most important consideration when picking out a new card.
The U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card has no annual fee. That means you get the full benefit of the points you earn, especially if you avoid interest charges by paying off your balances each month.
Number of Rewards
Some cards complicate their rewards structures with earnings tiers and rotating categories that can make it sound as though you’re getting more rewards than you’ll actually receive. That’s not the case with the U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa card. The rewards are very straightforward:
- 4x points on dining purchases, including restaurant meals, takeout and delivery
- 2x points on groceries, including grocery deliveries, plus streaming services, gas and electric-vehicle charging
- 1x point on all other purchases
That’s four categories of spending that earn more than 1x rewards, including EV charging. U.S. Bank was one of the first card issuers to reward EV-charging purchases, and its rewards program is still one of a relatively few that do.
Cap on Rewards
Rewards caps make it difficult to maximize your points rewards. Not only do they limit how many points you can earn, but they also force you to keep track of how much you’ve spent in a particular category. It’s a lot of work for a penny on the dollar. The Altitude Go card has no caps on the number of points you can earn, and you can save them for as long as you want because they never expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing.
Promotional APR
If you’ve run up charges on other cards, you can pay them off faster by transferring the balances to the U.S. Bank Altitude Go card. It comes with a 0% promotional APR good for the first 12 billing cycles. Purchases also qualify for the promotional APR, and they earn rewards as well.
Once the promotional period ends, a APR applies.
Additional Perks and Benefits
Rewards points aren’t the only perk you get with the Altitude Go card. Here’s a look at other benefits that come with the card.
Streaming Rebate
In addition to the 2x points you earn when you use the card to pay for streaming services, Altitude Go offers a $15 annual streaming rebate. It’s credited to your account automatically after you make 11 consecutive months of purchases from eligible streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and Apple Music.
Multiple Ways To Redeem Points
U.S. Bank gives cardmembers several ways to redeem points. In addition to receiving them as a statement credit or cash into a U.S. Bank checking or savings account, you can use points to purchase merchandise, gift cards and prepaid U.S. Bank Rewards Cards. Points can also be donated to select charities or used toward travel purchases — using a combination of points and cash, if needed, to cover the cost.
Real-Time Rewards
Real-Time Rewards allows instant points redemption for almost any purchase, at the time of purchase. You can earn 500 points for enrolling in Real-Time Rewards, but there’s no obligation to redeem points this way.
ExtendPay Plans
In the event you want to use your card for a buy now, pay later purchase, the U.S. Bank ExtendPay program offers enrolled members the opportunity to spread payments out over three to 24 months, depending on the purchase amount, with no interest. The downside of this program is its monthly flat fee, which is based on the purchase amount, your card APR and other factors and is disclosed when you enroll. Before you use ExtendPay for a purchase, make sure the fee isn’t higher than your credit card APR.
To the program’s credit, ExtendPay purchases are eligible for the same rewards as regular credit card purchases.
Visa Signature Benefits
As a Visa Signature card, Altitude Go provides additional benefits available exclusively to Visa Signature cardholders. They include:
- Special rates on car rentals
- 24/7 concierge service for booking dining and entertainment
- Premium benefits at a collection of luxury hotels
- Savings for cardmembers who join Troon Rewards
- Access to food, wine and entertainment events
- Free trial of Shipt same-day delivery, followed by limited-time 50%-off subscription fee
- Discounts on a variety of products, services and experiences
How the US Bank Altitude Go Card Stands Out
The U.S. Bank Altitude Go card stands out for its 4x rewards on dining purchases, which is a great value for a card with no annual fee. Rewards on EV charging are another perk not many other cards offer. The ExtendPay program, which lets you earn rewards and pay over time with no interest, is also unique — just be aware of how the fees compare to what the APR would be on the same purchase.
Comparable Rewards Card Options
It’s always a good idea to do some comparison shopping before you apply for a new credit card. Consider factors like point categories and values, redemption options, introductory and standard APRs and points bonuses as you look at various cards side by side.
Here’s how the U.S. Bank Altitude Go card stacks up against two of its competitors.
US Bank Altitude Go Card vs. Regions Prestige Visa Signature Card
Altitude Go and the Regions Prestige Visa Signature Card run neck and neck almost across the board. Where they differ is in how you earn bonus rewards. Whereas Altitude Go requires $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days to earn a 20,000-point bonus worth $200, Regions Prestige starts with a 10,000 bonus worth $100 for $500 in purchases in the first 90 days. It adds another 10,000 points if you spend $1,000. The two tiers make it easier to earn a bonus, even if not the top one.
US Bank Altitude Go Card vs.
Citi Rewards+ has a longer introductory APR — 15 months compared to Altitude Go’s 12. And its standard interest rate is lower, at a APR as compared to Altitude Go’s APR. However, you’ll have to spend $1,500 in the first 90 days to earn a 20,000-point promotional sign-on bonus, and rewards caps make it difficult to determine exactly how much you stand to earn. The same goes for points value — how much they’re worth depends on how you redeem them.
How To Apply for the US Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card
The easiest way to apply for the Altitude Go card is from the card’s main page on the U.S. Bank site. Current U.S. Bank customers can log in to apply faster. Otherwise, click the “Apply Now” button to get started. You’ll enter basic information — name, email address and cell number — on the first page. Click “Save & continue” once you’ve filled that in, and follow the prompts on subsequent pages. You should get through the application in about five minutes and receive an answer about 60 seconds later.
For assistance with the application, call 800-644-7239 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT.
Who the US Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card Is Best For
Altitude Go is an excellent choice for anyone who dines out or orders out often but doesn’t need to earn top rewards for travel purchases. The streaming rebate is appealing to those who subscribe to any of the eligible services — it’s a 1,500-point value on top of the 2x points you earn when you charge your monthly streaming bills to the card.
EV owners might have the most to like about the Altitude Go card. For now, at least, you won’t find too many cards offering rewards on charging.
Final Take
The U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature card is a solid choice for anyone looking to earn lots of points on dining out or takeout and decent ones on some of their most frequent purchases, such as groceries and fuel. With no rewards caps, annual fees or foreign transaction fees, this is a good everyday card in its own right, and it’s an excellent complement to a travel rewards card.
FAQ
There's a lot to know before you apply for the U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card. The answers to these frequently asked questions will help you decide if the card might be a good choice for you.- What credit score do you need for a U.S. Bank Altitude Go card?
- U.S. Bank doesn't disclose a specific credit score, but it does note that its cards are for individuals with established credit in the good-to-excellent range. That generally means a FICO score of 670 or higher.
- Is the U.S. Bank Altitude Go a metal card?
- Yes, it is a metal card reportedly weighing in at about 12 grams.
- Does the U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card have an annual fee?
- No. There's no annual fee.
- Does the U.S. Bank Altitude Go card have foreign transaction fees?
- No, you won't incur foreign transaction fees when you use this card.
Rates are subject to change; unless otherwise noted, rates are updated periodically. All other information on accounts is accurate as of Oct. 2, 2022.
Editorial Note: This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.
