US Bank Altitude Connect card review: Earn a welcome bonus worth $500 and up to 5x points in great categories

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Review: Is the US Bank Altitude Connect the best credit card for you?

Simplicity and ease of use are among the most undervalued benefits when it comes to choosing a new credit card. While it's often possible to get a higher return on your spending by earning flexible points and carefully picking the right transfer partner to redeem them with, that takes time.

And let's be honest, not everyone has the time to learn the intricate web of transfer options or the desire to do so. If you're looking for a rewarding credit card with strong bonus categories and an annual fee that doesn't break the bank, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is a very compelling choice.

Read more: The best rewards credit cards

For starters, you'll earn a welcome bonus of U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card (worth $500), and the annual fee is U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card.

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card earns 5x points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked through the Altitude Rewards Center, 4x points on travel and at gas stations, 2x points at grocery stores, grocery delivery, dining and streaming services, and 1 point per dollar everywhere else.

It also comes with a $30 annual streaming bonus for eligible services like Netflix, Apple TV+, Spotify, and more, and a $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck statement credit once every four years. Given the proliferation of streaming services most people should be able to use that $30 credit easily, meaning for just $65 out of pocket each year, you can use the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card as a one-stop shop for most of your purchases.

Who should and shouldn't consider the US Bank Altitude Connect

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card makes a pretty strong case for itself in the first year, with a waived annual fee, a welcome bonus worth $500, and a $30 streaming credit. After that, it still presents a very strong value proposition. Assuming you take the $30 streaming credit at face value you'll be paying $65 a year out of pocket for the card, which you could fully recoup by spending just $1,300 on hotels and car rentals or $1,625 on travel and gas.

If you've decided that you'd rather not deal with the complexity of transferable points and you want a single credit card that will reward you well at the places you spend most, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card fits that bill.

While it's not necessarily the most rewarding card on the market in any one category, it offers strong earning rates on popular travel expenses, a simple and straightforward redemption process, and even some travel-friendly perks like a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit to make your vacations more relaxing.

Comparison: US Bank Altitude Connect vs other US bank cards

US Bank Altitude Connect vs other rewards credit cards

How to earn rewards from the US Bank Altitude Connect card

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card has a straightforward earning structure that awards bonus points in popular spending categories. Cardholders earn:

• 5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly through the Altitude Rewards Center
• 4 points per dollar on travel (including airlines, hotels, car rentals, taxis, limousines, passenger trains, and cruise lines) and at gas stations
• 2 points per dollar at grocery stores and on grocery delivery, dining, and eligible streaming services
• 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases

It's important to note that only services that appear on US Bank's list of eligible streaming merchants qualify to earn 2x points:

Read more: The best credit cards for streaming services

How to use US Bank Altitude Connect points

Points earned on the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card are worth 1 cent each no matter how you redeem them, so you can pick whichever option suits you best.

You can redeem your rewards for travel purchases, merchandise, gift cards, cash back, and more. You also might get a text from US Bank asking if you'd like to use "Real-Time Rewards" and use your points instantly to cover a purchase you're making with your card. There's a minimum redemption amount of 2,500 points ($25) if you're redeeming for cash back.

Read more: The best cash-back credit cards

One of the benefits of a fixed-value card like this is that there's no incentive to save up your points for some aspirational redemption, meaning you can get your cash back working for you as quickly as you earn it.

Benefits and features

The main selling point of this card is certainly the bonus categories it offers, but it does come with a few additional perks.

Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit

Once every four years, cardholders can receive up to a $100 statement credit to cover the cost of a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application or renewal.

Read more: 11 travel rewards credit cards that will reimburse your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee every 4 years

$30 annual streaming bonus

When you use the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card to pay for eligible streaming services for 11 consecutive months, you'll receive an automatic $30 credit each year. The eligible streaming services for the credit are the same as those that qualify to earn 2x points.

Cell phone protection

When you pay your monthly wireless bill with the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card, you're eligible for up to $600 per claim in coverage for cell phone damage or theft. There's a $100 deductible and a maximum of one claim per year.

Read more: The best credit cards with cell phone protection

Roadside dispatch

Cardholders can access a 24/7 roadside dispatch hotline which can help arrange services like towing, winching, or jumpstarting. The dispatch service itself is free, but you'll be charged a set fee for services provided.

Travel and emergency assistance services

If you're traveling and run into issues, you can access a travel and emergency assistance hotline that can help arrange things like legal and medical referrals, prescriptions, translation services, locating lost luggage, and more. Again, the service itself is free, but any third-party costs are your responsibility.

Visa Signature benefits

Because the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is a Visa Signature card, cardholders can access additional perks, including:

• Visa Signature Concierge
• Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection
• Visa Signature Golf Benefit by Troon
• Car rental discounts

Read more: Visa Signature credit cards offer perks at luxury hotels and benefits that can save you money and hassle, but many cardholders aren't aware they have one

Fees and costs

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card has an annual fee of U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card. You can use the card overseas without incurring extra charges, because it doesn't add foreign transaction fees.

Read more: The best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees

Like most other cards, there are fees for balance transfers, cash advances, and late or returned payments.