The U.S Bank Cash+ card allows you to choose two 5% cash back categories every quarter (and one 2% category), there is a spending limit of $2,000 per quarter but that still equals $100 in cash back per quarter if you can max out that spending.
Previously it wasn’t possible to apply for this card online, you had to apply at a U.S Bank branch, use their windows phone application and sometimes they would accept phone applications. It’s now possible to apply for this card online directly. This card has no annual fee, but also no sign up bonus.
Cash Back Categories
The U.S Bank Cash+ card allows you to to choose one 2% cash back category and two 5% cash back categories.
5% categories
Below is a list of all the 5% cash back categories, keep in mind you can choose two of these:
- Select Clothing Stores
- Gyms/Fitness Centers
- Sporting Goods Stores
- Sporting Good Stores
- Cellphone
- Bookstores
- Department Stores
- Electronic Stores
- Fast Food
- Furniture Stores
- Car Rental
- Charity
- Movie Theaters
2% categories
These aren’t very useful because you should be getting at least 2% cash back on all of your purchases anyway. But here are the 2% cash back categories
- Gas stations
- Grocery stores
- Restaurants
Devaluations
Even though this is a cash back card, U.S Bank has been devaluing how useful the card is. This has been so rampant that people often refer to this card as the Nerf+. Here are some of the recent negative changes they have made:
- Removed Restaurants as a 5% category
- When you redeem $100+ in cash back, you used to receive a $25 bonus which was once per calendar year. This is now being changed to once per lifetime (used to even be unlimited)
There have been a lot of other categories that have been removed, but those are the two most recent negative changes.
Final Thoughts
I have this card and I had been using it for all of my Restaurant expenses and charity donations, I actually spend enough in those categories to easy max out the $2,000 per quarter (yay work lunches and dinners). Now that Restaurants have been removed, I’ll need to up my charity donations.
[Read: Manufacturing Credit Card Spend With Kiva]
I think most people will really struggle to max out the $2,000 per quarter, given the fact that there is also no sign up bonus I don’t think this card is worth applying for directly. That being said because it has no annual fee and 5% categories, it’s the best U.S Bank credit card to downgrade to.
If you are going to apply for any U.S Bank credit cards, you should freeze your IDA & ARS reports first.
Just got a $100 sign up bonus offer after spending $500 in 90 days and zero % for 12 months in the mail today. Should this be enough to go for it, or do you think its still better to convert down to this card?
It would be awesome if all orders counted throughout the year. I was hoping perhaps there was someone that had already done it and had a data point to share!
I’m curious, do you guys know if eBay would count towards any of the 5% categories? I remember I read some time ago that Discover 5% cash back during the last quarter counted eBay I believe as a department store.
I’d love this card if eBay would get 5% cash back. Any thoughts guys?
That would be simply wonderful…not sure…perhaps someone will experiment and report back?
It counted as online shopping in Q4 last year. You can also use the Chase Ink cards to get 5x at eBay (at least one gift cards)
Not happy that the @25 bonus on redeeming $100 or more is going away…
@William, looks like the business meals are going to be much quicker now that you will need to dine out at the fast food restaurants in order to get the 5% back. I am sure once you expain the 3% margin the clients will understand.
Haha, I have taken a colleague to in n out before. I really want another good restaurant card, 2x flexible points really doesn’t do it for me.
Why don’t you get a Citi Forward card? It earns roughly 5X points on all restaurants.
Not available for new sign ups otherwise I would :(.
It’s interesting that they added the application online after they’ve basically removed all of the good benefits. I still recommend this card, but not as a new sign up as Will has mentioned to product change into
Glad to see it’s available online, sad to see that it’s been nerfed. It’ll be interesting to see if you could combine with the Club Carlson card for a single hard pull.
If you try it, let me know the results.
Are you saying that fast food is still 5% but sit down restaurants (ie Ihop, Chilis, etc.) are 2%? What is the minimum amount cash back threshold?
Yeah, here are their examples of fast food places:
Arby’sâ„¢ Cold Stone Creamery® Jack in the Box® Qdoba® Mexican Grill
Baja Fresh® Cracker Barrel® Jamba Juice® Quiznos®
Baskin Robbins Culver’s® Jimmy John’s® Sbarro
Big Boy® Dairy Queen KFC™ Sonic
Bob Evans® Del Taco Krispy Kreme Dougnuts® Starbucks™
Boston Market® Denny’s McDonald’s® Steak ‘n Shake®
Bruegger’s Bagels Domino’s® Noodles & Company® Subway®
Burger King® Dunkin’ Donuts® Panda Express Taco Bell®
Caribou Coffeeâ„¢ Firehouse Subs Panera Bread® Taco John’s®
Carl’s Jr.® Five Guys® Papa John’s Wendy’s®
Chick-fil-A® Fuddruckers® Papa Murphy’s® White Castle®
Chipotle Mexican Grill Hardee’s® Popeyes®
Chuck E. Cheese’s® In-N-Out Burger® Potbelly
Funny how when much less people want it, its free to app online.. lol