U.S. Bank Cash+: Home Utilities To Replace Bookstores As 5% Category On April 1st, 2018

U.S. Bank Cash+ is a card that lets you choose two categories to earn 5% in. You can change your categories every quarter and you’re restricted to earning 5% on the first $2,000 in combined spend on both categories (e.g maximum of $100 cash back), the card then reverts to earning 1% cash back on those categories. Starting April 1st, 2018 home utilities will replace bookstores as a 5% category. Home utilities includes:

  • electric, gas and waste management companies

Some cardholders will be disappointed in this change as Amazon codes as a bookstore and this was a common option for earning 5% at Amazon. Thankfully there are other options for earning at a high rate on Amazon including the Amazon Prime store card and Chase Amazon.com Rewards card. Earning at a high rate on regular bookstores is now almost non-existent with the Sallie Mae card no longer being offered either. Thankfully home utilities is a useful category and a lot of people should be able to take advantage of this 5% opportunity. One thing to keep in mind is that most utility providers will allow you to prepay your bill, this could be a way to max out the 5% category before changing categories for another quarter. Other 5% categories include:

  • Ground Transportation
  • Select Clothing Stores
  • Cell Phones
  • Electronics Stores
  • Car Rentals
  • Gyms/Fitness Centers
  • Bookstores (to be replaced by Home Utilities)
  • Fast Food
  • Sporting Goods Stores
  • Department Stores
  • Furniture Stores
  • Movie Theaters

Hat tip to perspicaciousliberal

 

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48 Comments
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Rye
Rye (@guest_643486)
September 17, 2018 11:13

any idea what qualifies as Gyms/Fitness Centers?

Spence
Spence (@guest_616148)
July 12, 2018 09:16

Comcast is Qualified Utility, has to be Cable Utility not Cable Satellite. Up to $2000 also, so I split 1k cable and 1k electric, will go to gas in winter. This means two free dinners out for the wife and I!

Paul
Paul (@guest_557715)
February 5, 2018 15:49

Never knew about Amazon coding as a bookstore. I’ve had the card since ’12. FML.

lily
lily (@guest_558751)
February 8, 2018 03:33

Same here, always thought it belong to online catergory.

VictorG
VictorG (@guest_557661)
February 5, 2018 13:07

Comed (My electric company) not allowed to pay in advance…

sloebrake
sloebrake (@guest_557659)
February 5, 2018 13:04

Anyone know how Arcadia Power codes?
Been thinking of switching since my current utility uses WU speedpay with a big enough fee to make CC unattractive.

And for most lamenting the loss of amazon – get a CC with PRICE PROTECTION (Citi, Chase, some others) and sign up for Earny.

I dumped the 5% amazon late last year for AT&T Access More and over the holiday pulled in well over 20% in cash back from Earny. Nice thing is that you keep the 3% TYP for online purchases (so I assume double cash would let you keep 2%) – so you’re only putting an extra 2-3% points/cash at risk for a benefit of up to 50% cash in some cases.

RB
RB (@guest_801684)
August 22, 2019 12:45

Were you able to confirm if Arcadia Power codes at Utilities and earns 5% cashback?

RB
RB (@guest_801700)
August 22, 2019 13:02

Thank you! I currently don’t have this card. So just want to make sure my current utility charges would code under the 5% category before I decide to apply. Most likely year end is when I will be applying for this card as I just applied for the Chase Ink Business Preferred card. Thanks once again for the confirmation.

Ryan Goldstein
Ryan Goldstein (@guest_801705)
August 22, 2019 13:11
  RB

I don’t know if there has specifically been confirmation for the Chase Ink – I just know there has been confirmation for the US Bank Cash+ card and the Vantage West Connect Rewards card – Arcadia Power charges count toward their respective 5% utilities categories.

RB
RB (@guest_801739)
August 22, 2019 14:04

I applied for the Chase Ink Business Preferred card just for the bonus and I don’t think the card earns more than 1 point on Utilities. The reason to wait and apply for the US Bank Cash+ is because I did not want too many inquires within a short span.

pete
pete (@guest_557647)
February 5, 2018 12:42

for me, personally, this would be great..i might actually apply for the card now. 🙂 IOW i don’t have the discipline and time to chase changing categories in general with different cards in my wallet unless they are frequent purchases, but my utilities (and cell phones) allow fee-free credit card payments, and I spend relatively a lot on them, so I will just set them as my default payment, and since they are close to $6K per year, that will use up most of the 5% category.

Valerie
Valerie (@guest_557644)
February 5, 2018 12:38

My electric co uses WU Speedpay service. Will it count as Utility category?

Did anyone get $25 for four purchases over $25 from US Bank?

Connor
Connor (@guest_557831)
February 5, 2018 20:53

I haven’t gotten the $25 bonus yet

JoeHx
JoeHx (@guest_557626)
February 5, 2018 11:42

> Home utilities includes: electric, gas and waste management companies

Just these three, no internet, phone, or mobile?

Rick
Rick (@guest_557637)
February 5, 2018 12:26

They have Cell Phone as another 5% category. I’m guessing this is only about utilities.

David Lawleit
David Lawleit (@guest_557645)
February 5, 2018 12:41

Vantage West Connect Rewards Visa Signature

• Earn 5x points* (5% cash back) per $1 on one category of your choice per yearly quarter:

• Travel
• Restaurants
• Utilities [water, cell, electric, etc.]
• Wholesale [Costco, Sam’s Club, etc.]
• Department Stores
• Hardware & Home Improvement Stores
• Charitable Organizations
• Pharmacies & Drug Stores
• Amazon.com

 • 3x on gas

• 2x on groceries

• Must have a minimum 2,500 points ($25) for cash redemption.

• *Capped at $1,500 spend in qualifying purchases quarterly

1% foreign transaction fee

Anyone can join this credit union

pete
pete (@guest_557669)
February 5, 2018 13:19

any idea how sensitive they are to inquiries, new joining, or whatever? this is a reasonable replacement (for me) for the US bank, but don’t want to apply if there is a large chance of rejection.

David Lawleit
David Lawleit (@guest_557676)
February 5, 2018 13:49

I had a credit score of 700, 11 inquires, and 12% aggregate credit utilization. So it seems they are more relaxed in such, but that may not be the same for you.

Even if you did get rejected, this us definitely a credit card worth fighting for.

pete
pete (@guest_557679)
February 5, 2018 14:00

thanks for the reply..yeah, I realize “ymmv”…were you a “real” member before applying? My credit score and utilization is better, my inquires about the same, so I think i’d be good from that viewpoint, but obviously i’d be joining just for the card if they looked at my history.

David Lawleit
David Lawleit (@guest_557682)
February 5, 2018 14:04

You have to join before getting the credit card. This card is invaluable Costco credit card

pete
pete (@guest_557709)
February 5, 2018 15:40

right, I was just curious if you were a “long time” natural member before applying for this card..or if like I would be, you basically joined and then more or less immediately applied for the card..and/or kept a large bank account or anything.

frankly if I were them and saw someone like me join and then immediately get the card, I might reject myself 🙂

David Lawleit
David Lawleit (@guest_557712)
February 5, 2018 15:46

I got rejected at first, but got approved after a few months only been with them for 4 months approximately

Nina
Nina (@guest_557925)
February 6, 2018 09:12

If you don’t mind answering, which organization did you join to become a member? Thanks.

David Lawleit
David Lawleit (@guest_557990)
February 6, 2018 12:18

The GABA bicycle club, $25

Nina
Nina (@guest_558090)
February 6, 2018 16:19

Thanks!

Elver Galarga
Elver Galarga (@guest_557856)
February 5, 2018 21:48

My commerce card (old Sallie Mae card) that gives 2% on utilities codes my verizon bill (internet/cable) as a utility, so this might be the same?

Eric
Eric (@guest_558063)
February 6, 2018 15:03

What does that have to do with this? Commerce is from Barclaycard while Cash+ is from USB.

Elver Galarga
Elver Galarga (@guest_558139)
February 6, 2018 18:40

you must be stupid

Eric
Eric (@guest_558152)
February 6, 2018 19:06

That’s pretty funny coming from a person that doesn’t even know how to capitalize proper names, write proper sentences or use punctuation correctly.

Rick
Rick (@guest_558074)
February 6, 2018 15:20

I think it depends on the network. Visa might not code it as a utility.

Dave
Dave (@guest_557865)
February 5, 2018 22:12

Those are not utilities

Michael H
Michael H (@guest_557617)
February 5, 2018 11:25

Sucks, because I dont have a fee free option to pay. Water and Power both charge a convenience fee to pay via cc.

JoeHx
JoeHx (@guest_557628)
February 5, 2018 11:46

mine, too. the 5% might cover the cost of the service fee – flat $1.95 for electric, $2.50 gas, which means the break even point is about $39 and $50

Jeff H
Jeff H (@guest_557635)
February 5, 2018 12:23

So pay a few months in advance.

Shaun
Shaun (@guest_557613)
February 5, 2018 11:19

Stinks when your utility company only accepts ACH as a form of payment.