A number of changes have been made to the U.S. Bank REI Mastercard, some of these are part of the wider Mastercard changes but most of them are unique to this specific card.
- LoungeKey pay as you go lounge access ($32 per visit)
- No foreign transaction fees (previously 3%)
- 2% cash back on all mobile wallet purchases
- Cell phone protection insurance
Relatively minor benefits, but interesting to see lounge access added for a store card (although you do need to still pay for it on a per visit basis so maybe not that surprising).
Hat tip to reader Kent
Seems like they are doing more and more to make the altitude not worth the $400 AF
Curious, what about this is competetive with the Altitude for you?
I am an REI member and see nothing here that threatens most of US Bank’s cards. The Cash+ is probably a better option at REI since you get to spend the rewards anywhere and can access them more than once a year. I don’t think most REI customers would consistently blow past 2k per quarter. The ARs mobile wallet bonus still blows this one out of the water. Its 4.5% for travel vs 2%. IMO, the AR is a great card for online shopping and for anyone that makes large quarterly tax payments. Its 2.5% above the processing fee. The 4.5% give you head room to spend in areas with credit card convenience fees which the REI card does not.
How do you earn 4.5% on tax? Can you pay tax with mobile payment?
The lounge access is something I would love to see the Bank of America Premium Rewards card add.