Update 8/1/25: This is now confirmed at this link and in an email sent out today: 1) redemptions against travel is down to 1 cent-per-point; 2) $325 travel credit only works on Travel Center bookings, not on all Travel and Dining as before; 3) mobile wallet purchases only earn 3x on up to $5,000 each billing cycle. Changes effective on December 15, 2025.
Original Post 7/28/25:
There is an official looking image circulating showing negative changes to U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve.
- Card will earn 10x points on hotel and car rentals and 5x points on flights booked using the U.S. Bank travel center
- Ability to transfer points to other loyalty programs
- 5% discount on gift card redemptions
- Card will earn 3x on mobile wallet purchases on the first $5,000 each billing cycle, then 1x
- Points will be worth 1¢ when redeeming against travel (currently 1.5¢)
- $325 annual credit can only be used for travel through the travel center (previously available on all travel and dining purchases)
Our Verdict
Not surprised that this is being nerfed, but still disappointing. The addition of the travel transfers could make up for the fact that points will only be worth 1¢ but that depends on the travel partners.
My AF hits in June. Any reason not to wait for that, use the $325 travel credit, then cancel?
CSR stated “product options” for changing will show up after the statement close date. I wonder if I shot myself in the foot by not calling before the annual fee was billed. She told me something might show up after the next statement, but I am not going to stick around to find out. Disappointing as I would have preferred to convert it back to an Altitude Connect, but can’t really complain as I got a SUB on the original card, a SUB on the product change, and a 2nd travel/dining credit and the 2nd AF should be refunded
Ended up canceling this card, as they wouldn’t offer any potential product conversions. Not sure why they disliked me – I had been using the card as a true travel card (rather than spamming the 4.5% mobile wallet rewards). Perhaps the takeaway is if you see an opportunity to make money off U.S. Bank, go for it since they don’t accurately distinguish between profitable and unprofitable customers. Will miss the card, though, since it was in my opinion the last useful general purpose travel card and I don’t need a bougie coupon book.
Just got hit with the annual fee, hoping dining credit is still an option until December. Anyone try to use a dining credit in the past month?
I would assume it is. I redeemed mine on a travel expense though.
Yes, I have received dining credit recently.
My friend’s USBAR AF just posted. There is no retention offer. Seems like they rather “offload” people like us. They have offered retention offer every year until now.
Heads up: Annual fee hit 8/1. Despite terms saying dining/travel credit til 12/15 dining is not counting as on prior years. Phone rep went to go read terms, no additional info (no surprise) as to why it wouldn’t track and agreed it seems like it should. Put in for ‘investigation’. I’ve got a week to cancel with a fee refund and 3 weeks to hear back about about the investigation. No retention offer.
Did you end up getting the credits?
Got manually credited today. One entry to offset all of the charges.
The travel/dining credit didn’t come available until a couple weeks after the fee hit for me. It shows up on the website when it does though. It makes the timing difficult to get the credit and rewards redeemed within 30 days of the fee posting. However they did just allow me get a refund of the annual fee charged 7/3 in mid August which gave me time to redeem my rewards after my August statement. They put in a manual request for the refund which was completed and they’re sending a check.
Where do you go on the website to verify the travel/dining credit is available after the AF hits? I just see a generic popup warning of the redemption changes coming in Dec. when I click on the button for info on the credit in the Rewards menu. My AF charged 8/26, would love to get another free $325 before I cancel but the 30-day clock is ticking.
Anyone managed to get a PC or retention from US Bank since?
my AF had posted Aug 1. Just called in to ask for retention offers like I do every year. surprising that this is the first time there was zero retention offer of points.
is real time rewards going away too?
Has the Global Entry credit been upped from $100 to $120?
Yes.