U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card Review: Is This Card Worth It?

Regarding cashback credit cards, the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash RewardsTM Visa Signature® Card works well if you enjoy diverse earning categories. Each quarter, you get to choose where you want to spend your rewards money, making it simple to earn higher cash back on your biggest spending, even if those costs are likely to change.

To choose the categories each quarter, which include stores like Amazon, Target, and Walmart, you will need to consider how you will do this in advance and pay some attention manually. In addition, you have more control over how much cash back you receive and can earn up to 6% in cash rewards, which is a high rate for cashback cards.

Read this U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards review to learn more about this card’s operation and determine whether it merits a place in your wallet.

Is the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash RewardsTM Visa Signature® Card right for you?

The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Card makes sense if your greatest regular spending tends to change. You can increase the cashback you receive by selecting alternative options for two of this card’s bonus categories.

For instance, you can select Apple and Amazon as your quarterly retailers if you anticipate doing a lot of holiday shopping there. But then you switch to Home Depot and IKEA for the next quarter because you know you will remodel in a few months.

The fact that not many rewards credit cards expressly provide earning rates at Target and Walmart makes this card advantageous if you frequently make purchases there. Target and Walmart are frequently left out of the bonus categories on supermarket credit cards.

If you don’t want to keep track of signing up for new categories every three months, the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards might not make sense. Because if you don’t enroll, all of your purchases will be subject to the industry-standard payback rate of 1.5 percent, which is available on a wide range of rewards credit cards.

U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Reward Pros

• Spend $2,000 on qualifying items during the first 120 days to earn $250.
• Earn 6% cash back on the first $1,500 in combined eligible purchases made at any two retailers of your choosing each quarter. You’ll also receive 5.5% cash back on direct hotel and car reservations made in advance through the Rewards Travel Center, 3% cash back on the first $1,500 in eligible purchases made in one regular category, and 1.5% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
• When you make a contactless purchase, certain physical cards equipped with LED technology illuminate the U.S. Bank logo. If you didn’t originally get an LED version, you might be able to ask for one.
• Holders of Visa Signature cards have access to 24/7 Visa Signature Concierge services for assistance with booking reservations for events, making travel arrangements, and more. Specific purchase and travel safeguards may also be included in the benefits of a Visa Signature.

Cons

• Up to a predetermined spending threshold each quarter, you can only earn the maximum rewards rate within the adjustable categories’ limitations. This card might not be worthwhile if you routinely spend more than the quarterly spending limits in the relevant areas.
• This card is not a good option for travelers because you have to pay 3% in foreign transaction fees.
• This card offers no introductory APR deals on purchases or debt transfers.

Cash back earning & redemption

Remember that the 1.5% reward rate on all other eligible transactions was only considered in these calculations. If you also maximize making purchases in these higher bonus categories, you could earn a lot more cash back than these expected earnings:

• On the first $1,500 in total qualified purchases each quarter at your choice of two stores, you will receive 6% cash back.
• On prepaid hotel and rental car reservations made directly through the Rewards Travel Center, you receive 5.5% cash back.
• On the first $1,500 of eligible purchases each quarter, choose the everyday category you would like to receive 3% cash back on.

Earning Tips

Utilizing U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards in its highest-earning bonus categories is the best way to earn cash back. Because you can select how to earn cashback incentives for two of the purchasing categories, this may require some preparation. But choosing stores or categories where you regularly face high costs should be uncomplicated.

As an illustration, you can receive 6% cash back from two retailers of your choice (on the first $1,500 in combined eligible purchases each quarter).

Since Target and Walmart are often regarded as “superstores” rather than “grocery stores,” rewards credit cards rarely provide such high earning rates at these locations. So choosing these merchants might be advantageous for you, especially if you purchase groceries there.

Additionally, you can receive 3% cash back on one regular category of your choice (on the first $1,500 in qualifying purchases each quarter). Bills and residential utilities, EV charging and gas stations, wholesale clubs, and more categories qualify for daily cashback. It all comes down to picking the category that best fits your spending habits since these are typical expenses for many people.

Consider using a different credit card that more closely matches your regular expenses if you believe the configurable categories won’t allow you to optimize your earning potential each quarter.

best ways to maximize redemptions

These redemption choices are available through U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards:

• Statement credit
• Deposit into a U.S. Bank savings, checking, or money market account
• U.S. Bank rewards card ($25 minimum)
• Gift card

Depending on your choices, there may not be a better redemption option here than another. The most flexible alternative, though, could be to use your points for bank deposits or statement credits.

You may use your rewards on anything with these redemptions. Any credit card charge may be reduced with a statement credit, and a bank deposit is cash in your palm.

U.S. Bank gift cards and rewards cards might be appropriate as presents for friends and family, but they often have fewer uses than a statement credit or bank deposit.

FAQs

Do cash rewards cards make sense?

Credit cards with cashback are worthwhile if you want rewards flexibility. For frequent travelers, points and miles cards are usually preferable, but everyone can benefit from cashback. You frequently receive financial rewards such as a bank deposit or statement credit, which functions similarly to receiving cash that can be spent practically anywhere. 

What are the advantages of U.S. Bank Cash Rewards?

The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash RewardsTM Visa Signature® Card and U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card let you earn U.S. Bank cash rewards. Cash rewards can be redeemed for statement credits, gift cards, and deposits into checking or savings accounts with U.S. Bank.

Is U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card A Good card?

The United States Bank Cash+ is an attractive cashback card with customizable cash incentives. Each quarter, you can choose your bonus categories, giving you more flexibility over how you earn incentives. Department stores, home utilities, movie theaters, fast food, and streaming services are among the categories available.

Card Alternatives

If the US Bank Shopper Cash Rewards does not appear to be a good fit for you, compare credit cards to find a better one. Here are two suggestions:

The U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card earns customizable cash rewards like the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards credit card. However, this card has no annual charge and offers a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers made within the first 60 days (next 18.24% to 28.24% (changeable)).

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® has no annual fee and no earning restrictions on its bonus categories, so depending on your purchasing habits, it may make more sense than the US Bank Shopper Cash Rewards. You can get 5% cash back on Chase Ultimate Rewards travel purchases, 3% cash on dining and pharmacy purchases, and 1.5% on all other transactions.