Credit Cards
US Bank Launches New Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
Over the past few months, we’ve seen a number of travel-centric credit cards making a comeback. Now, U.S. Bank is introducing a new option altogether. This week, the bank debuted the new Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card, featuring rewards for those both on the road and at home.
Headlining the card’s rewards, the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect earns 4 points per dollar spent on travel and gas purchases. Additionally, the card offers 2x points on a variety of purchase categories, including grocery stores/grocery delivery, dining, and select streaming services. Speaking of streaming, cardholders can also earn an annual $30 streaming service credit. This credit will be automatically awarded every 12 months after cardholders make eligible streaming service purchases for 11 consecutive calendar months. Going back to points, the card also earns 1x points on all other purchases.
In addition to the impressive 4x points on travel, the Altitude Connect includes a couple of other benefits that those looking to resume their travels will appreciate. For one, cardholders can earn up to $100 in statement credits toward TSA Precheck or Global Entry application fee once every four years. Also notable is that the card does not charge any foreign transaction fees.
Speaking to the travel angle of the card, U.S. Bank, head of retail payments Steve Mattics said of the Altitude Connect’s launch timing, “The desire to get out and reconnect is palpable. We share our customers’ optimism about the possibility of returning to travel, whether by air or road trips.” Mattics continued, “We’re delighted to offer a way for customers to earn more points for their spend and use those rewards however they want to use them – whether it’s for travel, cash back or merchandise.”
Naturally, with the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect card making its debut, the card is also currently boasting an attractive welcome offer. New cardholders can earn a 50,000 point bonus when they spend $3,000 in purchases on the card within their first 120 days (which is notably longer than the traditional 90-day timeline for many welcome bonuses). This amounts to a $500 bonus. Plus, while the Altitude Connect card does carry a $95 annual fee, this is waived for the first year.
Between the impressive 4x categories and other perks such as the annual streaming credit and lack of foreign transaction fees, the new U.S. Bank Altitude Connect could be a good option for travelers looking for a simple cash back solution as opposed to more premium travel cards. That said, while the card waives the annual fee for the first year, applicants will want to run the numbers and ensure that the card makes sense with their spending habits in the long run. If so, then it might be worth adding the Altitude Connect to your wallet during this launch-time promotion.
