2021 Review: U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card – Great Rewards for No Annual Fee
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U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
The U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card features rewards on purchases most people are already making: dining, gas, groceries, and streaming services. And it has two unique features: The card is metal, and you’ll receive an annual $15 streaming credit.
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Our Rating: 5 Out of 5 Stars
We give the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card 5 out of 5 Stars. It’s metal, charges no annual fee, and offers rewards on a variety of useful purchases.
Why We Like It
- 4X points per dollar on dining (4% cash back equivalent)
- 2X points per dollar at grocery stores and gas stations, and for eligible streaming services
- Annual $15 streaming credit after paying for a service for 11 consecutive months
- Solid intro offer for purchases: 0%* for 12 billing cycles on purchases*, then 14.99% - 23.99%* Variable
- And the same for balance transfers: 0% for 12 Billing cycles, then 14.99% - 23.99%* Variable
- No annual fee
- Made out of metal
Why It Could Be Better
- Limited benefits
- Balance transfer fee (Either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater)
The U.S. Bank Altitude Go proves an inexpensive option if you’re looking for a card that earns on popular purchases. The rewards for dining are excellent, and they count whether you’re eating in or out, which is handy considering most people are currently ordering out.
The streaming service credit is an interesting touch, and pretty much unheard of for a credit card with no annual fee. It’ll be nice to have $15 of your monthly streaming bill covered, once you qualify.
The intro APR periods provide good opportunities to avoid paying needless interest on your new purchases, or on other cards that have large balances. It’s even made of metal, which is pretty rare for cards with no annual fee (but here are some other metal cards without annual fees).
All in all, it has quite a bit going for it.
Insider Advice: Getting the Most Out of Your Card
- Dine in or get it to go: This card earns 4X points per dollar on dining, whether you stay at the restaurant, get it to go, or opt for food delivery. Your points are worth 1¢ each, so that’s a strong 4% cash back coming your way. See how this card compares to other cards with a focus on dining.
- Switch over your streaming services: You’ll earn 2X points per dollar for streaming services. So if you’re paying for Netflix with another card, don’t forget to swap it out for this one.
- Let your card pay for some Netflix: Once you’ve been paying for a streaming service for 11 consecutive months, you’ll automatically receive an annual $15 streaming credit.
- Bring it to the pump: Need gas? Earn 2X points per dollar while you fuel up.
- Don’t worry about interest, for a time: You’ll have 0% interest on new purchases for quite a while before the normal 14.99% - 23.99%* Variable APR kicks in.
- Transfer a balance: You’ll also get 0% interest on balance transfers for 12 Billing cycles, then it’ll be 14.99% - 23.99%* Variable. That means if you have a balance on another card that’s accruing interest, you can move it to this card to avoid that. There is a transfer fee, however.
The Rewards
Since your points are worth 1 cent each, you’ll see a cash back equivalent of 4% for dining, 2% for gas, groceries, and streaming services, and 1% for everything else. For a card with no annual fee, that 4% equivalent is quite impressive.
Earning
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This card earns on the kind of purchases most people are already making, so if you’re looking to get a little back, this wouldn’t be a bad call.
The dining category could prove very rewarding, offering double the points compared to the other categories. Considering most people might be getting takeout pretty frequently due to the pandemic, this is especially nice.
The streaming service category is plenty useful too. It’s a relatively rare category and could make those Netflix and Hulu payments a tad easier to swallow.
And don’t worry, your points don’t have an expiration date.
Redeeming
So you’ve ordered out and you’ve got something good ready to go on Netflix, and not for the first time. Once you’ve got plenty of points in your account, it’s time to redeem them.
You can:
- Redeem points in the form of statement credits
- Deposit points directly into a U.S. Bank account
- Redeem points for travel
- Redeem points for merchandise and gift cards
Your points will be worth 1 cent each, no matter how you choose to redeem them. Redeeming for statement credits or depositing into a U.S. Bank account are the simplest options.
The minimum number of points you can redeem is 2,500, equivalent to $25.
The Benefits
This card is issued as a Visa Signature, and as such, cardholders will likely gain a selection of shopping and travel protections, as well as a concierge. However, U.S. Bank doesn’t explicitly state what benefits will come with your card, so neither can we. Check your Guide to Benefits that comes with your card to know for sure.
- Annual $15 streaming credit: As long as you’ve made 11 consecutive monthly streaming service payments, whether they be for Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, Amazon Music, or others, you’ll qualify for an annual $15 streaming credit.
- Check your credit score: View your VantageScore 3.0 credit score based on your TransUnion credit report, anytime you like.
The Terms & Fees
| Purchase APR | Balance Transfer APR | Cash Advance APR |
|---|---|---|
| 0%* for 12 billing cycles on purchases*, then 14.99% - 23.99%* Variable | 0% for 12 Billing cycles, then 14.99% - 23.99%* Variable | 25.99% |
| Annual Fee | Foreign Transaction Fee |
|---|---|
| $0* | n/a |
| Balance Transfer Fee | Cash Advance Fee |
|---|---|
| Either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater | None |
| Penalty APR | Late Fee | Returned Payment Fee |
|---|---|---|
| None | Up to $40 | Up to $35 |
The Bottom Line
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card is a great option if you’re looking for a rewarding card that asks for no annual fee.
It has a lot going for it; the streaming service credit will cover a month of Disney+ or Hulu, it’s metal despite not carrying an annual fee, and it provides a good deal of rewards for dining. You’ll earn rewards on gas, too, and gain an intro 0% purchase and balance transfer APR.
That’s a lot of strong features for little to no cost. If you dodge fees and interest on your card by avoiding carrying a balance from month to month (unless you’re taking advantage of the intro periods), you’ll get all these features for nothing at all.
How Do I Apply for the U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card?
You can apply now by simply following the link below. You’ll be directed to the U.S. Bank website where you can fill out a secure application. Once you’ve provided all the necessary information, you should hear back pretty quickly with the credit card issuer’s decision.
What Credit Scores Do I Need to Qualify for the U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card?
The U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card is designed for excellent credit.
In order to qualify for excellent credit, your credit scores would need to be within the ranges of 800–850 for FICO (actually labeled “exceptional”) and 750–850 for VantageScore.
But keep in mind, credit card issuers will look at more than just your credit scores. Additional information like your income and source of income will play a part, meaning you could be approved despite having lower than the recommended credit scores.
However, that also means even if your scores are within those ranges, there’s still a chance you could be denied.
Qualifications and Requirements
- Must be 18 to apply
- Personal information: Name, date of birth, Social Security number, country of citizenship
- Address and contact information: Email, phone number, address, housing status (rent or own)
- Financial information: Monthly rent or mortgage payment, employment status, total annual income, source of income
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card metal?
Yes, the U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature is made out of metal. If you like your cards to feel a little heavier and perhaps more significant as a result, this could be what convinces you to apply.
If you’re looking for other metal cards you can get, we have a page just for that.
What benefits does the U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card have?
This U.S. Bank card is issued as a Visa Signature, so it’ll likely have a selection of Visa Signature shopping and travel protections. But U.S. Bank doesn’t explicitly say what benefits will come with your card, so we can’t either.
Additionally, you’ll get an annual $15 streaming service credit after you’ve paid for 11 consecutive months of a streaming service, like Netflix. That’s very rare for a card without an annual fee. You can also check one of your credit scores for free.
Alternatives to the U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card
The Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card (Review) is also metal, and provides similar rewards to the U.S. Bank card, but with more benefits.
The Propel earns on just about everything the U.S. Bank card does, minus a category for groceries. However, in its place there’s a category for travel. The rewards are just a little less impressive for dining, so if you’re more likely to use your card for travel, maybe this would be a better choice.
The benefits include a wide variety of shopping and travel protections, including a few the U.S. Bank card doesn’t offer. The Propel features perks like cell phone protection, some useful travel protections, and the ability to check one of your credit scores.
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- Free FICO credit score: See your FICO Score 9, based on your Experian credit report.
- Entertainment Access: Access special offers and presale tickets to major events in cities around the United States.
- Cell phone protection: Your phone is covered by up to $600 for damage and theft, as long as you pay your monthly bill with this card.
- Shopping protections: Extended warranty, purchase protection, and return protection
- Travel protections: Roadside assistance, car rental insurance, travel accident insurance, travel inconvenience insurance, lust luggage reimbursement, travel and emergency assistance
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 12 months, then 14.49%-24.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
The American Express® Gold Card (Review) is a metal travel rewards credit card with a focus on dining (unlike typical credit cards, the Amex Gold allows you to carry a balance for certain charges, but not all).
It does cost $250 annually, but there are a number of annual credits that make it a little easier to swallow. There’s an annual airline fee credit (through 2021) and a dining credit that effectively bring the fee down to just $30.
The American Express Gold earns just as much on dining as the U.S. Bank card, but you’ll have a bit more wiggly room when it comes time to redeem your points. You can transfer them to Amex’s airline and hotel partners, where you might be able to find a greater value for them, increasing your cash back equivalent.
You’ll get a wider array of travel protections too, and The Hotel Collection benefit, which provides a $100 credit for qualifying hotel charges and room upgrades when they’re available.
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- $100 airline credit: Get up to $100 for incidental fees when you fly, like airline meals or checked baggage fees (through 2021). You must select a qualifying airline ahead of time to use the credit.
- $120 dining credit: Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express Gold Card at participating restaurants and merchants, including Grubhub, Seamless, and Boxed.
- The Hotel Collection: Get a $100 credit for qualifying charges, and room upgrades when available.
- Lowest Hotel Rates Guarantee: If you booked through Amex Travel and find your room being advertised for a lesser price, you can be reimbursed for the difference.
- Gold Card Destinations: Get a $100 credit on eligible new bookings of vacation packages and cruises that cost at least $3,000.
- American Express Preferred Seating: With Preferred Seating, you can get premium seats for concerts, sporting events, and more.
- Complimentary ShopRunner membership: Enroll in ShopRunner to get free two-day shipping and returns with select retailers.
- Shopping protections: Extended warranty and purchase protection
- Travel protections: Travel accident insurance, baggage insurance plan, Global Assist Hotline, rental car insurance, and more
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $250
American Express® Gold Card (Rates & Fees)
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points on Restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Boxed, and participating Shake Shack locations. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ (Review) provides a versatile and diverse reward program for no annual fee.
In addition to static 5% and 3% cash back categories (the latter including restaurants), the Flex also has 5% cash back categories that rotate quarterly. There’s a $1,500 spending limit for those rotating bonus categories before they fall to 1%, but that’s still a pretty great offer. The rotating categories occasionally include streaming services, so you’d be able to earn more cash back if that rolls around compared to the U.S. Bank card.
You can even prepay with the Flex when that category is available in order to earn rewards on the full year’s cost, depending on the service. Not every streaming subscription will offer the chance to pay for a full year, so you’ll have to check.
There’s no annual streaming credit, but the other benefits are likely on par with, if not a little better than, what the U.S. Bank card will offer. They include a three-month DoorDash membership and a slew of shopping and travel protections.
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- Three-month DoorDash membership: Subscribe for a free DashPass for three months, which provides free shipping and reduced service fees on orders over $12. You’ll be automatically enrolled in DashPass for 50% off for the next nine months.
- Shop through Chase/Chase Offers: Earn extra cash back and find discounts with select retailers.
- Chase Credit Journey: Monitor your credit with free access to your VantageScore 3.0, based on your TransUnion credit report, and receive helpful insight into the factors influencing the score.
- Shopping protections: Purchase protection and extended warranty
- Travel protections: Travel and emergency assistance services, roadside dispatch, rental car insurance, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance
- Purchase APR: 0% for 15 months, then 14.99% - 23.74% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 14.99% - 23.74% Variable
- Annual fee: $0
The Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer (Review) earns a strong 2% cash back for every purchase you make.
However, there’s a small caveat to that. You’ll earn 1% cash back when you first make your purchase, and the other 1% when you pay it off (you must pay the minimum due each month to earn rewards).
That’s about all there is to this card. It’s pretty uncomplicated. So if you’re looking for something simple and rewarding, maybe this is the one for you.
The benefits will be less impressive, as Citi doesn’t offer much of anything aside from a credit monitoring tool and a concierge service.
But if you want to break up your spending between cards, you could use the U.S. Bank card for its categories, and the Double Cash for everything else.
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- Free FICO credit score: See your Equifax-based FICO Bankcard Score 8 on statements, online, and by mobile app.
- Citi Concierge: Get restaurant suggestions, reservations, travel arrangements, shopping research, and more.
- Citi Entertainment: Get preferred access and pre-sale tickets to events and experiences, from music to movies.
- Purchase APR: 13.99% – 23.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 18 months on Balance Transfers, then 13.99% – 23.99% (Variable)
- Annual fee: $0
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
- To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
- Balance Transfer Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 13.99% – 23.99%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
- The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 13.99% – 23.99% based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi’s discretion.
Citi is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
Do you have the U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature card? What do you like most about it? Let us know in the comments!
Looking for other cards made for dining out (or in)? Here are our best picks. The Best Dining Credit Cards for Restaurants and TakeoutFor rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here.
Evan Zimmer
Evan graduated from SUNY Oswego with a degree in journalism and creative writing. In his professional writing career, he strives for precision and comprehension in his work. He’s written news articles, blog posts, and copy, working across a slew of different mediums. With in-depth research and great care for accuracy and detail, he now works to bring you the most up-to-date credit information.
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