If you’re looking for a credit card with cash back rewards that actually match your real life expenses, the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card is a contender you shouldn’t ignore. Unlike most cards stuck with fixed, generic categories, Cash+ lets you pick the two categories that earn the highest (5%) cash back—and a third category (2% cash back)—so you can optimize rewards based on what you actually spend money on… not what the credit card company wants you to buy.
Whether you’re covering household utilities, paying for gas, shopping for electronics, or splitting bills with family members, Cash+ combines flexibility and real savings—especially if you like tracking your rewards. I’ll explain how the card works, what to expect, how to maximize your bonus, and some lessons learned from using this card on utilities for myself and my family.
How the U.S. Bank Cash+ Reward Structure Works
5% Cash Back:
Earn 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined purchases each quarter for TWO categories you choose. The available categories include:
- Utilities
- Cell phone providers
- TV, Internet & Streaming Services
- Electronics stores
- Home Improvement stores
- Select clothing retailers
- Ground transportation, and many more.
The full list is on U.S. Bank’s site and it’s updated occasionally, so you can always check back.
2% Cash Back:
Pick one everyday category—usually gas stations, grocery stores, or restaurants—and earn 2% back on all purchases in that category every quarter.
1% Cash Back:
All other eligible purchases receive the standard 1% cash back.
5% Cash Back in the Travel Center:
If you book prepaid air, hotels, or car rentals in the U.S. Bank Travel Center using your card, you also get 5% back, regardless of your quarterly selections.
Quarterly Activation:
Every three months, you login and select (or confirm) your bonus categories. If you forget, the category will usually roll over, but it pays to double-check—especially if you adjust spending patterns seasonally.
No Annual Fee:
The U.S. Bank Cash+ Card has a $0 annual fee, making all those cash back rewards purely extra income.
How I Use the Cash+ Card (A Practical Example for Utility Expenses)
For years, I’ve used the Cash+ card to pay for utilities for my home and, recently, my mom’s as well. Utilities—covers electric, gas, water, sewer, garbage, landline phones, and more—are eligible for 5% cash back as a quarterly category.
Let’s break down what this means in real dollars:
- My monthly utilities: Average $183.74/month.
- My mom’s monthly utilities: Average $138.21/month.
- Total monthly charges on this card: About $321.95.
- Cash back each month (@ 5%): $16.09.
- Annual rewards: $193.17.
By putting all our eligible utilities on this card and consistently selecting the “utilities” category, that’s essentially a free month’s worth of utility bills every year—just for using a clever payment method!
Interpreting Your Rewards Statements
Here’s how bonus cash back works (especially if you wonder why transactions often just show a 1% reward):
- Base Rewards: When you make a purchase—say, paying your electric bill—the card immediately credits 1% cash back. That’s the baseline for every eligible transaction.
- Bonus Rewards: After your statement cycle closes, U.S. Bank reconciles bonus categories and posts a “Bonus” entry for the extra 4% (to get from 1% to 5%) or extra 1% (to get from 1% to 2%) for those purchases.
- These show up as grouped transactions labeled such as “Bonus-Grcry, Utils, Cell Phone” or “Bonus-Rstrnts, Utils, Cell Phone.”
Example:
- You pay $100 in the 5% category.
- At purchase: $1.00 in base cash back.
- After cycle: $4.00 bonus cash back entry for the same $100.
- Total: $5.00 back on $100.
- Your reward log will sum individual 1% rewards and batch bonus credits, so always check both to see your true rate matches your selections and activity.
What Else Should You Know?
- Quarterly Category Cap:
- The 5% cash back only applies to your first $2,000 in combined category purchases per quarter. After reaching $2,000, those purchases revert to 1% cash back until the next quarter.
- No Annual Fee:
- You keep all your cash back—no annual membership to eat into your profits.
- Interest Rate:
- As with most cards, paying your full statement balance each month means you avoid all interest charges. The standard purchase APR is currently about 17.74%; balance transfers are the same, with cash advances at a steep 30.74%. Avoid carrying a balance—interest wipes out rewards fast.
- Eligibility:
- You need good to excellent credit for approval (typically 700+ FICO). Approvals are quick online, and the card comes with a healthy credit limit for most applicants.
- Bonus Category Management:
- You must activate your bonus categories every quarter! It takes only a minute online, but if you forget, purchases default to 1%. If you tend to stick with the same types of spending, categories roll over, but logging in regularly is just smart practice.
- Family Strategy:
- If you pay bills for someone else (e.g., a parent, sibling, child), having all utilities on your bonus category maximizes cash back. You can even automate bill payments through your card to streamline rewards.
What About Cellular Bills?
I used to pay my cell phone bill on this card (qualifies for 5% back if activated), but many providers (like T-Mobile) only offer their AutoPay discount if you use their own branded credit card or a bank account/debit card. Other credit cards—including this Cash+ card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay—don’t get the T-Mobile AutoPay discount, which makes it worthwhile to compare deals between providers. If I were to switch and put my cell phone bill on the T-Mobile Visa, I would earn 2% cash back (about $3.26 each month), meaning a savings of $39/year (which is almost one fourth of my monthly bill).
The Verdict: Is U.S. Bank Cash+ Right For You?
If your monthly expenses fit the bonus categories—especially utilities, groceries, or streaming services—this card is a secret weapon. The flexibility, high cash back rates, quarterly activation, and no annual fee make it one of the most powerful "set-it-and-forget-it" rewards cards for disciplined spenders. Even better, if you’re managing finances for multiple people (like family utilities), you can consolidate charges and earn cash back on every eligible dollar.
Have questions, tips, or want help breaking down your rewards statement? Drop them in the comments—let’s help each other turn everyday bills into real, tangible cash back! One free month’s worth of utilities every year isn’t just a fantasy—it’s smart money management in action.
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