U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card Review 2026 — Is It Worth It?

Overview

The U.S. Bank Cash+ is the card I always mention to people who want to squeeze 5% out of categories that other cards completely ignore. No annual fee, and each quarter you pick two categories to earn 5% cash back on — and the list includes oddballs like utilities, cell phone bills, TV/internet/streaming, and fast food. If you've got a big recurring bill nobody else rewards, this card can quietly turn it into 5% back.

The structure takes a little effort: you choose your two 5% categories each quarter (on the first $2,000 of combined spending), plus a 2% everyday category, with 1% on everything else. Miss a quarter and you don't get the 5%, so it rewards people willing to spend two minutes managing it. But for the right bills, the payoff is real — and there's no fee, so it costs nothing to keep around for exactly the categories where it shines.

Key Benefits

• 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined spending each quarter across two categories you choose from U.S. Bank's list
• Category list includes options other cards rarely reward: utilities, cell phone providers, TV/internet/streaming, fast food, department stores, and more
• 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel, and car reservations booked through the U.S. Bank Rewards Center
• 2% cash back on one everyday category of your choice (like gas/EV, groceries, or restaurants)
• 1% cash back on all other purchases, with no annual fee
• A cash welcome bonus after a small spending requirement

Rewards Structure

The Cash+ is all about its quarterly 5% categories. You pick two each quarter, and the 5% applies to the first $2,000 of combined spending in them (about $667 a month) before dropping to 1%. The standout is the category list: utilities and cell phone bills in particular are recurring bills almost no other card rewards at a bonus rate, which makes the Cash+ a genuinely unique tool.

The trick is that you must actively select your categories each quarter — if you forget, that quarter's spending earns the base rate. For anyone willing to set a quarterly reminder, the card can return far more than a flat 2% card on the right bills. Many people use it specifically for one or two high-value categories and run other spending on a simpler card.

Annual Fee Breakdown

There's no annual fee, so the card costs nothing to hold and every dollar of cash back is profit. The only effort required is selecting your two 5% categories each quarter and staying mindful of the $2,000 combined quarterly cap.

The value comes entirely from matching the 5% categories to your spending. If you have a sizeable utility or TV/internet bill — categories most cards ignore — running it through the Cash+ at 5% can add up to real money over a year, all at no cost.

Who Should Get This Card

• Anyone with big recurring bills in categories other cards ignore — utilities, cell phone, TV/internet — who wants 5% back on them
• People willing to select their two 5% categories each quarter to maximize the rewards
• Households whose 5% spending fits under the $2,000 combined quarterly cap
• Anyone who wants a no-fee card to complement a flat-rate everyday card

Who Should Skip This Card

• People who won't bother choosing categories each quarter and would prefer a set-and-forget flat-rate card
• Big spenders who'd routinely blow past the $2,000 quarterly cap and want uncapped earning
• Anyone who wants travel points rather than straightforward cash back

How It Compares to Alternatives

Against a flat 2% card like the Wells Fargo Active Cash, the Cash+ earns far more on its 5% categories but requires quarterly management and only rewards the categories you select. Many people hold both: the Cash+ for high-value categories, a 2% card for everything else.

Against the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards (3% chosen category), the Cash+ offers a higher 5% rate and a more unusual category list (utilities, cell phone bills), while the BofA card is simpler with a single 3% pick. The Cash+ wins for people who want maximum return on specific recurring bills.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Verdict

Here's where I land: the Cash+ isn't the card you put everything on — it's the card you point at one or two specific bills that nobody else rewards. For utilities, cell phone, or a big TV/internet bill, 5% back with no annual fee is genuinely hard to beat, and that's exactly the niche this card owns.

The only cost is a little quarterly attention. If you're willing to select your categories each quarter and keep an eye on the cap, it's a free, high-value addition to a cash-back setup — best paired with a flat-rate card to handle everything outside your 5% picks.