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U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect review: Strong travel rewards, limited perks

As a business owner, you can use the U.S. Bank Business Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card to earn rewards on travel, as well as dining and cell phone services. This card is an affordable option with benefits you can use while on the road or at your home office, especially if you want a straightforward earning structure without paying for a premium card lineup.

U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect Visa Signature overview

Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points if you spend $6,000 in the first 180 days from account opening.

Ongoing Purchases APR: 18.24% - 25.24% variable.

Rewards rate:

• 5x points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Travel Center
• 4x points on travel, gas, and EV charging stations* on the first $150,000 in combined annual spend
• 2x points on dining, takeout, restaurant delivery, and cell service providers
• 1x points on all other spending

*Gas and EV charging spending does not include discount stores, supercenters, and wholesale clubs.

Benefits:

• Earn a $25 statement credit after three consecutive monthly taxi or rideshare trips
• Priority Pass™ Digital annual membership with access to more than 1,700 VIP lounges worldwide, plus four complimentary visits per membership year
• Points transfer between business and consumer U.S. Bank Altitude products, excluding Reserve, subject to terms and conditions

Additional benefits of the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card

In addition to the annual savings you can get through rideshare credits and airport lounge access, this card includes several other perks for business spending:

• U.S. Bank Spend Management: Access U.S. Bank's platform for business owners to manage expenses, track spending, integrate purchase information into accounting software, and more.
• No foreign transaction fees: Save on purchases you make internationally with no foreign transaction fees. These fees can add up to 3% on each purchase abroad.
• Annual fee waived for the first year: You'll pay a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year. After that, the card charges a $95 fee annually.
• Free employee cards: Add cards to your account for your employees at no annual fee.
• Travel protections: The card includes travel protections such as auto rental collision damage waiver, lost luggage insurance, and travel assistance.

How to earn rewards

The best way to earn rewards with the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect is by using it for business travel. Travel rewards break down as follows:

• 5x points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked through the U.S. Bank Travel Center
• 4x points on other travel, up to the first $150,000 spent on travel each calendar year

Eligible travel expenses for the 4x category include airfare, hotel bookings, car rentals, gas and EV charging stations, though gas at superstores or wholesale clubs is excluded, as well as passenger trains and more. After you reach the $150,000 annual cap, travel purchases earn 1x points.

You will also get unlimited 2x points per dollar on dining, including takeout and delivery, and with cell phone service providers. Every other purchase earns 1x points.

New cardmembers can also earn rewards through the welcome bonus. If you spend at least $6,000 within the first 180 days, you'll get 75,000 bonus points, worth up to $750 in rewards.

How to redeem rewards

The best way to redeem the points you earn with the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect is for travel or as a deposit into your U.S. Bank account. Travel redemptions may include booking travel through the U.S. Bank portal or using Real-Time Rewards to cover a travel purchase you charge to your card.

These redemptions have a maximum value of 1 cent per point. That means, for example, you would get $750 in rewards value for the 75,000-point welcome bonus.

Other redemption options include merchandise, gift cards, or a statement credit, though the value can vary.

Your points will not expire as long as your account remains active. However, leaving your account with no reward, purchase, or balance activity for 12 consecutive months could put your rewards at risk of expiration.

Who is the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card best for?

There is a lot to like about the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect, from its low annual fee to its rewards categories and rideshare credit. But there are also some things to consider before applying.

This may not be the best card for you if you and your employees travel for business very frequently. You will only earn the full 4x points on travel up to the first $150,000 spent across flights, hotels, gas and EV charging, and other travel expenses each year. If you regularly spend more than that, you may be leaving rewards on the table.

You can also use up the airport lounge membership benefit quickly with frequent travel. The card includes a Priority Pass Digital membership, which provides four free lounge visits per year. Many other business travel cards offer Priority Pass Select membership with unlimited annual lounge access.

Other business travel cards may also allow you to transfer rewards to partner airlines or hotels for potentially higher redemption value. With the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect, you do not have the option to transfer points. You will need to book travel with U.S. Bank, use points toward travel purchases on your card, or transfer them to an eligible U.S. Bank account for maximum value.

Instead, the card may be better for business owners who travel less frequently or primarily travel by car. For a relatively low annual fee, waived for the first year, you can earn solid rewards on travel expenses up to the spending cap as well as on dining while on the road.

U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect pros

• Rewards on travel and everyday purchases: Earn rewards on travel spending, dining, and cell phone service. If you spend heavily in these categories, you may more than offset the annual fee in rewards value.
• Welcome bonus: The welcome bonus is worth hundreds of dollars. If the minimum spend fits your budget, it can provide a significant first-year rewards boost.
• $25 rideshare credit: For every three consecutive months you make a taxi or rideshare purchase with your card, you will get a $25 statement credit. If you make rideshare purchases each month of the year, you could earn four statement credits annually, worth $100 total, which could cover the annual fee on its own.

U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect cons

• Annual fee: The card charges a $95 annual fee, though it is waived for the first year.
• Spending cap for travel rewards: If you spend heavily on business travel each year, keep the $150,000 travel spending cap in mind. After you reach that amount on travel purchases, rewards drop from 4x to 1x.
• Few added benefits: Beyond the rideshare credit and four Priority Pass lounge visits, the card does not offer the same range of annual benefits as many other travel credit cards.

Where can you use the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card?

This is a Visa Signature card, which means you can use it anywhere Visa is accepted, both in-store and online.

The U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect also charges no foreign transaction fees. If your business often takes you abroad, you will save up to 3% on international transactions when you use it to pay.

How to make a U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card payment

You can pay your U.S. Bank credit card through your online account or the U.S. Bank mobile app. Both the main account holder and employees with employee cards can make card payments.

Log in to your account, select "Transfer & pay," then "Pay bills." Choose your card and the payment date, and select the checking or savings account you want your payment to come from.

U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect customer service info

Customer service is available 24/7.

• Phone number: 866-485-4545 or call the number on the back of your card
• Online: Navigate to "Need help?" after you log in or "Help & services" in the mobile app
• Branch support: You can also visit a U.S. Bank branch during business hours
• U.S. Bank login page

Alternative cards to consider

The U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect is an affordable option for travel savings that may suit some business travelers, but other travel cards may also be worth considering.

Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® Credit Card

Annual fee: $0

Welcome offer: Earn 30,000 online bonus points after you spend at least $3,000 in the first 90 days, which can be redeemed for a $300 statement credit toward travel or dining purchases.

Introductory APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 7 billing cycles, then the standard variable APR applies.

Purchase APR: See issuer site for current APR.

Rewards rate:

• Unlimited 1.5x points on all purchases
• 3x points for every $1 spent on travel purchases made at the Bank of America Travel Center

Benefits:

• Earn 75% more points on every purchase if you have a business checking account with Bank of America and qualify for Preferred Rewards for Business Platinum Honors tier
• No international transaction fees

Why we like it: This no-annual-fee business travel card makes it easy to maximize business spending at home and while traveling. You will earn a flat 1.5x points on every purchase, but you can get a higher 3x rewards rate when you book travel through the Bank of America Travel Center. The card also has a solid welcome bonus and an introductory APR on new purchases. If you are a Bank of America Preferred Rewards for Business member, you can earn an even higher rewards rate on every purchase.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Annual fee: $95

Welcome offer: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

Ongoing Purchases APR: 17.74% - 26.74% variable.

Rewards rate:

• Earn 5x total points on Lyft rides through 9/30/27
• 3x points on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases in the following categories each account anniversary year: shipping purchases, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines, internet, cable and phone services, and travel
• 1x points on all other purchases

Benefits:

• Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel experiences, and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards; points do not expire as long as your account is open
• Set individual spending limits on employee cards and earn rewards even faster

Why we like it: Like the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect, the Ink Business Preferred has a $95 annual fee. In return, you earn 3x rewards across several everyday categories and travel, up to the same $150,000 limit each calendar year. After that, you earn 1x on every purchase. The card also has a large welcome bonus, and you can redeem points in multiple ways, including for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards or transfers to travel partners.

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Annual fee: $0

Welcome offer: 15,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months.

Introductory Purchases APR: 0% on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening.

Ongoing Purchases APR: 16.74% - 28.49% variable.

Rewards rate: 2x points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners, applying to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, then 1x after that. Terms and limitations apply.

Benefits:

• $0 annual fee
• 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months, then a variable rate of 16.74% - 28.49% based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening; APR will not exceed 29.99%

Why we like it: The Amex Blue Business Plus is a no-annual-fee business card with flat 2x Membership Rewards® points on every purchase. It is best for business owners with limited annual budgets, since you will only get 2x points on the first $50,000 in purchases each year. After that, everything earns 1x points per dollar. You can redeem rewards for statement credits or travel by booking through Amex Travel or transferring them to Amex's travel partners. The card also has a solid welcome bonus and an intro APR for purchases.

Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank's website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

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