How Much Are U.S. Bank Altitude Points Worth?

U.S. Bank runs a rewards program for Altitude credit cardholders that lets them use the points they earn in different ways. How much U.S. Bank Rewards Altitude points are worth depends on your card and the redemption method. For example, the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Card offers a value of 1.5 cents per point when you redeem your points for travel. In most other cases, you get a value of 1 cent per point. Using your points to purchase merchandise tends to offer the lowest value.

The Altitude credit card you have will impact the value you receive for your points, as will your redemption method. While there is no official U.S. Bank rewards redemption chart to refer to, determining the value of your points is relatively simple.

The U.S. Bank rewards program for Altitude cardholders manages to hold its own compared to most other popular credit card rewards programs, even more so if you have the Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card and redeem your points for travel rewards.

Below is a comparison of how U.S Bank Altitude point’s value compares to other credit card rewards programs.

U.S. Bank Altitude points are a form of reward currency offered to cardholders, with a range of redemption options to suit various preferences. Cardholders use these points by logging into their U.S. Bank account via the website or mobile app and navigating to the Altitude Rewards Center. This platform showcases the accumulated points and presents multiple avenues for redemption, such as booking travel, obtaining cash back, procuring gift cards, or indulging in shopping and merchandise purchases.

Here are several ways to redeem rewards from U.S. Bank and how much value you get for each Altitude point.

travel enthusiasts often find great value in redeeming U.S. Bank Altitude points. The Altitude program allows cardholders to book flights, hotels, car rentals, and even certain experiences directly through the U.S. Bank travel portal. In many cases, these travel redemptions can offer superior value per point compared to other redemption methods. The ease of searching and booking through the portal and potential promotional rates and exclusive deals can make travel redemptions particularly attractive. For those who enjoy frequent getaways, using Altitude points to offset or completely cover travel expenses can translate into memorable experiences without the hefty price tag.

When redeemed for travel through the Altitude Rewards Center or to cover a travel purchase through Real-Time Rewards, a U.S. Bank Rewards Altitude point's value varies based on the card you have, from 1 cent to 1.5 cents. This is what you may expect through rewards programs run by other leading credit card issuers.

You must log in to your U.S. Bank account to redeem U.S. Bank Rewards points for travel. While it's possible to add multiple items, such as a flight and a hotel stay, to one itinerary, you cannot add more than one flight to an itinerary.

You may also redeem your points for travel purchases through Real-Time Rewards. In this case, the bank sends you a text message after you make a purchase, and you need to reply indicating you wish to redeem your points to cover the purchase.

Cash back redemptions are one of the most straightforward ways to utilize U.S. Bank Altitude points. Cardholders can redeem their accumulated points for cash back, which can be credited directly to their account as a statement credit. This provides a tangible and immediate benefit, especially for those prioritizing liquidity over other redemption options.

No matter which U.S. Bank Altitude credit card you have, you get a value of 1 cent per point when you redeem your points for cash back. This is on par with most other credit card rewards programs and is better than a few.

If you wish to redeem your Altitude points for cash back, log in to your U.S. Bank account and head to the rewards section. There, you can choose to redeem your points for a statement credit.

Gift cards are another popular redemption option for U.S. Bank Altitude points, allowing cardholders to tap into a diverse range of retail, dining, and entertainment choices. This flexibility makes gift cards an appealing choice for many, whether they're planning a shopping spree, dining out, or gifting to someone else.

One U.S. Bank point is worth 1 cent when redeemed for gift cards. This is the same across all Altitude credit cards. Compared to other popular credit card rewards programs that offer gift cards as a redemption option, this is as good as it gets unless you get better value through promotional offers.

To use U.S. Bank Rewards Altitude points for gift cards, you must log in to the bank's website or app. Once you log in to your account, go to the rewards section and select Gift Cards. Then, choose from the options on offer and pay for the ones you select using your points.

You can directly redeem U.S. Bank Altitude points for shopping or merchandise purchases. However, the point-to-dollar value for merchandise redemptions is lower than other redemption methods, like travel bookings.

The value of U.S. Bank Rewards Altitude points for shopping is usually less than 1 cent per point. As a result, you might be better off redeeming your points as a statement credit or in the form of Real-Time Rewards.

You can use your points for shopping by logging in to your U.S. Bank account, heading to the rewards section and purchasing through the bank's online shopping platform. Alternatively, enroll in the Real-Time Rewards program and use your points to offset the cost of purchases you make almost immediately.

An easy way to earn significant bonus points is to meet your new credit card's spend-based requirement. For example, the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card offers 50,000 bonus points if you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 120 days. The Altitude Go Visa Signature Card and the Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card come with similar welcome offers.

Remember that it's not possible to redeem your Altitude points as a deposit into a U.S. Bank checking/savings account. If you want this feature, look at what the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card and the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card offer.

The U.S. Bank rewards program for Altitude credit cardholders has no partner merchants through which you may earn points faster. However, depending on the card you have, you stand to earn bonus points through category-based spending. Bonus categories include travel, dining, grocery stores and gas/EV charging stations.

Take a look at answers to other commonly asked questions about the value of U.S. Bank rewards Altitude points to understand better which redemption method might work best for you.