Build Credit and Earn Up To 5% Cash Back with U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Secured Card

The U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Secured Card is one of the most rewarding secured credit cards available — making it an excellent option for those looking to build or rebuild credit while earning meaningful cash back.

The card reports to the three major credit bureaus and provides a path to upgrade to an unsecured card. But its standout feature is its rewards rate: Earn 5% cash back on up to $2,000 in purchases per quarter in the two categories of your choosing, 2% cash back on purchases in one everyday category of your choice, 1% back on other purchases. There’s also a $0 annual fee.

Still, the card isn’t perfect. The quarterly activation requirement for bonus categories can be easy to forget, and there’s no sign-up bonus or introductory APR offer. Also, the foreign transaction fee means it’s not ideal for international use.

But overall, if you’re committed to managing your card responsibly and want rewards as you improve your credit, this is a strong choice — especially compared to many no-frills secured cards.

Annual fee: $0

Security deposit amount: $300 to $5,000

Regular purchase APR: 28.99% variable

Foreign transaction fee: 3%

Late payment fee: Up to $41

Sign-up bonus: N/A

Rewards: 1% - 5% cash back

• Earn 5% cash back on up to $2,000 in purchases per quarter in the two categories of your choosing
• Earn 2% cash back on purchases in one everyday category of your choice
• Earn 1% back on other purchases

Other benefits:

• Choose your credit limit
• Choose your payment due date
• Zero fraud liability for unauthorized transactions

Recommended credit: Limited / Poor

• Earn up to 5% cash back rewards

  The U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Secured Card offers the rare opportunity to earn generous, customizable cash back rewards to those trying to build credit. It’s even our pick for the best secured credit card for earning flexible rewards. You can earn 5% cash back on up to $2,000 in purchases per quarter in the two categories of your choosing, 2% cash back on purchases in one everyday category of your choice, 1% back on other purchases. There’s also no annual fee.

  Categories eligible for elevated rewards

  5% cash back categories (choose two)	2% cash back categories (choose one)
  Fast food TV, internet and streaming Cell phone providers Home utilities Department stores Electronic stores Sporting goods stores Movie theaters Gyms/fitness centers Furniture stores Ground transportation Select clothing stores	Grocery stores and grocery delivery* Restaurants Gas station and EV charging stations*

  *Excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs.

  Let’s say your spending aligns well with the 5% categories and you spend $2,000 per quarter to get the maximum amount of cash back. At the end of your first year, you’d have earned $400 extra. That doesn’t include the additional rewards you’d get from your 2% category and all other purchases.

  Additionally, you can earn 5% cash back for every $1 spent on eligible purchases on prepaid flight, car and hotel reservations in the Travel Center using your U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Secured Card.

  Be aware

  You need to activate your quarterly reward categories in order to earn more than 1% cash back on those purchases. Consider setting an alert on your calendar to remind you so you don’t lose out on extra cash back. The benefit of this is that you can change your 5% and 2% categories at this time, so you’re not stuck with your initial choices if you find that you’d earn more rewards by selecting a different category.

• Ability to set your credit limit

  Since the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Secured Card is a secured credit card, your deposit sets your credit limit. Deposit amounts can range between $300 and $5,000, so you can select the amount that fits your finances and spending needs.

  We should note $5,000 is a high credit limit compared to many other secured cards. For example, the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card only allows a maximum credit limit of $1,000, and the Discover it^® Secured Credit Card allows a maximum credit limit of $2,500.

  It’s important to remember that your deposit is fully refundable, so this isn’t a fee that you pay and never get back. The bank will return it to you when you upgrade to an unsecured credit card or close your account in good standing. The deposit is only applied to your account by the bank if you stop making payments.

  Tip: To help build your credit, be sure to make frequent payments to your credit card bill to keep your credit utilization ratio low. This means only using up to 30% of your available credit limit. For example, if you have a $2,000 credit limit, you should keep your card balance below $600.

  This is important, since using too much of your available credit may signal to lenders that you’re unable to properly manage your debt and can have a negative impact on your credit score.

  → See our picks for the best high-limit credit cards.

• Pathway to graduate to an unsecured card

  With responsible use of your U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Secured Card, you may be eligible for your card to be automatically upgraded to the U.S. Bank Cash+^® Visa Signature^® Card.

  As part of their review process, they will consider things like:

  • Payment history
  • Bankruptcy history
  • A connected Social Security number

  If you are upgraded, you can expect a refund of your security deposit. You may also get a new card and card number, but your benefits and rewards rate will remain the same.

  Some Reddit users reported having to call in to request a credit review after not automatically qualifying for an upgrade after 12 months. Other users have said that U.S. Bank may not approve unsecured credit cards if you’ve had a bankruptcy within the last five years.

  Author’s perspective: Building credit is a marathon, not a sprint. Even with cards that publicly state that they’ll review your accounts after a set number of months, you’re still not guaranteed an upgrade.

  If you’ve used your card responsibly and believe you should be eligible for an upgrade and meet the U.S. Bank’s eligibility criteria, be patient. Since you’re already established with the card, waiting a few more months will only help show off your good credit habits, like regular on-time payments. However, if you’re getting closer to 14 months of demonstrating responsible card usage without an upgrade, I’d say it’s time to call the number on the back of your card to inquire about an upgrade.

  It’s important to note that many secured credit cards offer reviews after a certain length of time, but that differs by issuer. Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card holders are eligible for review in as little as six months while Discover begins reviews of Discover it^® Secured Credit Card holders starting at seven months.

• Ability to choose your payment due date

  With the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Secured Card, you can set yourself up for success by choosing a payment date that fits your budgeting schedule. For example, you may want to align your credit card payment date with the due dates of your other monthly bills, like rent or car payments. Or, you may prefer to set your due date to fall right after you’re scheduled to receive your paycheck each month.

  Take note that not all payment dates may be available, but you are able to choose from any of the available options. And to ensure you don’t miss a payment, set up automatic payments from your checking or savings account.

• $0 annual fee

  The U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Secured Card is a cost-effective way to build credit, as you’ll pay $0 in annual fees. This helps make it an affordable option compared to some cards designed for people with bad credit that charge high and/or hidden fees.

  That said, you will be required to put down a refundable security deposit. But once your credit improves, you may be able to qualify for other credit cards with no annual fees that don’t require security deposits.

• Zero fraud liability

  A LendingTree study found that nearly 40% of the 1.1 million reports of identity theft in the United States in 2024 were due to credit card identity theft. With the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Secured Card‘s zero fraud liability policy, you can be confident that you won’t be on the hook for unauthorized transactions when you notify U.S. Bank that your card is lost or stolen.

• Requires a $300 minimum security deposit

  As a secured credit card, the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Secured Card requires you to put down a minimum security deposit of $300, which is higher than many other secured cards that only require a minimum deposit of $200.

  This money is held by the bank and used if you fail to pay your credit card. The downside of this is that you’ll have the money just sitting in a bank account that you can’t use. The upside is that, as long as you don’t carry a balance and pay interest, you’ll avoid the hefty fees associated with some credit cards for bad credit, like the Total VISA^® Credit Card.

• Cap on highest rewards rate

  While the opportunity to earn 5% cash back is very generous (especially for a credit-building card), be aware that you’ll only earn that rate on the first $2,000 in eligible purchases each quarter. After that, you’ll earn 1% back on those purchases.

  Still, the spending cap shouldn’t be a deciding factor on whether or not to get the card, since credit-building cards that offer such a high earning rate are scarce. And, depending on your spending habits and budget, you may not even reach the spending cap on a regular basis.

  Author’s perspective: I had a secured credit card with a similar rewards structure and many of the same categories. Before choosing the two 5% categories, I compared our family’s spending in the categories for the previous three months. Our top two turned out to be TV/internet and fast food. In the years since we had the card, the only time we came close to maxing out the limit was when we were on vacation and had a steady diet of restaurant and fast food.

• Bonus categories require activation

  This is more of a nuisance than a serious drawback, but one that needs mentioning. If you forget to set your categories before making purchases, you’ll only receive 1% cash back on those purchases. To avoid this, set up a calendar reminder or sign up for free text or email reminders through your U.S. Bank account.

  Tip: Know your card’s rewards policy

  It’s important to read and understand your card’s terms and conditions so that you can take advantage of the rewards and other perks it offers. There are several cash back credit cards that require activation to earn higher rewards, but they all have different policies.

  For example, the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Secured Card lets you choose your categories five days before the end of the current quarter, but you won’t start earning rewards until three business days after activation.

  The Discover it^® Cash Back  works a little differently — you’ll start earning the elevated rate either at the beginning of the quarter or on the date you activate (whichever comes later).

  Then there’s the Chase Freedom Flex^℠, which is even more flexible. As long as you activate your bonus category by the quarterly deadline, you’ll earn the elevated rate (up to the quarterly maximum) for the entire quarter — even on purchases made before activation. For example, for the fourth quarter of 2025, if you activate by December 14, you’ll earn the elevated rate on qualifying purchases made from October 1 through December 31 (up to the quarterly maximum).

   

• No sign-up bonus

  Like many secured credit cards, the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Secured Card lacks a sign-up bonus. Sign-up bonuses are a nice way to earn an influx of rewards in a short period of time, but they’re generally seen on cards that are open to applicants with good or excellent credit. And since the main goal of the card and its features is to build a better credit score, the lack of a sign-up bonus isn’t a deal breaker.

• No intro APR offers

  The U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Secured Card doesn’t offer interest-free periods on new purchases or balance transfers. This means that if you carry a balance on your card from month to month, you’ll be subject to a very high variable APR of 28.99%. That said, this is the norm for cards aimed at building credit.

  Tip: As you build credit, it’s important to focus on creating and maintaining a budget and not overspending. While credit card financing can be a helpful tool when used appropriately, the lack of it with this card is more of a guardrail to help ensure cardholders stay on the path to building credit by paying off their charges each month.

  → See our top picks for the best 0% intro APR credit cards

• Foreign transaction fees

  Since the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Secured Card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee, you should leave it at home if you travel outside of the United States. And if you opt for a lower security deposit, it’s not a practical card for travel since expenses can easily add up, planned or otherwise.

  If you travel abroad often, consider one of our top picks for the best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees.

U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Secured Card vs. Discover it^® Secured Credit Card

The Discover it^® Secured Credit Card is best if you want a welcome offer and no foreign transaction fee while still earning rewards.

Like the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Secured Card, it reports to all three credit bureaus and has a customizable credit limit that’s set by your security deposit. You can send in anywhere from $200 to $2,500 and at seven months of card ownership, Discover begins automatic account reviews to see if you’re eligible to have your deposit refunded.

The Discover it^® Secured Credit Card‘s rewards system is somewhat complex but doesn’t require you to activate quarterly categories. You can earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically. Note that with the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Secured Card, gas and restaurants both fall into the unlimited 2% cash back category, with the caveat being that you can only earn 2% cash back on one of the categories. Plus, Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.

Overall, the Discover it^® Secured Credit Card comes out as our top choice as the best secured credit card, one of the easiest credit cards to get and the best credit card for teens.

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U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Secured Card vs. Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

If you want to potentially qualify for a higher credit limit than your initial security deposit, the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card could be a better fit. The card offers the unique opportunity to get a $200 credit limit for a deposit of $49, $99 or $200. Just know, you aren’t guaranteed to get the lower deposit amounts, and your deposit amount is determined after you apply and are approved.

Capital One also will automatically start reviewing your account for possible credit line increases starting at six months.

A major drawback to this card is that it doesn’t offer any rewards. If you plan to only keep the card open long enough to boost your credit score, then it’s not as much of a downside. However, if you want a card to use for the long haul, you might want to consider a rewards credit card.

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U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Secured Card vs. Chase Freedom Rise® Credit Card

If you want to build credit without putting down a security deposit, the Chase Freedom Rise® Credit Card may be a better choice.

This card is our pick for the best credit card for building credit, since it offers automatic account reviews starting at six months, rewards on all purchases and doesn’t require a security deposit. It also offers purchase protection, extended warranty protection and trip cancellation and interruption insurance, which is rare among cards that are geared toward building credit.

Its sign-up bonus is a bit lackluster: You can earn a $25 statement credit when you sign up for automatic payments within the first three months of opening your account and remain enrolled for at least 90 days. A great feature of the Chase Freedom Rise® Credit Card is that if you have a Chase checking or savings account with more than $250 in it, you will boost your chances of being approved for this card.

The U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Secured Card is a solid choice for anyone new to credit or looking to rebuild their credit if they don’t mind sending in a higher deposit. You have the potential to earn a good amount of cash back while building your credit. This is a win-win.

If you’re not sure it’s the right card for you, consider these other options:

• Choose the Discover it^® Secured Credit Card if you want a generous welcome offer.
• Choose the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card if you want to put down a lower initial security deposit.
• Choose the Chase Freedom Rise® Credit Card if you want an unsecured credit card.

We use an objective rating and ranking system that compares features across a large set of credit cards (over 200 of them from over 50 issuers). We use calculations to estimate the value of each card for the average cardholder, based on LendingTree and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. We devote a large part of the score to features that help build credit — we want to help you locate cards that don’t cost a lot to own and help you upgrade to better card offers.

• Annual savings (50% of rating): We calculate how much the average cardholder can save with the card on a yearly basis. If it’s a rewards card, we use U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and $300 in monthly spending (the typical starting credit limit for an introductory card) to calculate how much the average cardholder can earn in rewards. We then subtract fees — including annual fees and maintenance fees — from this amount.
• Credit-building features (50% of rating): We give points for features that help build credit, including reports to all three credit bureaus, regular account reviews for card upgrades and free credit score access. We take away points for features that can be costly to cardholders trying to build credit, such as security deposits, penalty APRs and late payment fees.