{"id":13606,"date":"2025-04-16T05:37:30","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T05:37:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/?p=13606"},"modified":"2025-04-16T05:37:30","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T05:37:30","slug":"u-s-bank-smartly-stiffens-requirements-to-earn-top-rates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/?p=13606","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Bank Smartly Stiffens Requirements to Earn Top Rates"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div class=\"_3VJt4n\">\n<p class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\"><span class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\">The <\/span><span class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\">U.S. Bank Smartly\u2122 Visa Signature\u00ae Card<\/span><span class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\">, once a highly rewarding card for anyone with sufficient investments in U.S. Bank accounts, is now a bit less brilliant. After launching just seven months ago, the card is already undergoing a major overhaul to a rewards program that burned too bright for this world.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_3VJt4n\">\n<p class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\"><span class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\">For now, these changes won\u2019t affect existing cardholders. But as of April 14, 2025, the card has rolled out a number of changes for new applicants. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"_3P4ktl zeCuXk _28z5Fp _2w4PM3 _1My7YX\" data-currency=\"Text\" id=\"it's-harder-to-earn-more-than-2percent-cash-back\"><span class=\"_3P4ktl zeCuXk _28z5Fp _3-to_p\">It\u2019s harder to earn more than 2% cash back<\/span><\/h2>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_3VJt4n _3VY1A7\">\n<div class=\"_3wlVa6 _2247K8 _14vxWx _2Ua6RU\" style=\"max-width:160px\">\n<figure class=\"_3ngNGS _2_Pyfm\">\n<div class=\"xkItPk\" style=\"background-color:transparent\">\n<div class=\"_30SBGi x6Nm1J\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"_2_Pyfm\"><span class=\"_14cHu7 _2BxR5P\">SS rating\u00a0<button type=\"button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"nw-aria-ssr-4-4-1\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" data-currency=\"PopoverDisclosure\" class=\"_19GC0z\" title=\"How is this rating determined?\"><span class=\"_1Z-QXc\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><svg viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"_2ulGkX\" fill=\"currentcolor\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12 15.387c-.645 0-1.129.524-1.129 1.13 0 .644.484 1.128 1.129 1.128.605 0 1.129-.484 1.129-1.129 0-.605-.524-1.129-1.129-1.129zm.282-.968a.466.466 0 00.484-.484c0-1.733 3.145-1.612 3.145-4.314 0-2.056-1.854-3.266-3.951-3.266-1.815 0-2.823.726-3.67 1.814-.161.242-.12.525.121.686l.524.403c.202.121.484.08.646-.12.604-.767 1.21-1.17 2.379-1.17 1.613 0 2.338.847 2.338 1.653 0 1.734-3.145 1.492-3.145 4.314a.49.49 0 00.484.484h.645zM12 3.29c4.758 0 8.71 3.912 8.71 8.71A8.7 8.7 0 0112 20.71 8.673 8.673 0 013.29 12 8.699 8.699 0 0112 3.29zM12 2C6.476 2 2 6.516 2 12c0 5.524 4.476 10 10 10 5.484 0 10-4.476 10-10 0-5.484-4.516-10-10-10z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><span id=\"nw-aria-ssr-4-4-1\" hidden=\"\" style=\"display:none;position:fixed;left:100%;top:100%\" role=\"dialog\" tabindex=\"0\" data-dialog=\"true\" class=\"_2Dnq6l\" aria-label=\"How is this rating determined?\"><span style=\"font-size:30px;width:1em;height:1em;pointer-events:none;top:100%\" class=\"_3extVD _2piv35\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>SS&#8217;s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_3VJt4n\">\n<p class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\"><span class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\">The <\/span><span class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\">U.S. Bank Smartly\u2122 Visa Signature\u00ae Card<\/span><span class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\"> still earns a base rewards rate of <\/span><span class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\">2% cash back on all purchases<\/span><span class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\">, which is still quite good. And it\u2019s still possible to earn even higher rates if you meet specific requirements \u2014 it&#8217;s just that those requirements got stricter.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_3VJt4n\">\n<p class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\"><span class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\">Now, you must open a U.S. Bank Smartly savings account and maintain a \u201cqualifying balance\u201d in a Bank Smartly checking account or Safe Debit account. Here\u2019s what you can earn at different balance tiers:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_3VJt4n\">\n<ul data-currency=\"List\" class=\"_2cGsD8\">\n<li class=\"_3ho7K- _1pCihN olf-Ig\">\n<div class=\"_3wlVa6 _2247K8\">\n<p class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\"><span class=\"_3VmbAf _28z5Fp _3-to_p\"><span class=\"_3VmbAf _28z5Fp _3-to_p\">$10,000 to $49,999.99:<\/span><\/span><span class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\"> Earn 2.5% cash back.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"_3ho7K- _1pCihN olf-Ig\">\n<div class=\"_3wlVa6 _2247K8\">\n<p class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\"><span class=\"_3VmbAf _28z5Fp _3-to_p\"><span class=\"_3VmbAf _28z5Fp _3-to_p\">$50,000 to $99,999.99:<\/span><\/span><span class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\"> Earn 3% cash back.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"_3ho7K- _1pCihN olf-Ig\">\n<div class=\"_3wlVa6 _2247K8\">\n<p class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\"><span class=\"_3VmbAf _28z5Fp _3-to_p\"><span class=\"_3VmbAf _28z5Fp _3-to_p\">$100,000 or more:<\/span><\/span><span class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\"> Earn 4% cash back.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_3VJt4n\">\n<p class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\"><span class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\">Previously, U.S. Bank checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, investment accounts and IRAs, and even personal trust accounts could be factored into your qualifying balance. Plus, you used to reach the 2.5% cash back tier with $5,000 in your accounts, not $10,000. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_3VJt4n\">\n<p class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\"><span class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\">That coveted 4% cash-back rate is now hard to obtain unless you\u2019re in the habit of holding onto a six-figure sum of cash. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_3VJt4n\">\n<p class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\"><span class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\">There\u2019s also a change to how the qualifying balance is calculated. Before, it was based on your average daily balance over a 90-day period. Now, that\u2019s down to 30 days, which can affect your eligibility for extra cash back depending on your cash flow for the month.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_3VJt4n\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"_3LOQui PIqV0k wnPEbn BgIPML _1WkR_n paYFr8 _1SNXHI _1voSX6 _3xUsF1 oE4ByK _119vwC knwpyt aylhii\">\n<p><span class=\"_3P4ktl zeCuXk _28z5Fp _1My7YX\" data-currency=\"Text\">\ud83e\udd13<\/span><span class=\"_3P4ktl _2LuWPZ _28z5Fp N36gAq\" data-currency=\"Text\">Nerdy Tip<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\"><span class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\">With the <\/span><span class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\">U.S. Bank Smartly\u2122 Visa Signature\u00ae Card<\/span><span class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\">, cash back is worth 1 cent per point when deposited into an eligible U.S. Bank account. You can also redeem points for gift cards or statement credits, but they\u2019ll be worth less if you do this.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"_3P4ktl zeCuXk _28z5Fp _2w4PM3 _1My7YX\" data-currency=\"Text\" id=\"higher-cash-back-tiers-are-subject-to-spending-limits\"><span class=\"_3P4ktl zeCuXk _28z5Fp _3-to_p\">Higher cash-back tiers are subject to spending limits<\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"_3VJt4n\">\n<p class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\"><span class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\">The original version of the card placed no limits on how much cash back you could earn in any rewards tier. There\u2019s still no cap on earning 2% cash back going forward, but now you can only earn 2.5% back or more on up to $10,000 in spending per billing cycle. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_3VJt4n\">\n<p class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\"><span class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\">Once you reach that limit, you\u2019ll earn the base 2% back.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"_3P4ktl zeCuXk _28z5Fp _2w4PM3 _1My7YX\" data-currency=\"Text\" id=\"certain-purchases-won't-qualify-for-higher-reward-rates\"><span class=\"_3P4ktl zeCuXk _28z5Fp _3-to_p\">Certain purchases won\u2019t qualify for higher reward rates<\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"_3VJt4n\">\n<p class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\"><span class=\"_28z5Fp _3-to_p\">Education or tuition payments, gift cards, insurance, taxes, business-to-business transactions and third-party bill payment services will earn only 2% cash back, even if you\u2019re eligible to earn 2.5% back or more based on your balances with U.S. Bank.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/article\/credit-cards\/u-s-bank-smartly-overhaul-makes-it-harder-to-earn-higher-rates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The U.S. Bank Smartly\u2122 Visa Signature\u00ae Card, once a highly rewarding card for anyone with sufficient investments in U.S. Bank accounts, is now a bit less brilliant. After launching just seven months ago, the card is already undergoing a major overhaul to a rewards program that burned too bright for this world. For now, these<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7649,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[195],"tags":[136,256,261,1839,5645,5646,536,272],"class_list":{"0":"post-13606","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-personal-finance","8":"tag-bank","9":"tag-earn","10":"tag-rates","11":"tag-requirements","12":"tag-smartly","13":"tag-stiffens","14":"tag-top","15":"tag-u-s"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13606","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13606"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13606\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7649"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13606"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13606"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13606"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}