Editor’s note: This is a recurring post with regularly updated card details.
The U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard® offers generous rewards and travel perks, including complimentary access to over 1,300 VIP airport lounges worldwide, making it ideal for those who travel frequently. Plus, it charges a $0 annual fee for the first year, then a low annual fee of $95 thereafter.
U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard®
- Introducing the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect™ World Elite Mastercard®, the business travel card that's 5X more rewarding.
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points, worth $600 if you spend $6,000 on the Account Owner's card in the first 180 days from account opening.
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center.
- Earn 4X points on travel, gas and EV charging stations* on the first $150,000 in combined annual spend (*excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs).
- Earn 2X points on dining, takeout, restaurant delivery and cell service providers.
- Earn 1X points on all other eligible spend.
- Earn a $25 statement credit for every three consecutive monthly taxi or rideshare trips.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter.
- Points transfer between business and consumer U.S. Bank Altitude products (excluding Reserve).
- Airport lounge access - Priority Pass™ Digital annual membership with access to more than 1,300 VIP lounges worldwide, plus four complimentary visits per membership year.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Pros
- Large welcome offer
- Priority Pass Digital annual membership with access to more than 1,300 VIP lounges worldwide and four complimentary visits per membership year
- ExtendPay® Plan feature lets you divide your large purchase into fixed monthly installments without interest—only a small monthly fee
Cons
- No 0% APR offers
- Premium rewards on travel and fuel have a maximum cap
- Charges annual fee
- Free employee cards
- ExtendPay® Plan
- Transfer points between your business and personal Altitude cards
- Introducing the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect™ World Elite Mastercard®, the business travel card that's 5X more rewarding.
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points, worth $600 if you spend $6,000 on the Account Owner's card in the first 180 days from account opening.
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center.
- Earn 4X points on travel, gas and EV charging stations* on the first $150,000 in combined annual spend (*excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs).
- Earn 2X points on dining, takeout, restaurant delivery and cell service providers.
- Earn 1X points on all other eligible spend.
- Earn a $25 statement credit for every three consecutive monthly taxi or rideshare trips.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter.
- Points transfer between business and consumer U.S. Bank Altitude products (excluding Reserve).
- Airport lounge access - Priority Pass™ Digital annual membership with access to more than 1,300 VIP lounges worldwide, plus four complimentary visits per membership year.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Pros
- Large welcome offer
- Priority Pass Digital annual membership with access to more than 1,300 VIP lounges worldwide and four complimentary visits per membership year
- ExtendPay® Plan feature lets you divide your large purchase into fixed monthly installments without interest—only a small monthly fee
Cons
- No 0% APR offers
- Premium rewards on travel and fuel have a maximum cap
- Charges annual fee
- Free employee cards
- ExtendPay® Plan
- Transfer points between your business and personal Altitude cards
When grading travel business credit cards like the U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard, we first consider the ongoing rewards, introductory rewards, and additional features like travel perks. We also rate the card’s annual fee and its introductory and ongoing APRs.
Grading Criteria | Card Score | Highest Possible Score |
---|---|---|
Ongoing Rewards | 25 | 25 |
Introductory Rewards | 20 | 25 |
Additional Features | 25 | 25 |
Annual Fee | 13 | 15 |
Introductory APR | 0 | 5 |
Ongoing APR | 3 | 5 |
Total Score | 86 | 100 |
Who the U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard® Is Best For
- Business owners who travel frequently: You will benefit from the card’s lucrative rewards on travel and travel perks, like access to airport lounges and no foreign transaction fees.
- Business owners who have significant fuel expenses: As one of the leading business fuel credit cards, you can earn generous rewards when you use the card to purchase fuel for your business.
U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard® Rewards
- 60,000 bonus points, which are worth $600, after you spend $6,000 in the first 180 days of opening an account
- 5x points on hotel stays and car rentals booked directly through the Rewards Center
- 4x points on airfare, hotels, gas, and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations on the first $150,000 in combined annual spend
- 2x points on dining, takeout, restaurant delivery, and cell phone services
- 1x points on all other expenses
Rewards Calculator
Find out how much you can earn from the U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard®. Use our rewards calculator below to compute the potential rewards you can earn based on your projected monthly expenses per expense category. Enter your expected monthly spending and let our calculator do the rest. Points are worth 1 cent each when you redeem them in the Rewards Center.
You can redeem your points as cash back or toward travel, merchandise, gift cards, and more in the Rewards Center. One point is equal to 1 cent in value when redeemed in the Rewards Centers for your choice of rewards.
U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard® Features
- Priority PassTM Digital annual membership: This offers access to more than 1,300 VIP airport lounges worldwide, and you’ll have four complimentary visits per membership year.
- Transfer points with your personal card: If you have a personal U.S. Bank Altitude® Go or Altitude® Connect card, you can transfer points between your business and personal Altitude cards so you can pool your rewards and redeem them sooner.
- Taxi or rideshare statement credits: You’ll receive a $25 statement credit after every three consecutive monthly taxi or rideshare (including Uber and Lyft) transactions using your card.
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: Charge your entire rental transaction amount to your card and decline the extra collision insurance (or loss damage waiver) from the rental company to receive auto rental coverage.
- Lost luggage insurance: Receive reimbursement for the actual cost of repairing or replacing your checked or carry-on luggage that is lost or damaged during a flight.
- Travel assistance services: Receive travel services, including assistance for travel requirements (documentation, immunizations, or currency exchange rates), medical, legal referrals, and roadside services.
- U.S. Bank ExtendPay® Plan: This feature lets you divide your eligible purchases into equal monthly payments with no interest—just a small, fixed monthly fee.
- Real Time Rewards: This is a redemption method that lets you immediately redeem points toward your purchase using your mobile device.
- Spend Analysis online reporting: With this tool, you can easily monitor expenses and download an easy-to-read PDF file of your annual account summary.
U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard® Fees
APRs
- Introductory: None
- Ongoing for purchases and balance transfers: 18.99% to 25.99% variable, which adjusts with the prime rate (the minimum interest charge is $1)
- Cash advance: 31.24% variable, which adjusts with the prime rate
- Penalty: 31.49% based on your creditworthiness—varies with the prime rate and will be applied if:
- You make payments that are five calendar days late twice or 30 calendar days late once
- Your payment is returned
- You exceed your credit limit twice in 12 consecutive months
Fees
- Annual: $0 the first year, then $95
- Foreign transaction: $0
- Balance transfer: Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Cash advance: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Overdraft protection: $0
- Late payment: $41
- Returned payment: $40
- Overlimit: $40
- U.S. Bank ExtendPay®: Not to exceed 1.6% of the original principal amount per month
- In person: Go to an ATM or a branch to pay your credit card bills. To find a U.S. Bank ATM or branch location near you, visit usbank.com.
- Online: Pay your credit card bill online via autopay or a one-time payment through the U.S. Bank website.
- Mobile app: Download the U.S. Bank iOS and Android app to make payments from your mobile device.
- Phone: Call the number found on the back of your card or call (800) 285-8585 to make payments.
- Mail: Send your check or money order through regular mail to the following address:
Cardmember Service
PO Box 790408
St. Louis, MO 63179-0408
U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard® Alternatives
U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
BEST FOR:
Those wanting to earn up to 5% cash back on selected spending categories
- Introducing the U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® the card that gives back on all your eligible business needs.
- Earn $750 in cash back. Just spend $6000 on the Account Owner's card in the first 180 days of opening your account.
- Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations (transactions of $200 or less)*, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants (*excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs).
- 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases.
- Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center.
- No limit on total cash back earned.
- Redeem Cash Rewards right away or save them for later. Cash Rewards do not expire as long as the account remains active.
- Earn an annual $100 statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses such as FreshBooks or QuickBooks.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Pros
- 0% purchase APR for 12 months
- $0 annual fee
- U.S. Bank ExtendPay® Plan feature
Cons
- No 0% APR on balance transfers
- Charges balance transfer and foreign transaction fees
- MasterRental car rental collision damage waiver: When you rent a car using your U.S. Bank credit card, you’re covered in case of accident or theft on all rentals made worldwide. Coverage is primary, which means you won’t need to use your personal auto insurance or accept the insurance offered by the rental agency. Coverage is capped at $50,000.
- Purchase assurance: U.S. Bank may repair or reimburse for items purchased with your U.S. Bank business credit card that are damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchase. Coverage is limited to $1,000 per loss, up to $25,000 per year, per account. Lost items and items left out of reach that others can see are not covered.
- Extended warranty protection: U.S. Bank will double the manufacturer’s warranty up to an additional one year from the expiration of warranties of five years or less. An item with a six-month warranty would be backed for an additional six months, for example. The issuer will replace the item or reimburse you up to the amount charged on your U.S. Bank card up to $10,000.
- U.S. Bank ExtendPay® Plan: Pay off your eligible balance over time with this feature without interest—just pay a small monthly fee
- Introducing the U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® the card that gives back on all your eligible business needs.
- Earn $750 in cash back. Just spend $6000 on the Account Owner's card in the first 180 days of opening your account.
- Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations (transactions of $200 or less)*, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants (*excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs).
- 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases.
- Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center.
- No limit on total cash back earned.
- Redeem Cash Rewards right away or save them for later. Cash Rewards do not expire as long as the account remains active.
- Earn an annual $100 statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses such as FreshBooks or QuickBooks.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Pros
- 0% purchase APR for 12 months
- $0 annual fee
- U.S. Bank ExtendPay® Plan feature
Cons
- No 0% APR on balance transfers
- Charges balance transfer and foreign transaction fees
- MasterRental car rental collision damage waiver: When you rent a car using your U.S. Bank credit card, you’re covered in case of accident or theft on all rentals made worldwide. Coverage is primary, which means you won’t need to use your personal auto insurance or accept the insurance offered by the rental agency. Coverage is capped at $50,000.
- Purchase assurance: U.S. Bank may repair or reimburse for items purchased with your U.S. Bank business credit card that are damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchase. Coverage is limited to $1,000 per loss, up to $25,000 per year, per account. Lost items and items left out of reach that others can see are not covered.
- Extended warranty protection: U.S. Bank will double the manufacturer’s warranty up to an additional one year from the expiration of warranties of five years or less. An item with a six-month warranty would be backed for an additional six months, for example. The issuer will replace the item or reimburse you up to the amount charged on your U.S. Bank card up to $10,000.
- U.S. Bank ExtendPay® Plan: Pay off your eligible balance over time with this feature without interest—just pay a small monthly fee
The card comes with a 0% APR on purchases for 12 months and a $750 welcome offer when you meet the spending requirements. While it doesn’t come with extensive travel perks, it offers up to 5% cash back that can be used for travel, on top of other redemption options. You can also take advantage of the ExtendPay Plan feature, so you can pay off your balance over time without interest.
American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
BEST FOR:
Those who want better cash back rewards
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.49% – 25.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening. APRs will not exceed 29.99%
- Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
- From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That’s why you’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power.
- The amount you can spend above your credit limit is flexible, so it adapts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors. Just remember, the amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
Pros
- 0% introductory annual percentage rate (APR)
- Welcome offer
- Fixed rate rewards
- $0 annual fee
Cons
- Cash advance isn’t allowed
- Charges foreign transaction fees
- 2% cash back is capped at $50,000 in annual spending
- Expanded buying power: Enjoy flexible buying power when your business needs it. Expanded buying power gives you the freedom to spend beyond your credit limit and help get business done. While the amount you can spend above your credit limit isn't unlimited, it adjusts with your use of the card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors.
- Car rental loss and damage insurance: As a Card Member, You can be covered for damage to or theft of a rental vehicle in a covered territory when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire rental and decline the collision damage waiver at the rental company counter. (Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.)
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.49% – 25.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening. APRs will not exceed 29.99%
- Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
- From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That’s why you’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power.
- The amount you can spend above your credit limit is flexible, so it adapts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors. Just remember, the amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
Pros
- 0% introductory annual percentage rate (APR)
- Welcome offer
- Fixed rate rewards
- $0 annual fee
Cons
- Cash advance isn’t allowed
- Charges foreign transaction fees
- 2% cash back is capped at $50,000 in annual spending
- Expanded buying power: Enjoy flexible buying power when your business needs it. Expanded buying power gives you the freedom to spend beyond your credit limit and help get business done. While the amount you can spend above your credit limit isn't unlimited, it adjusts with your use of the card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors.
- Car rental loss and damage insurance: As a Card Member, You can be covered for damage to or theft of a rental vehicle in a covered territory when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire rental and decline the collision damage waiver at the rental company counter. (Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.)
It allows you to spend beyond your credit limit through its Expanded Buying Power feature. It also lets you earn up to 2% cash back, which is automatically credited to your billing statement without manual redemption. It also comes with a 12-month 0% APR on purchases and a $250 statement credit as a welcome offer.
American Express Business Platinum Card®
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
BEST FOR:
Gaining access to unrivaled travel rewards and luxury travel perks like airport lounge access
- Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
- Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $2 million per Card Account per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
- Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. See how you can unlock over $1,000 annually in credits on select purchases with the Business Platinum Card®, here.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to the Card.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card®.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
- $695 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
Pros
- Premium travel rewards
- Free access to more than 1,400 airport lounges worldwide
- $0 foreign transaction fee
Cons
- Balance is due in full monthly
- High annual fee
- American Express lounges: Free access to American Express’ network of Centurion lounges located in slightly less than a dozen United States airports.
- Other airport lounges: Priority Pass Select membership, which gets you free access to more than 1,400 lounges worldwide for you and two guests.
- Airport screening: Either a $120 statement credit for Global Entry every four years or an $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck® once every 4 1/2 years.
- Travel credit: Up to $200 annual statement credit toward air travel expenses like baggage fees and inflight food and drink.
- Rental status: Elite status at a number of car rental agencies.
- Rebate for redeemed points: 35% points rebate if you book a business or first-class flight, up to 1,000,000 bonus points per calendar year.
- Dell statement credit: Up to $400 in statement credits annually for Dell purchases.
- Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
- Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $2 million per Card Account per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
- Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. See how you can unlock over $1,000 annually in credits on select purchases with the Business Platinum Card®, here.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to the Card.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card®.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
- $695 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
Pros
- Premium travel rewards
- Free access to more than 1,400 airport lounges worldwide
- $0 foreign transaction fee
Cons
- Balance is due in full monthly
- High annual fee
- American Express lounges: Free access to American Express’ network of Centurion lounges located in slightly less than a dozen United States airports.
- Other airport lounges: Priority Pass Select membership, which gets you free access to more than 1,400 lounges worldwide for you and two guests.
- Airport screening: Either a $120 statement credit for Global Entry every four years or an $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck® once every 4 1/2 years.
- Travel credit: Up to $200 annual statement credit toward air travel expenses like baggage fees and inflight food and drink.
- Rental status: Elite status at a number of car rental agencies.
- Rebate for redeemed points: 35% points rebate if you book a business or first-class flight, up to 1,000,000 bonus points per calendar year.
- Dell statement credit: Up to $400 in statement credits annually for Dell purchases.
This card is another option if you prefer luxury travel perks, like access to a wide selection of airport lounges. While it charges a $695 annual fee, you can take advantage of over $1,000 in business value and earn up to 5x points in rewards on purchases. It can also be a great option if you need a high credit limit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No, the points you earned on your U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard never expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing.
If you’re eligible for the U.S. Bank ExtendPay® Plan, you’ll receive a notification via email. You will also see ExtendPay® Plan options when viewing your card account details online. The purchases eligible for ExtendPay® Plan are those that were:
- Made within 60 days prior to signing up for ExtendPay
- More than $100
- Less than your purchase balance when you sign up for ExtendPay
Before traveling, you need to enroll in the Priority Pass digital membership program by visiting prioritypass.com/usbankbusinessconnect. You will have four complimentary lounge visits per year to over 1300 Priority Pass lounges in more than 120 countries and 400-plus airports worldwide—regardless of airline, frequent flyer membership, or ticket class.
Bottom Line
The U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard® is an excellent option if you travel frequently and have substantial fuel expenses. You will earn premium rewards on the first $150,000 spent on these categories per year. Plus, you’ll benefit from travel perks like complimentary access to airport lounges, lost luggage insurance, and $0 foreign transaction fees. Keep in mind that the card does not come with a 0% APR period on purchases and balance transfers.