U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard Review 2023
This article is part of a larger series on Best Small Business Credit Cards.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post with regularly updated card details.
The U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard is designed for business owners who travel frequently. It offers more value to your business with its generous travel rewards and perks, including complimentary access to more than 1,300 VIP airport lounges worldwide. Plus, it offers premium rewards on gas and comes with a low annual fee that is waived for the first year.
To see how this card stacks up against others we reviewed on our site, click Add to Compare on the card below and choose up to two additional cards for comparison.
U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard®
Intro APR
Regular APR
20.24%-28.24% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$0 Intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter
Credit Needed
Good to Excellent
- 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.
- Earn 2X points on dining, takeout, restaurant delivery and cell service providers.
- Earn 1X points on all other eligible spend.
- Rewards never expire.
- Earn a $25 statement credit on every three consecutive monthly taxi or rideshare trips.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- $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.
- Divide large purchases into fixed monthly payments with U.S. Bank ExtendPay® Plan.
- Great Offer from U.S. Bank, a 2022 World's Most Ethical Company® - Ethisphere Institute, February 2022
- Terms and conditions apply
Pros
- High sign-up bonus
- 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% annual percentage rate (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
- No foreign transaction fee
Intro APR
Regular APR
20.24%-28.24% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$0 Intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter
Credit Needed
Good to Excellent
- 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.
- Earn 2X points on dining, takeout, restaurant delivery and cell service providers.
- Earn 1X points on all other eligible spend.
- Rewards never expire.
- Earn a $25 statement credit on every three consecutive monthly taxi or rideshare trips.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- $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.
- Divide large purchases into fixed monthly payments with U.S. Bank ExtendPay® Plan.
- Great Offer from U.S. Bank, a 2022 World's Most Ethical Company® - Ethisphere Institute, February 2022
- Terms and conditions apply
Pros
- High sign-up bonus
- 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% annual percentage rate (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
- No foreign transaction fee
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.
Is this card not what you’re looking for? See our recommended alternatives below for other options.
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 and when the cap is met
U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard 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.
How To Redeem U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard Points
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: 20.24% to 28.24% variable, which adjusts with the prime rate
- Cash advance: 29.99% variable, which adjusts with the prime rate
- Penalty: 32.49% 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: $95, waived the first year
- Foreign transaction: None
- 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: None
- Minimum interest charge: No less than $1
- Late payment: $40
- 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
When to Consider U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard Alternatives
You Need a 0% APR Period
It’s worth noting that the U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard does not offer an interest-free financing period on both purchases and balance transfer transactions. If you need to make a large purchase or transfer a balance from an existing credit card, you’ll benefit more from the U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®.
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
BEST FOR:
0% APR for 15 billing cycles
Intro APR
Regular APR
19.24% - 28.24% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Excellent/Good
- Introducing the U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® the card that gives back on all your eligible business needs.
- Earn $500 in cash back. Just spend $4500 on the Account Owner's card in the first 150 days of opening your account.
- Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants.
- 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.
- Rewards never expire.
- Earn an annual $100 statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses such as FreshBooks or quickbooks
- 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR currently 19.24% - 28.24%.
- No annual fee.
- Great Offer from U.S. Bank, a 2022 World's Most Ethical Company® - Ethisphere Institute, February 2022
- Terms and conditions apply
- Pay over time by splitting eligible purchases of $100+ into equal monthly payments with U.S. Bank ExtendPay™ Plan.
Pros
- 0% APR applies to both purchases and balance transfers
- Unlimited cash back rewards
- No annual fee
Cons
- Balance transfer fee is charged even during the introductory period
- Intro APR doesn’t apply to cash advances
- 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.
Intro APR
Regular APR
19.24% - 28.24% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Excellent/Good
- Introducing the U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® the card that gives back on all your eligible business needs.
- Earn $500 in cash back. Just spend $4500 on the Account Owner's card in the first 150 days of opening your account.
- Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants.
- 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.
- Rewards never expire.
- Earn an annual $100 statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses such as FreshBooks or quickbooks
- 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR currently 19.24% - 28.24%.
- No annual fee.
- Great Offer from U.S. Bank, a 2022 World's Most Ethical Company® - Ethisphere Institute, February 2022
- Terms and conditions apply
- Pay over time by splitting eligible purchases of $100+ into equal monthly payments with U.S. Bank ExtendPay™ Plan.
Pros
- 0% APR applies to both purchases and balance transfers
- Unlimited cash back rewards
- No annual fee
Cons
- Balance transfer fee is charged even during the introductory period
- Intro APR doesn’t apply to cash advances
- 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.
- Offers 0% APR for the first 15 billing cycles on both balance transfers and purchases
- Lets you earn up to 5% cash back
- Comes with no annual fee
- Lets you earn $100 annual statement credit on recurring software expenses
It is one of our top business credit cards with 0% APR and leading business cards for balance transfers because of its long 0% APR period and generous rewards.
You Have Significant Expenses on Online Advertising
While the U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard offers lucrative rewards, it does not provide significant rewards on your online advertising purchases. If your business frequently spends on both travel and online advertising, consider the Chase Ink Business Preferred® credit card.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
BEST FOR:
Maximizing travel rewards at a lower annual fee
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
21.24%-26.24% Variable
Annual Fee
$95
Credit Needed
- Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Member FDIC
Pros
- Reward points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® card
- Comprehensive travel and purchase protection
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- No interest-free financing option on both purchases and balance transfers
- With annual fee
- Need to make extremely large purchases to qualify for the sign-up bonus
- Cellphone protection: Get up to $1,000 per claim in cellphone protection against covered theft or damage for you and your employees listed on your monthly cellphone bill
- Purchase protection: Can cover your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft of up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account
- Extended warranty protection: You can extend the period of the United States manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less.
- Fraud monitoring: Chase will help keep your accounts safe with account alerts―and you can choose how you’d like to receive them
- Free employee cards: You can create employee cards at no additional cost, and lets you set individual spending limits―helping you earn rewards even faster
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
21.24%-26.24% Variable
Annual Fee
$95
Credit Needed
- Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Member FDIC
Pros
- Reward points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® card
- Comprehensive travel and purchase protection
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- No interest-free financing option on both purchases and balance transfers
- With annual fee
- Need to make extremely large purchases to qualify for the sign-up bonus
- Cellphone protection: Get up to $1,000 per claim in cellphone protection against covered theft or damage for you and your employees listed on your monthly cellphone bill
- Purchase protection: Can cover your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft of up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account
- Extended warranty protection: You can extend the period of the United States manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less.
- Fraud monitoring: Chase will help keep your accounts safe with account alerts―and you can choose how you’d like to receive them
- Free employee cards: You can create employee cards at no additional cost, and lets you set individual spending limits―helping you earn rewards even faster
- Lets you earn 3x points on certain categories, including travel, shipping purchases, advertising on search engines and social media sites, and expenses on internet, cable, and phone services
- Offers points that are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel
- Allows you to transfer points to partner airlines at 1:1 value
- Possibly comes with a high credit limit because of its high spending requirements for sign-up bonus
It is our top-recommended high-limit business credit card and best overall business credit card for travel because of its generous sign-up bonus and premium rewards.
You Want Fixed-Rate Rewards & Low Ongoing APR
If you don’t want to keep track of spending categories and you’re planning to carry a balance from time to time, you need a business credit card that offers a fixed-rate rewards program with a low ongoing APR. If this is your case, we recommend the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card.
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
BEST FOR:
Those who want better cash back rewards
Intro APR
0% on purchases
Regular APR
18.49% - 26.49% Variable
Annual Fee
No annual fee
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 18.49% - 26.49%, 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.
- Just remember, the amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us and other factors.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
Pros
- 0% intro APR
- Welcome bonus
- 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.
Intro APR
0% on purchases
Regular APR
18.49% - 26.49% Variable
Annual Fee
No annual fee
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 18.49% - 26.49%, 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.
- Just remember, the amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us and other factors.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
Pros
- 0% intro APR
- Welcome bonus
- 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.
- Offers up to 2% cash back on all purchases, regardless of spending categories
- Comes with a lower ongoing APR compared to the U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard
- $0 annual fee
- Offers 0% APR on purchases for the first 12 months
- Features expanded buying power, which allows you to spend beyond your credit limit based on your card usage, credit score, payment history, and financial resources
It is our top cash back business credit card and one of the most outstanding business credit cards with no annual fee because of its straightforward rewards program and flexible 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 no foreign transaction fees. Keep in mind that the card does not come with a 0% APR period on purchases and balance transfers.
For more options, visit our guides to the best small business credit cards and best U.S. Bank business credit cards.
