Great Card If
- You’re looking for a card with a long 0% intro APR offer.
- You want a card with no annual fee and perks such as cell phone protection.
Don’t Get If
- You want a card that offers bonus categories beyond U.S. Bank travel purchases.
- You want a card that offers more benefits and perks.
U.S. Bank Shield Card — Is It Worth It?
The U.S. Bank Shield card could be worth it if you need 0% APR with no annual fee.
It won’t be the best fit for those looking to earn travel or cash-back rewards on most of their daily purchases. The U.S. Bank Shield card is good if you want a card with a long 0% intro APR offer, a handful of useful perks and benefits, and no annual fee.
U.S. Bank Shield Card Top Benefits and Perks
Here is a quick overview of the benefits you can expect as a U.S. Bank Shield cardmember:
- Intro APR offer: Receive a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 21 billing cycles.
- Annual statement credit: Earn a $20 statement credit for 11 consecutive months of purchases each year.
- Cell phone protection: Get up to $600 reimbursed if your cell phone is stolen or damaged when you pay your monthly cellular bill with your card.
- Access to U.S. Bank ExtendPay: You can use ExtendPay to divide eligible credit card purchases into monthly payments with no interest.
- No annual fee: You won’t pay an annual fee for this card.
Best Ways To Earn and Redeem Your Rewards
With your U.S. Bank Shield card, the only rewards you will earn are 4% cash-back on prepaid air, hotel, and car rentals booked directly in the Travel Center. On all other purchases, you will not earn any rewards. If earning rewards on all of your expenses is important to you, you’ll want to select a different travel rewards card or cash-back rewards card.
You can redeem rewards for a statement credit to your card account, as a deposit made into an eligible U.S. Bank account, charitable contributions, or Real-Time Rewards.
Alternative Cards to the U.S. Bank Shield Card
If you’re looking for a card that earns rewards and offers a great 0% intro APR offer of up to 15 months, the Chase Freedom Unlimited card would be a better option.
With it, you’ll earn 5% back on travel purchases through Chase Travel, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and an uncapped 1.5% back on all other purchases.
Plus, you’ll receive perks such as purchase protection, secondary rental car insurance, and extended warranty protection with a $0 annual fee.
Similarly, the Blue Cash Everyday card is good if you want a 0% intro APR offer on a $0-annual-fee credit card that earns rewards (rates & fees).
It earns on a variety of bonus categories, including:
- 3% back on purchases at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases each year, then 1% back after
- 3% back on purchases at U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 in purchases each year, then 1% back after
- 3% back on online retail purchases of up to $6,000 in purchases each year, then 1% back after
Even with a $0 annual fee, it offers an up to $7 monthly statement credit toward a subscription purchase with Disney Plus, Hulu, or ESPN+ (enrollment is required), along with rental car insurance and purchase protection.
