US Bank offers the Cash+ card as a credit card where you can choose your 2% categories and 5% cashback categories. When the cards first launched, there were no limits to 5% and a bonus $25 when you redeem $100 in cash back. There was also a special banking relationship. Alas, they’ve no imposed restrictions or removed bonuses.
Today, I am writing that they are removing the restaurant category from the 5% bucket and moving it into the 2% and removing the drug store category effective January 1, 2015
Here is the list of categories if you choose them for the quarter:
2% unlimited:
- Gas Stations
- Grocery Stores
- Restaurants
5% up to $2000 in spend:
- Select Clothing Stores (new)
- Gyms/Fitness Centers
- Sporting Good Stores
- Cell Phone
- Book Stores
- Department Stores
- Electronic Stores
- Fast Food
- Furniture Stores
- Car Rental
- Charity
- Movie Theaters
They did add “Select Clothing Stores” as the new 5% category and it’s a snoozer:
Below is a list of popular merchants in this category.¹ While this list can be a helpful guide, U.S. Bank does not control how individual merchants or purchases are categorized.²
Aeropostale
American Eagle Outfitters
Ann Taylor
Banana Republic
Eddie Bauer
Express
Forever 21
GAP
J.Crew
Jos A Bank
Old Navy
Talbots
The Limited
It’s tough to say exactly what would fall into the category because they also don’t tell us the MCC code.
It stinks that they moved restaurants from 5% to 2%, but it makes sense, it seems to be “industry” standard with dining at 2% like Citi’s Thank You offerings and Chase’s Sapphire Preferred. Even though there are other offers that are better than 2% in drug stores, it is still disappointing that they removed it
Really hope somebody comes out with a 5% restaurant card. I’ll just use cash+ for Kiva now.
Me too, I’d like to see more 5% Restaurant cards