U.S. Bank FlexPerks® is a minimal and straightforward rewards program that applies to several credit cards issued by the bank. It offers decent earning potential and great redemption value if you travel frequently. Besides travel, you can use your FlexPoints for statement credits, cash back, gift cards and merchandise.
See our list of the best credit card bonuses here.
Keep reading for an in-depth review of the FlexPerks program, including all the ways to earn and burn as well as tips and tricks to get the most out of your FlexPoints.
U.S. Bank also offers great sign-up bonuses for its Checking accounts.
| Personal Credit Cards | U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Gold American Express® U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Travel Rewards Visa Signature® U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Select+ American Express® U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Select Rewards Visa® U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Reserve Visa Signature® U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Reserve American Express® |
| Redemption Options | Travel Statement credits Cash back Gift cards Merchandise Real-time mobile rewards |
| Average Value Per Point | $0.015 |
THE PLATINUM CARD® FROM AMERICAN EXPRESS
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
The Platinum Card® from American Express has a special offer for 100,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 in purchases within your first 6 months.
Membership Rewards® points are some of the most valuable in the market. Redeeming these points by booking travel through American Express or by redeeming for gift cards will give you a standard 1 cent per point value. The 100k bonus points are worth $1,000 going this route.
You can potentially get more value by transferring your points to Membership Rewards travel partners. Using this strategy can get you up to an average value of 2 cents per point. Get around $2,000 in value with 100,000 points this way. Read more on this here.
With this card, earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
The biggest drawback to this card is the $695 annual fee (see Rates & Fees, Terms Apply), which puts it in the premium class of credit cards. The card has a market because it offers premium travel benefits, such as 5X points for flights (up to $500,000 on these purchases) and eligible hotels, access to 40+ Centurion Loung and Studio locations worldwide, up to $200 airline fee credit annually, and an annual Walmart+ membership. These benefits are given as statement credits.
For frequent travelers, the added benefits make sense in terms of value and added luxury.
Earning U.S. Bank FlexPerks
U.S. Bank issues plenty of credit cards, but not all of them earn FlexPoints. Here are a select few personal credit cards that do:
| Welcome bonus | Get 30,000 FlexPoints when you spend at least $2,000 within your first four months. |
| Bonus value | $450 |
| Ongoing rewards | 3x FlexPoints at restaurants 2x FlexPoints at gas stations 2x FlexPoints on airfare 1x FlexPoints everywhere else |
| Perks | TSA/Global Entry credit $25 airline allowance Complimentary Boingo WiFi Global Dining Program |
| Annual fee | $85 |
| Welcome bonus | Get 25,000 FlexPoints when you spend at least $2,000 within your first four months. |
| Bonus value | $375 |
| Ongoing rewards | 2x FlexPoints on airline/gas/grocery purchases* 2x FlexPoints at cell phone service providers** 2x FlexPoints for charitable donations** 1x FlexPoints everywhere else |
| Perks | $25 airline allowance |
| Annual fee | $49, waived your first year |
*2x FlexPoints on ONE category which has the highest total that billing cycle.
**On select merchants in these categories.
| Welcome bonus | Get 10,000 FlexPoints when you spend at least $1,000 within your first four months. |
| Bonus value | $150 |
| Ongoing rewards | 1x FlexPoints on all purchases |
| Perks | No extra perks |
| Annual fee | $0 |
If you’re short on FlexPoints, you can buy them. However, we don’t recommend buy points because you will be shelling out more money than what the points are worth. We value each FlexPoint at $0.015 when you redeem but purchasing the points will cost you much more.
Redeeming U.S. Bank FlexPoints
Use your FlexPoints to:
- Book travel
- Get statement credits
- Get cash back
- Purchase gift cards
- Purchase merchandise
Your FlexPoints expire five years from
the end of the month in which they were earned.
You can’t transfer your FlexPoints to another airline or hotel loyalty program, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Instead of trying to find a good deal with a transfer partner, FlexPerks spares you the headache by offering travel awards with good value. Let’s check them out below.
FlexPoints have the best value when you use them for travel through the FlexPerks travel portal. Each point is worth $0.015 when you redeem with more than 150 airlines, hotel chains and rental car companies.
Use your FlexPoints for statement credits and cash back:
- 2,500 FlexPoints for a $25 statement credit
- 5,000 FlexPoints for $50 cash back
Both statement credit and cash back will give you a point value of $0.01 each.
Use your FlexPoints for gift cards which you can use yourself, or give away. Participating retailers include:
- Amazon
- Best Buy
- Gap
- Land’s End
- L.L. Bean
- Macy’s
- Office Depot
- Pottery Barn
- Saks Fifth Avenue
- Starbucks Coffee
Gift card redemptions start at 5,000 FlexPoints for a $50 gift card, which gives you a point value of $0.01 each.
Use your FlexPoints for a variety of items: electronics, designer clothing, household goods and unique collector’s items. Brands include:
- Apple
- Bose
- Canon
- Dell
- Dyson
- North Face
- Oakley
- Sony
FlexPoint values for merchandise varies by item, but you can expect each point to be worth less than $0.01.
Real-time mobile rewards lets you use your FlexPoints instantly from your mobile device for a FlexPerks Visa Card purchase of your choice. To use:
- Make almost any purchase with your FlexPerks Visa Card.
- Receive a text to redeem FlexPoints for that purchase.
- Reply, “Redeem.”
For travel purchases made with mobile rewards, each FlexPoint is worth $0.015. For all other purchases, you’ll get a $0.01 per point value.
All of the information presented above has been collected independently by MoneysMyLife. It is current at the time of publishing and will be updated from time-to-time but for the most up-to-date information, please click here to find our source. Also, you can go here to find answers to your questions about FlexPoints.
U.S. Bank FlexPoints Tips & Tricks
With the introduction of real-time mobile rewards, you can redeem FlexPoints for travel at $0.015 per point without having to go though the FlexPerks travel portal.
Most other credit card reward programs – like Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi ThankYou – require you to book travel through their online portal to get better value for your points.
Every once in awhile, U.S. Bank will offer points promotions, for example:
Spend $3,000 in one month, and earn 4,000 bonus points.
These promotions vary by credit card, location and time period. Make sure to check online often to see if you’re eligible for a promotion. Simply enter your credit card number on the FlexPerks Promotions page.
You can share your FlexPoints with other members in the FlexPerks program, or combine points from multiple accounts. The latter applies if you have more than one FlexPerks credit card.
Bottom Line
Frequent travelers will want to look into U.S. Bank FlexPerks because it offers excellent value when you redeem for travel. The rewards program is simple and straightforward and doesn’t require much effort or thought.
But if you like to play around with points to maximize your rewards, you’ll want to go with another credit card rewards program that lets you transfer to airline and hotel loyalty programs. Like Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards.
READ MORE: SEE THE BEST BANK BONUSES HERE AND THE BEST INVESTING BONUSES HERE.
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