U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power World Elite Mastercard review 2024: Unlimited earnings and simple bonus structure
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BLUEPRINT
Published 5:08 a.m. UTC May 30, 2024
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The U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Power World Elite Mastercard® * The information for the U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Power World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. earns simple, uncapped rewards However, the card has a $195 annual fee and lacks noticeable benefits. Read more in our full U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power World Elite review.
U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power card basics
- Annual fee: $195.
- Welcome bonus: 75,000 bonus points after spending $10,000 on purchases in the first 120 days from account opening.
- Rewards: 6 points per $1 on car rentals and prepaid hotels when booked directly via the Rewards Center, 2.5 points per $1 on mobile wallet purchases up to $5,000 spent quarterly and 2 points per $1 on all other purchases.
- APR: 20.24% to 28.24% variable APR.
- Recommended credit score: Good to excellent.
- Does the card offer preapproval? No.
- Other benefits: Rewards pooling, car rental collision damage waiver, ID theft protection.
U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power card review
The U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power World Elite Mastercard is the bank’s premium business card offering, with a premium welcome offer to match. New cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $10,000 on purchases in the first 120 days from account opening.
It also provides an attractive unlimited earning rate of 6 points per $1 on car rentals and prepaid hotels when booked directly via the Rewards Center, 2.5 points per $1 on mobile wallet purchases up to $5,000 spent quarterly and 2 points per $1 on all other purchases.
Although the card offers few ancillary benefits, its potential for accumulating rewards is impressive and straightforward. When cardholders book hotels and car rentals directly through the Rewards Center, they can earn ultra-high rewardson these travel-related purchases. In addition, redeeming the rewards you earn is simple, and you can combine them with other U.S. Bank Altitude products.
That said, the card’s annual fee of $195 is rather steep and falls short of the expected benefits for a card in its price range.
Pros
- Simple earning structure: The card is easy for business owners to use because there are no bonus categories to memorize. You’ll simply earn points for every $1 you spend and points on mobile wallet purchases up to $5,000 each quarter.
- Elevated earning rates for specific travel purchases: When you book a hotel or car rental directly with the Rewards Center, you’ll earn elevated earnings.
- Points can be combined with other U.S. Bank Altitude cards: If you have other U.S. Bank Altitude products (business or consumer), you can transfer points between accounts (with the exception of the Reserve card).
Cons
- Limited category bonuses: Outside of earning points on everyday purchases, there are no other worthwhile bonus categories for everyday spending.
- Lack of additional benefits: The card doesn’t offer any standout advantages that would justify holding onto it for an extended period of time.
- Relatively high spending requirement: The welcome bonus requires a very high minimum spend requirement.
U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power rewards
The U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power World Elite Mastercard offers a generous welcome bonus and a manageable earning structure. New cardholders can receive 75,000 bonus points after spending $10,000 on purchases in the first 120 days from account opening.
Aside from this one-time welcome bonus, the card features a straightforward earning structure of 6 points per $1 on car rentals and prepaid hotels when booked directly via the Rewards Center, 2.5 points per $1 on mobile wallet purchases up to $5,000 spent quarterly and 2 points per $1 on all other purchases.
On the redemption side, cardholders can use their points at a value of one cent each for cash back, gift cards, merchandise, or travel. This redemption method suits business owners who want a straightforward way of redeeming their points. However, if you’re a business owner looking to transfer points to airline or hotel partners for outsized value, you’ll want to consider a travel rewards card instead.
Using government data and other publicly available information, we estimate that a business in the U.S. that would be in the market for this card has $29,575 in expenses they are likely to be able to charge to a credit card.
| SPENDING | POINTS EARNED PER DOLLAR | POINTS EARNED | |
|---|---|---|---|
Dining
| $3,526
| 2 points
| 7,052 points
|
Airfare, gas and EV charging
| $3,416
| 2 points
| 6,832 points
|
Mobile wallet transactions
| $5,000
| 2.5 points
| 12,500 points
|
Hotels and rental cars booked through the Rewards Center
| $1,753
| 6 points
| 10,518 points
|
All other spending
| $15,880
| 2 points
| 31,760 points
|
TOTAL
| $29,575
| 68,662 points
|
That equates to a grand total of 68,662 rewards points annually, which is redeemable for about $686.62 in cash back — which easily exceeds the card’s annual fee. On the other hand, focusing your spending on one card may mean you miss out on higher earning rates offered by other cards with multiple bonus categories.
How the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power card compares to other business cards
U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power card vs. U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard® * The information for the U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
If you’re looking for a business card from U.S. Bank that doesn’t have an annual fee, the U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard® * The information for the U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. could be a great choice. However, the card only carries a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95 afterwards.
Cardholders that travel frequently can enjoy the benefit of receiving four complimentary passes to Priority Pass lounges per year (enrollment required).
Cardholders can earn 5 points per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked directly through the U.S. Bank Rewards Center, 4 points per $1 on other travel purchases including flights, hotels, gas and EV charging, up to $150,000 in combined annual purchases, 2 points per $1 on dining (including delivery) and cellphone services and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. For business owners who travel frequently, this card offers greater rewards potential.
U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power card vs. U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card * The information for the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card * The information for the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. provides a wider range of bonus categories compared to the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power card. Additionally, it does not have an annual fee and instead of points, cardholders earn straight cash-back rewards.
Cardholders earn a generous 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Travel Rewards Center, 3% cash back at gas and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cellphone service providers and restaurants and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases. The Triple Cash Rewards Visa also offers new cardholders $500 in cash back after spending $4,500 on purchases in the first 150 days of account opening. It offers a 0% intro APR on qualifying purchases for the first 12 billing cycles, followed by a variable APR of 19.24% to 28.24% on purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of either 3% of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater, applies. This allows you to save money on interest when making a large purchase or while paying off debt. If you can benefit from the intro APR offer, or you can’t stomach an annual fee, the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Business card is the better option.
U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power card vs. The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express * The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express * The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (terms apply) is similar to the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power World Elite Mastercard in terms of earning rate giving cardholders 2 Membership Rewards® points per $1 on everyday business purchases up to the first $50,000 spent per year, then 1 point per $1 on all other purchases and no annual fee.
All information about The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.
What sets it apart is that it earns a highly valuable rewards currency: Amex Membership Rewards®. These points have the potential to offer exceptional value through travel redemptions, if that’s the most appealing use of your rewards for you.
The welcome bonus of 15,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases in the first three months of card membership may not be overly impressive — but the ongoing rewards of 2 Membership Rewards® points per $1 on everyday business purchases up to the first $50,000 spent per year, then 1 point per $1 on all other purchases offers significant earning potential.
The U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power World Elite Mastercard is right for you if:
- You frequently use your mobile wallet for purchases and want to maximize your earnings on those transactions. Cardholders can earn solid points on mobile wallet purchases up to $5,000 in spend per quarter, along with points on other purchases.
- You already have other U.S. Bank Altitude cards and want to combine your points to unlock even more redemption possibilities.
- You appreciate a straightforward method for accumulating points, as you earn a consistent amount of points on purchases.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
U.S. Bank has not released a minimum credit limit for the U.S. Bank Altitude Power World Elite Mastercard. Most banks determine your credit limit based on factors such as income, credit score and ability to repay debt.
The U.S. Bank Altitude Power World Elite Mastercard does not charge a foreign transaction fee.
No, points never expire on your U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power World Elite Mastercard.
U.S. Bank ExtendPay® Plans provide a new payment option that enables cardholders to split qualified credit card purchases into manageable monthly payments with no interest – in exchange for a fixed monthly fee. The monthly fee will not be more than 1.6% of the original purchase amount.
Points may be redeemed for cash at one cent apiece as a statement credit or deposit to a U.S. Bank checking or savings account.
*The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard®, U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Power World Elite Mastercard® and U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
