If you’re looking for a minimal and straightforward rewards program, then check out U.S. Bank FlexPerks® because they apply to several credit cards issued by the bank. This loyalty program offers decent earning potential and great redemption value if you tend to travel often. 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.
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U.S. Bank FlexPerks Summary
| 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 offers 125,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. You'll earn: • 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. • 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. • $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts(R) or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card(R). The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay. • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required. • With American Express Global Lounge Collection you can enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally, including The Centurion Lounge, Unlimited Delta Sky Club® Access when flying an eligible Delta flight, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass Select Lounges, & Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges subject to visit limitations. Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees, and for Priority Pass Select, you need to enroll and there are unlimited airport lounge visits for Card Members. With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder. • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month. • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card. • $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. • $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues. • Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost. • Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required. This card comes with a $695 annual fee.¤ (See Rates & Fees), but you cardholders can enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member and Additional Centurion Cards only. Terms Apply. Terms Apply. |
Earning U.S. Bank Flex Points
| 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 are a little low on FlexPoints, you can always buy them. Keep in mind that we don’t recommend buying points because you will be putting 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
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.
U.S. Bank FlexPoints Tips & Tricks
U.S. Bank recently rolled out real-time mobile rewards, which allows you to redeem your FlexPoints for travel at $0.015 per point without having to go through 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.
As mentioned in the previous sections, occasionally, U.S. Bank will offer promotions that will help you get more value out of your 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.
Because you have the ability to share your FlexPoints with other members in the FlexPerks program, you can combine points from multiple accounts if you are short a few points. The latter applies if you have more than one FlexPerks credit card.
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Bottom Line
People who tend to travel often will want to check out the U.S. Bank FlexPerks because it offers excellent value when you redeem your points for travel. The rewards program is simple to use and doesn’t require much effort or thought on your end.
However, if you want to mess with your points to maximize your rewards, you will 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.
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