Citi Custom Cash vs US Bank Altitude Reserve
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
US Bank Altitude Reserve wins 3-2. Mobile-pay maximizers — 3x on Apple/Google/Samsung Pay transactions. Citi Custom Cash is still the right call if auto-detects your top spend category each cycle — set-and-forget..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Citi Custom Cash | US Bank Altitude Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | · $400 |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | = 5% (shopping) | = 5% (travel) |
| Base reward rate | · 1% | 1.5% |
| Forex markup | · 3% | No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = $200 cashback after $1,500 in 6 months | = 50,000 points after $4,500 in first 3 months (worth $750 toward travel) |
| Fee waiver threshold | = N/A (no fee) | = No waiver |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | 670 | · 720 |
| Editorial rating | · 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 |
Benefits compared
Citi Custom Cash
- 5% cashback in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle (up to $500)
- 1% on everything else
- Eligible categories: restaurants, gas, grocery, travel, etc.
- No annual fee
- 0% intro APR for 15 months
US Bank Altitude Reserve
- 5x on prepaid hotels and car rentals via US Bank Travel
- 3x on travel + mobile-wallet purchases
- 1.5x redemption rate when used for travel
- $325 annual travel credit
- Priority Pass Select (4 free visits/year)
- Up to $100 TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit
FAQ
›Citi Custom Cash vs US Bank Altitude Reserve: which is better?
US Bank Altitude Reserve wins on more dimensions (3 vs 2). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern — see the calculator below.
›Can I get both?
Yes — if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use Citi Custom Cash for its best categories, US Bank Altitude Reserve for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Citi Custom Cash: $200 cashback after $1,500 in 6 months. US Bank Altitude Reserve: 50,000 points after $4,500 in first 3 months (worth $750 toward travel).