US Bank Altitude Reserve vs Amex Business Gold
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
EXPRESS
US Bank Altitude Reserve wins 3-1. Mobile-pay maximizers — 3x on Apple/Google/Samsung Pay transactions. Amex Business Gold is still the right call if small businesses — 4x on top 2 spend categories from a list of 6..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | US Bank Altitude Reserve | Amex Business Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | · $400 | $375 |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | 5% (travel) | · 4% (shopping) |
| Base reward rate | 1.5% | · 1% |
| Forex markup | = No FX fee | = No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = 50,000 points after $4,500 in first 3 months (worth $750 toward travel) | = 70,000 Membership Rewards points after $10,000 spend in 3 months |
| Fee waiver threshold | = No waiver | = No waiver |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | = 720 | = 720 |
| Editorial rating | 4.6/5 | · 4.5/5 |
Benefits compared
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
Amex Business Gold
- 4x on top 2 categories ($150K cap): airfare, gas, advertising, tech, restaurants, US shipping
- $20 monthly FedEx + Grubhub credit
- $240 Amex Business Line of Credit access
- No foreign transaction fees
FAQ
›US Bank Altitude Reserve vs Amex Business Gold: which is better?
US Bank Altitude Reserve wins on more dimensions (3 vs 1). 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 US Bank Altitude Reserve for its best categories, Amex Business Gold for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
US Bank Altitude Reserve: 50,000 points after $4,500 in first 3 months (worth $750 toward travel). Amex Business Gold: 70,000 Membership Rewards points after $10,000 spend in 3 months.