US Bank Altitude Reserve vs Bank of America Customized Cash
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
US Bank Altitude Reserve wins 4-2. Mobile-pay maximizers — 3x on Apple/Google/Samsung Pay transactions. Bank of America Customized Cash is still the right call if choose your 3% category each month — no rotation needed..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | US Bank Altitude Reserve | Bank of America Customized Cash |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | · $400 | No annual fee |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | 5% (travel) | · 3% (shopping) |
| Base reward rate | 1.5% | · 1% |
| Forex markup | No FX fee | · 3% |
| Welcome bonus | = 50,000 points after $4,500 in first 3 months (worth $750 toward travel) | = $200 cash rewards after $1,000 spend in 90 days |
| Fee waiver threshold | = No waiver | = N/A (no fee) |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | · 720 | 670 |
| Editorial rating | 4.6/5 | · 4.3/5 |
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
Bank of America Customized Cash
- 3% on category of your choice (gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, home improvement)
- 2% at grocery stores + wholesale clubs (up to $2,500/quarter combined)
- 1% on everything else
- No annual fee
FAQ
›US Bank Altitude Reserve vs Bank of America Customized Cash: which is better?
US Bank Altitude Reserve wins on more dimensions (4 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 US Bank Altitude Reserve for its best categories, Bank of America Customized Cash 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). Bank of America Customized Cash: $200 cash rewards after $1,000 spend in 90 days.