US Bank Altitude Reserve vs Citi Strata Premier
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
Citi Strata Premier wins 3-2. Replaces Premier — solid mid-tier travel with hotel-direct boost. US Bank Altitude Reserve is still the right call if mobile-pay maximizers — 3x on apple/google/samsung pay transactions..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | US Bank Altitude Reserve | Citi Strata Premier |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | · $400 | $95 |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | · 5% (travel) | 10% (travel) |
| 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) | = 75,000 ThankYou points after $4,000 spend in 3 months |
| Fee waiver threshold | = No waiver | = No waiver |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | · 720 | 700 |
| Editorial rating | 4.6/5 | · 4.4/5 |
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
Citi Strata Premier
- 10x on hotels, car rentals, and attractions via Citi Travel
- 3x at restaurants + supermarkets + gas stations
- 1x on everything else
- $100 hotel benefit on $500+ Citi Travel hotel bookings
- Transfer to 16 airline + hotel partners
FAQ
›US Bank Altitude Reserve vs Citi Strata Premier: which is better?
Citi Strata Premier 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 US Bank Altitude Reserve for its best categories, Citi Strata Premier 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). Citi Strata Premier: 75,000 ThankYou points after $4,000 spend in 3 months.