At a Glance

Today, loyalty programs have become integral to the banking experience. These programs incentivize customers to stay with a bank and reward them for being long-term customers. One such program that stands out is the U.S. Bank Smart Rewards Program. Let’s delve into what this program offers and how to maximize it.

In this article, you’ll learn:

What is the U.S. Bank Smart Rewards Program?

The U.S. Bank Smart Rewards Program is a loyalty program designed to reward customers for their banking activities. It offers a range of benefits and rewards tailored to different customer groups, including discounts, waived fees, increased interest earnings rates, and more.

You can enroll in Smart Rewards after opening a U.S. Bank Smartly Checking account and earn even greater rewards as your total balance grows.

Special rewards and services in the program

U.S. Bank’s Smart Rewards Program has tailored rewards for customers based on specific groups, including:

1. Seniors (age 65 and older)

Seniors can enjoy exclusive benefits such as waived monthly maintenance fees, paper statement fees, and paper statements with check images, 50% off annual safe deposit rental fee and a 50% discount on personal check reorders.

2. Young adults (ages 18-24)

Young adults can benefit from rewards such as waived monthly maintenance fees, ATM transaction fees (on your first four non-U.S. Bank ATM transactions per statement period), and two incoming wire transfer fees waived per statement period.

3. Youth (ages 13-17)

Youth members can get waived monthly maintenance fees and waived non-U.S. Bank ATM transaction fees (up to four per statement period).

4. Military (veterans and active duty)

Military personnel are automatically enrolled in the Plus tier and get access to unique benefits, such as reduced fees, discounts on personal check reorders, waived monthly maintenance fees, and accessible cashier’s checks and money orders. You also may qualify for a 6% cap on interest rates and waived fees for a U.S. Bank mortgage, loan, line of credit, or credit card while on active duty.

5. Workplace-Financial Wellness Program

Participants in the Workplace-Financial Wellness Program can earn rewards for achieving financial goals, such as saving for retirement or paying off debt. You also qualify for waived non-U.S. Bank ATM transaction fees, discounts on personal check reorders, and safe deposit box rental fees.

6. Alliance

Alliance members are automatically enrolled in a minimum tier of Primary. Plus, get monthly maintenance and non-U.S. Bank ATM fees waived.

7. Wealth management customers

Wealth management customers can access exclusive rewards and services, including personalized financial planning and investment advice, a dedicated concierge line, complete lending solutions and event invitations, higher money limits and fund availability limits, and more.

8. U.S. Bank Global Transition Solutions

Customers using U.S. Bank Global Transition Solutions can earn rewards for using the service, such as cash back on international transactions and discounts on foreign currency exchange. Plus, get automatic enrollment in the minimum tier of Primary.

How to enroll in the Smart Rewards Program?

Enrolling in the U.S. Bank Smart Rewards Program is easy, but you must have a U.S. Bank Smartly Checking account to participate. You can register online through mobile banking, 24-hour banking, or visiting your local branch.

  1. Online banking: Select your checking account and choose “Account Services.” Then select “Smart Rewards” within the “Payments” section. Mark the checkbox next to the accounts you want to enroll and click continue. Open the Consumer Pricing Information and review, then select “Confirm” to complete enrollment.
  2. U.S. Bank mobile app: Select your checking account, then choose “Manage.” Then select “Smart Rewards” within the “Account services” section. Mark the checkbox next to the accounts you want to enroll and click continue. Open the Consumer Pricing Information and review, then select “Confirm” to complete enrollment.

Or, at your local branch, simply tell them you’d like to enroll in the Smart Rewards Program. They will check your eligibility and help you to register.

Once you have an account, you can start earning rewards immediately.

Accounts that allow you to earn rewards include checking accounts, savings and Money Market accounts, CDs and IRAs, U.S. Bancorp Investments and Personal Trust Accounts. You can also make with a U.S. Bank personal credit card.

Compare tiered rewards and benefits

The U.S. Bank Smart Rewards Program offers tiered rewards and benefits based on your banking activities. You move automatically through the four-tiered program as your balances grow. The more you use your U.S. Bank products and services, the more rewards you can earn.

Here’s a comparison of the benefits and rewards available, noting that Core benefits (less than $20,000) include waived monthly maintenance fees, an interest-earning checking account, free trades through U.S. Bancorp Investments, discounts on mortgage loans and overdraft benefits.

Primary Plus Premium Pinnacle
Tier balance qualification $20,000 – $49,999.99 $50,000 – $99,999.99 $100,000 – $249,999.99 $250,000 or more
Credit account qualification Presence of a U.S. Bank home mortgage, home equity loan, home equity line of credit, or unsecured personal loan
U.S. Bank Smartly Checking Monthly Maintenance Fee $6.95 – waived
Interest tiers Less than $1,500

$1,500 to $9,999.99

$10,000 to $24,999.99

$25,000 to $49,999.99

$50,000 to $99,999.99

$100,000 to $249,999.9

$250,000 to $499,999.99

$500,000 and above
ATM transactions No ATM transaction fees at U.S. Bank ATMs
Non-U.S. Bank ATM Fee charged by U.S. Bank ATM transaction fees waived on first two non-U.S. Bank ATM transactions per statement period ATM transaction fees waived on first four non-U.S. Bank ATM transactions per statement period All ATM transaction fees waived for non-U.S. Bank ATM transactions
Non-U.S. Bank ATM surcharge charged by AMT owner First fee reimbursed (one per statement period) First fees reimbursed (up to four per statement period) Fees reimbursed (unlimited)
Paper statement fee $2.00 paper statement fee waived
Fee waiver benefit Unlimited waivers on fees assessed for:

  • Counter checks
  • Personal money orders
  • Cashier’s checks
  • Stop payments
  • Photocopy of statements

One wire transfer fee is waived per statement period.

 Unlimited waivers on fees assessed for:

  • Counter checks
  • Personal money orders
  • Cashier’s checks
  • Stop payments
  • Photocopy of statements
  • Wire transfers
Check printing fee 50% discount on initial box of personal checks
  • 50% discount on initial box of personal checks
  • 50% discount on re-orders
Overdraft benefits
  • Overdraft fee forgiven
  • Overdraft protection transfer fees waived
  • Overdraft fee forgiven
  • Overdraft protection transfer fees waived
  • One overdraft paid fee waived per statement period
  • Overdraft fee forgiven
  • Overdraft protection transfer fees waived
  • All overdraft paid fees waived
Savings or money market accounts Monthly maintenance fee waived on all standard savings or Elite Money Market accounts
Standard savings interest rate lift 5.00% of the standard interest rate 10.00% of the standard interest rate 15.00% of the standard interest rate
IRA annual plan Annual fee waiver
Safe deposit discount 50% off annual safe deposit box rental fee
Auto loan interest rate discount 0.10% interest rate discount on new auto loans for vehicle purchase 0.15% interest rate discount on new auto loans for vehicle purchase 0.20% interest rate discount on new auto loans for vehicle purchase
Home equity line of credit annual fee discount $20 discount $50 discount Waived
Mortgage origination credit benefits Take 0.25% of your new first mortgage loan amount and deduct from closing costs, up to $1,000
Online investing 100 free trades per calendar year with a self-directed brokerage account, exclusively through U.S. Bancorp Investments
Financial consultation Complimentary virtual financial consultation with the Wealth Management Advisory Council Complimentary financial consultation with the Wealth Management Advisory Council

Note that you automatically qualify for the Primary tier if you have a U.S. Bank home mortgage, home equity loan, home equity line of credit, or unsecured personal loan.

How to maximize your savings with Smart Rewards

To maximize your savings with the U.S. Bank Smart Rewards Program, consider the following tips:

  1. Pair your Smart Rewards account with a U.S. Bank credit card: Linking your Smart Rewards account to a U.S. Bank credit card can help you earn additional rewards on your purchases. Many credit cards offer bonus points or cash back for using them, which can complement the rewards you earn through the Smart Rewards program.
  2. Maintain a balance in your Smartly Checking Account: Keeping a minimum balance in your Smartly Checking Account can help you earn more points in the Smart Rewards program. Some accounts offer higher reward rates for customers who maintain a certain balance, so be sure to check the terms and conditions of your account.
  3. Take advantage of promotional offers: U.S. Bank regularly offers promotional deals that allow you to earn bonus points on select purchases. Keep an eye out for these offers and take advantage of them to boost your rewards balance.
  4. Use your U.S. Bank products and services regularly: The more you use your U.S. Bank products and services, the more rewards you can earn. Whether using your credit card for everyday purchases or using your checking account for bill payments, every transaction can earn you points in the Smart Rewards program. You can also earn more rewards with other U.S. Bank products such as personal loans, home equity loans, and home equity lines of credit.

FAQs

You can redeem your U.S. Bank credit card reward points online by logging into your account, selecting the rewards you want, and following the prompts to redeem.

The Smart Rewards program doesn’t have points that expire. Instead, you automatically qualify for certain benefits depending on how much money you have in your Smartly Checking account or if you have other specific U.S. Bank products.

When earning rewards through the Smart Rewards program, you can get discounts, fee forgiveness, increased interest rates, and other savings. These can total hundreds of dollars if fully taken advantage of.