US Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards Updates

US Bank FlexPerks Cards

Over the weekend I decided to check into my US Bank FlexPerks program since I have not used the card in some time. The following are some updates related to the program.

Deal Details

1) The best offer for the US Bank FlexPerks card remains 20,000 points after $3,500 in spend within 4 months. It used to be you had to go into a US Bank branch to get the offer; however, the same best offer can currently be obtained online directly from US Bank. The normal offer is only 17,500 points.

The beauty of the FlexPerks programs is that each point is worth $0.02 in value, making your 20,000 point bonus = $400 in travel. By meeting the minimum spend, you will have 23,500 points, enough for $400 in travel and the second year annual fee.

You just need to know that the points can only be redeemed in increments.

    20,000 points = $400
    30,000 points = $600
    40,000 points = $800
    50,000 points = $1,000
    70,000 points = $1,400
    100,000 points = $2,000
    150,000 points = $3,000
    225,000 points = $4,500
    350,000 points = $7,000
    500,000 points = $10,000
    625,000 points = $12,500
    750,000 points = $15,000
    875,000 points = $17,500
    1,000,000 points = $20,000

Note, to redeem US Bank FlexPerks, you need to book through Travelocity. The key to using your FlexPerks is to make sure you do not go into the next threshold. For example, if you find a flight for $400.01, you automatically kick up into the next tier, requiring 30,000 points instead of 20,000.

I have argued in the past that I think it is better to go for the 17,500 FlexPerks offer, which previously had a lower spend requirement, but netted you the same 20,000 tier. To get this offer, you need to be referred by a current card holder. If interested, please contact me for a referral.

2) As a reminder, the Daily Feats program is associated with the FlexPerks program, and allows you to perform simple tasks to earn Daily Feats points. Then, as part of the reward program, you can redeem your points for FlexPerks.

Oct 2013 Daily Feats Redemptions

Currently, you can redeem 50 Daily Feats points for 250 FlexPerks or 90 Daily Feats points for 500 FlexPerks. However, redemptions are limited to once every 90 days.

I, unfortunately, had not redeemed any points since February, so I missed out on getting another round of free points within the 90 day limit.

3) This may be a targeted promotion, but if you visit the US Bank FlexPerks promotions page, I was selected to earn 2,000 bonus FlexPerks after using my card between November 1 and December 31, 2013 on $1,000 in purchases.

4) I was also targeted to earn 250 free FlexPerks points if I register with e-Rewards and complete my first survey within 90 days. I currently belong to e-Rewards with several other programs. Besides logging in and taking part in a survey or two about once a month, I do not use the program too much because often times I do not qualify for the selected surveys based on my answers. Earning points with the program takes some time, and really lost some of the allure when US Airways stopped doing to Grand Slam promotion.

I also do not like having to create a new e-Rewards account for every partner. It becomes cumbersome to always use a new email, and while I know there are ways around that by using Gmail, the time commitment required to get anywhere in the program is not necessarily worth the results.

In Conclusion

While the sign-up bonus of the US Bank FlexPerks card may not seem the most lucrative, it has some excellent benefits when you consider the points are worth two cents per point. In addition, there are some excellent opportunities right now to earn additional free points with very little effort.

I happen to carry the personal version of the card, but have yet to really find an ideal opportunity to maximize my value. I ideally would love to take advantage of a $200 fare somewhere, thereby allowing our family to use our 40,000+ points for $800 in value, assuming 4 seats.

Save Money, Travel More!

Source: InACents

US Bank FlexPerks Cards

20,000 US Bank FlexPerks Travel Visa Card Branch Offer

US Bank FlexPerks Cards

Update: In addition to the branch offer originally discussed below, US Bank has temporarily increased their public offer to 20,000 points after $3,500 in spend.

When I performed my first multi-credit card round last spring, one of the cards that I never really knew much about was the US Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards Visa Signature card. At the time I received a targeted offer in the mail, granting me:

  • 20,000 FlexPerks after $500 spend in 90 days
  • $25 credit towards in-flight purchases of baggage fees
  • No annual fee the first year; $49 thereafter
  • 0% interest on purchases for 12 months

Normally, I would not give much of a second look at a card only offering 20,000 points. However, the terrific aspect of the US Bank FlexPerks program is the rewards value. Each point is worth $0.02 of value, making my 20,000 points worth $400 towards travel. You simply book your reward via the US Bank FlexPerks program, and the points can be used towards the balance.

There are some tricks to maximizing your redemptions, but as long as the value of the flight is within certain ranges of the point spreads, it is easy to maximize.

I also opened up a Business version of the same card at the same time, which I received the best offer by calling in and receiving 17,500 bonus points by spending $2,500 in 90 days. The spend was a bit more than I was initially told, but we still made it happen.

As a result, after all the spend, we are sitting on just over 43,500 points, which equates to $800 towards airfare for 40,000 points. Not a bad return for opening up a couple of credit cards. With any luck that will be at least 3 domestic tickets for our family!

Since I opened my cards, there have been some better and worse offers floating around.

2012 Olympics 33,150 FlexPerks Offer; however, you had to spend a minimum of $2,500 in the first five months to qualify.

20,000 FlexPerks Public Offer after $500 in purchases within 90 days.

17,500 FlexPoints via referral, US Bank website, or affiliates after $2,500 or more within five months from account opening.

See a pattern? The minimum spend on this offer keeps getting more and more expensive.

Want the current best offer on the US Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards Visa Signature card?

When I was in my local US Bank branch recently, I stumbled upon a “better” offer of the FlexPerks card. Unfortunately, the only way to apply is by visiting a local branch, as there is no current way to apply online from home.

US Bank FlexPerks 20,000 Branch Offer FrontUS Bank FlexPerks 20,000 Branch Offer Rear

Earn 20,000 FlexPerks = $400 in airline tickets after spending $3,500 within 4 months. So now US Bank is back to the same bonus as a year ago, yet offering it only after spending 7 times the amount of money, and within a month less of current online offers. Not quite the offer I was anticipating.

Update: US Bank is now offering a public 20,000 point offer on their website without having to go into the branch.

So which is right for you?

It all boils down to can you swing the extra minimum spend $3,500 versus $2,500 for an extra 2,500 points, not including the points earned from spend?

The 17,500 FlexPerks offer for $2,500 in spend earns you the 20,000 points needed for a $400 reward ticket.

The 20,000 FlexPerks offer for $3,500 in spend will earn you 23,500 points, enough for your $400 reward ticket, plus the second year annual fee.

If you plan on redeeming your points for airfare sooner than later, I think the 17,500 offer may be the way to go.

If you already have the US Bank FlexPerks card, do not forget to check your email to see if you were targeted for 3,500 bonus FlexPoints.

Save Money, Travel More!

Source: US Bank Branch Office

4/29/13- Originally published

May 2013 US Bank 3,500 FlexPoints Bonus

Targeted 3,500 U.S. Bank FlexPerks Offers

Yesterday I received in my email a targeted offer from my U.S. Bank FlexPerks cards (I have a personal and business version of the card), offering to award me 3,500 FlexPoints if I spend $750 between May 1 and June 30, 2013.

May 2013 US Bank 3,500 FlexPoints Bonus

After using both of our cards quite extensively in Hawaii last summer, once the cards were paid off, I placed them into the safe. The initial points I earned from both cards, as well as after spend, has me sitting on over 43,000 FlexPerks, that will be used towards $800 in flights in the future. The trouble is finding some time to actually use them.

If I were to take part in this promotion, I would earn 3,500 + 750 FlexPoints, or 4,250 points. Since the spend is relatively low, and we could easily meet this promotion with our everyday expenditures, I might just partake. The only thing that would make me hold back is the points do not get me closer to a reward.

The minimum amount of points required for a redemption is 20,000 points towards $400 in air travel expenses. Thereafter, the program works in 10,000 point blocks. Since I currently have 43,000+ points, even after earning the 4,250 points from the promotion above, I am still a little bit away from the 50,000 point level = $1,000 towards air travel. Tempting, but it would mean I would need to continue to move my spend to this card to get the maximum benefit.

The other way to look at this as is 3,500 points is enough to cover the annual fee, which I have due in May.

Similar FlexPerks Targeted Promotions

It looks like there are a bunch of different targeted promotions floating around, as mine was totally different than those of my peers.

Mommy Points- $50 spend at Neiman Marcus May 6 through May 19, 2013.

Delta Points- 3,500 FlexPoints for $500 in spend from May 1 to June 30, 2013

There may even be some other variations floating around out there.

US Bank FlexPerks Referral

Interested in opening a US Bank FlexPerks card? As an existing card holder, I am able to refer guests to the best current offer that I am aware of at this time. Our refer a friend program is offering 17,500 20,000 FlexPerks for opening the card and spending $2,500 $3,500 or more within five four months from account opening.

When completing the application, at the top there is a field labeled “Referring Friend’s FlexPoints #.” Please enter in account number 400003689876. We will earn 5,000 points as a referral bonus, and you will be on the way to earning FlexPerks. We thank you!

If you have any questions, please let us know.

Save Money, Travel More!

Source: U.S. Bank Email