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Ameriprise Premier Visa Signature Review: Is 2.5% Cash Back Worth the Catch?
Ameriprise just upgraded the Ameriprise® Premier Visa Signature® credit card. Since Sept. 14, 2026, it earns 2 points per dollar, up from 1.5, and the headline number gets attention: up to 2.5% back on every purchase. Read the fine print, though, and the card looks very different depending on how much money you already keep with Ameriprise.
Below we break down how the rewards work, what the $150 annual fee buys you, and how the card stacks up against other flat-rate cards tied to investment accounts.
Ameriprise Premier Visa Signature at a Glance
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- Welcome offer: 15,000 bonus Rewards Points after you spend $1,500 in eligible net purchases within 90 days of account opening. Existing and previous Ameriprise Visa cardmembers are not eligible.
- Earning: 2 Rewards Points per $1 on eligible net purchases, with no category caps.
- Redemption: Points are worth 1 cent each as a statement credit, or 1.25 cents each when deposited into an eligible Ameriprise account.
- Annual fee: $150, waived if you hold Achiever Circle Elite status on your cardmember anniversary date.
- APR: Variable. Check Ameriprise's pricing and terms for the current range.
- Foreign transaction fee: None.
Want 3% with no asset minimum? See how Robinhood's flat-rate card stacks up. Read the Robinhood Gold Credit Card review.
How Does the 2.5% Cash Back Actually Work?
The card earns 2 points per dollar. Redeem those points for a statement credit and each one is worth 1 cent, so you get 2% back. Deposit them into an eligible Ameriprise account instead and each point is worth 1.25 cents, which is where the 2.5% figure comes from.
The catch is the redemption size. Deposits into an Ameriprise account happen in 30,000-point increments, worth $375 each. At 2 points per dollar, you need $15,000 in spending before you can make your first 2.5% redemption.
Eligible accounts include Ameriprise® Active Portfolios investments, Strategic Portfolio Services (SPS) Advantage, the Ameriprise ONE® Financial Account, Ameriprise® Brokerage and Cash Reserve Certificate accounts. IRAs, other retirement plans, 529s, corporate accounts and irrevocable trusts do not qualify, so you cannot use the boosted rate to fund retirement savings.
A few other rules worth knowing:
- Statement credits require at least 10,000 points, then go up in 100-point steps.
- Unredeemed points expire after five years.
- Points are forfeited if you close the account, so redeem before you cancel.
Spending less than $2,500 a month? A no-annual-fee 2% card will likely earn you more than this one. Add your cards to Kudos and it will recommend the best one to use at checkout, so each card earns where it is strongest.
Weighing the Fidelity card instead? Its travel protections recently changed. See what Fidelity is removing.
What Is the Welcome Offer Really Worth?
The 15,000-point bonus is worth $150 as a statement credit. In theory it would be worth $187.50 at the boosted Ameriprise rate, but 15,000 points falls short of the 30,000-point minimum. Most new cardholders will either take the $150 credit or hold the points until ongoing spending pushes them over 30,000.
Want lounge visits included? Some cards cover Priority Pass entry, not just the membership. Compare the best cards with Priority Pass.
Card Benefits and Travel Protections
This is where the card is stronger than most flat-rate cash back cards. Benefits include:
- Priority Pass Select membership for 12 months. The membership is included, but lounge visits are not. You pay for each visit, and you must use the card to pay for entry.
- Trip delay reimbursement, trip cancellation and interruption coverage, and baggage delay reimbursement when you pay for travel with the card.
- Purchase security with porch piracy protection for eligible items bought with the card.
- No foreign transaction fees, which matters if you use the card abroad.
Coverage limits and exclusions are in the card's Guide to Benefits. Read it before you rely on any of these protections for a big trip.
Is the $150 Annual Fee Worth It?
If your annual fee is waived, the math is simple: you are getting a 2.5% card with solid travel protections, as long as you redeem into Ameriprise. If you are paying the fee, compare the card to a no-annual-fee 2% card.
The extra 0.5% only covers the $150 fee once you spend $30,000 a year, or $2,500 a month. Below that, a free 2% card puts more money in your pocket, before you count the travel protections.
To get the fee waived you need Achiever Circle Elite status, which requires $500,000 in eligible assets with Ameriprise. That puts the card's best version out of reach for most people, and it is the same asset level that unlocks even richer rewards at PNC.
How It Compares to Similar Cards
Several cards reward you for keeping money with a bank or brokerage. Here is how the Ameriprise card stacks up.
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PNC Cash Unlimited® Visa Signature® Credit Card
The PNC Cash Unlimited® Visa Signature® credit card earns 2% cash back on every purchase with no annual fee. PNC TotalRewards members get a bonus on top: 25% at the Gold tier ($100,000 to $499,999 in average eligible balances) and 35% at the Platinum tier ($500,000 and up).
That works out to 2.5% at Gold and 2.7% at Platinum. In other words, PNC matches Ameriprise's best rate at one fifth of the assets, and beats it at the same $500,000 level. PNC's TotalRewards tiers do require a qualifying PNC checking account.
Calculation formulated by Kudos, based on applying PNC's published TotalRewards credit card bonus (25% or 35%) to the card's 2% base rate.
PNC Platinum clients who buy a lot of gas can pair it with the PNC Cash Rewards® Visa, which earns 4% at gas stations, 3% at restaurants and 2% at grocery stores on the first $8,000 in combined purchases each year, then 1%. The 35% Platinum bonus brings gas to 5.4% within that cap.
Robinhood Gold Credit Card
The Robinhood Gold Credit Card earns 3 points per dollar on purchases and up to 5 points per dollar on select travel booked through the Robinhood travel portal. Points redeem as cash back into a Robinhood investing account with no minimum. The card has no annual fee, but you need a Robinhood Gold subscription ($50 a year or $5 a month) to hold it.
There is no asset requirement. If your goal is the highest flat rate and you are comfortable with Robinhood, it beats Ameriprise on earning by a wide margin.
Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Card
The Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Card earns unlimited 2% cash back when deposited into an eligible Fidelity account, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee. Unlike Ameriprise, Fidelity lets you deposit rewards into an IRA or 529, which makes it a natural fit for retirement and college savers.
Side-by-Side Comparison
- Ameriprise® Premier Visa Signature® credit card: $150 annual fee (waived for Achiever Circle Elite). Best flat rate 2.5%, when you redeem into an eligible Ameriprise account in 30,000-point increments.
- PNC Cash Unlimited® Visa Signature® credit card: $0 annual fee. Best flat rate 2.7%, with $500,000+ in PNC TotalRewards eligible balances (2.5% at $100,000+).
- Robinhood Gold Credit Card: $0 annual fee (Robinhood Gold is $50 a year). Best flat rate 3%, with cash back going to a Robinhood investing account.
- Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Card: $0 annual fee. Best flat rate 2%, when deposited into an eligible Fidelity account.
Not sure which flat-rate card fits your spending? Compare cards side by side in Kudos Explore, then let the Kudos browser extension recommend the best card in your wallet at checkout.
Other Ameriprise Credit Cards
Ameriprise currently offers two Visa Signature cards, both issued by Elan Financial Services. If the Premier card's fee or asset requirements don't fit, here is the other option.
Ameriprise® Visa Signature®
The Ameriprise® Visa Signature® has no annual fee and earns 1 Rewards Point per $1 on eligible net purchases. Points follow the same redemption rules as the Premier card: 1% back as a statement credit, or 1.25% when you deposit them into an eligible Ameriprise account in 30,000-point increments.
New cardholders can earn 10,000 bonus Rewards Points after spending $1,000 in eligible net purchases within 90 days of account opening. The card also offers 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 9 billing cycles, after that the variable APR will be 17.74% to 30.74%. Balance transfers must be made within 30 days of account opening and carry a 3% fee ($5 minimum).
You give up Priority Pass and most of the Premier card's travel protections, but the card still includes trip delay reimbursement and purchase security with porch piracy protection. If you already have it, you can call the number on the back of your card to ask about upgrading to the Premier.
What Happened to the Ameriprise American Express Cards?
Ameriprise used to offer co-branded American Express cards, including an Ameriprise version of The Platinum Card® from American Express. That card stopped accepting new applicants in 2019, and existing cardholders were moved to the standard Platinum Card. If you see an Ameriprise Amex card mentioned elsewhere, it is no longer available to apply for.
Who Should Get the Ameriprise Premier Visa Signature?
The Ameriprise Premier Visa Signature makes the most sense if you already have $500,000 or more with Ameriprise, want your rewards to flow straight into those accounts, and value Priority Pass access and travel protections on top of your cash back.
It is a harder sell for everyone else. If you are paying the $150 fee, need $15,000 in spending to unlock the boosted rate, and would rather not move assets to Ameriprise, a no-annual-fee 2% card or one of the alternatives above will likely serve you better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Ameriprise Premier Visa Signature really earn 2.5% cash back?
Only when you deposit your points into an eligible Ameriprise account, and only in 30,000-point increments. Redeemed as a statement credit, the card earns 2%.
How do I get the annual fee waived?
The $150 fee is waived if you are recognized as Achiever Circle Elite on your cardmember anniversary date. Achiever Circle Elite requires $500,000 in eligible assets with Ameriprise.
Can I redeem Ameriprise rewards into an IRA?
No. IRAs, other retirement plans, 529 plans, corporate accounts and irrevocable trust accounts are excluded from boosted redemptions.
Does the card include free Priority Pass lounge visits?
No. You get a Priority Pass Select membership, but you pay for each lounge visit and must use the card to buy entry.
Do Ameriprise Rewards Points expire?
Yes. Unredeemed points expire after five years, and you lose any remaining points if you close the account.
Does Ameriprise have a no-annual-fee credit card?
Yes. The Ameriprise® Visa Signature® has no annual fee and earns 1 Rewards Point per $1, worth up to 1.25% back when redeemed into an eligible Ameriprise account.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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