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Amex Green vs U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- The American Express® Green Card is a strong choice for earning rewards on a broad range of travel and restaurant spending.
- The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® is ideal for maximizing rewards on travel and mobile wallet purchases.
American Express® Green Card Breakdown
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Why We Like It
This section breaks down the key reasons why the American Express® Green Card (See Rates & Fees) stands out in a crowded field of travel cards.
- The card offers generous rewards on a broad definition of travel, as well as at restaurants worldwide.
- Membership Rewards points are highly versatile and can be transferred to an extensive list of airline and hotel partners.
- Cardholders can enjoy useful travel benefits like an annual statement credit for a CLEAR® Plus membership and no foreign transaction fees (Terms Apply).
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Pros
- Offers generous rewards on a broad range of travel, transit, and dining purchases worldwide.
- Provides valuable annual statement credits for travel-related services like CLEAR Plus membership (Terms Apply).
- Features highly flexible Membership Rewards® points that can be transferred to a wide variety of airline and hotel partners.
Cons
- Carries an annual fee that may be steep for a non-premium travel card.
- Maximizing rewards requires effort, as some redemption options provide low value.
- The card’s travel credits can be situational, and some benefits are being phased out.
U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a detailed look at the premium benefits and valuable rewards that land this card on our list of favorites.
- It offers generous rewards on both travel and mobile wallet purchases, making it a strong choice for everyday spending.
- Cardholders receive valuable travel perks like an annual travel credit and complimentary airport lounge access.
- Points can be redeemed flexibly, with a unique option to instantly apply them toward recent purchases.
Pros
- Strong rewards on travel and everyday mobile wallet purchases.
- Generous annual travel credit and complimentary airport lounge access.
- Flexible point redemption, including an innovative real-time rewards feature.
Cons
- A steep annual fee may be difficult to justify for infrequent travelers.
- Applicants must have an existing relationship with U.S. Bank to be eligible.
- There are limited options for transferring points to airline and hotel partners.
U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® vs American Express® Green Card
Categories
When asking which is better, the Amex Green or U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve, the answer really depends on your spending habits and travel style. Both cards offer strong rewards, but they cater to different types of users.
- American Express® Green Card is a travel and dining card designed for those who spend frequently in these categories worldwide.
- U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card is a premium travel rewards card best suited for frequent travelers, especially those who are existing U.S. Bank customers and heavy users of mobile wallets.
Redemption
American Express® Green Card: Points can be transferred to a variety of airline and hotel partners, offering flexible travel options. You can also redeem them directly for travel, gift cards, and statement credits.
U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card: Points are most valuable when redeemed for travel through the U.S. Bank rewards portal, but can also be used for cash back or gift cards. The card also features a unique option to redeem points instantly for purchases via text message.
Travel Perks
- Lounge Access: The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve offers a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, providing access to a global network of lounges. The American Express Green Card provides a credit to purchase lounge access through LoungeBuddy (Terms Apply).
- Security Screening Credits: Both cards offer credits to expedite your airport experience. The Altitude Reserve provides a statement credit for the TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee. The Amex Green offers an annual statement credit for a CLEAR Plus membership (Terms Apply).
- Foreign Transaction Fees: Neither card charges foreign transaction fees, making them suitable companions for your international trips.
- Travel Portals: The Altitude Reserve gives your points a higher value when you redeem them for travel through the U.S. Bank rewards portal. The Amex Green offers greater flexibility, with the option to transfer points to numerous airline and hotel partners or book directly through AmexTravel.com.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
To make the right choice, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare top-rated cards based on your own spending data.
- Test drive credit cards: Simulate your potential earnings with a new card using your real spending data to see its net value before you apply.
- Approval odds analysis: Receive a detailed analysis of your approval chances for different credit cards based on your credit report.
- Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of approval, Kudos will match it.
- Unlock exclusive rewards: Gain access to features like the $100 Kudos Kickstart+ bonus for adding select approved cards to your Kudos wallet.
Who Should Choose the American Express® Green Card?
The American Express® Green Card is an excellent choice for savvy travelers who enjoy maximizing rewards and are willing to learn the ins and outs of a points program. This card is ideal for individuals who spend heavily on travel and at restaurants worldwide, as its best value comes from transferring points to Amex's airline and hotel partners. Cardholders who can take full advantage of annual statement credits for services like the CLEAR+® membership (Terms apply) will find it easiest to offset the annual fee, making it a rewarding option for the dedicated points-and-perks optimizer.
Who Should Choose the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite®?
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® card is an excellent choice for existing U.S. Bank customers who are both frequent travelers and tech-savvy mobile wallet users. This card's value is maximized by those who can take advantage of its 3x points on travel and mobile wallet purchases. With a $325 annual travel credit that helps offset the $400 annual fee, it's best suited for individuals whose spending habits align with these specific reward categories.
Alternatives to Consider
If our Amex Green vs U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve comparison has you thinking neither card is the perfect fit, don't worry. There are several other excellent travel cards on the market that might better suit your spending habits and travel style.
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Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score, as most premium rewards cards require good to excellent credit.
- Plan your spending to meet any welcome offer requirements without overspending.
- Review issuer-specific rules, as some cards, like the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve, require an existing banking relationship to apply.
Application Strategy
- Research transfer partners to ensure you can maximize the value of your points before you even apply.
- Use reputable platforms or targeted offers to find the best available Welcome Offer for your chosen card.
- Don’t be afraid to decline an offer if it’s lower than you expected, as some issuers let you reapply later without impacting your credit.
Our Methodology
We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.
Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do the annual fees for the Amex Green and U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve compare?
The American Express® Green Card has a more moderate annual fee, while the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve® Visa Infinite® Card carries a higher fee. However, the Altitude Reserve's fee is substantially offset by up to $325 in annual credits for travel and dining purchases.
Which card offers better rewards on travel spending?
The Amex Green card offers broad bonus rewards on travel, transit, and at restaurants worldwide. The Altitude Reserve focuses its top rewards on travel booked directly with airlines and on mobile wallet spending, which can include many travel-related purchases.
Are the rewards programs flexible?
Both offer flexibility, but in different ways. The American Express Green Card is part of the Membership Rewards program, known for its extensive list of airline and hotel transfer partners (Terms Apply), while the Altitude Reserve allows you to redeem points for 1.5 cents each toward travel.
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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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