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Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card vs U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card

Both are well-respected travel cards. The Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card comes from American Express at $125/yr; the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card from U.S. Bank at $0/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.

Bottom line

For most people the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($788 more in estimated value) than the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card's. Get the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card first; revisit the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureMarriott Bonvoy Business American Express CardU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
Annual fee$125$0
Sign-up bonusup to 125,000 points20,000 bonus points
Bonus value (est.)$988$200
Min spend to unlock bonus$9,000 in 6 mo$1,000 in 3 mo
IssuerAmerican ExpressU.S. Bank
Card categoryhoteltravel
Best earning category (Marriott)6x1x
Transfer partnersNoneNone
Headline benefits
  • Annual 35k Free Night Award
  • 15 elite nights/year
  • 6x at Marriott
  • Silver status
  • 4X on travel
  • 4X at gas and EV stations (first $1k/quarter)
  • 5X prepaid hotels and cars via the Travel Center
  • No annual fee
Read the full review
Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card
$125/yr · up to 125,000 points
Read the full review
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
$0/yr · 20,000 bonus points

Editorial take: Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card

The Marriott business card pulls its weight on the annual Free Night cert alone, a 35k cat-property is routinely $250-400/night cash. Add 15 elite night credits and the dining stipend and the $125 fee is easy.

Editorial take: U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card

A no-annual-fee travel earner: 4X on travel and at gas and EV stations (on the first $1,000 per quarter) with a 20K welcome offer worth $200. Points are capped at 1 cent each, so treat this as cash-value travel earnings rather than transferable points.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card or U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card?
The Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card has the bigger bonus, up to 125,000 points, worth roughly $988, versus 20,000 bonus points (~$200) on the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card.
Is the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card's $125 annual fee worth it compared to the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card?
At $125/yr, the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
Can I have both the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card and U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and U.S. Bank) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
Should I get the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card or the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card: $9,000 spend in 6 months. U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card: $1,000 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.

Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.