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Side-by-side

American Express Schwab Investor Card vs U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power Visa Signature Card

Both are well-respected travel cards. The American Express Schwab Investor Card comes from American Express at $0/yr; the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power Visa Signature Card from U.S. Bank at $195/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.

Bottom line

For most people the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power Visa Signature Card is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($640 more in estimated value) than the American Express Schwab Investor Card's. Get the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power Visa Signature Card first; revisit the American Express Schwab Investor Card after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureAmerican Express Schwab Investor CardU.S. Bank Business Altitude Power Visa Signature Card
Annual fee$0$195
Sign-up bonus10,000 Membership Rewards points75,000 Altitude points
Bonus value (est.)$110$750
Min spend to unlock bonus$1,000 in 6 mo$10,000 in 4 mo
IssuerAmerican ExpressU.S. Bank
Card categorytravel
Best earning category (All_purchases)1.5x1x
Transfer partnersamex-mrNone
Headline benefits
  • 1.5X MR on everything
  • $0 annual fee
  • 1.0c/pt Invest with Rewards
  • Full MR transfer partners
    Read the full review
    American Express Schwab Investor Card
    $0/yr · 10,000 Membership Rewards points
    Read the full review
    U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power Visa Signature Card
    $195/yr · 75,000 Altitude points

    Editorial take: American Express Schwab Investor Card

    The hidden gem of the Amex MR lineup for Schwab brokerage customers. Flat 1.5X MR with $0 annual fee, full transfer-partner access, AND a 1.0 cents-per-point cash-into-brokerage redemption guarantees you can always extract real cash. The catch: you need a Schwab brokerage account to apply.

    Editorial take: U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power Visa Signature Card

    Common questions

    Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, American Express Schwab Investor Card or U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power Visa Signature Card?
    The U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power Visa Signature Card has the bigger bonus, 75,000 Altitude points, worth roughly $750, versus 10,000 Membership Rewards points (~$110) on the American Express Schwab Investor Card.
    Is the American Express Schwab Investor Card's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power Visa Signature Card?
    The American Express Schwab Investor Card has no annual fee, so the question is whether the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power Visa Signature Card's $195 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power Visa Signature Card's benefits to clear $195 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the American Express Schwab Investor Card.
    Can I have both the American Express Schwab Investor Card and U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power 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 American Express Schwab Investor Card or the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power Visa Signature Card first?
    Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. American Express Schwab Investor Card: $1,000 spend in 6 months. U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power Visa Signature Card: $10,000 in 4 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.