Bilt Obsidian Card vs U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
Annual fees: Bilt Obsidian Card $95/yr, U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card $0/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Bilt Obsidian Card on rent and dining, U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card on car rentals.
Card data as of October 12, 2026.
Bilt Obsidian CardCardless · $95/yr
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature CardU.S. Bank · No annual fee
Overview
- Annual fee
- Bilt Obsidian Card$95U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card$0Lowest
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Bilt Obsidian Card$200 in rewardsU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card20,000 points
- Rewards
- Bilt Obsidian CardBilt PointsU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature CardU.S. Bank Altitude points
- Foreign transaction fee
- Bilt Obsidian CardNoneU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature CardNone
- Network
- Bilt Obsidian CardMastercard World EliteU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature CardVisa Signature
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Gas Stations
- Bilt Obsidian Card1xU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card4xHighest
- Travel
- Bilt Obsidian Card2xU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card4xHighest
- Dining
- Bilt Obsidian Card3xHighestU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card2x
- Grocery Stores
- Bilt Obsidian Card3xHighestU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card2x
- Streaming
- Bilt Obsidian Card1xU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card2xHighest
- Mortgage
- Bilt Obsidian Card1.25xHighestU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card1x
- Rent
- Bilt Obsidian Card1.25xHighestU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card1x
- Everything else
- Bilt Obsidian Card1xU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Travel
- Bilt Obsidian Card
- $100 hotel credit
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card- $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck · $100 every 4 years
Perks & access— means none on record
- Lounges
- Bilt Obsidian Card—U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
- Airport lounge access
- Hotel status & programs
- Bilt Obsidian Card—U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
- 900+ luxury hotel properties with exclusive perks
- Other perks
- Bilt Obsidian Card
- 10% intro APR for 12 months
- 0% foreign transaction fees
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card- 24/7 Visa Signature Concierge service
- Free unlimited international mobile data
- Zero foreign transaction fees on international purchases
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Trip insurance
- Bilt Obsidian Card
- Trip cancellation up to $2,000/trip
- Trip Delay
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card- Up to $2,000 trip cancellation coverage
- Up to $300 trip delay reimbursement coverage
- Baggage
- Bilt Obsidian Card
- Luggage insurance up to $1,500
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card— - Rental car
- Bilt Obsidian Card
- MasterRental Coverage
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card— - Purchase & returns
- Bilt Obsidian Card
- Purchase Assurance
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card— - Extended warranty
- Bilt Obsidian Card
- Extended warranty up to $10,000/claim
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card— - Cell phone
- Bilt Obsidian Card
- Cellular Wireless Telephone Protection
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card— - Other protections
- Bilt Obsidian Card—U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
- 24/7 worldwide travel and emergency assistance
- 24/7 roadside dispatch assistance (pay-per-use)
Pros & cons
- Pros
- Bilt Obsidian Card
- 3x points on your choice of dining or grocery (up to $25K/year on grocery)
- 2x points on travel
- Earn up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage with no transaction fees
- $200 Bilt Cash welcome bonus upon approval (no spending required)
- $100 annual Bilt Travel hotel credit ($50 semiannually)
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card- 5X points on prepaid hotels/cars via U.S. Bank Travel Center
- 4X points on travel and gas (up to $1,000/quarter on gas)
- 2X points on dining, streaming, and groceries
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- Cons
- Bilt Obsidian Card
- $95 annual fee plus $50 per authorized user
- Complex earning structure for housing rewards (requires spending tiers or Bilt Cash redemption)
- Bilt Cash expires at year-end with only $100 rollover
- Grocery bonus category capped at $25K/year spending
- Hotel credit requires 2-night minimum via Bilt Travel portal
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card- 5X rate requires booking through U.S. Bank portal
- $1,000 quarterly cap on 4X gas rewards
- Grocery/gas bonus excludes big-box stores and warehouse clubs
- Points expire after 12 months of no activity
Category-by-Category Winner
Both cards win in 2 categories each — it comes down to which categories matter most to you. 5 more categories depend on booking channel or caps.
Rent
Bilt Obsidian Card earns 1.25X vs 1X
1.25X via tiered option or up to 1X via Bilt Cash option; no transaction fee; no annual cap on housing payments
Mortgage
Bilt Obsidian Card earns 1.25X vs 1X
1.25X via tiered option or up to 1X via Bilt Cash option; no transaction fee
Dining
Depends: 3X applies only while dining is the elected 3X category (dining or grocery). Dining is the default at account opening; grocery can be chosen within 30 days of opening or each January.
Bilt Obsidian Card earns 3X when conditions are met; U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card earns 2X (2X without restrictions)
Travel
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card earns 4X vs 2X
Grocery Stores
Depends: up to $25,000/yr; 3X applies only if grocery replaces the default dining as the elected 3X category (switch within 30 days of opening or each January); grocery 3X is limited to $25,000 a year.
Bilt Obsidian Card earns 3X when conditions are met; U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card earns 2X (2X without restrictions)
Car Rentals
Depends: via the Altitude Rewards Center
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Bilt Obsidian Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Hotels
Depends: via the Altitude Rewards Center
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Bilt Obsidian Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Gas Stations
Depends: up to $1,000/quarter
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card earns 4X when conditions are met; Bilt Obsidian Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Streaming
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card earns 2X vs 1X
Year One vs Ongoing Value
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
The better card depends on how much you spend.
| Scenario | Bilt Obsidian Card | U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $264 Credits (our usable estimate): $20 − Annual fee ($95) Ongoing: $189 Year one: $389 | Rewards: $192 Credits (our usable estimate): $25 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $217 Year one: $417 | U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card | U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $1,056 Credits (our usable estimate): $20 − Annual fee ($95) Ongoing: $981 Year one: $1,181 | Rewards: $768 Credits (our usable estimate): $25 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $793 Year one: $993 | Bilt Obsidian Card | Bilt Obsidian Card |
Is the Fee Difference Worth It?
The Bilt Obsidian Card costs $95/yr — that's $95 more than the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card (no annual fee). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $95 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $95 fee gap means the Bilt Obsidian Card needs roughly $95 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on dining and grocery stores and everyday spend.
What You Give Up
Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.
Choosing Bilt Obsidian Card means losing:
- -Airport lounge access
- -Global Entry credit
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card if you:
- +Fly frequently and value airport lounge access
The Bottom Line
The better card depends on how much you spend.
Published annual fees: Bilt Obsidian Card $95/yr, U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card $0/yr — a $95 difference before welcome offers and credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the Bilt Obsidian Card worth the higher annual fee?
- The Bilt Obsidian Card costs $95/yr vs $0/yr for the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $95 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use.
- Which card earns more rewards, the Bilt Obsidian Card or U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card?
- Both cards earn 1X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.
- What benefits does the Bilt Obsidian Card have that the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card doesn't?
- The Bilt Obsidian Card offers cell phone protection. The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card offers lounge access.
- Should I get the Bilt Obsidian Card or the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card?
- Use the spend scenarios on this page: the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card has a lower $0/yr fee; the Bilt Obsidian Card must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $95/yr.
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Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published October 12, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.