Choice Privileges Select Mastercard vs U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
Annual fees: Choice Privileges Select Mastercard $95/yr, U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card $0/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Choice Privileges Select Mastercard on gas stations, U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card on telecom.
Card data as of October 12, 2026.
Choice Privileges Select MastercardWells Fargo · $95/yr
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® CardU.S. Bank · No annual fee
Overview
- Annual fee
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard$95U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card$0Lowest
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard60,000 pointsU.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card$200 cash back
- Rewards
- Choice Privileges Select MastercardChoice Privileges PointsU.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® CardCash back
- Foreign transaction fee
- Choice Privileges Select MastercardNoneLowestU.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card3%
- Network
- Choice Privileges Select MastercardMastercard World EliteU.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® CardVisa Signature
Earn ratesPer $1 spent · points and cash back aren’t ranked against each other
- Cable TV
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard1xU.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card5%
- Department Stores
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard1xU.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card5%
- Electronics
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard1xU.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card5%
- Fast Food
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard1xU.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card5%
- Fitness
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard1xU.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card5%
- Gas Stations
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard5xU.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card2%
- Grocery Stores
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard5xU.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card2%
- Home Improvement
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard5xU.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card1%
- Movie Theaters
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard1xU.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card5%
- Sporting Goods
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard1xU.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card5%
- Streaming
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard1xU.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card5%
- Telecom
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard5xU.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card5%
- Transit
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard1xU.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card5%
- Utilities
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard1xU.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card5%
- Dining
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard1xU.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card2%
- Everything else
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard1xU.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card1%
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Travel
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard
- $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit · $120 every 4 years
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® CardNot yet documented
Perks & access— means none on record
- Hotel status & programs
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard
- Automatic Platinum Elite status
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® CardNot yet documented - Other perks
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard
- No foreign transaction fees
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® CardNot yet documented
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Purchase & returns
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard
- Zero Liability on unauthorized transactions
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® CardNot yet documented - Cell phone
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard
- Up to $800 cell phone protection
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® CardNot yet documented - Other protections
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard
- 24/7 lost/stolen card assistance worldwide
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® CardNot yet documented
Pros & cons
- Pros
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard
- Automatic Platinum Elite status with meaningful benefits
- Industry-leading 10x earning at Choice Hotels
- Strong 5x earning on gas, grocery, home improvement, and phone plans
- 30,000 anniversary bonus points (worth ~$180 in stays)
- 20 elite night credits annually
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card- 5% cash back on two categories of your choice (from 12+ options)
- 2% on one everyday category (dining, gas, or grocery)
- No annual fee
- Visa Signature benefits
- $200 welcome bonus
- Cons
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard
- $95 annual fee that may be hard to justify for occasional guests
- Higher $3,000 spend requirement for welcome bonus vs no-fee card
- Choice Hotels limited to economy and midscale properties
- Points value relatively low compared to premium hotel programs
- No lounge access or premium travel benefits
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card- Must select 5% categories each quarter (defaults to 1% if forgotten)
- $2,000 combined quarterly cap on 5% categories
- 3% foreign transaction fee
- Base rate only 1% on non-category spend
Category-by-Category Winner
The Choice Privileges Select Mastercard wins in 3 of 3 categories. The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card leads in 0. 12 more categories depend on booking channel or caps.
Gas Stations
Choice Privileges Select Mastercard earns 5X vs 2X
Grocery Stores
Choice Privileges Select Mastercard earns 5X vs 2X
Home Improvement
Choice Privileges Select Mastercard earns 5X vs 1X
Streaming
Depends: up to $2,000/quarter; 5% applies only if TV, internet and streaming is one of the two 5% categories you choose each quarter; the $2,000 quarterly limit is combined across both chosen categories.
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Choice Privileges Select Mastercard earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Cable TV
Depends: up to $2,000/quarter; 5% applies only if TV, internet and streaming is one of the two 5% categories you choose each quarter; the $2,000 quarterly limit is combined across both chosen categories.
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Choice Privileges Select Mastercard earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Movie Theaters
Depends: up to $2,000/quarter; 5% applies only if movie theaters is one of the two 5% categories you choose each quarter; the $2,000 quarterly limit is combined across both chosen categories.
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Choice Privileges Select Mastercard earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Transit
Depends: up to $2,000/quarter; 5% applies only if ground transportation is one of the two 5% categories you choose each quarter; the $2,000 quarterly limit is combined across both chosen categories.
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Choice Privileges Select Mastercard earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Fitness
Depends: up to $2,000/quarter; 5% applies only if gyms/fitness centers is one of the two 5% categories you choose each quarter; the $2,000 quarterly limit is combined across both chosen categories.
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Choice Privileges Select Mastercard earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Department Stores
Depends: up to $2,000/quarter; 5% applies only if department stores is one of the two 5% categories you choose each quarter; the $2,000 quarterly limit is combined across both chosen categories.
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Choice Privileges Select Mastercard earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Electronics
Depends: up to $2,000/quarter; 5% applies only if electronics stores is one of the two 5% categories you choose each quarter; the $2,000 quarterly limit is combined across both chosen categories.
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Choice Privileges Select Mastercard earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Travel
Depends: via issuer travel portal
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Choice Privileges Select Mastercard earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Sporting Goods
Depends: up to $2,000/quarter; 5% applies only if sporting goods stores is one of the two 5% categories you choose each quarter; the $2,000 quarterly limit is combined across both chosen categories.
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Choice Privileges Select Mastercard earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Fast Food
Depends: up to $2,000/quarter; 5% applies only if fast food is one of the two 5% categories you choose each quarter; the $2,000 quarterly limit is combined across both chosen categories.
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Choice Privileges Select Mastercard earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Utilities
Depends: up to $2,000/quarter; 5% applies only if home utilities is one of the two 5% categories you choose each quarter; the $2,000 quarterly limit is combined across both chosen categories.
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Choice Privileges Select Mastercard earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Dining
Depends: 2% applies only if restaurants is the one everyday category you choose each quarter.
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card earns 2X when conditions are met; Choice Privileges Select Mastercard earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
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.
Modeled value is close across spend levels — especially once statement credits are counted.
| Scenario | Choice Privileges Select Mastercard | U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $192 Credits (our usable estimate): $30 − Annual fee ($95) Ongoing: $127 Year one: $607 | Rewards: $120 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $120 Year one: $320 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | Choice Privileges Select Mastercard |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $768 Credits (our usable estimate): $30 − Annual fee ($95) Ongoing: $703 Year one: $1,183 | Rewards: $480 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $480 Year one: $680 | Choice Privileges Select Mastercard | Choice Privileges Select Mastercard |
Is the Fee Difference Worth It?
The Choice Privileges Select Mastercard costs $95/yr — that's $95 more than the U.S. Bank Cash+® 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.
The Choice Privileges Select Mastercard includes Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit. Those perks are not included in the earn-rate scenario table above — compare their dollar value to the $95 fee gap for your own usage.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $95 fee gap means the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard needs roughly $95 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on gas stations and grocery stores and everyday spend.
What You Give Up
Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.
Choosing U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card means losing:
- -Global Entry credit
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card if you:
- +Spend $300+/month on restaurants and dining out
The Bottom Line
Modeled value is close across spend levels — especially once statement credits are counted.
Published annual fees: Choice Privileges Select Mastercard $95/yr, U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card $0/yr — a $95 difference before welcome offers and credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard worth the higher annual fee?
- The Choice Privileges Select Mastercard costs $95/yr vs $0/yr for the U.S. Bank Cash+® 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 Choice Privileges Select Mastercard or U.S. Bank Cash+® 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 Choice Privileges Select Mastercard have that the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card doesn't?
- The Choice Privileges Select Mastercard offers cell phone protection. The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card focuses more on earn rates than premium perks.
- Should I get the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard or the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card?
- Use the spend scenarios on this page: the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card has a lower $0/yr fee; the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $95/yr.
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.