Citi Strata Credit Card vs U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
Both cards cost $0/yr. The Citi Strata Credit Card leads on hotels; the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card on car rentals.
Card data as of October 12, 2026.
Citi Strata Credit CardCiti · No annual fee
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature CardU.S. Bank · No annual fee
Overview
- Annual fee
- Citi Strata Credit Card$0U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card$0
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Citi Strata Credit Card20,000 pointsU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card20,000 points
- Rewards
- Citi Strata Credit CardCiti ThankYou RewardsU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature CardU.S. Bank Altitude points
- Foreign transaction fee
- Citi Strata Credit Card3%U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature CardNoneLowest
- Network
- Citi Strata Credit CardMastercardU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature CardVisa Signature
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Gas Stations
- Citi Strata Credit Card3xU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card4xHighest
- Travel
- Citi Strata Credit Card1xU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card4xHighest
- Beauty
- Citi Strata Credit Card3xHighestU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card1x
- Fitness
- Citi Strata Credit Card3xHighestU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card1x
- Grocery Stores
- Citi Strata Credit Card3xHighestU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card2x
- Live Entertainment
- Citi Strata Credit Card3xHighestU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card1x
- Pet
- Citi Strata Credit Card3xHighestU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card1x
- Streaming
- Citi Strata Credit Card3xHighestU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card2x
- Top Spend Category
- Citi Strata Credit Card3xHighestU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card1x
- Transit
- Citi Strata Credit Card3xHighestU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card1x
- Dining
- Citi Strata Credit Card2xU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card2x
- Everything else
- Citi Strata Credit Card1xU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Travel
- Citi Strata Credit Card—U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
- $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck · $100 every 4 years
Perks & access— means none on record
- Lounges
- Citi Strata Credit Card—U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
- Airport lounge access
- Hotel status & programs
- Citi Strata Credit Card—U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
- 900+ luxury hotel properties with exclusive perks
- Other perks
- Citi Strata Credit Card
- Citi Entertainment
- Points transfer
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
- Citi Strata Credit Card—U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
- Up to $2,000 trip cancellation coverage
- Up to $300 trip delay reimbursement coverage
- Purchase & returns
- Citi Strata Credit Card
- Mastercard® ID Theft Protection
- Zero Liability on unauthorized transactions
- Purchase Protection up to $1,000 per claim
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card— - Other protections
- Citi Strata Credit Card
- Citi Travel®
- FICO score monitoring
- 24/7 lost/stolen card assistance worldwide
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
- Citi Strata Credit Card
- No annual fee
- 20,000 point welcome bonus
- 5X points on travel booked via Citi Travel
- 3X points on groceries, transit, gas, and Self-Select category
- Self-Select category flexibility (change quarterly)
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
- Citi Strata Credit Card
- 3% foreign transaction fee
- 5X rate requires booking through Citi Travel portal
- Self-Select category can only change quarterly
- Lower transfer value compared to premium ThankYou cards
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
The Citi Strata Credit Card wins in 2 of 3 categories. The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card leads in 1. 8 more categories depend on booking channel or caps.
Attractions
Depends: via issuer travel portal
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 5X when conditions are met; U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Grocery Stores
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 2X
Gas Stations
Depends: up to $1,000/quarter
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card earns 4X when conditions are met; Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X (3X without restrictions)
Transit
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X
Top Spend Category
Depends: Must select category at citi.com/selfselect
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X when conditions are met; U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Beauty
Depends: 3X applies only if cosmetic stores/barber shops/hair salons is chosen as the one Self-Select Category (fitness clubs, select streaming services, live entertainment, cosmetic stores/barber shops/hair salons, or pet supply stores), changeable once each calendar quarter; the default is Select Streaming Services.
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X when conditions are met; U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Fitness
Depends: 3X applies only if fitness clubs is chosen as the one Self-Select Category (fitness clubs, select streaming services, live entertainment, cosmetic stores/barber shops/hair salons, or pet supply stores), changeable once each calendar quarter; the default is Select Streaming Services.
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X when conditions are met; U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Live Entertainment
Depends: 3X applies only if live entertainment is chosen as the one Self-Select Category (fitness clubs, select streaming services, live entertainment, cosmetic stores/barber shops/hair salons, or pet supply stores), changeable once each calendar quarter; the default is Select Streaming Services.
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X when conditions are met; U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Pet
Depends: 3X applies only if pet supply stores is chosen as the one Self-Select Category (fitness clubs, select streaming services, live entertainment, cosmetic stores/barber shops/hair salons, or pet supply stores), changeable once each calendar quarter; the default is Select Streaming Services.
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X when conditions are met; U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Streaming
Depends: 3X applies while Select Streaming Services is the one Self-Select Category (fitness clubs, select streaming services, live entertainment, cosmetic stores/barber shops/hair salons, or pet supply stores), changeable once each calendar quarter; it is the default at account opening.
Citi Strata Credit 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 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.
Both scenarios favor the Citi Strata Credit Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
| Scenario | Citi Strata Credit Card | U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $317 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $317 Year one: $637 | Rewards: $192 Credits (our usable estimate): $25 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $217 Year one: $417 | Citi Strata Credit Card | Citi Strata Credit Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $1,267 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $1,267 Year one: $1,587 | Rewards: $768 Credits (our usable estimate): $25 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $793 Year one: $993 | Citi Strata Credit Card | Citi Strata Credit Card |
What You Give Up
Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.
Choosing Citi Strata Credit 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
Both scenarios favor the Citi Strata Credit Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which card earns more rewards, the Citi Strata Credit 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 Citi Strata Credit Card have that the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card doesn't?
- The Citi Strata Credit Card focuses on earn rates, while the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card offers lounge access.
- Should I get the Citi Strata Credit Card or the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card?
- Both cards have the same $0/yr fee. Choose based on which bonus categories match your spending — check the earn rate comparison above.
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.