Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Emirates vs U.S. Bank
Emirates
U.S. Bank
Higher score in this comparison
Emirates vs U.S. Bank: the differences
| Compare | EmiratesReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | U.S. BankReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $99 | $0Lower |
| APR | 19.49% to 29.49% | 0%Lower |
| Rewards type | Miles | Cashback |
| Rewards rate | 3 Miles per USD 1 on Emirates spend, 2 Miles per USD 1 on travel spend, 1 Mile per USD 1 on all other spend | Unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, plus up to an additional 2% on the first $10,000 in eligible Net Purchases each billing cycle when paired with a U.S. Bank Smartly Savings account and qualifying checking balances (total 2.5% / 3% / 4% by qualifying balance) |
| Perks | Emirates Skywards Silver tier status for 12 months (Rewards World Elite Mastercard), Skywards Miles do not expire while the card account remains open, 25% discount on purchase or gift of Skywards Miles when paying with the card, Priority Pass Select lounge access (Premium World Elite Mastercard), USD 120 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee every 4 years (Premium World Elite Mastercard), No foreign transaction fees on international purchases | Cash back deals from brands via the U.S. Bank Mobile App or online banking, Flexible cash back redemption: direct deposit, statement credit, rewards card, merchant gift cards, U.S. Bank ExtendPay Plan with a $0 fee offer for new cardmembers on plans opened in the first 60 days, Contactless chip payment on all U.S. Bank credit cards |
| Currency conversion fee | 0% | Not confirmed |
| Credit needed | Not confirmed | Good |
| Cashback rate | Not confirmed | 2% |
Same on both: Balance transfer intro period (12 months), Balance transfer fee (5%), Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- U.S. Bank scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.1.
- Founded is lower at U.S. Bank: 1863 vs 1985.
- Annual fee is lower at U.S. Bank: $0 vs $99.
- APR is lower at U.S. Bank: 0% vs 19.49% to 29.49%.
- Perks: only Emirates offers Emirates Skywards Silver tier status for 12 months (Rewards World Elite Mastercard), Skywards Miles do not expire while the card account remains open, 25% discount on purchase or gift of Skywards Miles when paying with the card.
- Perks: only U.S. Bank offers Cash back deals from brands via the U.S. Bank Mobile App or online banking, Flexible cash back redemption: direct deposit, statement credit, rewards card, merchant gift cards, U.S. Bank ExtendPay Plan with a $0 fee offer for new cardmembers on plans opened in the first 60 days.
- Support channels: only Emirates offers Email, Chat.
- Features: only U.S. Bank offers Secured.
Our verdict on each
Emirates
Emirates Skywards fits people who spend with the airline and travel often, and rewards their miles rather than their balance. Interest is costly at 19.49% to 29.49%, so the card only earns its place for customers who clear it in full each month.
U.S. Bank
U.S. Bank suits people who want a large US bank behind a rewards card that ranks 1 of 312 brands for annual fee. The same group also runs personal loans, savings and mortgages, so you can keep your money with one name across each product.
Score breakdown
| Area | Emirates | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Costs $99 a year, far above a €0 median across the cards ranked here. | 9.2HigherPersonal loans carry an origination fee of 0 USD (no origination fees) and the checking account a monthly fee of $0. |
| Offer | 9.3HigherPays miles with no foreign transaction fee at 0%, plus tier status and lounge access. | 8.9The card pays 2% cash back on every purchase, with more when paired with a Smartly Savings account. |
| Trust | 9.2 | 9.9Higher |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Emirates | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Not confirmed | FDIC FDIC cert 6548 |
Available in 1 country for both.
Moving a 3,000 balance
Emirates
150
5% of 3,000
U.S. Bank
150
5% of 3,000
Both come to the same total.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Cost in a real example
A year with 1,000 spent abroad
Emirates
$99
1 × $99
U.S. Bank
$0
1 × $0
U.S. Bank costs $99 less.
Excludes currency conversion fee (not stated by U.S. Bank). Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Emirates | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Credit and debit cards | 395 of 1594 | 202 of 1594 |
| Balance transfer cards | 13 of 32 | 6 of 32 |
What we checked
Emirates
- emirates.com: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
U.S. Bank
- usbank.com: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- banks.data.fdic.gov: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Emirates | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | No annual fee |
| Features | Rewards | Rewards, SecuredCovers more |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business, Student, Kids |
| Legal entity | Emirates | U.S. Bank National Association |
| Headquarters | United Arab Emirates | United States |
| Founded | 1985 | 1863Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Phone, Help centre |
Loans
| Fact | Emirates | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Loan amount | Not confirmed | $1,000 to $50,000 |
| Term | Not confirmed | 12 to 84 months |
| Arrangement fee | Not confirmed | 0 USD (no origination fees) |
| Credit check | Not confirmed | Hard |
| Funding time | Not confirmed | 1 to 4 business days after loan closing, same day if eligible |
| Representative example | Not confirmed | Loan payment example: Monthly payments for a $10,000 loan at 12.60% APR with a term of 36 months would be $335.02. |
| Rate type | Not confirmed | Variable |
| Lender type | Not confirmed | Direct lender |
| Free early repayment | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Eligibility | Not confirmed | Credit approval and program guidelines; needs SSN, US home address and employment information; not all programs available in all states |
| Origination fee (%) | Not confirmed | 0% |
| Loan types | Not confirmed | Personal, Debt consolidation, Credit line, Car |
| Use cases | Not confirmed | Home improvement |
Savings
| Fact | Emirates | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | Not confirmed | 3.5% |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $25 |
| Deposit protection | Not confirmed | FDIC up to USD 250,000 |
| Access terms | Not confirmed | Easy access to funds: withdraw or transfer at thousands of U.S. Bank branches and ATMs; open with $25, no fixed term |
| Monthly fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account kind | Not confirmed | Easy access |
Debit cards
| Fact | Emirates | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Card type | Not confirmed | Debit |
| Card network | Not confirmed | Visa |
Mortgages
| Fact | Emirates | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Initial rate | Not confirmed | 6.625% |
| APRC | Not confirmed | 6.794% |
| Fixed period | Not confirmed | 30 years |
| Maximum loan to value | Not confirmed | 75% |
| Purpose | Not confirmed | Purchase, Remortgage, First time buyer, Home equity |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Emirates | U.S. Bank | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $99highest quarter | $0at the median | $0 |
| APR | 19.49% to 29.49%above the median | 0%lowest quarter | 11.635 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%below the median | Not confirmed | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 12 monthsat the median | 12 monthsat the median | 12 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 5%highest quarter | 5%highest quarter | 3% |
| Cashback rate | Not confirmed | 2%above the median | 1.5% |
Median across 486 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Emirates
Pros
- Balance transfers cost 5% and carry an introductory period of 12.
- Skywards Miles do not expire while the card account stays open.
- Support runs on email, chat and phone, so phone, chat, email and a help centre are all covered.
Cons
- The annual fee of $99 sits far above bunq at €0.
- An APR of 19.49% to 29.49% is higher than the 14.45% median across ranked cards.
- Rewards are miles, so the value depends on how often you fly with Emirates.
U.S. Bank
Pros
- Rewards are cashback, with flexible redemption from direct deposit to statement credit and gift cards.
- Savings deposits carry FDIC up to USD 250,000 of cover from an FDIC insured bank.
- Personal loans allow free early repayment, with borrowing of $1,000 to $50,000 over terms of 12 to 84.
Cons
- Support runs on phone and help centre only.
- Savings pay 3.5% at a variable rate, so the return can fall as well as rise.
- Loans expect good credit and a hard credit check, so approval is not automatic.
Who each suits
Emirates
Who it suits
- Emirates flyers who put most of their spending with the airline and want miles that do not expire
- Travellers who pay abroad often, since the currency conversion fee is 0%
- Anyone redeeming miles for tickets rather than cash back, given the rewards type is miles
Who should look elsewhere
- bunq, where a fee of €0 suits readers who want no annual cost and no airline loyalty tie
- Wise, at £0, for a spending card held across currencies rather than a miles card
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, at $0, for building credit history rather than collecting miles
U.S. Bank
Who it suits
- People already banking with U.S. Bank who want cash back on everyday spend from a card that pairs with a savings account.
- Borrowers with good credit who want to clear a personal loan early at no cost.
- Savers who want easy access at branches and ATMs, a variable rate and insured deposits.
Who should look elsewhere
- Starling Personal Account Debit Card, if you want a UK account and a card at £0 rather than a US bank that also lends.
- bunq, if a euro plan at €0 suits your spending better than a US dollar bank.
- Wise, if you want a card with an annual fee of £0 and no lending, savings or mortgage side.
Current offers
Emirates
Current offer
Bonus
Emirates Skywards Silver tier status for the first year with the Rewards World Elite Mastercard: Emirates Skywards Silver tier status for 12 months from card account open date
Primary cardholders only; to retain Silver tier from the second year onwards spend USD 20,000 in Net Purchases annually; status can take up to 8 weeks to reflect
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Emirates Skywards Gold tier status for the first year with the Premium World Elite Mastercard: Emirates Skywards Gold tier status for 12 months from card account open date
Primary cardholders only; to retain Gold tier from the second year onwards spend USD 40,000 in Net Purchases annually; status can take up to 8 weeks to reflect
Source, checked September 26, 2026
U.S. Bank
Current offer
Bonus
U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card one-time cash back bonus (increased from $150 to $200): $200
Approved for a new Cash+ Visa Signature Card and $1,000 or more in eligible Net Purchases within 90 days of account opening; not combinable with other bonus offers; subject to credit approval.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card welcome bonus: 20,000 points
Approved for a new Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card and $1,000 or more in total eligible Net Purchases within 90 days of account opening; previous cardmembers who received a bonus for this product in the last five years are not eligible.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card welcome bonus: 20,000 points
Approved for a new Altitude Go Visa Signature Card and $1,000 or more in total eligible Net Purchases within 90 days of account opening; previous cardmembers who received a bonus for this product in the last five years are not eligible.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Emirates | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Emirates
What does the Emirates credit card cost to hold?+
The card charges an annual fee of $99. Beyond that, the only other cost listed is a currency conversion fee of 0% on foreign purchases, so cardholders spending in another currency are not surcharged on top of the fee.
What interest rate applies to a balance?+
Balances carry an APR of 19.49% to 29.49%, above the 14.45% median across the cards ranked here. That rate is the reason the card suits people who pay in full, since interest at this level quickly outruns the miles earned.
U.S. Bank
What does the U.S. Bank Smartly credit card cost to hold?+
The Bank Smartly Visa Signature card charges an annual fee of $0, and it is sold as no annual fee. The purchase APR is listed as 0%, so check how long any promotional period runs before relying on it. Support runs on phone and help centre.
How much cash back do I earn, and how do I use it?+
Every purchase earns 2% in cash back, and pairing the card with a U.S. Bank Smartly Savings account and qualifying checking balances adds more on the first eligible purchases each cycle. Rewards are cashback, and redemption is flexible across direct deposit, statement credit, a rewards card and merchant gift cards.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Emirates
U.S. Bank