US Bank Cash+ for Gas: 5% on the Pump When You Choose It Each Quarter
The US Bank Cash+ Visa Signature is one of only two no-fee cards that lets you select gas stations as a 5 percent category. You re-pick every quarter, you cap at $2,000 in combined 5 percent spending, and you also pick a 2 percent category to layer on top. Here is the full mechanic and the spend levels where it pencils out.
Gas Rate (Chosen)
5%
when selected as 5% category
Quarterly Cap
$2,000
combined 5% spend
Annual Fee
$0
no fee ever
Choose Every
Quarter
no auto-renew
Terms verified against the US Bank Cash+ Visa Signature product page as of 2026-05-19.
How the Choose-Your-Categories Structure Works
Each quarter you select two 5 percent categories from a list of 12, plus one 2 percent category. Everything else earns 1 percent. The selections apply to all purchases in the quarter that match the chosen categories, and you can change selections each quarter through the US Bank app. If you do not change selections, US Bank carries over your previous quarter's choices by default, but the first cycle ever requires an active selection or you earn 1 percent on everything.
The combined $2,000 cap covers both 5 percent categories together. If you pick gas plus restaurants, the cap binds the first $2,000 you spend across both categories. The 2 percent category has no separate cap and earns 2 percent on all qualifying purchases.
The 12 Eligible Categories
Twelve eligible 5 percent categories. Gas stations and EV charging is one option. Most drivers pair gas (5 percent) with a non-fuel 5 percent category and a 2 percent category that does not duplicate.
| 5% category options | 2% category options |
|---|---|
| Fast food restaurants | Gas stations / EV charging |
| TV / internet / streaming services | Restaurants |
| Department stores | Grocery stores |
| Electronics stores | Other 2% choice |
| Home utilities | |
| Cell phone providers | |
| Furniture stores | |
| Gyms / fitness centers | |
| Movie theaters | |
| Sporting goods stores | |
| Select clothing stores | |
| Gas stations / EV charging |
Quarterly Cap Math at Six Spend Levels
Assumes gas selected as the 5 percent category for all four quarters. Annual total combines four quarters of capped 5 percent plus residual at 1 percent.
| Gas / month | Gas / quarter | Q earnings @ 5% | Annual total |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | $300 | $15 | $60 |
| $200 | $600 | $30 | $120 |
| $400 | $1200 | $60 | $240 |
| $600 | $1800 | $90 | $360 |
| $700 | $2100 | $100 | $401 |
| $900 | $2700 | $100 | $407 |
The cap binds at $666 a month in gas ($2,000 a quarter). Below that the full 5 percent applies. At $700 a month the over-cap $33 per quarter earns 1 percent and the cap-bound $2,000 earns 5 percent ($100). At $900 a month the over-cap $700 per quarter earns 1 percent ($7) and the cap-bound $2,000 still earns 5 percent ($100). The card's ceiling is roughly $407 a year on gas alone before adding the 2 percent category earnings.
The Two-5% Stack: Gas Plus Utilities
The most underrated feature of the Cash+ is that home utilities, cell phone providers, and TV/streaming are all 5 percent categories. A household paying $200 a month in utilities, $80 a month in cell phone, and $250 a month in gas can stack gas (5 percent) plus home utilities (5 percent) inside the $2,000 combined cap and earn 5 percent on all three. That same household pays no other card 5 percent on utility bills.
The pairing math: $250 gas + $200 utilities = $450 a month in 5 percent spending, $1,350 a quarter, well under the $2,000 cap. That captures $67.50 in quarterly cash back, $270 a year. Add the 2 percent category (say restaurants at $200 a month) for another $48 a year. Total $318 a year before any 1 percent residual earnings. The card holds its own against the Custom Cash for a household whose spending pattern fits the Cash+ category map.
The Re-Pick Discipline
The Cash+ resets the selection requirement every quarter. US Bank does auto-carry-over previous selections but does not guarantee it; the safe rule is to log in within the first week of January, April, July, and October to confirm or change selections. A missed selection means the entire quarter earns 1 percent on every purchase except the welcome-default 2 percent flat rate that some account configurations apply.
The flip side of the discipline tax is flexibility. A summer-driving household can pick gas in Q2 and Q3, switch to home utilities in Q1 and Q4 (heating season), and pick up a 2 percent grocery rate year-round. No other rotating-category card offers the same per-household optimization potential.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I pick gas stations as my 5 percent category?+
What is the $2,000 quarterly cap on the Cash+?+
Can I pick gas as both a 5 percent and a 2 percent category?+
Does the Cash+ include EV charging in the gas category?+
How does the Cash+ compare to the BofA Customized Cash Rewards for gas?+
Is there an annual fee on the Cash+?+
What is the welcome bonus on the Cash+?+
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No cap, no choice, no fee. The set-and-forget option.
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