Visa Platinum vs. other 0% APR cards

Last reviewed: September 2026. The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card is no longer accepting new applications. This comparison discusses the product for historical and existing-cardholder context rather than presenting it as a current credit card offer.

The U.S. Bank Visa Platinum was designed primarily around an extended introductory APR rather than cash back, travel rewards or premium card benefits.

Because applications are now closed, consumers comparing currently available 0% APR cards should focus on active products and use the Visa Platinum only as a reference point.

What the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum historically offered

The final publicly available Visa Platinum offer included 0% introductory APR for 18 billing cycles on eligible purchases and balance transfers.

The card had no traditional cash-back, points or miles rewards program.

Publicly available terms before applications closed also listed a $0 annual fee and a balance transfer fee.

Those terms describe the discontinued acquisition offer and should not be treated as terms currently available to a new applicant.

The product is no longer part of U.S. Bank's new-card lineup

U.S. Bank currently places the Visa Platinum Card in its list of personal credit cards that are no longer accepting new applications.

That means a meaningful current comparison cannot treat the Visa Platinum as an option a consumer can choose today.

Current U.S. Bank alternative for introductory APR

U.S. Bank currently offers the Shield® Visa® Card as one of its active introductory-APR products.

As of September 2026, Shield offers 0% introductory APR for the first 21 billing cycles on purchases and qualifying balance transfers requested within 60 days after account opening.

The current Shield balance transfer fee is 5% of each transfer amount, with a $5 minimum.

Shield also currently has a $0 annual fee, earns 4% cash back on eligible prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked through the U.S. Bank Travel Center, and can provide a $20 annual statement credit after meeting the applicable monthly-purchase requirement.

Those are Shield Card features and should not be attributed to the legacy Visa Platinum Card.

What to compare among current 0% APR cards

Consumers evaluating an introductory APR card can compare several factors instead of focusing only on the advertised length of the 0% period.

• The length of the introductory APR period;
• Whether the offer applies to purchases, balance transfers or both;
• The deadline for qualifying balance transfers;
• The balance transfer fee;
• The regular APR that applies after the promotional period;
• Annual fees;
• Foreign transaction fees;
• Rewards or other benefits;
• The monthly payment required to repay the balance before the promotion ends.

A longer 0% period is not automatically less expensive

The length of an introductory APR promotion is only one part of the total cost.

For a balance transfer, an upfront fee can offset part of the interest savings. A consumer can compare the transfer fee with the estimated interest that would otherwise be paid on the existing debt.

The remaining balance at the end of the introductory period is also important because the standard variable APR generally begins applying after the promotion expires.

Do not compare rewards that the Visa Platinum did not offer

The legacy U.S. Bank Visa Platinum was not a rewards credit card.

Claims that it offered cash back, travel points, airport lounge access or a comprehensive rewards program are inaccurate for this product.

Cell Phone Protection was a notable additional benefit

U.S. Bank continues to document Cellular Telephone Protection for eligible existing Visa Platinum cardholders.

Current benefit information provides up to $600 per covered occurrence, subject to a $25 deductible and a maximum of $1,200 across up to two paid claims in a 12-month period.

Frequently asked questions

Is U.S. Bank Visa Platinum still available?

No. U.S. Bank currently identifies the Visa Platinum as a personal credit card that is no longer accepting new applications.

Did Visa Platinum earn rewards?

No traditional cash-back, points or miles program was part of the final publicly available Visa Platinum offer.

What current U.S. Bank card offers a long 0% intro APR?

As of September 2026, U.S. Bank offers the Shield Visa Card with 0% introductory APR for 21 billing cycles on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, subject to the current terms.

Final considerations

The U.S. Bank Visa Platinum can provide useful historical context when discussing introductory-APR credit cards, but it should no longer be presented as a product available for a new application.

Consumers researching a card today should compare current offers using the issuer's latest pricing disclosures.

For U.S. Bank's current credit card lineup, review the official U.S. Bank credit cards page.

This content is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Offers, APRs and fees may change.