The U.S. Bank Altitude Go Secured is one of the few cards for building credit that rewards how you eat: more points on dining, takeout and restaurant delivery, plus extra points on groceries, gas and streaming. The categories are simple, but a few details decide how much you actually get back. This page walks through them, so the points add up without changing how you spend.
A quick note before the details. CreditsBoosters is an independent content site, not a bank. The Altitude Go Secured is a U.S. Bank card, and approval, the deposit, the credit line, rewards and terms are decided by U.S. Bank. An application can be declined, and nothing on this page is a promise of any of them.
Points Are a Bonus, Not the Goal
Before the details, one rule that matters more than any category. This is a card for building credit, and the points only help if you pay the full balance every month. Secured cards usually charge a higher interest rate, so a balance left on the card costs more than the points can ever pay back. Use the card for what you would buy anyway, pay it off, and treat the points as a bonus on top.
What Counts as Dining
The top category covers dining, takeout and restaurant delivery. That means a sit-down dinner, a coffee and sandwich on the way to work, a pizza picked up on Friday or a meal brought to your door. For many households, that is one of the most regular expenses of the month.
One thing to watch: the store decides how a purchase is coded, not you. A café inside a larger store or a food counter at a supermarket may be coded as that store, not as a restaurant. If a purchase earns less than you expected, that is usually why.
The Quarterly Cap on Dining Points
The top rate on dining applies up to a spending cap each quarter. Below the cap, every meal earns the full bonus; above it, dining earns the base rate until the next quarter starts. For most people building credit, a normal month of meals out stays well under that cap, so it rarely changes anything.
Where it matters is in a month with a big celebration or a trip. If you know you will have a large restaurant bill, remember that only part of it may earn the top rate. It is still worth putting on the card if you can pay it in full, but don’t stretch your limit to chase points.
Grocery Runs That Earn Less Than You Expect
Grocery stores earn extra points too, but not every store that sells groceries counts. U.S. Bank excludes discount stores, supercenters and wholesale clubs from the grocery category. If your weekly shop happens at one of those, it earns the base rate.
That doesn’t mean you should change where you shop. Saving money on the groceries themselves almost always beats a few extra points. Just know which stores count, so the points on your statement match what you expect.
Line up cards for building credit side by side and see which rewards match the way you spend.
If you are still choosing a starter card, the comparison page lines up the rewards on each one, so you can see which matches the way you spend.
Gas, Charging and Streaming
Beyond food, the card earns extra points at gas stations and electric vehicle charging stations, and on streaming services. Put together, a commute, a weekly grocery run and a couple of subscriptions can mean that most of a normal month earns more than the base rate, without adding a single new purchase.
Everything else, from a phone bill to clothes, earns the base rate. A simple setup works well: use the card for food, gas and one or two subscriptions, keep the total well inside your limit and pay it off each month.
Earning the Streaming Credit
The card also includes a yearly credit for streaming services. It is not instant: U.S. Bank applies it after a run of consecutive months of eligible streaming purchases. The easiest way to earn it is to move one streaming subscription to the card and leave it there.
U.S. Bank keeps a list of the services that qualify, and the list can change, so check it before you count on the credit. The credit only applies when the account is in good standing, which is one more reason to keep every payment on time.
Redeeming for the Most Value
You can redeem points as a deposit into an eligible U.S. Bank account, for merchandise, gift cards, travel or a gift to charity. U.S. Bank says the deposit into an eligible account gets the most value per point. Other choices can be worth less, so compare before you redeem for anything else.
There is no deadline. Points don’t expire while the account is active, so you can redeem small amounts as you go or let them build up for something bigger. Some people like to redeem once a quarter, which turns the points into a small, regular boost to their savings.
The Habit That Protects Your Points
The rule that protects your points is simple: the account has to be open and not past due or over the limit at the end of each billing cycle to earn and redeem rewards. A late payment can cost you points, on top of the late fee and the harm to your credit history.
Automatic payment is the easiest safeguard. U.S. Bank offers several autopay options and lets you choose your payment due date, so you can line the bill up with your paycheck and stop worrying about it.
COMPARE BUILDING CREDIT CARDSAltitude Go Secured Points Questions
Does food delivery earn the top points rate?
Yes, U.S. Bank includes restaurant delivery and takeout with dining in the top category.
Is there a limit on dining points?
The top rate applies up to a quarterly spending cap on dining, and dining above it earns the base rate.
Do warehouse clubs count as grocery stores?
No, U.S. Bank excludes discount stores, supercenters and wholesale clubs from the grocery category.
How do I get the streaming credit?
Keep paying for an eligible streaming service with the card, since U.S. Bank applies the credit after a run of consecutive months.
What is the best way to redeem points?
U.S. Bank says a deposit into an eligible U.S. Bank account gives the most value per point.
Can I lose points by paying late?
The account must be current at the end of the billing cycle to earn and redeem rewards, so staying on time protects your points.
Making Everyday Meals Count
The Altitude Go Secured rewards spending most people already do: meals out, takeout, delivery, groceries, gas and streaming. To get the most from it, know what counts in each category, leave a subscription on the card for the streaming credit, redeem into an eligible U.S. Bank account and stay current every month. Above all, pay in full, because building your credit is the real reward, and the points are the bonus that comes with it.
CreditsBoosters is an independent content site. We are not a bank or a lender, we don’t take applications and we don’t charge for the information on this page. The U.S. Bank Altitude Go Secured Visa Card is issued by U.S. Bank National Association and is available to United States residents only. Approval, the deposit, the credit line, rewards, fees and terms are decided by U.S. Bank and can change, so check the official site before you apply. Card details were checked against U.S. Bank’s official page in October 2026.