Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Emirates vs U.S. Bank
Emirates
Higher score in this comparison
U.S. Bank
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
- 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 Emirates offers Rewards.
- Features: only U.S. Bank offers Virtual card.
Our verdict on each
Emirates
Emirates suits people who already pay in dollars and spend with the airline, since the miles build fastest on Emirates purchases and there is no foreign transaction fee. It also suits anyone shifting a balance, with a fee of 5% and an intro period of 12. The catch is the annual fee of $99.
U.S. Bank
U.S. Bank suits people already banking with the bank who want a no cost debit card and a cash back credit card in the same place. The checking account carries a monthly fee of $0 and the Bank Smartly Visa Signature has an annual fee of $0 and rewards of 2%.
Score breakdown
| Area | Emirates | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8An annual fee of $99 against a 0% foreign transaction fee, and 19.49% to 29.49% on balances. | 9.2HigherMonthly fee of $0 on the checking account and $0 on the credit card, with cash back rewards |
| Offer | 9.3Highermiles on Emirates and travel spend, with lounge access and Silver tier status on the top card. | 8.9 |
| Trust | 9.4 | Not confirmed |
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.
The bill, worked out
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.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Emirates | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 151 of 1020 | 164 of 1020 |
| Balance transfer cards | 9 of 35 | 12 of 35 |
Which one suits you
Pick Emirates if offer matter most.
Pick U.S. Bank if cost, annual fee, and apr matter most.
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Emirates | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | No annual fee |
| Features | Rewards | Virtual card |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business, Student, Kids |
| Legal entity | Emirates | U.S. Bank National Association |
| Headquarters | United Arab Emirates | United States |
| Founded | 1985 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Phone, Help centre |
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 | 19.39 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%below the median | Not confirmed | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 12 monthsbelow the median | 12 monthsbelow the median | 15 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 5%highest quarter | 5%highest quarter | 3% |
| Cashback rate | Not confirmed | 2%above the median | 1.5% |
Median across 312 listed cards.
Pros and cons
Emirates
Pros
- No foreign transaction fee on international purchases, a currency conversion fee of 0% on a card that sits at the top of our list on that measure
- Earning miles rather than cashback, and Skywards Miles do not expire while the card account stays open
- A balance transfer fee of 5% with an intro period of 12, useful for clearing a balance from another card
Cons
- An annual fee of $99 puts it near the top of our annual fee ranking, and Wise charges £0
- Interest of 19.49% to 29.49% applies on balances, and the lower end of that range is still above the site median
- A balance transfer fee of 5% still applies after the intro period of 12
U.S. Bank
Pros
- Monthly fee of $0 on the Smartly checking account keeps the everyday account cost at nil
- Cash back credit card with an annual fee of $0 and a rewards rate of 2% on every purchase
- Debit card on the visa network with a virtual card option for online spending
Cons
- Support runs on phone and help centre only, so there is no email or live chat option
- A balance transfer offer of 12 months comes with a fee of 5%
- The highest cash back rate on the credit card depends on holding a Smartly Savings account and qualifying checking balances
Who each suits
Emirates
Who it suits
- People who fly Emirates often and put most of their spending through the airline
- Anyone paying in dollars and spending abroad, since the currency conversion fee is 0%
- Holders of a balance on another card who can clear it inside the intro period
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise users who want a card with an annual fee of £0 and a simpler cost base
- Anyone building credit from scratch, since a card aimed at established credit history is the wrong tool and the Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card) is built around a deposit with an annual fee of $0
- Spenders who never touch the airline, since the highest rate applies only to Emirates spend
U.S. Bank
Who it suits
- Existing U.S. Bank customers who want the checking account and credit card together
- Business owners looking for a debit card with a virtual card for online purchases
- Students and parents setting up a kids account on the same bank
Who should look elsewhere
- People who want a card with no foreign exchange costs, where Wise is a closer match
- Anyone who needs live chat or email help, as support runs on phone and help centre only
- Customers unwilling to hold a savings balance, since the highest cash back rate depends on qualifying checking balances
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
Score up to $450 with U.S. Bank Smartly Checking: up to $450
Open a new U.S. Bank Smartly Checking account and complete required activities. Offer valid through November 10. Terms and limitations apply.
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 card cost to hold?+
The annual fee is $99 on the card. Interest on balances runs at 19.49% to 29.49%, and a balance transfer is charged at 5%. If you want a card with no annual fee, the annual fee on Wise is £0.
Is there a foreign transaction fee on the card?+
The currency conversion fee is 0%, and international purchases carry no foreign transaction fee. That makes the card one of the cheapest for spending abroad, provided the rate your issuer applies is competitive. It also means travel purchases do not eat into your miles with an extra layer of cost.
U.S. Bank
What does the U.S. Bank debit card cost to hold?+
The Smartly checking account that the debit card sits on has a monthly fee of $0, so the account itself adds nothing to your costs. The card runs on the visa network, so it works in the same ATMs and shops as other Visa cards. Support is available on phone and help centre.
Is my money protected at U.S. Bank?+
U.S. Bank National Association is the legal entity behind the account, and the bank is headquartered in the US. It is supervised by the FDIC and listed under FDIC cert 6548. The balance sits in a bank current account rather than a prepaid balance, and support runs on phone and help centre.
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Emirates
U.S. Bank