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Mortgage and refinance interest rates today, Saturday, August 22, 2026: Bond market sends rates scrambling

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Mortgage and refinance interest rates today, Saturday, June 13, 2026: All rates moving lower


According to average rates from the Zillow lender marketplace, mortgage rates are extremely volatile heading into the weekend. Two popular loan terms rose dramatically while another slid lower. A nervous bond market has mortgage rates scrambling.

The current 30-year fixed rate today, Saturday, August 22, 2026, rose 14 basis points to 6.64%; the 15-year fixed rate fell 12 basis points to 5.88%; and the 5/1 ARM rose a whopping 49 basis points to 6.74%.

Read more: Weekly survey of mortgage lenders with the lowest rates: Small moves in rates and fees

Today’s mortgage rates

Here are the current mortgage rates today, Saturday, August 22, 2026, according to the latest Zillow data:

  • 30-year fixed: 6.64%

  • 20-year fixed: 6.37%

  • 15-year fixed: 5.88%

  • 5/1 ARM: 6.74%

  • 7/1 ARM: 6.30%

  • 30-year VA: 6.14%

  • 15-year VA: 5.59%

  • 5/1 VA: 5.84%

Remember, these are the national averages and are rounded to the nearest hundredth.

Today’s mortgage refinance rates

These are today’s mortgage refinance rates, Saturday, August 22, 2026, according to the latest Zillow data:

  • 30-year fixed: 6.64%

  • 20-year fixed: 6.61%

  • 15-year fixed: 5.99%

  • 5/1 ARM: 6.50%

  • 7/1 ARM: 6.51%

  • 30-year VA: 6.02%

  • 15-year VA: 5.70%

  • 5/1 VA: 5.63%

Again, the numbers provided are national averages rounded to the nearest hundredth. Mortgage refinance rates are often higher than rates when you buy a house, although that’s not always the case.

Read more: Want to refinance your mortgage in 2026? Here’s what to do.

Free mortgage calculator

Use the mortgage calculator below to see how today’s interest rates would affect your monthly mortgage payments.

Mortgage payment calculator

Mortgage payment breakdown

81% Principal & interest

$2,169

0% Private mortgage insurance

You can bookmark the Yahoo Finance mortgage payment calculator and keep it handy for future use, as you shop for homes and the best mortgage lenders. You also have the option to enter costs for private mortgage insurance (PMI) and homeowners’ association dues, if applicable. These details result in a more accurate monthly payment estimate than if you simply calculated your mortgage principal and interest.

30-year fixed mortgage rates: Pros and cons

There are two main advantages to a 30-year fixed mortgage: Your payments are lower, and your monthly payments are predictable.

A 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has relatively low monthly payments because you’re spreading your repayment out over a longer period of time than with, say, a 15-year mortgage. Your payments are predictable because, unlike with an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), your rate isn’t going to change from year to year. Most years, the only things that might affect your monthly payment are any changes to your homeowners insurance or property taxes.

The main disadvantage of 30-year fixed mortgage rates is the mortgage interest, both in the short and long term.

A 30-year fixed term comes with a higher rate than a shorter fixed term, and it’s higher than the intro rate to a 30-year ARM. The higher your rate, the higher your monthly payment. You’ll also pay much more in interest over the life of your loan due to both the higher rate and the longer term.

15-year fixed mortgage rates: Pros and cons

The pros and cons of 15-year fixed mortgage rates are basically swapped with those of the 30-year rates. Yes, your monthly payments will still be predictable, but another advantage is that shorter terms come with lower interest rates. Not to mention, you’ll pay off your mortgage 15 years sooner. So you could save hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest over the life of your loan.

However, because you’re paying off the same amount in half the time, your monthly payments will be higher than if you choose a 30-year term.

Learn more: Dig deeper into 15-year vs. 30-year mortgages

Adjustable mortgage rates: Pros and cons

Adjustable-rate mortgages lock in your rate for a predetermined period, then adjust it periodically. For example, with a 5/1 ARM, your rate stays the same for the first five years and then goes up or down once per year for the remaining 25 years.

The main advantage is that the introductory rate is usually lower than what you’ll get with a 30-year fixed rate, so your monthly payments will be lower. (Current average rates might not necessarily reflect this, though — in some cases, fixed rates are actually lower. Talk to your lender before deciding between a fixed or adjustable rate.)

With an ARM, you have no idea what mortgage rates will be like once the intro-rate period ends, so you risk your rate increasing later. This could ultimately end up costing more, and your monthly payments are unpredictable from year to year.

But if you plan to move before the intro-rate period is over, you could reap the benefits of a low rate without risking a rate increase down the road.

Read more: Learn whether now is a good time to get an adjustable-rate mortgage

Is now a good time to buy a house?

First of all, now is a good time to buy a house compared to a couple of years ago. Home prices aren’t spiking like they were during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. So, if you want or need to buy a house soon, you should feel pretty good about the current housing market. 

Plus, despite the recent uptick, mortgage rates are lower than they were this time last year.

The best time to buy is typically whenever it makes sense for your stage of life. Trying to time the real estate market can be as futile as timing the stock market — buy when it’s the right time for you.

Learn more: Which is more important, your home price or mortgage rate?

Today’s mortgage rates: FAQs

Why do 30-year mortgage rates vary by the source reporting them?

According to Zillow, the national average 30-year mortgage rate is 6.64% right now. Why are Zillow’s rates usually different than those reported by Freddie Mac (which reported 6.65% this week) and elsewhere? Each source compiles rates by different methods, and rates are reported for different time frames. Zillow obtains rates from its lender marketplace and reports them daily, while Freddie Mac pulls information from loan applications submitted to its underwriting system and averages them for the week. However, mortgage rates vary by state and even ZIP code, by lender, loan type, and many other factors. That’s why it’s so important to shop with multiple mortgage lenders.

Are interest rates expected to go down?

According to the latest available forecasts, the MBA expects the 30-year mortgage rate to be 6.5% through 2026. Fannie Mae predicts a 30-year rate near 6.8% through the end of the year.

Are mortgage rates dropping?

Rates remain jumpy. The current 30-year fixed rate today, Saturday, August 22, 2026, rose 14 basis points to 6.64%, the 15-year fixed rate fell 12 basis points to 5.88%, and the 5/1 ARM soared 49 basis points to 6.74%.

How do I get the lowest refinance rate?

In many ways, securing a low mortgage refinance rate is similar to the process you used when you bought your home. Try to improve your credit score and lower your debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Refinancing into a shorter term will also land you a lower rate, though your monthly mortgage payments will be higher.



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FC Barcelona Registers Three New Players On Eve Of New Season

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FC Barcelona Registers Three New Players On Eve Of New Season


FC Barcelona has managed to register three new players for Hansi Flick‘s first team squad on the eve of the new season.

The Catalans travel around five hours south by road to Elche on Sunday, and begin the defence of back-to-back La Liga titles under the German while looking to go three-in-a-row for the first time since the Pep Guardiola era.

Culers would take going all the way in the Champions League over that feat if they had to pick, however, and even a strong-performing squad needs reinforcements.

This summer feels different as the first since 2022 where the Catalans have been able to spend big in the transfer market.

In contrast to that “economic levers” bonanza in said year, however, and others this decade, Barca has been able to not just make high profile signings but also get them registered without any fuss.

Remember how Dani Olmo spent almost half a season not being able to don Blaugrana following his move from RB Leipzig?

Thankfully, the likes of Rodri, Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi won’t suffer the same fate.

FC Barcelona has managed to register their three biggest signings

Deco and Co. cleverly bought Gordon before the World Cup, as had they waited until after his impressive run to the semifinals with England, where he scored in that match lost to Argentina, Newcastle United might have demanded far more than €80 million.

Expected to start as a left winger or false 9, he’s cleared to go and provide positional rivalry to Raphinha.

Karim Adeyemi could prove a bargain at €22 million fee with a further €7 million in add-ons, and a solid back up option for Lamine Yamal on the right wing.

He can operate on either flank, though, and also as a striker, while having impressed in preseason alongside both Raphinha and Gordon on the front line.

Last but certainly not least, Rodri is one of the club’s biggest signings of the century, acquired from Manchester City in a deal that could reach up to €76.5 million.

In a relief to the Blaugrana faithful then, all three players have been registered without fuss and could technically feature for FC Barcelona against Elche. Still training away from the group individually on Saturday, however, Rodri will probably not make the trip and should wait to make his official debut.



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Gold prices today, Friday, August 21, 2026: Gold remains strong amid U.S. debt concerns

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Gold prices today, Friday, July 10, 2026: Gold finally opens higher this morning


Gold (GC=F) December futures opened at $4,577 per troy ounce on Friday, August 21, 2026, up 0.1% from Thursday’s closing price. The price of gold is up this morning at $4,633.90 per troy ounce as of 9 a.m. ET.

Gold continued to rise Friday morning amid concerns about U.S. debt. Earlier in the week, the national debt hit a record high of $40 trillion, five months after eclipsing $39 trillion.

For context, the U.S. debt balance was $28.4 trillion in late 2021. Fast-rising national debt erodes trust in the U.S. dollar and raises borrowing costs. As the debt balance grows, higher yields are required to compensate investors for the risk the government will take inflationary measures, like printing money, to service the debt. At the current debt level, interest costs exceed defense spending.

These dynamics can prompt higher demand for gold as a safe haven from the dollar, both for investors and central banks around the world.

Current price of gold

The opening price of gold futures on Friday, August 21, 2026, was up 0.1% from Thursday’s closing price. Here’s a look at how the opening gold price has changed versus last week, month, and year:  

  • One week ago: +5.9%

  • One month ago: +14.4%

  • One year ago: +36.7%

For context, the one-year gain for gold was 95.6% on Jan. 29.

24/7 gold price tracking: Don’t forget you can monitor the current price of gold on Yahoo Finance 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

Want to learn more about the current top-performing companies in the gold industry? Explore a list of the top-performing companies in the gold industry using the Yahoo Finance Screener. You can create your own screeners with over 150 different screening criteria.

How much gold should you own?

A gold investment can add stability and inflation protection to your portfolio. But it can also dilute your gains when stock prices are rising quickly. Finding the right balance between gold’s diversification benefits and profiting from growth potential in other assets can be challenging. 

Even the experts are divided on how to achieve the correct balance. Below, five experts explain their recommended gold allocations, which range from 0% to 20%. 

Learn more: How to invest in gold in 4 steps

No gold: Trade-off is too high 

Robert R. Johnson, professor at Creighton University’s Heider College of Business, does not advocate gold investing. In his words, “while having a small position in precious metals may dampen portfolio volatility in the short-run, the tradeoff between slightly dampened volatility and the lost long-term return is certainly not a prudent one, particularly for Gen Z/millennials with long investing time horizons.”

2% to 5% allocation, depending on the situation 

Brett Elliott, director of content and SEO at American Precious Metals Exchange (APMEX), recommends setting an allocation that aligns with your investing goals. 

Growth-oriented investors may be comfortable with an allocation of 10% or 15%, according to Elliott. But income investors will prefer a smaller position, because gold provides no yield. A 2% to 5% gold allocation can provide some resiliency without an excessive drag on income potential. 

Learn more: Who decides what gold is worth? How gold prices are determined.

5% to 8% gold allocation 

Blake McLaughlin, executive vice president at Axcap Ventures, said historical data support a gold allocation of 5% to 8%. “Gold may not offer the outsized return potential of private investments, but the metal holds a set of attributes that are increasingly hard to ignore,” according to McLaughlin. Those attributes include the metal’s resilience amid economic uncertainty and geopolitical unrest. 

5% to 15% gold allocation 

Thomas Winmill, portfolio manager at Midas Funds, believes most investors will benefit from a long-term gold allocation of 5% to 15%. Winmill specifically advocates investing in gold mining companies through a mutual fund. 

Your risk tolerance and current mix of financial versus hard assets can guide you to an appropriate allocation, according to Winmill. 

  1. Risk tolerance: Keep your allocation percentage low if you tend to panic in volatile cycles.  

  2. Financial vs. hard assets: Financial assets are stocks and bonds. Hard assets include tangible items like real estate, gold, collectibles, classic cars, and equipment. If you have no home equity and your wealth is primarily in financial assets, you can set your gold allocation higher. Or, if your home is paid for and more valuable than your stock portfolio, gold investing may not be necessary.  

Learn more: Thinking of buying gold? Here’s what investors should watch for.

20% gold allocation

Vince Stanzione, CEO and founder at First Information, recommends a 20% gold allocation, specifically in physical gold or a gold ETF. Stanzione argues for a higher exposure to gold as a wealth protection strategy. As he says, “gold keeps with inflation and gold retains its purchasing power,” while paper currencies are devaluing around the world.   

Learn more: Gold IRA: Benefits, risks, and how it differs from a traditional IRA

Price of gold chart

Whether you’re tracking the price of gold since last month or last year, the price-of-gold chart below shows the precious metal’s change in value so far this year. 



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Solana flirts with $100 despite rising competition – Can SOL unlock 20% more?

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Solana flirts with $100 despite rising competition – Can SOL unlock 20% more?


The crypto market extended its recovery into the weekend as Solana flirted with the $100 psychological level for the first time since February. 

On Saturday, the 22nd of August, the altcoin pumped an additional 6% and tagged $102.7 on Binance. If there is a daily candlestick close above $100, this would effectively confirm SOL’s breakout from the 2026 price range. 

Solana SOL
Source: SOL/USDT, TradingView 

If so, an additional 20% upside potential would be achievable if the next key target of $117 (50-week Moving Average, MA, white) is reached. 

However, if bulls are rejected at the range-high near $98, the sideways structure could be extended. With likely volatility ahead of next week’s Jackson Hole Symposium by the world’s top central bank heads, either scenario could play out. 

Analysts split on SOL’s outlook

On the long-term outlook, however, analysts have mixed feelings about the L1 altcoin and its key catalysts for the next bull run. 

For his part, Ryan Watkins, the founder of Syncracy Capital, projected that Solana’s fundamentals, including SOL’s tokenomics, will get better. He cited key inflation proposals and narratives (tokenization, stablecoin, etc). 

Fundamentals look great, and the value capture story will only improve with each passing quarter. Targeting much, much higher.

According to him, Solana’s revenue will likely grow by 2X or 4X in the next two years. He concluded that,

Think $SOL is about to make a big comeback and is the most asymmetric major over the next 6 – 18 months.

Solana Solana
Source: X

However, Jon Charbonneau, General Partner at another investment firm, DBA, countered that Hyperliquid and Pumpfun [PUMP] are better and cheaper alternatives. 

The challenge now is it’s just harder to buy SOL at $60bn when HYPE & PUMP are both cheaper, have stronger revenue/fundamentals, & are cleaner expressions together covering most of the SOL thesis but at the layer capturing more value.

Solana SOLSolana SOL
Source: Blockworks 

Another analyst, Michael Nadeau, echoed a similar stance, noting that most of Solana’s economics comes from Pumpfun (memecoin launchpad). He discredited Solana’s perceived moat into the next cycle. 

Tokenization, prediction markets, stablecoins, and AI agents are some of the top narratives for the next cycle. But memecoin trading still dominates most of the chains. So, it may be too early to give up on Solana [SOL]. 

That said, the U.S. spot SOL ETF attracted $28.3M in weekly net inflows, one of the highest demand since May. If the institutional bid persists next week, the altcoin could reclaim $100.  

Final Summary

  • Solana attempted to reclaim the $100 psychological level amid $28M ETF weekly demand
  • Analysts are split over Solana’s moat and SOL’s value capture ahead of the next cycle 

 



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Bitcoin and ethereum prices today, Friday, August 21, 2026: Cryptos continue rally sparked by Treasury repurchase announcement

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Bitcoin and ethereum prices today, Friday, July 3, 2026: 'Green' July off to a solid start


Bitcoin (BTC-USD) opened at $73,013 on Friday, August 21, 2026, 5.4% higher than Thursday’s opening price. As of 9:08 a.m. ET this morning, the price of bitcoin moved up to $77,307.95.

Ethereum (ETH-USD) opened at $2,326.60 on Friday, August 21, 2026, up 3.3% from Thursday’s opening price. The price of ethereum moved higher this morning to $2,390.81 as of 9:08 a.m. ET.

Bitcoin and ethereum prices continued to rise Friday morning. The Treasury announcement to buy back more long-term debt and President Trump’s recent call to pass crypto legislation sparked the rally. U.S. Treasury debt repurchases inject liquidity into financial markets and suppress long-term bond yields. Lower yields free up investor cash and prompt greater appetite for risk — which benefits cryptocurrencies and other volatile assets.

Current price of bitcoin and ethereum

Bitcoin 

The price of bitcoin this morning was 5.4% higher than Thursday’s opening price. Here’s a look at how the opening bitcoin price has changed versus last week, month, and year:

  • One week ago: +15.2%

  • One month ago: +11.9%

  • One year ago: -36.1%

The all-time high for bitcoin was $126,198.07 on Oct. 6, 2025. The all-time low value for bitcoin was $0.04865 on July 14, 2010. 

Ethereum

The price of ethereum this morning was 3.3% higher than Thursday’s open. Here’s a look at how the opening ethereum price has changed versus last week, month, and year:

  • One week ago: +23.5%

  • One month ago: +22.2%

  • One year ago: -46.3%

The all-time high for ethereum was $4,953.73 on Aug. 24, 2025. The all-time low value for ethereum was $0.4209 on Oct. 21, 2015. 

Bitcoin, ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies are rapidly evolving. Follow the latest developments from Yahoo Finance and others here.

Can you buy your next house with crypto? 

So, you put a little mad money into bitcoin a few years ago. Now, your crypto-fueled profit means you have a sweet nest egg to put toward a house.

But can you buy a house with crypto rather than using cash or a traditional mortgage loan? What are the roadblocks? And what about taxes?

President Trump wants the United States to be “the crypto capital of the world.” In that spirit, in late June, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) William J. Pulte ordered Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to “prepare their businesses to count cryptocurrency as an asset for a mortgage.”

The FHFA supervises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored companies that fund a major portion of the mortgage industry.

Pulte said the housing system “needs a massive upgrade,” adding, “I want people who own cryptocurrency to be able to buy homes like everyone else. I believe cryptocurrency is an asset. I believe Americans should be able to use their crypto if they want to. It’s time the housing system caught up.”

This signals what could be a fundamental change to how cryptocurrency may be used to qualify for a mortgage.

Learn more: Want to buy a house with crypto? Here’s what to expect. 

Bitcoin and ethereum price charts

Whether you’re brand new to tracking the value of bitcoin and ethereum or a more seasoned crypto investor, Yahoo Finance’s price-of-bitcoin chart and price-of-ethereum chart below show a visual history of how the currencies’ value continues to move and evolve.

More information on crypto from the Yahoo Finance team: 



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Monad jumps 12% as TVL hits $2.677B – Can MON break $0.03?

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Monad jumps 12% as TVL hits $2.677B – Can MON break $0.03?


Monad [MON] price broke out of a confined sideways range and surged over 12% in the past 24 hours. The altcoin has cemented its position among the top blockchains by DEX volume.

As the altcoin trades into strength, can its growing chain activity help it surpass hurdles blocking it from reclaiming its 2026 highs?

Analyzing Monad chain’s activity growth this month

Looking at the daily DEX volume of top chains, Monad appeared in the top 10 among major ecosystems with $191.77 million. This figure took the weekly sum to $595 million as the monthly total surpassed $1.80 billion.

Other major ecosystems in the list were Solana [SOL], Ethereum [ETH], Base, BNB Chain, and Hyperliquid [HYPE], closing the top five.

MON
Source: Monad Media

Moreover, other network activity metrics have been growing since mid-July when MON started to reverse.

For instance, the Total Value Locked (TVL) has increased from $1.205 billion to $2.677 billion. This means that TVL has more than doubled in just one month.

On top of that, the chain’s stablecoin market cap is up, a positive sign showing the presence of liquidity. That is, the market cap has expanded from $482 million to $703 million, almost double the amount in a month.

MonadMonad
Source: DeFiLama

That is not all.

Active Addresses and Transactions returned to highs seen in mid-July. To be specific, Active Addresses hit 23.83K while transactions were in excess of 6.23 million.

Capital outflows had also reduced immensely by more than half, from about $17 million to $8.40 million. However, this reading showed that sellers were yet to be exhausted.

What is keeping the price from this year’s high?

Technically, the altcoin had broken from a two-and-a-half-month stagnation between $0.01911 and $0.02424. MON’s price was even above the Parabolic Sar, reinforcing the range breakout.

However, the altcoin was still struggling to breach the resistance at $0.03. This could curtail the altcoin from repeating a similar uptrend seen in April.

Good thing MON was surging from a key demand zone that resulted in this year’s peak value of $0.038. The market structure was already bullish unless the price failed to hold above $0.02434.

The selling pressure had also declined sharply from 867.67 million tokens to 15.84 million MON, according to the Accumulation/Distribution indicator.

MonadMONMonadMON
Source: MON/USDT on TradingView

On the contrary, failure to breach the $0.030 zone, MON might retest the breakout area at $0.02434. The rally could also be halted at $0.038 if bulls lack enough zeal to make a new year-to-date (YTD) high.

Final Summary

  • Monad is up 12% as its daily DEX volume explodes alongside the network’s metrics like TVL, transactions, and liquidity. 
  • MON broke a sideways consolidation that lasted more than two months, flipping the market structure to bullish. 



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U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature Card review: Earn 2% cash back or more on every purchase

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U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature Card review: Earn 2% cash back or more on every purchase


The U.S. Bank Smartly™ Visa Signature® Card makes it easy to maximize every purchase with 2% cash back. But if you have an existing U.S. Bank account with a qualifying balance, you can get even more: up to double the cash back on your spending.

U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature overview

  • Annual fee

    $0

  • Introductory Purchases APR

    0% intro on purchases for 12 billing cycles

  • Ongoing Purchases APR

    18.24% – 28.24% Variable

  • Introductory Balance Transfer APR

    0% intro on balance transfers for 12 billing cycles

  • Ongoing Balance Transfer APR

    18.24% – 28.24% Variable

  • Rewards rate

    • Unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase
    • Up to an additional 2% cash back on your first $10,000 in eligible purchases each billing cycle when paired with U.S. Bank Smartly® Savings account, plus qualifying balances in U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking and/or Safe Debit account

  • Benefits

    • Earn extra cash back on purchases with qualifying U.S. Bank savings and checking acounts
    • Get your cash back directly deposited into your U.S. Bank checking or savings accounts, as a statement credit, a rewards card, merchant gift cards and more
    • Terms & conditions apply

How to earn rewards

Earning rewards with this card is easy. You’ll get a flat 2% cash back on every purchase. There’s no cap, and you don’t need to track spending categories or purchases. 

The best way to earn rewards with this card, though, is by qualifying for the Smartly Earning Bonus. You can get up to 4% cash back on spending if you already have or open a U.S. Bank Smartly Savings account and you have a qualifying balance in a U.S. Bank Smartly Checking account or Safe Debit account.

Here’s how much you’ll earn with varying qualifying balances:

  • 2.5% cash back with a qualifying balance between $10,000 and $49,999

  • 3% cash back with a qualifying balance between $50,000 and $99,999

  • 4% cash back with a qualifying balance of $100,000 or more

You’ll earn the bonus rewards you qualify for on up to $10,000 in purchases each billing cycle. If you spend more than that per month, everything else still earns 2% cash back.

Some purchases are also excluded from the Smartly Earning Bonus, though they will still earn the standard 2% cash back. Exclusions include education/school, gift cards, insurance, taxes, business-to-business transactions, such as advertising services (even if the purchase isn’t for a business purpose), and transactions that use a third-party bill payment service.

How to redeem rewards

You can redeem your cash back for full value as a deposit into a U.S. Bank account or as a statement credit to your card account. 

Your rewards won’t expire as long as your account is active. That means you must have at least one purchase, reward, or balance activity on your account every 12 billing cycles.

Who is the U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature Card best for?

The U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature is an easy pick for U.S. Bank customers with high enough balances to qualify for the Smartly Earning Bonus. 

Most flat cash-back cards cap rewards at 2%. If you can earn even the lowest bonus rate (2.5% cash back with a qualifying balance between $10,000 and $49,999) your cash back earnings will multiply by a lot over time.

For example, say you spend about $20,000 each year on various purchases made with your card. Here’s how your rewards would grow as you qualify for different Smartly Earning Bonus tiers:

  • Standard 2% cash back: $400 annually

  • 2.5% cash back: $500 annually

  • 3% cash back: $600 annually

  • 4% cash back: $800 annually 

However, the exclusions for the Smartly Earning Bonus are worth considering, depending on your spending. For example, taxes are excluded from the extra earnings. Paying your taxes with a credit card usually comes with a fee higher than 2% — so without the bonus, you likely won’t earn enough to make up the payment fee. 

Even if you don’t have an eligible U.S. Bank account, this card’s regular 2% cash back rate is still a great option for most everyday spending. That’s among the highest rewards rates available from flat cash-back cards today. 

Whether you want a standalone card to help you maximize every purchase or a card to use alongside higher-earning travel or rewards cards, the U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature could make a solid addition to your wallet without any added cost.

U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature Card pros

  • No annual fee: You won’t have to pay any annual fee to own this card.

  • Introductory APR: The U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature offers an introductory APR on both new purchases and balance transfers. This can be a great option for earning cash back on an upcoming purchase or for paying down existing debt. After the intro period ends, you can use the card to earn cash back on your regular spending.

  • 2% cash-back rewards: Flat 2% rewards on every purchase can help you rack up solid savings on your most frequent purchases. Since you won’t have to worry about tracking categories or multipliers, this is a great option for simple rewards on spending.

U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature Card cons

  • No added benefits: You won’t get many added benefits with this card over the long term. If you’re looking for annual credits or travel perks, you may want to consider other rewards cards.

  • Need high balance to qualify for bonus rewards: This card offers an outstanding bonus rewards program worth up to 4% cash back on up to $10,000 each billing cycle. But to earn that max bonus, you’ll need at least $100,000 in an eligible U.S. Bank account. If you don’t bank with U.S. Bank or you don’t have enough savings to score the Smartly Earnings Bonus, it’ll be difficult to maximize this benefit.

  • No welcome bonus: While the U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature has great rewards, you won’t have the opportunity to earn a welcome bonus with this card. Many other cash-back credit cards offer cash welcome bonuses worth $150 to $250 or even more after meeting a minimum spending requirement.

Where can you use the U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature Card?

The U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature is a Visa card, so you can use it at most places that accept credit cards. Visa is one of the most widely accepted card networks worldwide.

However, this card does have a 3% foreign transaction fee. When you use your card internationally, the fee you pay will exceed your rewards (unless you’re in the highest Smartly Earning Bonus tier). While you can still use this card abroad, you may want to look for one with no foreign transaction fees instead if you travel often.

How to make a U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature Card payment

  • Make a payment through your online account or U.S. Bank’s mobile app. In the app, select “Transfer & pay,” select your credit card bill, and then choose the checking or savings account you want to use to pay.

  • Send your payment by mail: Cardmember Service PO Box 790408 St. Louis, MO 63179

U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature Card customer service info

  • Customer service is available 24/7

  • Phone number: 800-285-8585 or call the number on the back of your card

  • Navigate to the “Help center” through your online account or choose “Help & services” then “Contact us” within the U.S. Bank mobile app

  • Visit a U.S. Bank location during business hours

  • U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature login page

Alternative cards to consider

The U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature offers great rewards and a 0% APR for no annual fee, but there are other valuable cash-back cards to consider before you apply. These are a few of our top picks:

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

  • Annual fee

    $0

  • Welcome offer

    Earn as high as $200 cash back after spending $2,000 within the first 6 months (welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer; cash back is received as Reward Dollars, redeemable for statement credit or at amazon.com checkout)

  • Introductory Purchases APR

    0% on purchases for 15 months

  • Ongoing Purchases APR

    19.49%-28.49% Variable

  • Introductory Balance Transfer APR

    0% on balance transfers for 15 months

  • Ongoing Balance Transfer APR

    19.49%-28.49% Variable

  • Rewards rate

    • 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases, then 1%)
    • 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases (on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases, then 1%)
    • 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations (on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases, then 1%)
    • 1% cash back on all other purchases
    • Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or on Amazon.com at checkout

  • Benefits

    • Generous intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
    • Get up to a $7 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or Stream.ESPN.com U.S. websites (subject to auto-renewal)

Why we like it: The Blue Cash Everyday from Amex can help you make the most of everyday spending with 3% back (up to limits) across multiple categories, including U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations, as well as U.S. online retailers, which isn’t a common cash-back category. It also has no annual fee, a long intro APR offer for purchases and balance transfers, and a cash welcome bonus that you can earn as a new cardholder. 

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

  • Annual fee

    $0

  • Welcome offer

    Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

  • Introductory Purchases APR

    0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months

  • Ongoing Purchases APR

    18.24% – 27.74% Variable

  • Introductory Balance Transfer APR

    0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months

  • Rewards rate

    • Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
    • 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants (includes takeout and eligible delivery service)
    • 1.5% on all other purchases

  • Benefits

    • No minimum to redeem for cash back; use points to redeem for cash through an account statement credit or an electronic deposit into an eligible Chase account located in the U.S.
    • Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more
    • Generous intro APR on purchases and balance transfers

Why we like it: The no-annual-fee Chase Freedom Unlimited is a flat cash-back card with 1.5% back on everything. But you’ll earn even more across select bonus categories, including travel booked through Chase Travel (5% cash back), and drugstores and restaurants (3% cash back). You can also earn a welcome bonus with this card and take advantage of an introductory APR on new purchases and balance transfers.

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

  • Annual fee

    $0

  • Welcome offer

    Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 within the first 3 months

  • Introductory APR

    0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers (balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro APR and intro balance transfer fee; 18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% variable APR after that)

  • Purchase APR

    18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% variable APR

  • Introductory Balance Transfer APR

    0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers

  • Ongoing Balance Transfer APR

    18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% Variable APR

  • Benefits

    • Get up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft ($25 deductible applies)
    • Pay-per-use 24/7 roadside dispatch assistance
    • Auto rental collision damage waiver coverage

Why we like it: Simple cash-back rewards are the main benefit of the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card. Like the U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature, this card offers a flat 2% cash back on every purchase. It has no annual fee, offers an introductory APR for new purchases and balance transfers, and even comes with a solid cash welcome bonus.

Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn’t include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.



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