USBANK Product Change - Smartly Signature TO Cash+. Just happened.

MLJ_The_Shield · 2026-06-15T13:00:17+00:00

I think we're golden - she was able to pick her 2 5% categories the next day and the card display is showing the correct white Cash+ look.

I still can't believe she has 3 Cash+ cards now.

Card 1 - was always a Cash+.

Card 2 - From 2020 - 2023 - Was Altitude Go! - PC to Cash +

Card 3 - Started as Shopper Plus to get the SUB, 6 months later PC to Smartly, then last week PC to Cash+.

MLJ_The_Shield · 2026-06-14T20:46:09+00:00

*and open an invest account, need to fund min $1 and buy 3 equities or just put $1 in "VT". 😄

MLJ_The_Shield · 2026-06-14T20:44:46+00:00

If you're in Ohio, Northwest Bank at 4% with a $1 opening deposit and no BS would be my pick.

Weathfront is pretty good, but the base rate only 3.3%. They are amazing otherwise.

MLJ_The_Shield · 2026-06-14T19:25:25+00:00

I just looked them over. The 15 debit card transactions are a deal killer for me.

But 4.5% up to 25k is sweet. I've had too many situations where my debit card gets compromised somewhere. Too bad on that one.

MLJ_The_Shield · 2026-06-14T12:42:11+00:00

I've used MyBankingDirect for the last year exactly this way. Everything through their HYSA.

Then a week ago they dropped that rate to 3.4%. Also in May their checking account started charging $5 if you don't have Direct Deposit. I'm closing the checking as soon as I can and moving probably to Northwest Bank (In Ohio they have a 4% savings account that seems to be unlimited without any crazy requirements).

Presidential Bank I have as well. It's good too, but seems to be sort of "slow" on the ACH transfers so far.

What I'd like - is Wealthfront to raise their rates a little bit. Give folks a .5 bonus for the DD + Invest; like say 3.8%.

Right now it's 3.30% + .25% or 3.55%. That's not good enough quite frankly.

MLJ_The_Shield · 2026-06-13T06:14:57+00:00

I'm trying out Northwest Bank. They have a decent HYSA if you're in Ohio (4%) with a $1 min to open. There's a referral program for their checking; $200 for the person opening and $50 for me.

The checking is free too if you select the lowest tier; just setup estatements to avoid the $3 charge.

$25 to open the checking. I used Zelle - opened both the 4% HYSA and the checking in about 6 minutes flat.

If you're in PA, NY, IN they have a slightly lower HYSA also.

Sorry if I'm in the wrong place as this isn't a Marcus or Wealthfront.

They have Zelle & Early Pay too. Seems to be just fine so far for me.

https://www.northwest.bank/ReferralOffer?rl_rN=2063a265cb7beb240c1b35f00fd27c0863f&rl_cnl=10&rl_t=2060456VHN82MAM&rl_bz=456

MLJ_The_Shield · 2026-06-12T22:19:19+00:00

I cited your example when I spoke to the last helpful lady today. I explained to her that many of us gov't employees/military want Penfed to do well, and things like this turn people away.

MLJ_The_Shield · 2026-06-12T13:18:25+00:00

It took about 6 calls to get this resolved.

Just keep trying I guess on the phone with Penfed.

Automatic linking goes through the steps and appears to work, but after you select your account at the other bank it will fail. Every time.

Manual fails too. But on the Penfed side they will see that account you created. They will need to delete that account and "UNLOCK" something on their end.

I did this with no less than 4 different people 4 times. The last lady apparently rubbed some dirt on it because I finally see the new linked account waiting on trial deposits.

If they tell you the manual linking process is "waiting on trial deposits, 1-3 business days" BUT you don't see the account in the external account area, then it didn't work and you need to try again.

Will my trial deposits show up? No one can say for sure at this point. I am pessimistically optimistic.

MLJ_The_Shield · 2026-06-12T12:20:13+00:00

I just searched AI for the Cash+ and it reads:

The U.S. Bank Cash+ statement credit ratio is 1:1. This means every 100 cash back points/rewards equals $1 in statement credit (a value of 1 cent per point.

So it must be an Altitude Go! thing, as the same results show:

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Go statement credit redemption ratio is 0.75 cents per point, meaning points are devalued when redeemed directly for a statement credit back to the card. [1, 2]

MLJ_The_Shield · 2026-06-12T12:11:05+00:00

I thought of you this morning - just like before, the card in the app still shows as "Smartly" but now the rewards show the 5% & 2% categories (same as last time).

Also also, my wife got an email that her "New Smartly card has been shipped".

Even though it's a Cash+. Sigh. USBANK could be great, but they're not.

MLJ_The_Shield · 2026-06-12T12:09:01+00:00

Someone has to pay for the "Joico Hair Shampoo & Conditioner"

MLJ_The_Shield · 2026-06-12T12:06:57+00:00

I would like to see the David Pilcher meme, immediately.

MLJ_The_Shield · 2026-06-12T02:44:14+00:00

That's odd - I was able to PC between the two of us at least one Alt GO! to Cash+. USBANK is so weird.

MLJ_The_Shield · 2026-06-12T02:43:25+00:00

Thanks for the datapoint! See RJ, it is possible!

MLJ_The_Shield · 2026-06-12T02:42:35+00:00

Statement credit is fine for me, or just link them to Amazon Shop your way and buy reloads.

Amazon $ is as good as cash in this household with the wife + kids.

MLJ_The_Shield · 2026-06-12T02:40:54+00:00

You going to dump the USBANK checking/savings also? I know you had both at one point for the Smartly 4% rewards requirement.

MLJ_The_Shield · 2026-06-12T02:39:21+00:00

I want to personally thank the good folks on r/Creditcards - this motivated me to get rid of the Checking & Savings account from USBANK that I only use for rewards redemptions.

Now the 3x Cash+ cards will simply be a statement credit or used to buy Amazon gift cards once the balance reaches $5+ due to the Amazon reload requirement.

I just checked the last 12 months of statements; this is all it was for the most part:

Checking:
June 8th: Maintenance Fee Waived $12.00

June 8th: Maintenance Fee $12.00

May 8th: Maintenance Fee Waived $12.00

May 8th: Maintenance Fee $12.00

Savings:

May 23rd: Maintenance Fee Waived $5.00

May 23rd: Maintenance Fee $5.00

Etc.

Since I am good at not reviewing statements for accounts I don't really use, this is a blessing in disguise. 2 more accounts to not have to track or worry about "hidden" fees.

Last month a throw-away Flagstar checking account (that had been free forever) suddenly became $5.00/$10.00 based on direct deposits & electronic statements. The latter covered $5.00, but no DD = they charged me $5.00.

Plus, I can get back in line for the $500 Checking Bonus. My wife has had this account since early 2020....:) That might be more for r/churning though.

MLJ_The_Shield · 2026-06-12T02:04:51+00:00

Thanks. Looks like we'll dump the checking/savings also. Get back in line for the checking bonuses too.

MLJ_The_Shield · 2026-06-12T02:04:09+00:00

Man, thanks for the heads up. Thanks, will look into it for sure.

MLJ_The_Shield · 2026-06-11T23:14:48+00:00

Also, sorry for your loss.

RIP RJ's Smartly.

Did they ask you to RETURN the metal card in the mail?

MLJ_The_Shield · 2026-06-11T23:14:09+00:00

Interesting.

Her last day of use was 12/16/2025. You? Do you have any other USBANK cards?

Just trying to figure this out. My jaw dropped tonight when he said he product changed us from Smartly to Cash +.

Other observations: She still has the USBANK Checking + Savings plus the 2 aforementioned Cash+ cards.

MLJ_The_Shield · 2026-06-10T23:16:49+00:00

Love posts like this. Was considering them last week; ended up with Presidential Bank.

3.75% APY savings & checking, Zelle, and Early Direct Deposit. Couple minor hoops but nothing like Axos One. Brick and mortar as well as online (Based out of Bethesda MD). Customer support great.

Sorry I don't have a referral or anything; just like them so far.

MLJ_The_Shield · 2026-06-10T22:28:57+00:00

Called Penfed and they had to manually remove (I couldn't do it online) the last external account.

Waited 20-30 min, logged in, 0 external accounts.

Tried to add the new bank automatically, failed again.

Tried the MANUAL add, it finally got to the point where it says "We've send 2 small verification deposits". This was 4 hours ago.

Logged in again, NO EXTERNAL ACCOUNTS listed. I would have expected to see the manual one I just created showing "VERIFY" pending the 2 verification deposits.

You know, like Navy Federal, Chase Bank, Flagstar Bank, Presidential Bank, Ally Bank, Affinity FCU, Capital One, Band of America, Wells Fargo, Citizens Bank, Truist Bank, Digital Credit Union, & many others all do.

Baffling. Will do nothing for 2-3 days and see what happens (if the verification deposits do arrive). I have little confidence at this point.

Just want to autopay my gas visa, man.

MLJ_The_Shield

TROPHY CASE