EDIT: The referral link for the US Bank FlexPerks does NOT give the full Olympic bonus. We’re really sorry to anyone who applied through our link–if it makes you feel better, we also applied using a referral link and will not be getting the promo bonus either. Be sure to use the normal application link to qualify for the promotion.

I applied for the US Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards card the other day. Now the Olympics is over, the bonus is 34,800 points (20,000 is the standard bonus, plus 14,800 for the medals Team USA won), which is a great offer.

I saw a section in the application from the referral page asking me for an Alternate Mailing Address. Since I usually put my billing address as my parents’ place, I thought it would be convenient if my card could just be mailed to my mailing address.

US Bank Alternate Mailing Address

US Bank Alternate Mailing Address

As expected I wasn’t approved instantly, but received a pending message. I checked the online application status page a few days later, where it said I had no pending applications. Huh? So I called their automated application status phone number at 877-625-5249 where it said I could not be approved at this time. Bummer.

But wait! I got this letter in the mail a few days later:

Letter I got asking to verify information

Letter I got asking to verify information

I called in to ask what was going on, and apparently because my mailing address was different than my billing address, they needed to verify that I actually applied for the card. I did the verification over the phone and supposedly the application will be processed again the next day. Hopefully this won’t result in another hard pull!

So most likely if you’ve never used that alternate mailing address before, US Bank will hold up your credit card applications. Something to keep in mind in the future.