I have read on some other posts that you need atleast a 670 on TU which they will hard pull for graduation. I dont have a US bank secured, thats just what Ive read.
In my opinion I dont think it makes sense to up the limit 3 months before possible graduation as that could hurt your chances at graduation since they would look at the entire history of the card. If most of the history shows you managing a $500 limit and then you up it to $3000 they may be less inclined to unsecure at that limit.
I have a B of A secured card that was just unsecured 3 weeks ago. They hard pulled my TU to unsecure it and the secured dept manually reviewed my report. They unsecured it and upped my limit to $1500, which was inline with the spending I had done on the card over the year that I had it.
Im guessing US bank also looks at your spending habits on the card. When requesting graduation, they will use the same hard pull for a CLI.
I used my secured card heavily and made several payments every month, running around $1500 a month on a card with a $500 limit. Im assuming that played a role in them upping the limit at graduation.
My one year with US bank is up today and I have a 689 TU score. I paid off my remaining tax lien and judgement now just waiting for that to update. As soon as it does I'll be requesting a unsecured card. Good Luck!!! 
@meehan22 wrote:My one year with US bank is up today and I have a 689 TU score. I paid off my remaining tax lien and judgement now just waiting for that to update. As soon as it does I'll be requesting a unsecured card. Good Luck!!!
Hi Meehan22 - Your plan sounds identical to mine. I just paid two outstanding judgments and once I get them updated to reflect paid I will request my card be unsecured. Although when I called US bank asking about the unsecure process I was told I need to wait until May. The first month my card reported was April but I didn't actually use it and made a payment until May. They want to see a year of actual payment history not just a year from when you got the card.
Please keep me updated. Curious what they product change you to and if you get a credit limit increase or if you have to wait for that also.
Good Luck!!!
Thats odd, I emailed them a couple months ago requesting the how-to to have the card unsecured. They emailed me back giving the date and everything that I could apply for the unsecured card. Which was exactly 1 year after I opened it.
I just "unsecured" my US Bank secured card last Thursday. The whole process took about 90 seconds, and was pretty painless.
I called the number on the back of the card. CSR confirmed SSN, address, etc. I told her I was interested in unsecuring the card...she checked a couple of things and said "yes you are eligible to unsecure the card" and upgraded me to the US Bank Platinum. CL will remain the same ($1000); she said to call back in 6 mo. to request an increase or PC. She also indicated the card number changes, but the TL history will remain. I should receive the card within a week, and my deposit will be mailed back to me within 10 business days.
I checked CK on Sunday...no hard pull from TU. Nothing from Scorewatch (EQ) or Experian either...so it looks like it was a SP. I have heard mixed reviews on this question (some people report a HP, some not)...but for me, they did not HP. YMMV.
Hope this helps. Good luck!
I haven't requested mine quite yet. I did get my dispute letter back from TU saying my remaining 2 judgements and tax lien was updated to satisfied. Experian and Equifax hasn't updated it yet. But if they pull TU I may as well call and get it unsecured since that CR is perfect.
My limit is only $300 on US Bank. I hope I receive a bit more. I may hit up the US Bank pre qualify site for giggles to see if they reccomend me for anything.
@meehan22 wrote:I haven't requested mine quite yet. I did get my dispute letter back from TU saying my remaining 2 judgements and tax lien was updated to satisfied. Experian and Equifax hasn't updated it yet. But if they pull TU I may as well call and get it unsecured since that CR is perfect.
My limit is only $300 on US Bank. I hope I receive a bit more. I may hit up the US Bank pre qualify site for giggles to see if they reccomend me for anything.
My advice would be to wait until EX and EQ have updated, especially given US Bank's reputation for being one of the more conservative lenders. I have no idea who they pull. Some say TU; some say EQ. But why chance it when you're this close? It is a MAJOR exercise in patience to wait for those CR to update...so I feel your pain 
Looks like our scores are pretty similar, so I don't think you'll have any problems getting it unsecured. And yeah, I would defninitely ask for a CL increase if I were you...can't do much with a $300 CL. I can't wait for my report to update so it doesn't have the dreaded 'SECURED CREDIT CARD' notation anymore. It's always bothered me that US Bank puts that notation onto a report (other companies do not).
Anyway, good luck to you, and please update once you decide to pull the trigger.