When I went in to open my 5k secured account, I explained to the teller what I was doing and he wisely suggested that instead I open up a 3k and a 2k account to help boost AAoA (if you only have two accounts, he explained to my bewilderment, then the average is going to increase at the same rate no matter how many accounts you open). So, I have two secured cards - one 2k and one 3k. My nicknames for them in USBank.com are hopefully never revealed publicly. But you're not alone! 
I'm now trying to formulate my best angle of approach here. I have spoken to UW a few times and they cannot assure me which bureau will be pulled, if any, if I will be approved for the product or CL I request, if at all or how many times they will do a hard pull, if any or that the account will be reported as continuous and not a new line altogether. It's a bit maddening that they can't be a little more specific on the process but I am assured that every graduation request is reviewed by an "actual human" (opposed to all those fake humans you see running around lately).
I really can
USbank 5% cat. update:
Hey, my Ficoers!, I mentioned this earlier in another post USbank added (5% home utilities cat.) here is the list...Just wanted to make sure this gets out....thks
This category includes bills paid directly to your household utility providers and excludes Internet/cable/telecom service providers, cell phone services, security system services and similar merchants.3 Some utility providers may charge a convenience fee for using a credit card to pay your bill — please check with your providers.
Below is a list of popular merchants in this category.2 While the list can be a helpful guide, U.S. Bank does not control how individual merchants or purchases are categorized.3
- Ace Solid Waste
- Advanced Disposal
- Ameren Corporation
- Atmos Energy
- California Water Service
- City of Cleveland, Division of Water
- City of Minneapolis Utilities
- Clark Public Utilities
- ComEd, An Exelon Company
- Cuivre River Electric Cooperative
- Denver Water
- Des Moines Water Works
- DTE Energy
- FirstEnergy
- Kansas City Power & Light
- Laclede Gas
- Las Vegas Valley Water District
- Lincoln Electric System
- Los Angeles Department of Water & Power
- Louisville Gas & Electric
- Metropolitan Sewer District
- Metropolitan Utilities District
- Missouri Gas Energy
- Nashville Electric Service
- Nicor Gas
- NW Natural
- Omaha Public Power District
- Owen Electric Cooperative
- Pacific Gas & Electric
- Pacific Power
- People's Energy Cooperative
- Portland General Electric
- Portland Water Bureau
- Puget Sound Energy
- Republic Services
- Rochester Public Utilities
- Rocky Mountain Power
- Sacramento Municipal Utility District
- Seattle City Light
- Seattle Public Utilities
- Snohomish County Public Utility District
- Southern California Gas Company
- trashbilling.com
- United Power
- Waste Connections
- Waste Management
- We Energies
- Westar Energy
- Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association
- Xcel Energy
1 Cash back is redeemed in the form of a statement credit or a deposit made to your U.S. Bank Savings, Checking or Money Market Account based on your designation, or as a U.S. Bank Rewards Card ($20 minimum redemption).
2 The entities listed above are merely examples of the type of companies and merchants that fall within each particular category. U.S. Bank, its parent, and affiliated corporations are not affiliated, connected, or associated with these entities, nor are its products and services endorsed by these entities.