Is the U.S. Bank Business Essentials Visa worth it for your small business?

The U.S. Bank Business Essentials™ Visa® Card is a cash-back credit card for small business owners. It earns flat cash rewards on eligible purchases, with no need to track categories or spending.

This card is even more valuable for existing U.S. Bank customers or business owners willing to switch their business checking accounts to the bank. With an eligible account and qualifying balance, you can earn up to 2.5% cash back on up to $10,000 in eligible purchases each billing cycle.

Here's what you need to know to decide if the U.S. Bank Business Essentials Visa Card is right for your business expenses:

Key takeaways

• Earn an unlimited 2% cash back on eligible purchases

• Earn a boosted 2.5% cash back on up to $10,000 in eligible purchases each billing cycle with the Business Essentials Earning Bonus when you have an eligible U.S. Bank business checking account with a qualifying balance of at least $10,000

• Earn 6% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked through the U.S. Bank Travel Center

• Get a 0% introductory APR on purchases for the first 12 billing cycles

U.S. Bank Business Essentials Visa Card overview

How do you earn rewards with the U.S. Bank Business Essentials Visa Card?

This card's rewards are easy to maximize. A flat 2% cash back on eligible purchases means you can earn rewards on everything from office supplies to software subscriptions, utility payments, and more. There's no limit to the amount of cash back you can earn at the base rate.

If you can book your business travel using U.S. Bank's travel portal, you'll also earn 6% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals. You'll need to make your prepaid reservations through the U.S. Bank Travel Center using your card to qualify.

How to earn 2.5% total cash back

You can boost your rewards to 2.5% cash back by qualifying for the Business Essentials Earning Bonus. You'll need to meet two different criteria to qualify:

• Open or have an existing qualifying U.S. Bank business checking account. These accounts include the U.S. Bank Business Essentials, U.S. Bank Gold Business Checking, Gold Business Checking with Interest, and U.S. Bank Platinum Business Checking

• Maintain a qualifying balance of $10,000 or more in one of the above checking accounts. U.S. Bank determines your qualifying balance using the 30-day average balance across your qualifying business checking accounts.

The bonus 2.5% cash back applies only to the first $10,000 in eligible purchases each billing cycle. Any amount you spend over that earns the base 2% cash-back rate.

There are also some purchases that are not eligible to earn the 2.5% bonus rate, including education expenses, gift cards, and tax payments. These purchases will earn only the base 2% cash back and don't count toward the $10,000 bonus cap.

What is the U.S. Bank Business Essentials Visa Card welcome offer?

As a new cardholder, you can earn 50,000 bonus points, worth $500, after spending $5,000 in eligible purchases within the first 150 days of account opening.

That's about five months to reach the spending minimum — longer than many other business credit card welcome offers today. If you spend at least $1,000 per month on eligible business expenses, you can easily earn the bonus within that period.

The maximum $500 value applies when you redeem your points for a statement credit or deposit into an eligible U.S. Bank account. Other redemption options may have a different value.

How do you redeem rewards?

Your cash-back rewards are earned as points. You can redeem your points for cash back as a statement credit to your card account or as a deposit into an eligible U.S. Bank account.

Other redemption options, including travel and gift cards, are also available, though your points may be worth less when redeemed this way.

Your rewards won't expire as long as there is some reward, purchase, or balance activity on your account every 12 billing cycles.

Does the U.S. Bank Business Essentials Visa Card have a 0% intro APR?

The U.S. Bank Business Essentials Visa offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases for the first 12 billing cycles. After that, the ongoing variable APR applies. There's no intro offer for balance transfers with this card.

Who is the U.S. Bank Business Essentials Visa Card best for?

The U.S. Bank Business Essentials Visa Card is a great option for business owners who want a simple way to earn great rewards. It can also be useful if you often make business purchases across multiple spending categories or have expenses that fall outside common rewards categories. A flat cash-back rewards card is a great catch-all tool for maximizing every dollar you spend throughout the year.

If you're not already using U.S. Bank for your business checking, it's also worth considering opening an eligible account to qualify for the Business Essentials Earning Bonus. With a qualifying balance of at least $10,000, you can boost your rewards to 2.5% on up to $10,000 in eligible purchases each billing cycle.

That may seem like a small difference, but it can add up quickly. If you spend $10,000 in eligible purchases during a billing cycle, for example, you could earn $250 at the 2.5% rate, compared to $200 at the standard 2% rate.

Finally, this card can also be ideal if you have an upcoming large purchase that you need to make for your business. Not only can you earn 2% cash back on an eligible purchase, but you can also avoid interest and pay it off over time using the card's introductory 0% APR. If your purchase is under $10,000 and you qualify for the 2.5% bonus, you can earn even more back.

U.S. Bank Business Essentials Visa Card pros

• 2% flat cash back: With a flat 2% cash back, you can get maximum rewards across your eligible business expenses. If you have an eligible U.S. Bank business checking account and qualifying balance, you can even boost your cash-back rate to 2.5% on up to $10,000 in eligible purchases each billing cycle.

• Solid welcome offer: You can earn 50,000 bonus points, worth up to $500, after spending $5,000 in eligible purchases within the first 150 days of account opening.

• No annual fee: With no annual cost to own this card, all of the cash back you earn equals savings for your business spending.

U.S. Bank Business Essentials Visa Card cons

• No balance transfer offer: While this card does offer an introductory 0% APR on new purchases, there's no intro offer for balance transfers. If you have existing business debt you'd like to pay off with a 0% APR, you should consider other business card options.

• Cap for 2.5% bonus rate: If you qualify for the 2.5% bonus rewards with an eligible business checking account and qualifying balance, you'll only earn it on the first $10,000 in eligible purchases each billing cycle. Any amount over that earns the standard 2% cash-back rate.

• U.S. Bank relationship required for the highest rate: You'll need an eligible U.S. Bank business checking account and at least $10,000 in qualifying balances to earn the 2.5% rate.

FAQs

What are the U.S. Bank Business Essentials Visa Card rewards categories?

There are no traditional rewards categories for this card. Eligible purchases earn 2% cash back regardless of spending category. You can also earn 6% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked through the U.S. Bank Travel Center.

How can you earn up to 2.5% cash back with a U.S. Bank Business Essentials Visa Card?

You can increase your 2% cash rewards to 2.5% with an eligible business checking account and a qualifying balance of at least $10,000. The boosted 2.5% cash back will apply to the first $10,000 you spend on eligible purchases each billing cycle.

Does the U.S. Bank Business Essentials Visa Card have an annual fee?

No — there's no annual fee to own the U.S. Bank Business Essentials Visa Card.

Questions? Comments? News to share? Reach the Personal Finance Credit Cards Team at credit.cards@yahooinc.com

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