Small business credit cards offer valuable tools to business owners by providing greater spending power, covering gaps in cash flow and keeping personal and business finances separate. U.S. Bank and The American Express both offer competitive no-annual-fee credit cards in this space and we’ll see which may work for your business best: The U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card* or The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card (Terms apply. See rates & fees).
U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card
U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card
Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Travel Rewards Center; Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants; Earn 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
Welcome Bonus
$500 cash back
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Score
Good, Excellent
Regular APR
19.24% - 28.24% variable
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Earn 2% Cash Back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year; Earn 1% Cash Back on all purchases thereafter
Welcome Bonus
Earn $250
Annual Fee
No annual fee
Credit Score
Excellent/Good
Regular APR
18.49% - 26.49% Variable
U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card vs. The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card Overview
The U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card* and The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card both offer solid rewards and introductory APRs without charging an annual fee. Among business credit cards, the Amex Blue Business Cash card generally comes out on top, but it may not be the better card for you.
| U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card* | The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card | |
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Annual fee
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$0
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No annual fee
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Rewards
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5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Travel Rewards Center, 3% cash back at gas and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
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2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%
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Welcome bonus
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$500 cash back after spending $4,500 in the first 150 days of opening the account
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$250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months of account opening
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APR
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0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles, followed by a regular APR of 19.24% – 28.24% variable. A balance transfer fee of either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater, applies
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0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a 18.49% – 26.49% variable APR applies
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Other benefits
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Welcome Bonus
With the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card*, you can earn $500 cash back after spending $4,500 in the first 150 days of opening the account.
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card offers a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.
U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card
Up to 5% Reward Rate
Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Travel Rewards Center; Earn 3% cashRead More
Welcome Bonus
$500 cash back
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
19.24% - 28.24% variable
Credit Score
Good, Excellent (700 - 749)
Even without the balance transfer option the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards is an attractive option with a generous welcome bonus and enhanced earnings in categories that align with many businesses’ spending. The extended introductory 0% APR period is icing on an already tasty cake.
The Triple Cash Visa Business card is a strong option for businesses that have minimal travel needs and who are looking to maximum their cash-back earnings across a variety of spend categories. As a bonus, it offers a $100 software credit.
- No annual fee
- Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations, EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants.
- Introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers
- Reward categories may not align with how some businesses spend
- Foreign transaction fee
- There’s a balance transfer fee which can eat into your savings when transferring a balance
- Earn $500 cash back after spending $4,500 in the first 150 days of opening the account
- Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the travel rewards center, 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants. Plus, earn 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
- No annual fee
- $100 annual software credit for recurring software subscription expenses
Introductory APR Offers
The U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Business Card offers a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles, followed by a regular APR of 19.24% - 28.24% variable. A balance transfer fee of either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater, applies, while the Amex Blue Business Cash offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a 18.49% - 26.49% variable APR applies.
Those interested in carrying a balance without interest for some period of time might apply for one card for the 0% APR offer and when the period ends, apply for the second card for another set of purchases. Or, if you apply for the Amex Blue Business Cash card first and then use the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Business Card’s balance transfer offer, to transfer the same balance for an even longer period. Note that a balance transfer fee will apply for the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Business card: Either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater. Also be aware that approval for either card is not guaranteed so it’s best to have a backup plan if this is your strategy.
Whichever way you decide to go, be sure to first calculate if the promotional financing opportunity and balance transfer cost is right for you and ensure you have a plan to pay down the balance before the end of the period.
Annual Fee
Neither card in this matchup charges an annual fee, so the cost of entry is low for both cards.
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Considering there’s no annual fee, the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card pays off for business owners who spend $50k or less per year. Just don’t use the card overseas, as the foreign transaction fee eclipses the cashback rewards.
For companies with moderate spending the Blue Business Cash offers one of the simplest deals for earning rewards. Businesses earn a strong 2% cash back on purchases without needing to pay an annual fee or remember bonus categories, all while getting other popular Amex perks like rental car insurance and vendor payment tools.
- No annual fee
- Introductory APR on purchases
- Great extra benefits like purchase protection and car rental insurance
- Business-oriented benefits like employee cards and authorized manager accounts
- Highest-earning cash-back reward capped after $50,000 in annual spending
- High foreign transaction fees
- No low introductory APR for balance transfers
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 18.49% – 26.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening. APRs will not exceed 29.99%
- Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
- From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That’s why you’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power.
- Just remember, the amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us and other factors.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
Earning Rewards
The U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card* earns 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Travel Rewards Center, 3% cash back at gas and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases. This makes it a better solo card for businesses often booking hotels and rental cars, purchasing plenty of gas and taking clients or employees to dinner.
For nearly everything else up to the bonus rewards cap, The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card earns 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%.
For the right business with complementary spending patterns, using these two cards strategically can maximize rewards on purchases. Use the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card* at gas stations, office supply stores, restaurants and with cellphone service providers. All other purchases are then paid for with The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card to ensure the best rate until the $50,000 cap. Businesses spending over $50,000 annually may benefit more from another card.
Business Benefits
One business-specific benefit offered with the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card* is an annual $100 statement credit for eligible recurring software subscription expenses such as FreshBooks or QuickBooks. The card also offers employee cards for no additional fee.
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card doesn’t offer a statement credit, but Amex does advertise compatibility with QuickBooks for ease of management and cardholders are eligible to enroll in Bill.com’s vendor pay program to earn rewards while paying vendors—a major boost to reward potential for some companies.
Redemption Options
Rewards earned with the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card* may be redeemed only after reaching the minimum redemption amount of $25. Eligible redemptions include a direct deposit to a U.S. Bank banking account or statement credits to the card. The primary cardholder manages points, but employee cards may also earn rewards for the business.
The American Express Blue Business Cash only permits cash-back rewards earned with The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card to be automatically redeemed as a statement credit to the account within the two months after a purchase was made. Rewards earned on purchases in January will be posted on the March billing statement as statement credits.
The U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card*’s redemptions options allow for slightly more flexibility but are limited by the minimum and redemption takes extra effort, so we’ll call it a toss-up.
Other Perks and Benefits
The U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card* certainly weighs in lighter with benefits compared to The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, but neither card offers the sorts of perks you’d typically find with some of the best business credit cards on the market.
The U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card* offers a $0 fraud liability while The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card offers car rental loss and damage insurance¹ plus extended warranty² and purchase protection² benefits. The card unlocks access to Amex Offers and above-the-limit spending with Amex’s fixed-rate borrowing system.
Fees and APR
Neither card charges an annual fee.
The U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card* and The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card charge 3% of each foreign transaction and 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars. foreign transaction fees respectively.
The exact APR you’ll pay may depend on a variety of factors as the purchase APR for both cards vary based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate. The U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card* charges a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles, followed by a regular APR of 19.24% - 28.24% variable. A balance transfer fee of either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater, applies while The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card charges a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a 18.49% - 26.49% variable APR applies.
Consider Neither the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card Nor The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card For
High Spend Requirement on Welcome Offers
The spend requirement for the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card* is sizable and could be challenging to reach for some depending on business needs. The welcome offer is one of the most lucrative aspects of the card, so if it can’t be met in time, it may be advisable to pass for now.
Opportunity Cost
While both cards carry benefits, other card options can offer higher rewards, more lucrative welcome offers or both. While other options may charge an annual fee, the higher earn rates on another card might be worth the cost.
Bottom Line
No annual fee credit cards offer a great way to keep costs down when expense management is critical. Both the Triple Cash and the Blue Business Cash cards are viable options for the long-term, as the lack of annual fee makes them easy to maintain. With attractive welcome offers and 0% APR intro periods, the cards’ rewards and benefits will determine if one, the other, both or neither are right for you. Overall, the Amex Blue Business Cash is likely to be the better option, but carefully read the terms and consider your personal use case before deciding.
To view rates and fees of The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, please visit this page.
¹Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
²Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card worth it?
The U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card* has no annual fee and a nice welcome bonus of $500 cash back after spending $4,500 in the first 150 days of opening the account. But whether it’s right for you will depend on if the ongoing rewards and benefits will fit your spending patterns and needs.
What is the credit score needed for The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card?
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card doesn’t advertise a required credit score and no credit score is guaranteed approval for any card. You’ll likely need better-than-average credit to qualify, but creditworthiness is determined by more than your credit score. If you’re not sure that your credit score is high enough, it may be better to focus on improving your credit score before applying.
Is the Amex Blue Business Cash card metal?
No, the Amex Blue Business Cash card is made of plastic, not metal.
