U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® vs. Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
For those who don’t plan to spend plentifully on gas or at restaurants, the Chase Ink Business Cash will offer 5% cash back on the first $25,000 in combined spending with phone, internet and cable bills and at office supply stores. This outearns the U.S. Bank card for most small business owners—but for those who spend more than $41,700 in these categories, the U.S. Bank card surpasses the maximum earnings once again due to the cap on the Ink Business Cash Card. The Chase Ink Business Cash also earns 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year and 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
For some whose business spending habits align well with the Chase Ink’s rewards scheme, the card may make more sense. For others, the U.S. Bank might instead. The U.S. Bank offers an introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers, where the Chase Ink card offers 0% introductory APR on purchases for 12 months, then a standard APR of 14.74% – 20.74% variable applies. Neither card has an annual fee and the Chase card offers a number of superior perks, like auto rental damage insurance waiver and purchase protection benefits. Ultimately, the decision between these two comes down to spending habits and benefit priorities.
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® vs. American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card (Terms apply. See rates & fees.) doesn’t quite stack up to the reward potential for those spending in the same categories, but its rewards may make sense for those who don’t fit into the U.S. Bank card’s narrow set of 3% cash-back categories. Cardholders will receive the following rewards: 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Those who can spend at least $33,334 on office supplies, gas or at restaurants or cell phone service providers with the U.S. Bank card will make better cash back than those who spend $50,000 on anything with the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card.
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a 15.49% – 23.49% variable APR applies on purchases and balance transfers. Balance transfers must be completed within 60 days of account opening and a fee of $5 or 3%, whichever is greater applies. The U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash offers an introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for a slightly longer time, so for those looking to make large purchases on the card and pay off the balances slowly, the U.S. Bank card offers a few months extra time.
Otherwise, the Blue Business Cash additional perks and benefits offer extended warranties, purchase protection and car rental loss and damage insurance waivers. A decision between these cards depends on a business’ spending habits, but combining these cards may also have benefits: where the U.S. Bank card doesn’t offer more than 1%, the Blue Business Cash card may be able to help maximize reward earnings.
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® vs. Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
With the Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card, cardholders can earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, 2% cash back on dining purchases and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. You’ll earn 3% and 2% cash back on the first $50,000 in combined choice category/dining purchases each calendar year and 1% thereafter.
For those with specific spending habits that can better utilize the Bank of America Business Advantage Cash Rewards, there may be a good option here to earn 3% cash back in just one category—a category that can be changed once per month. For others, having a wider swath of four categories may make more sense.
The 0% Intro APR for 9 billing cycles for purchases, 14.49% – 24.49% variable APR thereafter on purchases and balance transfers. Balance transfer fee of either $10 or 4% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater, applies offered by the Bank of America card doesn’t compete well with the U.S. Bank’s introductory APR offer, but the Bank of America card does offer a wide array of benefits including travel accident insurance, auto rental collision waiver and emergency ticket replacement, among others. We believe the U.S. Bank card is likely to make sense for more people, except for those with the right spending habits who can leverage the Bank of America card for travel benefits and a much more narrow reward earning category.
