U.S. Bank Business Cash Rewards World Elite™ Mastercard®

The U.S. Bank Business Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard is geared to small business owners who want to earn cash rewards without paying an annual fee.

The fact you can earn an unlimited 3 percent back in business-related bonus categories can be a major plus if you spend a lot on gas, cell phone service or at office supply stores, and earning 25 percent in bonus rewards based on the prior year’s spending gives you something more to look forward to. The welcome bonus is also competitive, giving you the opportunity to earn $500 after spending $4,500 on eligible purchases within your first 150 days.

If you have a large purchase you need to make, this card’s introductory zero percent APR offer can help you avoid interest payments on purchases for fifteen billing cycles. Still, you should remember that you’ll pay the much higher variable APR once this offer ends (11.99 – 22.99 percent variable).

This card also offers free cards for employees, which can help you earn rewards on their business purchases as well as your own. You’ll also get a 24/7 dedicated customer service line and fraud monitoring on your account.

Finally, you’ll qualify for special World Elite Mastercard benefits, which include cell phone protection, auto rental insurance coverage, airport concierge assistance and ID Theft Protection, among other perks.

Is the U.S. Bank Business Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard worth it for you?

If you’re angling to earn cash back without having to pay an annual fee, the U.S. Bank Business Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard is worth considering. This business credit card lets you earn an unlimited 3 percent back in bonus categories, which helps it stand out from other business credit cards that set limits on bonus earnings. Your redemption options are limited, however, so you may not want to choose this credit card if you hope to transfer points to airlines or hotels, or if you want to be able to redeem rewards for merchandise or gift cards.

This is a cash-back credit card at its core, which may be fine for business owners who prefer statement credits or transfers to a bank account.

While your rewards haul will depend on how much your business spends, here’s an example to illustrate this card’s earning potential:

Imagine for a moment your small business spends $1,000 per month in office supply stores, another $500 per month on gas and $600 on cell phone bills. On top of bonus category spending, you use your business credit card for another $4,000 in inventory and miscellaneous purchases each month.

With those figures in mind, you could expect to earn $1,736 in rewards after year one — $500 in cash from the welcome offer, $360 in cash back at office supply stores, $180 in rewards on gas, $216 on cell phone bills and $480 in rewards on regular spending. After 12 months, you would also earn the maximum annual bonus offer, or another $250 in cash back. That’s not bad for a business credit card with no annual fee.

Get the most value from the U.S. Bank Business Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard

To get the most value from this business credit card, you should strive to use it for as many business purchases as you can. This is especially true with bonus rewards categories since you’ll earn 3X the rewards when you shop at office supply stores, use your credit card to pay cell phone bills and fill up at the gas station.

With that advice in mind, you can also take advantage of this card’s zero percent APR offer on purchases for 15 billing cycles, but don’t forget that this will be followed by a variable APR of 11.99 to 22.99 percent.

How much are points worth?

Since the U.S. Bank Business Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard offers cash back instead of points, you’ll earn rewards as a percentage of your spending. In other words, you’ll earn $3 in rewards for every $100 you spend in bonus categories and $1 for each $100 you spend on regular purchases made with your card.

How to redeem rewards

One major benefit of this card is the fact that your rewards will never expire, but it’s important to remember you do have to redeem your rewards in increments of $25. To cash in your rewards, you can log into your U.S. Bank account and choose a redemption option under “My Rewards.” You can also call the bank and redeem your rewards over the phone.

Should you upgrade?

If you are more inclined to earn travel rewards, then you might want to check out the U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Business Travel Rewards Card instead. This card does have a $55 annual fee, but you’ll earn 2X points at office supply stores, gas stations or on airline purchases (whichever of these are your highest spending category of the three), and points are worth more than one cent each when redeemed for travel. Not only that, but you could have the $55 annual fee waived if you spend at least $24,000 on your card by your cardmember anniversary.

Make sure you compare business credit cards from other issuers to find the perfect fit for you, including ones that offer cash back, travel rewards or flexible rewards that let you redeem your points in more than one way. And if you prefer not to pay an annual fee, there are plenty of no annual fee business credit cards available.