Our Verdict
This card is closed to new applications, but you may be interested in the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card* which is still available.
With the ability to earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center, 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants and 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases, the no-annual-fee U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®* does okay with cash-back rewards; it’s not great and it’s not awful. Its annual $100 statement credit for use on Freshbooks or QuickBooks subscriptions is nice, but its introductory billing cycle APR on both purchases and balance transfers is an offering worth noting—something we don’t often see with business credit cards. It also has a welcome bonus: Earn $500 in cash back after spending $4,500 in the first 150 days of opening an account.
Pros
- 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
Cons
- 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
Highlights
The information for this card has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.
Introduction
The U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®* has features as long as its name. Its rewards are okay: We’re not under or overwhelmed—simply whelmed. With the ability to earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center, 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants and 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases, the card is unique among most business credit cards in that it offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles, followed by a regular variable APR of 19.24% - 28.24%. A 3% balance transfer fee with a $5 minimum applies.
With the standard Mastercard World Elite Benefits, the only unique additional benefit offered directly by this business card is its $100 annual statement credit for use on eligible software subscriptions such as FreshBooks or QuickBooks.
Zero dollar fraud liability and other lifestyle and travel perks are included in the Mastercard World Elite Benefits portfolio. With business-credit-card-standard offerings like employee cards, the Business Triple Cash Rewards card doesn’t offer much beyond its limited 3% cash-back categories, but for those who buy a lot of gas and office supplies, eat out often or want to put several dozen cell phone bills on one card, the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards card may be a great partner card for others that can leverage reward categories not included here.
Featured Partner Offers
At a Glance
- No annual fee
- Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center, 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants and 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases
- Earn an annual $100 statement credit for eligible recurring software subscription expenses such as FreshBooks or QuickBooks
- Introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard Credit Card Rewards
Earning Rewards
The Business Triple Cash Rewards card yields 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center, 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants and 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases. Rewards do not expire unless the account is closed for any reason, such as missed payment or fraud.
The Business Triple Cash Rewards card also has a welcome bonus: $500 in cash back after spending $4,500 in the first 150 days of opening an account.
Redeeming Rewards
Rewards earned with the Business Triple Cash Rewards card are redeemed after a minimum redemption amount of $25 is reached. Rewards may be redeemed to a U.S. Bank banking account, as a statement credit or to a U.S. Bank Rewards Card. Business-wide rewards earned via all cards may be pooled and the primary applicant will have sole authority for redemption. This means that employee cards may earn rewards for the business.
Rewards Potential
Forbes Advisor uses data from various government agencies in order to determine both baseline income and spending averages across various categories. We base our estimates on a small business with $100,000 in income.
Let’s say you spend about $3,000 on internet and mobile phone bills and about $1,000 on office supplies per year for your business, plus $5,000 at restaurants and $4,000 at gas stations. Earning 3% cash back on all of these purchases would result in $390 in annual cash back. Assuming an additional $13,000 in spending at 1% cash back, $130 more would be earned resulting in total annual cash back of $520. This is in addition to the first-year welcome bonus and the $100 annual QuickBooks or FreshBooks subscription credit.
0% Introductory Rates
The U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®* offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles, followed by a regular variable APR of 19.24% - 28.24%. A 3% balance transfer fee with a $5 minimum applies.
Other U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard Credit Card Benefits
- FreshBooks or QuickBooks credit: $100 statement credit for use toward subscription fees on FreshBooks or QuickBooks accounting softwares.
- Global Emergency Services: Mastercard emergency services benefits.
- $0 Fraud Liability: Cardholders aren’t responsible for unauthorized charges.
- Mastercard World Elite Benefits: Additional premium travel and lifestyle benefits, like experiences and exclusive hotel deals.
Fine Print
Interest Rates
- Regular APR: 19.24% - 28.24% (Variable)
- Purchase Intro APR: 0% intro APR Intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases
- Balance Transfer Intro APR: 0% intro APR intro on balance transfers for 15 billing cycles
Fees
- Annual Fee: $0
- Balance Transfer Fee: 0% intro APR intro on balance transfers for 15 billing cycles
- Cash Advance: Either 5% of the amount of each advance or $10 minimum, whichever is greater.
- Foreign Purchase Transaction Fee: 3%
How the U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard Credit Card Stacks Up
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 Ink Business Cash® Credit Card 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 out-earns the U.S. Bank card for most small business owners. Those who spend more than $41,700 in these categories will earn more with the U.S. Bank card 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.
The U.S. Bank offers an introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers, where the Chase Ink card offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases for 12 months, then a standard APR of 18.49% - 24.49% variable applies for purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, 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. The 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 earn 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 18.49% - 26.49% variable APR 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 warranties¹, purchase protection¹ and car rental loss and damage insurance waivers². 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 choice, 2% cash back on dining purchases and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. 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% introductory APR on purchases for the first 9 billing cycles, then a 18.49% - 28.49% variable APR thereafter on purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of 4% of the amount of each transaction 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.
Is the U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard Credit Card for You?
The U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®* holds up against competition from other business credit cards and it has the potential to earn serious points for the right user. The card is a little light on the benefits, but its reward earning firepower isn’t too shabby—for those with plenty to spend at gas stations, office supply stores, restaurants and with cell phone service providers. The card doesn’t overly excite us, but for the right business owners and operators, it may be the right choice.
To view rates and fees for 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.
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. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
*The information for the following card(s) has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor: U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card, U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
