U.S. Bank launches two Business Essentials cards: 2% flat, up to 3.5% with checking balances, and a $295 Plus card with 5% on your top category
U.S. Bank's new Business Essentials Visa (no annual fee) and Business Essentials Plus Visa Signature ($295) cards launched on 28 September 2026. Both earn 2% everywhere; the boosted rates depend on balances held in a qualifying U.S. Bank business checking account.
U.S. Bank announced two new small business cash back cards on 28 September 2026. Both start at a flat 2%, and both pay more if you keep money in a U.S. Bank business checking account. Every figure below is from U.S. Bank's own press release and card comparison page.
The two cards side by side
| Business Essentials Visa | Business Essentials Plus Visa Signature | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $295 |
| Base earn | 2% cash back on every purchase | 2% cash back on every purchase |
| Boost with checking balances | 2.5% total with $10,000 in qualifying balances, on up to $10,000 of eligible net purchases a month | 2.5% with $15,000 to $74,999; 3% with $75,000 to $149,999; 3.5% with $150,000 or more |
| Top-category bonus | None | 5% on your top eligible spend category each month, automatically |
| Prepaid hotels and car rentals via U.S. Bank Travel Center | 6% | 10% |
| Welcome offer | $500 after $5,000 spend in 150 days | $1,000 after $15,000 spend in 150 days |
| Intro APR | 0% on purchases for the first 12 billing cycles | Not stated in the press release |
How the Plus card's 5% works
The Plus card picks your highest eligible category each month without activation. U.S. Bank lists the eligible categories as accounting and tax services, airlines, cell phone service providers, dining, entertainment, office supply stores, postal and shipping services, and utilities. The comparison page caps the 5% at $200,000 a year and applies the same $200,000 annual cap to the balance-boosted rates. Frequent Miler notes that gift cards (including discount gift card sites) and tax payments do not earn the bonus.
Who each card suits
- The no-fee card is a simple 2% card. The 2.5% boost needs a $10,000 balance and only covers $10,000 of purchases a month, so it is worth up to $50 a month extra.
- The Plus card only makes sense if you can use the 5% category or hold a large checking balance. At the base 2%, the $295 fee wipes out the first $14,750 of spend's rewards.
- The balance requirement is the real price. Money parked in checking to earn 3.5% on card spend is money not earning interest elsewhere; do that arithmetic before you move it.
Neither card is in CardPolo's catalog yet. To see how a flat 2% business card compares with what you already carry, start with Polo Match.
Sources
Every claim on this page is backed by a primary or reputable source.
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