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U.S. Bank launched two small business credit cards on Sept. 28, 2026: the no-annual-fee Business Essentials Visa and the $295-per-year Business Essentials Plus Visa Signature. The move targets small businesses that cite rewards and cashback as a key factor in choosing their primary card, according to PYMNTS Intelligence data.
U.S. Bank launched two new small business credit cards on Monday (Sept. 28), designed to deliver what the bank called “straight-forward rewards” on everyday business purchases. The cards, announced in a company press release, pair flat-rate cash back with bonus rates for customers who hold qualifying business checking balances, as the bank pushes deeper into a segment where rewards increasingly drive card selection.
The first card, the U.S. Bank Business Essentials Visa Card, carries no annual fee and offers unlimited 2% cash back on everyday business purchases, according to the release. Cardholders can earn up to 2.5% total cash back when the card is paired with a qualifying balance in a qualified U.S. Bank business checking account. The card also includes Visa Business benefits.
The second card, the U.S. Bank Business Essentials Plus Visa Signature Card, has a $295 annual fee and enhanced rewards: unlimited 2% cash back on everyday business purchases, up to 3.5% total cash back when paired with a qualifying business checking balance, and 5% cash back on the business’s top spend category, capped at $200,000 in annual spend, per the release. It includes Visa Signature Business benefits.
Both cards come with a welcome offer, access to U.S. Bank’s Spend Management platform, and the bank’s ExtendPay fixed-fee payment plan for large purchases, the release said. The announcement also named actress and entrepreneur Jessica Alba as U.S. Bank’s new small business spokesperson for the cards, according to a separate Monday press release from the bank.
Rewards Drive SMB Card Choices
The launch targets a documented preference among small and mid-sized businesses for rewards-heavy cards. The PYMNTS Intelligence report “SMB Growth Monitor: How Firms Use and Choose Credit Cards” found that 35.5% of small to mid-sized businesses said “best rewards/cashback features” was a factor influencing their choice of primary card. Within that group, 14.1% of SMBs called it the main reason for choosing their primary card, and another 21.3% said it was important but not the most important reason.
For U.S. Bank, the cards extend a broader push into small business services. The tiered structure — higher cash back tied to checking balances — is designed to deepen relationships across deposits, payments and card spending rather than compete on rewards alone. For small business owners, the arrival of another no-annual-fee flat 2% option adds to the competitive set of business cards, though the top bonus rates require holding funds at U.S. Bank.
U.S. Bank’s Small Business Buildout
The card launch follows other recent small business initiatives from U.S. Bank. In July, the bank said it introduced a tool called Enhanced Payments that helps small businesses move money faster, according to PYMNTS. In July 2025, the bank launched U.S. Bank Business Resources Central (BRC), a free online hub offering educational resources for small businesses.
The two new cards add a rewards-focused product line to that foundation of payment tools and educational services, positioning the bank to compete for businesses’ primary card relationships.
“Our new Business Essentials cards offer small business owners straightforward, easy-to-use benefits that help simplify their spending, banking and expense management.”
— Courtney Kelso, senior executive vice president of payments, consumer and small business at U.S. Bank
Details Not Yet Public
Several details were not specified in the announcement. The press release did not disclose the terms of the welcome offers, the exact definition of a “qualified” business checking account or the minimum balance needed to unlock the higher 2.5% and 3.5% cash back rates, or which categories count as “everyday business purchases.”
Interest rates (APRs), foreign transaction fees and the full terms of the Spend Management platform and ExtendPay plan were also not detailed in the source material. How the “top spend category” for the Plus card’s 5% rate is determined and how frequently it updates were not explained. These details may appear in the cards’ full terms and conditions, which were not included in the release.
Rollout and Marketing Ahead
The cards are available for application through U.S. Bank, and the bank’s marketing campaign featuring Jessica Alba as small business spokesperson is expected to promote the new products. Observers of the business card market will be watching whether competitors respond with adjusted rewards structures, and whether U.S. Bank’s checking-linked bonus rates pull deposits as well as card spend. Full card terms, including welcome offer details and APRs, will govern how the products compare on cost versus rewards.
Key Questions
What are the two new U.S. Bank small business cards?
The U.S. Bank Business Essentials Visa Card, with no annual fee and unlimited 2% cash back, and the U.S. Bank Business Essentials Plus Visa Signature Card, with a $295 annual fee, unlimited 2% cash back and 5% cash back on the business’s top spend category up to $200,000 annually.
How do the bonus cash back rates of 2.5% and 3.5% work?
According to U.S. Bank’s release, cardholders can earn up to 2.5% total cash back (Essentials) or up to 3.5% total cash back (Essentials Plus) when the card is paired with a qualifying balance in a qualified U.S. Bank business checking account. The exact balance requirements were not specified in the announcement.
Is the Business Essentials Plus card’s $295 annual fee worth it?
That depends on a business’s spending volume and mix. The Plus card’s extra 5% category rate and higher checking-linked bonus could offset the fee for high spenders, while the no-annual-fee Essentials card may suit lower-volume businesses. This is a factual description of the products, not financial advice; full terms should be compared before applying.
Why is U.S. Bank targeting small business rewards now?
PYMNTS Intelligence found that 35.5% of small to mid-sized businesses cite rewards and cashback features as a factor in choosing their primary card, with 14.1% calling it the main reason. The cards are part of a broader U.S. Bank small business push that includes the Enhanced Payments tool and Business Resources Central hub.
Who is Jessica Alba’s role in the launch?
The actress and Honest Company founder was named U.S. Bank’s new small business spokesperson and will spotlight the cards, according to a separate bank press release issued the same day.
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