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U.S. Bank Business Leverage Visa Card Review: A Cash Rewards Card for U.S. Bank Customers

Review Updated
Lyle Daly
Steven Porrello
By: Lyle Daly and Steven Porrello

Our Credit Cards Experts

OFFER STATUS

The U.S. Bank Business Leverage® Visa Signature® Card is unavailable on The Ascent. All information was collected independently and not reviewed for accuracy or provided by the credit card issuer. Some items may be out of date.

Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.

The U.S. Bank Business Leverage® Visa Signature® Card is a business credit card that starts you off with a sizable sign-up bonus. However, its cash back rates aren't the best, so you'll need to see if its bonus categories work for you. Read this in-depth U.S. Bank Business Leverage® Visa Signature® Card review to find out.

U.S. Bank Business Leverage® Visa Signature® Card
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Regular APR

21.24% - 26.24% (Variable)

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. 5% back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Travel Rewards Center, 2% back in the top two categories where you spend the most each month automatically, 1% back on other eligible purchases

1% - 5% cash back

Annual Fee Circle with letter I in it. N/A

$95

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. Limited time offer: Earn $750 in rewards when you spend $7,500 in eligible purchases on the account owners' card within the first 120 days of opening your account.

$750

  • For small business owners who want a U.S. Bank credit card with cash rewards and employee spending controls. The sign-up bonus is particularly competitive in the business cards space.

    • Big welcome bonus
    • Cash back rewards
    • Employee cards
    • Build business credit
    • Annual fee
    • Rewards rate
    • No 0% intro APR
    • Earn $750 in rewards when you spend $7,500 in eligible purchases on the account owners' card within the first 120 days of opening your account.
    • Earn 2% back in the top two categories where you spend the most each month automatically.
    • 1% cash per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
    • Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center.
    • No annual fee for the first year and $95 thereafter.
    • No reward caps or limits on the total rewards your business can earn. Redeem for your choice of cash back, gift cards, merchandise and travel.
    • Pay over time by splitting eligible purchases of $100+ into equal monthly payments with U.S. Bank ExtendPay™ Plan.
    • Expense management tool VISA Spend Clarity is free to access and sync expenses, set employee card controls, generate reports, and more.
    • Great Offer from U.S. Bank, a 2022 World's Most Ethical Company® - Ethisphere Institute, February 2022
    • Terms and conditions apply
U.S. Bank Business Leverage® Visa Signature® Card is unavailable on The Ascent. All information was collected independently and not reviewed for accuracy or provided by the credit card issuer. Some items may be out of date.

Full U.S. Bank Business Leverage Visa Card review

This credit card is a good fit for: Small business owners who want a U.S. Bank credit card with cash rewards and employee spending controls.

Top perks

Here are the benefits you get with the U.S. Bank Business Leverage® Visa Signature® Card.

Welcome bonus

Limited time offer: Earn $750 in rewards when you spend $7,500 in eligible purchases on the account owners' card within the first 120 days of opening your account. Compared to other offers, this ranks among the bigger sign-up bonuses available to business owners.

SEE MORE GREAT BONUSES: Best Sign-Up Bonus Credit Cards

Up to 5% back

The U.S. Bank Business Leverage® Visa Signature® Card earns:

  • 5% back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center
  • 2% back on eligible purchases made in the top two categories where you spend the most each month automatically
  • 1% back on other eligible purchases

For the 2% categories, U.S. Bank has a list of 48 spending categories, which include advertising firms, freight and transport services, and various other types of expenses. Each month, you earn 2% back in the two categories from that list where you spend the most.

Employee cards with customizable spending rules

You can add authorized employees to your account and get them their own employee credit cards. This doesn't cost you extra, as there's no fee for employee cards.

In addition, you can use employee card controls to set up customizable spending rules. You're able to control where, when, and how their cards are used. Almost every business credit card offers employee cards, but it's great when you can also put limits on them.

Spend tracking

U.S. Bank cardholders have access to Spend Analysis, the credit card issuer's online reporting tool. Features include:

  • Review card spending on a monthly, quarterly, year-to-date, or annual basis
  • View spending by total spending, categories, and more
  • Customize views to meet your needs, with 36 months of data available

Build business credit

Most (but not all) business credit cards can help you build a business credit score if you pay on time. This U.S. Bank card is one of them. U.S. Bank reports your card activity to the commercial credit bureaus, and they use that activity to calculate your business's credit score.

For the most part, U.S. Bank won't report business card activity to the consumer credit bureaus. This allows you to keep your personal and business credit separate. Note that negative account activity, such as late payments or going over your credit limit, could be reported and affect both your personal and business credit.

No foreign transaction fee

The U.S. Bank Business Leverage® Visa Signature® Card doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee. Although it's not considered a travel credit card, it's a great choice for any sort of trip, since you can use it without worrying about any extra charges.

SEE OTHER OPTIONS: Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards

Alternatives to consider

  • If you want more rewards: The Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus earns an unlimited 2% cash back on purchases and comes with excellent sign-up bonus offers. Although it has an annual fee, big spenders may make that back with the extra cash rewards they earn across spending categories.
  • If you need to finance business expenses: The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card has a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months. That allows you to put bills on the card immediately, and then pay them off gradually over the next year. There's also no annual fee.

SEE MORE: Best Cash Back Business Credit Cards

As of Apr. 16, 2024
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Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
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Credit Rating Requirement: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Excellent (740-850)

Excellent (740-850)

Credit Rating Requirement: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. Earn a one-time cash bonus of $1,200 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months

$1,200

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.

Earn up to $750 bonus cash back

Rewards Program:

2% cash back

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. Earn 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. Earn 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 card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn.

Earn 5% cash back in select business categories

Intro APR:

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Intro APR: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR on Purchases

Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 12 months

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR:

Pay in full, 2.99% monthly late fee otherwise

Regular APR:

18.49% - 24.49% Variable

Annual Fee:

$150

Annual Fee: Circle with letter I in it. N/A

$0

Highlights:

  • Earn a one-time cash bonus of $1,200 once you spend $30,000 in the first three months
  • Earn unlimited 2% cash back for your business on purchases, no limits or category restrictions; plus, earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • Get your $150 annual fee refunded every year you spend at least $150,000.
  • Free employee cards, which also earn unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases
  • $0 Fraud Liability if your card is lost or stolen
  • Rewards won't expire for the life of the account, and you can redeem your cash back automatically
  • No foreign transaction fees

Highlights:

  • Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening
  • Earn 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
  • Earn 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
  • 10% Business Relationship Bonus If you have the Ink Business Cash card plus a Chase Business Checking account on your first card anniversary
  • With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
  • No Annual Fee
  • Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
  • Member FDIC
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Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus is unavailable on The Ascent. All information was collected independently and not reviewed for accuracy or provided by the credit card issuer. Some items may be out of date.

What could be improved

There are a few things that could be better with the U.S. Bank Business Leverage® Visa Signature® Card.

Annual fee

The intro annual fee on this card is $0 for the first 12 months from account opening. After that, the annual fee going forward is $95.

It's not a large amount, as many credit cards charge more. And it could be well worth it if you earn enough bonus rewards with your card to offset the annual fee. Just make sure to compare credit cards to see which one offers you the most value compared to how much it costs.

SEE OTHER OPTIONS: Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards

Mediocre rewards rate

The rewards rate for the U.S. Bank Business Leverage® Visa Signature® Card falls short of the competition. You get 2% back for purchases in your top two spending categories, which sounds good at first. But there are other credit cards offering 2% on purchases with no limits or category restrictions, such as the Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus. If you're open to consumer credit cards, there are cards out there that earn the same cash back with no annual fee.

This rewards card also earns 5% back on prepaid hotels and car rentals if you book through U.S. Bank's Rewards Center. Although 5% is a high rate, you earn it in two very limited categories. Other rewards cards offer much wider bonus categories that cover more purchases.

CHECK OUT TOP PICKS: Best Rewards Credit Cards

No 0% intro APR

A notable feature you won't get from this U.S. Bank card is a 0% intro APR. Several other business credit cards offer a 0% intro APR on purchases, giving you time to pay down large expenses over time without accumulating interest.

SEE MORE: Best 0% intro APR Credit Cards

Suggested credit score

A FICO® Score of 670 or higher is recommended to apply for the U.S. Bank Business Leverage® Visa Signature® Card. Although this is a business credit card, U.S. Bank reviews your personal credit history when you apply. Most successful applicants have a credit score in the excellent credit range.

IMPROVE YOUR ODDS: How to Increase Your Credit Score

The U.S. Bank Business Leverage Visa Card is right for you if:

  • You want to earn a big welcome bonus.
  • You have high spending in any of the card's bonus categories.
  • You like U.S. Bank and want to use it to manage all the finances for your business.

If you're not committed to U.S. Bank, check out more credit card reviews to see if there are rewards programs that work better for you. The U.S. Bank Business Leverage® Visa Signature® Card has a competitive bonus offer. In other areas, you could likely find credit cards that will earn you more rewards.

COMPARE TOP PICKS: Best Credit Cards

Our credit card methodology

At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.

FAQs

  • Points can be redeemed in the U.S. Bank online Rewards Center for cash back, gift cards, merchandise, and travel.

  • No, there are no caps on the total rewards your business can earn on eligible purchases.

  • The U.S. Bank ExtendPay™ Plan allows you to split credit card purchases of $100 or more into equal, interest-free monthly payments (subject to a small monthly fee). Eligible transactions will be notified by email or indicated in your online business account.

Our Credit Cards Experts