Melissa Lambarena is a personal finance writer who joined NerdWallet in 2016. Her prior experience includes nine years as a content creator for several publications and websites. Her work has been featured by The Associated Press, The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, USA Today and Yahoo Finance, among others. Melissa has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Email: <a href="mailto:mlambarena@nerdwallet.com">mlambarena@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Melissa Lambarena is a personal finance writer who joined NerdWallet in 2016. Her prior experience includes nine years as a content creator for several publications and websites. Her work has been featured by The Associated Press, The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, USA Today and Yahoo Finance, among others. Melissa has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Email: <a href="mailto:mlambarena@nerdwallet.com">mlambarena@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Kenley Young directs daily credit cards coverage for NerdWallet. Previously, he was a homepage editor and digital content producer for Fox Sports, and before that a front page editor for Yahoo. He has decades of experience in digital and print media, including stints as a copy desk chief, a wire editor and a metro editor for the McClatchy newspaper chain. Email: <a href="mailto:kyoung@nerdwallet.com">kyoung@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Kenley Young directs daily credit cards coverage for NerdWallet. Previously, he was a homepage editor and digital content producer for Fox Sports, and before that a front page editor for Yahoo. He has decades of experience in digital and print media, including stints as a copy desk chief, a wire editor and a metro editor for the McClatchy newspaper chain. Email: <a href="mailto:kyoung@nerdwallet.com">kyoung@nerdwallet.com</a>.
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Content was accurate at the time of publication.
Why trust NerdWallet
250+ small-business products reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
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Objective comprehensive business credit card ratings rubric (Methodology).
NerdWallet's business credit card content, including our ratings, reviews and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in business credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, Washington Post, MarketWatch, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur, ABC News, MSN and other national and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage. We independently evaluate and rate dozens of small-business credit cards, scoring them on fees, rewards rates, bonus offers and other features to help you choose the best business card for your company.
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We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with
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So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence
which products we review and write about (and where those products
appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or
advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our
partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products
or services. Here is a list of our partners .
Melissa Lambarena is a personal finance writer who joined NerdWallet in 2016. Her prior experience includes nine years as a content creator for several publications and websites. Her work has been featured by The Associated Press, The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, USA Today and Yahoo Finance, among others. Melissa has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Email: <a href="mailto:mlambarena@nerdwallet.com">mlambarena@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Melissa Lambarena is a personal finance writer who joined NerdWallet in 2016. Her prior experience includes nine years as a content creator for several publications and websites. Her work has been featured by The Associated Press, The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, USA Today and Yahoo Finance, among others. Melissa has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Email: <a href="mailto:mlambarena@nerdwallet.com">mlambarena@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Kenley Young directs daily credit cards coverage for NerdWallet. Previously, he was a homepage editor and digital content producer for Fox Sports, and before that a front page editor for Yahoo. He has decades of experience in digital and print media, including stints as a copy desk chief, a wire editor and a metro editor for the McClatchy newspaper chain. Email: <a href="mailto:kyoung@nerdwallet.com">kyoung@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Kenley Young directs daily credit cards coverage for NerdWallet. Previously, he was a homepage editor and digital content producer for Fox Sports, and before that a front page editor for Yahoo. He has decades of experience in digital and print media, including stints as a copy desk chief, a wire editor and a metro editor for the McClatchy newspaper chain. Email: <a href="mailto:kyoung@nerdwallet.com">kyoung@nerdwallet.com</a>.
NerdWallet's content is
fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness, and relevance by humans.
It undergoes a thorough review process involving writers and editors to ensure
the information is as clear and complete as possible. Learn more by checking
our
Editorial Guidelines.
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
Why trust NerdWallet
250+ small-business products reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
80+ years of combined experience covering small business and personal finance.
Objective comprehensive business credit card ratings rubric (Methodology).
NerdWallet's business credit card content, including our ratings, reviews and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in business credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, Washington Post, MarketWatch, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur, ABC News, MSN and other national and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage. We independently evaluate and rate dozens of small-business credit cards, scoring them on fees, rewards rates, bonus offers and other features to help you choose the best business card for your company.
Advertiser disclosure
You’re our first priority.
Every time.
We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with
confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or
financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance
we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are
objective, independent, straightforward — and free.
So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence
which products we review and write about (and where those products
appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or
advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our
partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products
or services. Here is a list of our partners .
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
Overview
The bottom line:
Somewhere between a regular travel product and a premium one, this card offers good benefits for Southwest fans.
Credit card details
Annual fee
$299
Regular APR
19.99%-28.49% Variable APR
Intro APR
N/A
Rewards rate
1x-4x
Earn 4X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2x points on gas station and restaurant purchases. Earn 2x points on hotel accommodations booked directly with hotel. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
Points
Foreign transaction fee
$0
Intro offer
120,000
Earn 120,000 points after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Points
Pros & Cons
Pros
High rewards rate
No reward caps
Anniversary bonus points
Credits for upgraded boarding, in-flight Wi-Fi
Statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS
New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
Rewards have limited flexibility
Does not include lounge access
More details from Chase
Earn 120,000 points after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
9,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
Earn 4X pts on Southwest® purchases.
Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants
Earn 2X points on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel
Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.
Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.*
Member FDIC
Chase refreshed the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card in July 2025. It got a sizable bump in annual fee, from $199 to $$299. But maybe not enough of an upgrade in ongoing perks to offset that new higher cost. And unlike Southwest's consumer cards (whose fees also rose), there's no limited time welcome offer as part of the relaunch.
The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is the most expensive Southwest card to carry. That's even more so after this update. It is the most lucrative in terms of rewards-earning ability, though. Plus, you get useful perks, including annual anniversary points, free checked bags and a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck programs.
But the card doesn't match the luxury experience of other premium airline credit cards. There's no airport lounge access, for instance. And while its annual fee remains less than those, the gap has narrowed.
If you frequently fly Southwest, weigh this card against the issuer's cheaper Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card (annual fee $149) to find the best fit. After this latest round of changes, we rate rate both cards' value almost equally. (Jump to comparison.)
This card is best for:
✔️ Serious Southwest spenders.
✔️ Earning Southwest status.
Not a fit? Consider these business credit cards
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
Fly Southwest a lot, but it's not a habit? Consider the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card instead. The rewards rates aren't as good. But you'll still get a number of travel-related benefits, like a free checked bag and complementary Preferred seats.
Sapphire Reserve for Business℠
Chase has had a summer of premium cards. In addition to the changes it made to its co-branded Southwest cards, the issuer introduced the Sapphire Reserve for Business℠. This card comes with a far heftier annual fee ($795). But if you're eyeing a massive sign-up bonus, it's hard to beat: Earn 200,000 bonus points after you spend $30,000 on purchases in your first 6 months from account opening.
💰 Sign-up bonus: Earn 120,000 points after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
🎉 Rewards:
Earn 4X per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases.
Earn 2X points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants.
Earn 2X points on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel.
Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
Earn 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Available through Dec. 31, 2025:
Earn 4X points on Southwest cruises.
Earn 3X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
Earn 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services.
NerdWallet values Southwest points at 1.3 cents each. This is a baseline value, drawn from real-world data on hundreds of economy routes, not a maximized value. In other words, you should aim for award redemptions that offer 1.3 cents cents or more in value from your Southwest points.
📈 APR: The ongoing APR is 19.99%-28.49% Variable APR.
📍 Minimum credit limit: $5,000.
💷 Foreign transaction fee: None.
🎆 Other benefits:
9,000 bonus points each account anniversary year.
First checked bag free for cardmembers and up to eight additional passengers in the same reservation.
Statement credit of up to $120 every four years towards Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS application fee.
Available through Dec. 31, 2025:
Four upgraded boardings (when available).
In-flight Wi-Fi credits.
Coming in 2026:
Free unlimited upgrades to an Extra Legroom seat within 48 hours prior to departure (when available).
Free Preferred or Standard seat for cardmembers and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation (when available).
Cardmembers and up to eight passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5.
Benefits and perks
A strong sign-up bonus
Chase's introductory offer remains more than competitive: Earn 120,000 points after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
That gets you nearly to the 135,000 points required for a coveted Southwest Companion Pass. This pass lets you choose a companion to fly with you for free (excluding taxes and fees) when you buy a flight or redeem points for a free flight. Once earned, the Companion Pass is valid for the remainder of the year and the following calendar year, too.
Card holders also receive a bonus 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points every year.
Plenty of opportunities to earn points, plus a path to status
Aside from a rewards structure that's more generous than any other Southwest Airlines card, this card gives you 9,000 bonus points after every cardmember anniversary. You can also earn 2,500 tier qualifying points toward A-List and A-List Preferred status for every $5,000 spent in qualifying Southwest purchases. Either status can offer benefits such as more bonus points, priority check-in and free same-day standby, to name a few.
Ideal features for international travel, plus perks
The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is well-equipped to travel anywhere as part of the Visa network, which is widely accepted by merchants abroad. Plus, since it doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, you’ll also save money on purchases abroad. And thanks to its Visa Signature benefits, the card is packed with many travel protections, including lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance and travel accident insurance, among others.
The card's Global Entry or TSA Precheck perk can also help you speed through airport security. Every four years, you’re reimbursed up to $120 when you use the card to pay the application fee for one of these programs. You can also choose a Preferred seat at booking, as well as unlimited upgrades to Extra Legroom seats — both for no additional charge.
Drawbacks and alternatives
More redemption flexibility
Like any co-branded card, the is Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card offers the best value for spending — and saving — on Southwest purchases. If you want more flexibility, consider the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card .
That card lets you redeem points for cash, gift cards, travel and qualifying products or services. Points are more valuable when redeemed through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal, and through that portal you can move your points to several other travel loyalty programs at a 1:1 ratio, including to Southwest.
The card earns 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable, phone services and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. All other purchases earn 1 point per $1 spent. It has a $95 annual fee.
A lower annual fee
If the $299 annual fee doesn’t fly with you, the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card is another option, with a lower annual fee of $149. The perks are fewer, but it can still offer value on Southwest purchases.
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card vs. the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
Southwest and Chase offer two main small-business credit cards. The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card has the lower annual fee and is better suited for less frequent travelers. Frequent flyers can get more value in the form of higher rewards and reimbursements with the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card.
Here's a side-by-side comparison of the two cards:
How we evaluated the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
NerdWallet's business credit card experts compared the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card to other business travel cards, evaluating how the card's rewards, perks, fees and features stack up to its peers. We also surveyed Chase, the card's issuer, gathering information about employee cards, spending controls, credit limits and how often cardholders are considered for a credit limit increase.