Editorial Review
Bank of America Business Advantage Cash Rewards Review: Great for Some, but Not All
This card's revised rewards structure lets you choose a 3% cash-back category, plus you earn 2% at restaurants. There's a fairly low cap on bonus rewards, though.
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Our Take
4.0
The Bottom Line: Worth a look for those who spend a lot in the 3% cash back categories, as well as those who already do business with Bank of America®. But many businesses would be better served with a different card.
on Bank of America's website
on Bank of America's website
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
13.74% - 23.74% Variable APR
Intro APR
0% on Purchases for 9 billing cycles
Recommended Credit Score
Quick Facts
- Get a $300 statement credit when you make at least $3,000 in net purchases within 90 days of your account opening - with no annual fee and cash rewards don't expire.
- Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, 2% cash back on dining and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- You'll get 3% and 2% cash back on the first $50,000 in combined choice category/dining purchases each calendar year, 1% thereafter.
Pros & Cons
Pros
No annual fee
Intro APR period on Purchases
High rewards rate on one of your choice of six categories
Cons
Requires excellent credit
Alternate Pick: Simple, flat-rate rewards
Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business
Get 2% back on everything you buy
Not in the mood to mess around with bonus categories? Get a card that pays a high rewards rate on everything. This card gives you unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases. Plus, you get a great sign-up bonus. The annual fee is $0 intro for the first year, then $95.
Read our reviewCompare to Other Cards
Annual Fee$0 | Annual Fee$0 | Annual Fee$0 |
Regular APR13.74% - 23.74% Variable APR | Regular APR14.74% - 22.74% Variable APR | Regular APR14.74% - 20.74% Variable APR |
Intro APR0% on Purchases for 9 billing cycles | Intro APR0% on Purchases for 9 months | Intro APR0% on Purchases for 12 months |
Recommended Credit Score |
Recommended Credit Score |
Recommended Credit Score |
Full Review
After undergoing a revamp in April 2019, the Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card offers bonus cash-back rewards that you can customize — but a lot less spending is now eligible for the card's higher rewards rates.
Even so, if your business's expenses line up with its bonus categories, it's worth a look, especially if you already do business with Bank of America®.
Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card: Basics
Card type: Small business.
Annual fee: $0.
Sign-up bonus: Get a $300 statement credit when you make at least $3,000 in net purchases within 90 days of your account opening – with no annual fee, no cap on the amount of cash rewards you can earn and they don't expire.
Rewards:
3% cash back in a category you choose from a list of six: gas stations; office supply stores; travel; television/telecom and wireless; computer services; or business consulting services.
2% cash back on purchases at restaurants.
The 3% and 2% rates are good on up to $50,000 a year in combined spending on your chosen category and at restaurants.
1% cash back on all other purchases.
Interest rate: 0% on Purchases for 9 billing cycles, and then the ongoing APR of 13.74% - 23.74% Variable APR.
Foreign transaction fee: 3%
Why you might want this card
Flexible 3% categories
Some cash-back cards for small businesses offer up to 5% in rewards on certain categories — but those categories are set by the issuer and might not match your spending. Prior to April 2019, this card had the same problem: It offered 3% cash back at gas stations and office supply stores. After an overhaul, the Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card lets you choose your own 3% category from a list of common expenses.
Preferred Rewards for Business for bank customers
If your business keeps its deposit accounts at Bank of America®, and those accounts total more than $20,000, you may qualify for the bank's Preferred Rewards for Business program, which gives you bonuses on the rewards you earn with this card. Your status level in the program is determined by the average balance in your deposit accounts over a three-month period:
GOLD level | PLATINUM level | PLATINUM HONORS level | |
---|---|---|---|
Required balance (three-month average) | $20,000 to $49,999 | $50,000 to $99,999 | $100,000 or more |
Preferred Rewards for Business bonus | 25% | 50% | 75% |
Cash back on your chosen category (standard: 3%)* | 3.75% | 4.5% | 5.25% |
Cash back at restaurants (standard: 2%)* | 2.5% | 3% | 3.5% |
Cash back on all other purchases (standard: 1%) | 1.25% | 1.5% | 1.75% |
* Rates apply to the first $50,000 a year in combined spending in the 3% and 2% categories. |
introductory 0% apr PERIOD
If you need to make a large purchase soon or expect to be cash-strapped for the next few months, the card's introductory 0% APR period will give you some time to carry a balance interest-free: 0% on Purchases for 9 billing cycles, and then the ongoing APR of 13.74% - 23.74% Variable APR.
Why you might want a different card
there's a Relatively low cap on bonus rewards
Under this card's previous rewards structure, you earned 3% cash back on up to $250,000 a year in combined spending at gas stations and office supply stores, plus unlimited 2% cash back at restaurants. Now the issuer has put a $50,000-a-year combined cap on both the 3% and 2% rewards. Depending on your spending, that could sharply limit your bonus rewards. If you run a fleet of vehicles or go through a ton of office supplies, this card is a shadow of its former self.
Your spending is all over the map
Many businesses do the bulk of their spending on inventory or other expenses that don't fall neatly into credit card issuers' bonus categories. If that's you, consider a card that pays a flat cash-back rate on all purchases. Capital One's Spark-branded business cards do this, and the issuer offers versions both with and without an annual fee. (The fee gets you richer rewards):
For an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $95: The Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business pays an unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases. It offers a nice sign-up bonus: Earn a $500 cash bonus when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months and earn $1,500 when you spend $50,000 in the first 6 months of your account opening.
For a $0 annual fee: The Capital One® Spark® Cash Select for Business pays unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Its sign-up bonus: Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
If you spend at least $19,000 a year, the higher rewards on the annual-fee version will make up for the fee.
You want a bigger sign-up bonus
The Ink Business Unlimited℠ Credit Card offers an outstanding sign-up bonus for a card with a $0 annual fee: Earn $500 bonus cash back after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. This card pays an unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases and comes with a nice 0% intro APR period.
Is the Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card right for you?
The Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card offers the potential for handsome rewards with its customizable 3% bonus category. But its value is mostly tied to how much you spend in those categories. For some businesses, it'll be a windfall. Others would be advised to look elsewhere.
on Bank of America's website
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