A Guide to the Best Bank of America Business Credit Cards for Small Businesses of 2023

Bank of America (BofA) has long been known as a resource for small business checking and savings accounts, but it also offers several additional business credit cards that are worth considering.  This is particularly true if you’re already an existing Bank of America business checking account customer, as you may be able to secure even more perks and credit card rewards when you enroll in the Bank of America Business Advantage Relationship Rewards program. 

Learn about the 2023 business credit card market, the best BofA business credit card options today, and how to choose the right credit card for your business in this article from Nav’s experts.

The State of Business Credit Cards in 2023

The Fed said that financial conditions seem to have tightened after the fall of Silicon Valley Bank. This means that banks and credit card providers may be less willing to offer credit to customers, so it might be more challenging to get a credit card in 2023. With that said, credit cards are usually easier to get than small business loans. Also, your eligibility depends on your business and personal circumstances, so focusing on building strong credit can have a big impact on your qualifications.

Interest rates are the most important aspect of credit cards to watch in 2023. The Federal Reserve has been increasing its rates steadily, and the Fed rate acts as the “prime rate” for your bank. Thus, the Fed rate impacts the interest rates you pay on credit cards. When the Fed rate increases, the interest rate you pay on your cards also most likely increases. 

The most effective way of not paying more interest is paying off your bill in full every month, although this isn’t always an option for small business owners using credit cards to support their business operations.

Best Bank of America Business Credit Cards for Small Businesses

  • Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card: Good for travel
  • Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card: Good for personalized cash back
  • Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card: Good for simple cash back
  • Bank of America® Platinum Plus® Mastercard® Business card: Gest for low interest
  • Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card: Good co-branded

Good for Travel: Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card

If your primary business expenses are travel related, then the Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card may be right for you. Earn 1.5 rewards points for every $1 spent on all purchases and 3 points for every $1 spent for travel booked through the Bank of America® Travel Center.. Though BofA’s travel card isn’t considered the most aggressive card on the market, the points back are still largely competitive. 

Finally, with a $0.00 annual fee, and international transaction fees set at none, this card is great for business owners who want to leverage travel rewards but don’t want to worry about a high annual fee, something that’s often standard for other travel rewards cards.

Good for Personalized Cash Back Rewards: Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card

The Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card gives cardholders plenty of opportunities to earn. Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice (for the first $50,000 in combined choice category/dining purchases each calendar year, 1% thereafter), 2% cash back on dining purchases (for the first $50,000 in combined choice category/dining purchases each calendar year, 1% thereafter), and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Plus, you can also earn $300 online statement credit after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.

The Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card also features a 0% for 9 billing cycles on purchases intro APR, so it could be a good card for balance transfers.

It’s also worth noting that with rates as low as 18.49% - 28.49% Variable APR on purchases, this BofA business credit card is highly competitive when compared to other cash back business cards on the market. This is particularly true when it’s paired with a $0.00 annual fee.

Good for Simple Cash Back Rewards: Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card

The Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card offers cardholders a simple cash back program. Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Plus, you can also get a $300 online statement credit after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.

The Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card also has an intro APR of 0% for 9 billing cycles on purchases.

There’s also a $0.00 annual fee, but it does charge a foreign transaction fee of 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each transaction. So you may want a different card to use for travel.

Good for Low Interest: Bank of America® Platinum Plus® Mastercard® Business card

The Bank of America® Platinum Plus® Mastercard® Business card has a competitive 16.49% - 27.49% Variable APR on purchases

New customers can also snag a $300 online statement credit after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.. In addition, there is a $0.00 annual fee. Combined with the low interest rate, these two factors can make this Bank of America business credit card a particularly attractive option for new small business owners who don’t require a rewards program.

This card does, however, carry a foreign transaction fee of 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each transaction. So, if you anticipate using this card while traveling, you may want to consider one of the other BofA cards above.  The same is true if you know you’ll be using the card regularly, as this BofA business credit card doesn’t include any type of reward program.

Good Co-Branded Card: Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card

The Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card offers a competitive rewards program and numerous perks. If you travel with Alaska even a few times a year, you can likely get some value out of this card, even with the annual fee of $70 for the company and $25 per card

The card has a welcome offer of 50,000 bonus miles after you make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.. In addition, you can earn 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases, 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging station, shipping and local transit (including rideshare) purchases, and 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases..

There are no earning caps or blackouts, and you can redeem your points for flights as well as hotel stays at over 400,000 properties when you book through Alaska Airline Hotels. You can also use miles to book flights with one of its airline partners.

With this card, you can also take advantage of basic Bank of America Business perks such as cash flow management tools with QuickBooks integration, online and mobile access, up to $1,000,000 in travel accident and auto rental insurance, overdraft protection, and fraud monitoring.

Choosing the Best Card

If you’re still not sure which small business credit card to go with, take time to review your purchasing habits or forecast upcoming ones and determine what your business needs. If you’re looking for a rewards credit card and find that most of your spending falls into a specific category, then choose the card that offers the most rewards for those bonus categories. Rewards for business spending can add up, so also consider if you prefer rewards points, bonus miles, or cash back.

However, if you plan on carrying a balance and rewards aren’t a priority, then the card with the lowest variable APR (and possible intro APR offer) and annual fee can serve you well.

Types of Rewards

There are several types of rewards programs that Bank of America small business credit cards offer. The most common are:

  • Rewards points: With a points program, cardholders earn points either on everything they buy (with a flat-rate rewards program) or only on specific purchases. Cardholders can use the points toward things like gift cards, statement credits, or making purchases, depending on the program.
  • Cash back rewards: With a cash back program, cardholders earn cash back from either all purchases (on a flat-rate rewards program) or only on specific purchases. Members can redeem cash back for things like statement credits or future purchases. 
  • Rewards miles: A miles rewards program gives you miles for your spending, either as a flat-rate or only on specific purchases. Often cardholders can earn extra miles for travel purchases. You can redeem miles for items like travel or specific purchases, depending on the program.

You may also get a welcome bonus and a 0% intro APR with any of these rewards programs.

Key Differences Between Bank of America Personal Credit Cards and BofA Business Credit Cards 

There are several main differences between a personal Bank of America credit card and a business credit card. At the time of writing, you’re more likely to find lower interest rates with a business credit card than a personal credit card from BofA. Currently, the trade off is that personal credit cards tend to have longer 0% intro APR offers than business cards. If you’re planning to use this card for a long time, that may be worth it to you.

Additionally, one of the biggest perks is that you get automatic rebates when you use a business credit card toward certain purchases. You don’t need coupons or codes, the savings are built into the card. You’ll find savings across categories like travel, fuel, and dining, and you won’t find these with a personal BofA credit card. 
Finally, like all business credit cards, you agree to use the card only for business purposes when you open the account. A personal credit card can technically be used for both, although we always recommend keeping your personal and business finances separate.

What Is the Bank of America Business Credit Limit?

Credit limits are based on a variety of factors and will vary from applicant to applicant. When determining your individual credit limit, credit card companies typically consider things like your payment history, credit scores, and revenue. 

Keep in mind that in many cases, credit limits can be adjusted over time. If you improve your personal and business credit scores, increase your annual revenue or establish a pattern of responsible use over time, you may be able to secure a higher credit limit. Conversely, negative activity can do the opposite.  

How to Apply for a Bank of America Business Credit Card

Business credit cards aren’t reserved for only LLCs and corporations — you may also qualify for a BofA business credit card if you’re a sole proprietor or freelancer. Once you choose the right card for your business, the credit card application process with Bank of America can be completed completely online. 

You’ll need:

  • A business bank account: A business checking account may make your business appear more legitimate, and BofA might need to look at your cash reserves and profitability.
  • Good to excellent personal credit score: Bank of America typically accepts applicants with high credit scores. The bank offers a secured business credit card that may be easier to qualify for.
  • Business details: These include your business name, business type, business address, federal tax ID number, documents showing your business entity type, business email address, and business phone number.
  • Operational details: Years in business, annual revenue, monthly expenses, and number of employees (if any).

What Is the Bank of America Business Credit Card Credit Score Requirement?

Bank of America does not provide specific information regarding their credit score requirements as they pertain to its business credit products. However, approved applicants typically have good to excellent credit. 

If you’re considering opening a Bank of America credit card, or any business credit card for that matter, it’s important to determine your credit score before applying.  Doing so can help you determine the cards for which you are most likely to be approved.  

Keep in mind that your personal credit score is typically taken into consideration when applying for a business credit card. 

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