Amazon Launches Two New U.S. Bank Business Credit Cards

Key Takeaways

• Prime Business Card offers 5% back on Amazon purchases up to $150k.
• Both cards give 2% back on top three spend categories outside Amazon.
• No annual fee, no foreign‑transaction fees, and 0% APR financing options.
• Variable sign‑up bonus ranges from $100 to $750 for new users.
• Cards issued by U.S. Bank, part of Mastercard network.

Pulse Analysis

Amazon’s decision to partner with U.S. Bank marks a strategic pivot away from American Express, allowing the e‑commerce giant to control more of the credit‑card value chain. By leveraging the Mastercard network, Amazon can offer broader acceptance worldwide while retaining the data insights and cross‑selling opportunities that come with a proprietary card program. The move also aligns with Amazon’s broader fintech ambitions, including its growing suite of cash‑flow solutions for sellers on its marketplace.

The new cards differentiate themselves through a tiered rewards structure tailored to business spend patterns. The Prime Business Card’s 5% cash back on Amazon, AWS, and Whole Foods purchases—boosted to 6% with Amazon Day Delivery—targets high‑volume corporate buyers, while the standard Amazon Business Card’s 3% rate still outpaces many mainstream business cards. Both cards automatically apply 2% back on the cardholder’s top three external categories, a feature that simplifies reward optimization without the need for manual tracking. Combined with 0% APR financing for purchases over $100, the cards aim to reduce cost of capital for small and midsize enterprises.

For SMBs, the absence of annual and foreign‑transaction fees removes a common barrier to adoption, making the cards an attractive alternative to legacy offerings from banks and card issuers. The variable sign‑up bonus, ranging from $100 to $750, provides an immediate incentive that can offset onboarding costs. As Amazon continues to integrate financial services into its ecosystem, these cards could become a gateway for deeper merchant financing, data‑driven credit underwriting, and ultimately, a more sticky relationship between Amazon and its business customers.