US Bank Business Leverage Credit Card Review
Key Takeaways
The U.S. Bank Business Leverage card offers a 60,000 point bonus after spending $6,000 within the first 120 days, which is pretty good considering the annual fee is waived the first year. After the first year, the annual fee is $150. Because it’s a business card, it won’t affect your Chase 5/24 status. Like the rest of the U.S. Bank ecosystem, the biggest drawback is the lack of airline and hotel transfer partners. Points can still be redeemed through the U.S. Bank travel portal, for statement credits, or for cash back. For users looking to take a break from major issuers while continuing to earn signup bonuses, this can be a reasonable short-term option.
Why This Card Could Be Right For You
The U.S. Bank Business Leverage card offers several compelling benefits that make it worth considering for business owners looking to earn points from a different loyalty program:
- Generous Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 points after spending $6,000 in the first 120 days
- Automatic Category Optimization: Unlike cards that require you to pre-select bonus categories, this card automatically gives you 2x points in your top two spending categories each month. This hands-off approach saves busy business owners valuable time while still maximizing rewards.
You'll also earn 5x points on prepaid hotels and car rentals when booked through the Rewards Center. As a business card, it won't affect your personal Chase 5/24 status. The $150 annual fee is waived the first year, making this a good option for trying out the U.S. Bank rewards ecosystem with minimal financial commitment.
Here are your redemption options with this card:
- Travel bookings through their portal
- Instant redemptions with Real-Time Rewards
- Cash back
- Statement credits
- Gift cards
While this card is best viewed as a short-term strategy for capturing the sign-up bonus before downgrading or canceling prior to the second-year annual fee, it delivers solid value during that initial period for businesses with regular expenses.
What to Know About U.S. Bank FlexPerks
The U.S. Bank Loyalty System is a fixed-value travel program with limited upside.
- Points redeem at 1 cent per point toward travel when booked through the U.S. Bank portal (for those cards that allow portal redemptions).
- U.S. Bank does not currently have transfer partners. They announced that the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve will gain partners starting in December 2025, but none have been named yet. The card is also closed to new applicants as of November 2024.
- U.S. Bank points are fine for travelers who want a simple rebate toward flights, but the program is not ideal for anyone aiming to maximize travel value or leverage complex award bookings.
How The US Bank Business Leverage Credit Card Fits In The U.S. Bank FlexPerks Ecosystem
The U.S. Bank Business Leverage is one of several business credit card options from U.S. Bank, with three other options worth comparing:
U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect:
- Welcome offer: 60,000 points after $6,000 in purchases within 180 days
- Key benefits:
- 5x on prepaid hotels and car rentals through the portal
- 4x points on travel, gas, and EV charging stations (excluding discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs) on the first $150,000 in combined annual spending
- 2x points on dining, takeout, restaurant delivery, and cell service providers
- Annual fee is waived the first year, then $95 thereafter
This card may be preferable if the specific bonus categories align well with your business expenses and you don't mind tracking these categories.
U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power Card: This premium option comes with a higher annual fee of $195 but offers enhanced earning potential. It provides a 75,000-point sign-up bonus and requires $10,000 in spending during the first 120 days. The card also offers:
- 2x points on all purchases with no limit
- 2.5x points on up to $5,000 in mobile wallet purchases each quarter
- 6x points on prepaid hotels and car rentals through the portal
For businesses with high spending across many categories, this card's unlimited 2x points structure might outperform the Leverage card's top-two-categories approach.
U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Business Card: For businesses preferring cash back over points, this no-annual-fee option offers:
- 50,000 point signup bonus (redeemable as cash back) after spending $4,500 in the first 6 months
- 3% cash back at gas stations, EV charging stations (on transactions up to $200), office supply stores, cell phone service providers, and restaurants
- 5% back on all prepaid hotel and car rentals through the portal
When choosing between these options, consider your business spending patterns, willingness to track categories, and preference for points versus cash back. The Leverage card's automatic 2x points on your top two spending categories each month makes it uniquely attractive for businesses with variable spending patterns or those who prefer simplicity over category management.
Card Information
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