Affinity FCU Business FirstSM Visa® Credit Card Review
Tricia has nearly two decades of experience in commercial and federal government lending. Her expertise is highlighted throughout small business loan content on Fit Small Business.
Nancy Fernandez is a Credit Card and Insurance Expert at Fit Small Business, specializing in business credit cards and business insurance.
This article is part of a larger series on Best Small Business Credit Cards.
FCU Business FirstSM Visa® Credit Card is an ideal small business credit card for those with fair credit wanting to maximize their cash back rewards and improve their credit scores. It lets cardholders earn a maximum of 6x bonus points when they shop on Affinity’s rewards website, has a low starting APR for purchases at 12.75%, and has no annual fee. It also reports to top credit reporting agencies like Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
If you wish to compare one card over another, select a maximum of three cards on this page and click Add to compare to view the details in a side-by-side comparison.
Affinity FCU Business FirstSM Visa® Credit Card
BEST FOR:
Those with active Affinity Plus FCU business checking accounts
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
Starting at 12.75% variable
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
- Earn 5,000 initial bonus points with your first purchase
- Earn up to 6x bonus points when you shop on Affinity FCU's rewards website.
- With Affinity Visa Secure, cardholders receive an extra layer of protection when shopping online
- Reports to the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion
Pros
- No annual fee
- Provides maximum points rewards for cardholders
- Reports to multiple credit bureaus
Cons
- No interest-free financing scheme
- Limited branches
- Charges foreign transaction fees
- Fraud protection: Monitor accounts in real-time
- Visa SavingsEdge discount: Receive special discounts on qualifying purchases
- Emergency cash/card replacement: Get an emergency/replacement card, such as if you have lost your card
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
Starting at 12.75% variable
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
- Earn 5,000 initial bonus points with your first purchase
- Earn up to 6x bonus points when you shop on Affinity FCU's rewards website.
- With Affinity Visa Secure, cardholders receive an extra layer of protection when shopping online
- Reports to the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion
Pros
- No annual fee
- Provides maximum points rewards for cardholders
- Reports to multiple credit bureaus
Cons
- No interest-free financing scheme
- Limited branches
- Charges foreign transaction fees
- Fraud protection: Monitor accounts in real-time
- Visa SavingsEdge discount: Receive special discounts on qualifying purchases
- Emergency cash/card replacement: Get an emergency/replacement card, such as if you have lost your card
How We Evaluate Points Rewards Business Credit Cards
When evaluating cash back business credit cards, such as the Affinity FCU Business FirstSM Visa® Credit Card, we give the most of weight to the card’s ongoing and introductory rewards. We then evaluate the annual fee, introductory and ongoing annual percentage rates (APRs), and additional card benefits.
| Grading Criteria | Card Score | Highest Possible Score |
|---|---|---|
Ongoing Rewards | 30 | 30 |
Introductory Rewards | 15 | 20 |
Additional Features | 15 | 15 |
Annual Fee | 10 | 15 |
Introductory APR | 0 | 10 |
Ongoing APR | 10 | 10 |
| Total Score | 80 | 100 |
Who the Affinity FCU Business FirstSM Visa® Credit Card Is Best For
- Business owners who want to get higher points rewards: Those who want to earn as many points as possible may want to consider this business credit card as it lets you earn a point for every dollar spent while offering a maximum of 6x bonus points for shopping on its rewards website.
- Those with fair credit who wish to improve their credit scores: This credit card reports to leading credit bureaus, such as Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
- Those with active Affinity Plus FCU business checking accounts: You can do business with just one bank if you have the institution’s card and checking account. Read our Affinity Plus FCU Business Checking review to learn more.
If you think this card doesn’t fit your business needs, then read our guide to the best small business credit cards.
Affinity FCU Business FirstSM Visa® Credit Card Fees
- Introductory APR: N/A
- Ongoing APR for purchases: Starting at 12.75% variable, which adjusts with the prime rate
- Balance transfer APR: N/A
- Annual fee: None
- Foreign transaction fee: 2%
- Late payment fee: Up to $27
- Returned payment fee: Up to $37
Affinity FCU Business FirstSM Visa® Credit Card Rewards
- 5,000 bonus points with your first purchase
- 1 point for every dollar spent
- Up to 6x bonus points when you shop on Affinity FCU’s rewards website
These points don’t expire and can be earned by both the account owner and their cardholders. They can redeem points for hundreds of great rewards, which include travel, cash back, gift cards, and merchandise.
How To Make Payments on the Affinity FCU Business FirstSM Visa® Credit Card
- Online banking: You can set up an online account via Affinity FCU’s web portal to either make one-time or recurring payments. Take note that when making a one-time payment of up to $5,000 using an external checking/savings or debit card, you must include your loan number as it appears in your bill. A convenience fee of $4.99 shall be included in your payment when using this service.
- Affinity Mobile Banking App: You can also pay your credit card payments through its mobile app, which is available for both Apple and Android users.
Affinity FCU Business FirstSM Visa® Credit Card Features
Affinity FCU Business FirstSM Visa® Credit Card is best suited for those whose business credit scores are fair and who want to get the maximum cash back rewards, those who wish to improve their credit scores, and those who already have active business checking accounts with Affinity FCU. We categorized its features into Security and Savings and Peace of Mind.
Security & Savings
- Fraud protection: Cardholders are provided real-time monitoring of their accounts for suspicious transaction activity.
- Affinity Visa Secure: Activating this will give cardholders an extra layer of protection when shopping online.
- Visa SavingsEdge discount: After enrolling your card, you get special discounts on qualifying purchases and automatically save at many places you usually do business at.
Peace of Mind
- Emergency cash/card replacement: If an emergency happens or you lose your card, you can get access to cash and/or a replacement card.
- Purchase security: Cardholders can reimburse the cost of eligible items that were purchased with your card in the event of a theft and damage due to fire, among others.
- Extended protection: On warranties of three years or less, receive double the manufacturer’s warranty coverages for purchases.
- Auto rental coverage: Get excellent coverage in the event of a collision or theft on rented cars.
- Travel and emergency assistance: Affinity provides assistance with medical, legal, and travel services.
Pros & Cons of the Affinity FCU Business FirstSM Visa® Credit Card
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| No annual fee: Save on costs by not having to pay an annual fee. | No interest-free financing scheme: It doesn’t offer any introductory rewards that let new cardholders make large purchases for their business. |
| Provides maximum points rewards: Earn 5,000 points with your first purchase and a maximum of 6x bonus points when you shop on its rewards website. | Limited physical branches: Affinity FCU only has 18 active branches within New Jersey and New York. |
| Reports to multiple credit bureaus: It reports to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. So, there’s a higher chance that you can improve your credit scores within a year of using the card. | With foreign transaction fees: It charges 2% when you make purchases outside the United States. |
Affinity FCU Business FirstSM Visa® Alternatives
Chase Ink Business Unlimited®
The Chase Ink Business Unlimited® card is our leading small business credit card and top credit card for new businesses with no credit history because of its straightforward rewards program, which is cash back at a fixed rate of 1.5% for every dollar spent on any business purchase. On top of that, it offers an introductory bonus of $750 cash back if you spend a total of $7,500 in the first three months, and you can redeem rewards as a statement credit or toward gift cards, travel, or Apple® products.
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance.
BEST FOR:
Pocketing 1.5% cash back on every single purchase
Intro APR
0% Intro APR on Purchases
Regular APR
16.24% - 22.24% Variable
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
- Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
- With Fraud Protection your card transactions will be monitored for possible signs of fraudulent activity using real-time fraud monitoring.
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
Pros
- 0% introductory APR on purchases
- Unlimited cash back rewards on all purchases
Cons
- Introductory APR period doesn’t apply to balance transfers
- 5% balance transfer fee
- Charges foreign transaction fees
- Requires excellent credit to qualify
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: Coverage is primary—meaning it replaces any coverage your personal insurance might offer—when renting for business purposes; it provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most cars in the US and abroad
- Purchase protection: Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account per year
- Extended warranty protection: Extends the time period of the US manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less
Intro APR
0% Intro APR on Purchases
Regular APR
16.24% - 22.24% Variable
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
- With Fraud Protection your card transactions will be monitored for possible signs of fraudulent activity using real-time fraud monitoring.
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
Pros
- 0% introductory APR on purchases
- Unlimited cash back rewards on all purchases
Cons
- Introductory APR period doesn’t apply to balance transfers
- 5% balance transfer fee
- Charges foreign transaction fees
- Requires excellent credit to qualify
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: Coverage is primary—meaning it replaces any coverage your personal insurance might offer—when renting for business purposes; it provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most cars in the US and abroad
- Purchase protection: Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account per year
- Extended warranty protection: Extends the time period of the US manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less
Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business
Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business is great for those with fair credit and wanting to improve on their personal and business credit. While it does not have an interest-free financing option, this card is our top-recommended business credit card for fair credit, as it does not charge any additional fees, such as annual, balance transfer, and foreign transaction fees, and offers unlimited 1% cash back on every purchase made for your business.
Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business
Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance.
BEST FOR:
Those with fair credit
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
29.74% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Fair
- 1% cash back every time you swipe
- Build your business credit through responsible usage
- Issue employee cards for free
Pros
- Opportunity to build business credit
- Only requires fair credit to qualify
- Doesn’t charge annual and balance transfer fees
Cons
- Charges high ongoing APR
- Has no 0% introductory APR
- No sign-up bonus
- Automatic payments: Setting up AutoPay in the Capital One mobile app will save you from having to worry about signing in to your account every month
- $0 fraud liability: if your card is either lost or stolen, you can get an emergency replacement and cash advance.
- Purchase records: You can download all purchase records quickly and securely in multiple formats, including Quicken®, QuickBooks®, and Excel®.
- Extended warranty: Get free additional warranty and protection on eligible items purchased with your business credit card.
Free employee cards: You can create multiple employee cards, track employee spending, and customize spending limits while earning all the rewards from their purchases.
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
29.74% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Fair
- 1% cash back every time you swipe
- Build your business credit through responsible usage
- Issue employee cards for free
Pros
- Opportunity to build business credit
- Only requires fair credit to qualify
- Doesn’t charge annual and balance transfer fees
Cons
- Charges high ongoing APR
- Has no 0% introductory APR
- No sign-up bonus
- Automatic payments: Setting up AutoPay in the Capital One mobile app will save you from having to worry about signing in to your account every month
- $0 fraud liability: if your card is either lost or stolen, you can get an emergency replacement and cash advance.
- Purchase records: You can download all purchase records quickly and securely in multiple formats, including Quicken®, QuickBooks®, and Excel®.
- Extended warranty: Get free additional warranty and protection on eligible items purchased with your business credit card.
Free employee cards: You can create multiple employee cards, track employee spending, and customize spending limits while earning all the rewards from their purchases.
American Express Blue Business CashTM
American Express Blue Business CashTM is our leading cash back business credit card. It offers a 2% cash back reward on all eligible purchases of up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1% after that—all of which will be credited to your statement automatically. Moreover, it has an interest-free financing option of 0% on purchases for the first 12 months after account opening, which is why we also included it in our list of the top 0% APR business credit cards.
American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance.
BEST FOR:
Those who want better cash back rewards
Intro APR
0% on purchases
Regular APR
17.99% - 25.99% Variable
Annual Fee
No annual fee
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
- Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
- From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That’s why you’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power.
- Just remember, the amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us and other factors.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.99% - 25.99%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
Pros
- 0% intro APR
- Welcome bonus
- Fixed rate rewards
- No annual fee
Cons
- Cash advance isn’t allowed
- Charges foreign transaction fees
- 2% cash back is capped at $50,000 in annual spending
- Expanded buying power: Enjoy flexible buying power when your business needs it. Expanded buying power gives you the freedom to spend beyond your credit limit and help get business done. While the amount you can spend above your credit limit isn't unlimited, it adjusts with your use of the card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors.
- Car rental loss and damage insurance: As a Card Member, You can be covered for damage to or theft of a rental vehicle in a covered territory when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire rental and decline the collision damage waiver at the rental company counter.
Intro APR
0% on purchases
Regular APR
17.99% - 25.99% Variable
Annual Fee
No annual fee
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
- Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
- From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That’s why you’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power.
- Just remember, the amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us and other factors.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.99% - 25.99%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
Pros
- 0% intro APR
- Welcome bonus
- Fixed rate rewards
- No annual fee
Cons
- Cash advance isn’t allowed
- Charges foreign transaction fees
- 2% cash back is capped at $50,000 in annual spending
- Expanded buying power: Enjoy flexible buying power when your business needs it. Expanded buying power gives you the freedom to spend beyond your credit limit and help get business done. While the amount you can spend above your credit limit isn't unlimited, it adjusts with your use of the card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors.
- Car rental loss and damage insurance: As a Card Member, You can be covered for damage to or theft of a rental vehicle in a covered territory when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire rental and decline the collision damage waiver at the rental company counter.
Bottom Line
Affinity FCU Business FirstSM Visa® Credit Card is ideal if you have fair credit scores yet want to get as many points as possible, thanks to its generous rewards program. It can also be considered by those who wish to improve their credit scores, as it reports to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. It’s even advantageous for those with existing Affinity FCU checking accounts as they can do all of their business within one bank.
