Associated Bank Visa® Business Real Rewards Card Review for 2022
Benilyn has over a decade of experience as a banking officer. Her expertise is featured throughout Fit Small Business in personal finance, credit card, and real estate investing content.
This article is part of a larger series on Best Small Business Credit Cards.
The Associated Bank Visa® Business Real Rewards Card is designed for business owners who prefer to earn fixed-rate, unlimited rewards. This small business credit card has no annual fee and a low ongoing annual percentage rate (APR). You can enjoy Visa-specific benefits including extended warranties, purchase protection, and travel assistance.
To see how this card stacks up against others that we have reviewed on our site, click Add to Compare on the card below and select up to two additional cards for comparison.
Associated Bank Visa® Business Real Rewards Card
Intro APR
0% APR for the first six billing cycles
Regular APR
13.99% to 22.99% variable
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Good
- 2,500 bonus rewards Points awarded after first purchase
- Earn 1.5 points for every eligible net $1 you spend
Pros
- Sign-up bonus
- No annual fee
- Unlimited rewards
Cons
- Short 0% APR period
- No 0% APR on balance transfers
- Rewards do expire
- Free employee cards with individual credit limits
- Protection against terminated employees’ misuse up to $100,000
- Free online reporting with spend analysis to help you make informed decisions about your expenses
Intro APR
0% APR for the first six billing cycles
Regular APR
13.99% to 22.99% variable
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Good
- 2,500 bonus rewards Points awarded after first purchase
- Earn 1.5 points for every eligible net $1 you spend
Pros
- Sign-up bonus
- No annual fee
- Unlimited rewards
Cons
- Short 0% APR period
- No 0% APR on balance transfers
- Rewards do expire
- Free employee cards with individual credit limits
- Protection against terminated employees’ misuse up to $100,000
- Free online reporting with spend analysis to help you make informed decisions about your expenses
How We Evaluate Points Rewards Business Credit Cards
When grading points rewards business credit cards like the Associated Bank Visa® Business Real Rewards Card, we first consider the ongoing and introductory rewards. We also rate the annual fee, introductory and ongoing annual percentage rates (APRs), and additional card features.
Grading Criteria | Card Score | Highest Possible Score |
|---|---|---|
Ongoing Rewards | 20 | 30 |
Introductory Rewards | 10 | 20 |
Annual Fee | 15 | 15 |
Features | 15 | 15 |
Introductory APR | 5 | 10 |
Ongoing APR | 8 | 10 |
Total Score | 73 | 100 |
Who Is The Associated Bank Visa® Business Real Rewards Card Best For?
- Business owners who prefer fixed-rate rewards: The Associated Bank Visa® Business Real Rewards Card offers fixed-rate points for all purchases, regardless of spending categories.
Associated Bank Visa® Business Real Rewards Card Fees
- Introductory APR: 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first six billing cycles after opening an account
- Ongoing APR: 13.99% to 22.99%, variable
- Annual fee: $0
- Balance transfer fee: $5 or 3% of the amount transferred, whichever is higher
- Foreign transaction fee: 2% of each foreign transaction in US dollars or 3% of each foreign transaction in a foreign currency
- Cash advance fee: $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater—APR is 25.99%
How to Make Payments on the Associated Bank Visa® Business Real Rewards Card
- Online: Log in to your account at www.myaccountaccess.com to make an online payment.
- Auto Pay: Schedule an automatic monthly withdrawal from a checking or savings account.
- By Phone: Call (866) 552-8855.
Associated Bank Visa® Business Real Rewards Card Rewards
- 2,500 bonus points after making your first purchase, redeemable for $25 cash back, merchandise, gift cards, or travel savings
- 1.5 points for every dollar you spend
You can redeem your points as a cash deposit to an Associated Bank checking or savings account or as a statement credit to your credit card account. Points earned will remain in your account for five years until the end of the quarter in which they were earned. When you redeem points, the earliest earned points are used first.
Associated Bank Visa® Business Real Rewards Card Additional Features
Online Reporting With Spend Analysis
The Associated Bank Visa® Business Real Rewards Card offers a free online tool that lets you generate credit card spending reports on a monthly, quarterly, annual, or year-to-date basis. You can also download an annual account summary of up to 36 months. View your expenses by total spending, average ticket, or merchant.
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver Insurance
You’re eligible for auto rental collision damage waiver insurance when you rent a car using your Associated Bank Visa® Business Real Rewards Card. You can decline the rental company’s collision damage waiver option and receive coverage through Visa for collision damage or theft.
Fraud Protection
Associated Bank will notify you of any unusual card activity to prevent fraudulent transactions. If your card is lost or stolen, zero fraud liability protects you from fraudulent use of your card or account information, and you won’t be responsible for any unauthorized purchases.
Extended Warranty & Purchase Protection
Visa offers an extended warranty that doubles the manufacturer’s warranty on purchases made with your Associated Bank Visa® Business Real Rewards Card. Purchase protection covers your new purchases for 90 days against both damage and theft.
Travel and Emergency Assistance
Call Visa’s 24-hour Visa Assistance Center at (800) VISA-911 to report a lost or stolen card and request an emergency card replacement. The Assistance Center can also provide medical and legal referrals and transportation assistance. The cardholder is responsible for any fees associated with these services.
Pros & Cons of the Associated Bank Visa® Business Real Rewards Card
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Sign-up bonus: You’ll earn 2,500 points (equivalent to $25) after your first purchase. | Short 0% APR period: The Associated Bank Visa® Business Real Rewards Card only offers a 0% introductory APR for six billing cycles. |
| Unlimited rewards: The Associated Bank Visa® Business Real Rewards Card offers unlimited 1.5 points on all purchases, with no cap or limit to the amount you can earn. | No 0% APR on balance transfers: The interest-free period is only applicable to purchases—not to balance transfers. |
| No annual fee: Earn rewards on all purchases without having to pay annual fees. | Rewards expire: You need to redeem your rewards within five years of when they are earned. |
Associated Bank Visa® Business Real Rewards Card Alternatives
PNC points® Visa® Business Credit Card
The PNC points® Visa® Business Credit Card has no annual fee and comes with a low ongoing APR ranging from 10.99% to 19.99%. This is a better alternative for business owners who need an introductory 0% APR on both purchases and balance transfers.
PNC points® Visa® Business Credit Card
Intro APR
0% on balance transfers and purchases for the first nine billing cycles after opening an account
Regular APR
13.24% to 22.24% variable
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Good to Excellent
- Unlimited 5 points for every dollar spent on eligible purchases, with no spending categories to keep track of and no limits on the amount of points earned.
Pros
- Low ongoing APR
- Unlimited five points for every dolar spent on business-related purchases
- No annual fees
Cons
- Short interest-free financing option on both purchases and balance transfers
- Points expire on the 48th month after the month in which they were posted to your points account
- Only available if you have an existing online bank account with PNC Bank or if you’re an existing PNC depositor
- Overdraft Protection: You can use this card as overdraft protection for your PNC business checking account. This can help prevent overdrafts if your checking account doesn’t have sufficient funds to cover your check transactions.
- Cash Flow Insight®: This lets you monitor and plan your cash flow, send invoices via email, get paid online, and manage payables. It has a Spend Analysis tool that will automatically assign business categories to your credit card transactions so that you can track your expenses and plan a budget for your future business needs.
- Purchase Security: Items purchased with this card are covered by purchase security. Visa® will replace, repair, or reimburse you for eligible items in the event of theft or damage within the first 90 days of purchase.
- Extended Protection: If you purchase an item with this card, you’re covered with extended protection. This coverage doubles the original manufacturer’s written US warranty up to a maximum of one additional year on warranties of three years or less.
Intro APR
0% on balance transfers and purchases for the first nine billing cycles after opening an account
Regular APR
13.24% to 22.24% variable
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Good to Excellent
- Unlimited 5 points for every dollar spent on eligible purchases, with no spending categories to keep track of and no limits on the amount of points earned.
Pros
- Low ongoing APR
- Unlimited five points for every dolar spent on business-related purchases
- No annual fees
Cons
- Short interest-free financing option on both purchases and balance transfers
- Points expire on the 48th month after the month in which they were posted to your points account
- Only available if you have an existing online bank account with PNC Bank or if you’re an existing PNC depositor
- Overdraft Protection: You can use this card as overdraft protection for your PNC business checking account. This can help prevent overdrafts if your checking account doesn’t have sufficient funds to cover your check transactions.
- Cash Flow Insight®: This lets you monitor and plan your cash flow, send invoices via email, get paid online, and manage payables. It has a Spend Analysis tool that will automatically assign business categories to your credit card transactions so that you can track your expenses and plan a budget for your future business needs.
- Purchase Security: Items purchased with this card are covered by purchase security. Visa® will replace, repair, or reimburse you for eligible items in the event of theft or damage within the first 90 days of purchase.
- Extended Protection: If you purchase an item with this card, you’re covered with extended protection. This coverage doubles the original manufacturer’s written US warranty up to a maximum of one additional year on warranties of three years or less.
Associated Bank Visa® Business Cash Preferred Credit Card
If you prefer to earn cash back rewards, consider applying for the Associated Bank Visa® Business Cash Preferred Credit Card. This card lets you earn cash back ranging from 1% to 3% and gives you a $25 sign-up bonus. It has no annual fee and charges the same APR as the Associated Bank Visa® Business Real Rewards Card (13.99% to 22.99%, variable).
Associated Bank Visa® Business Cash Preferred Credit Card
Intro APR
0% APR for the first six billing cycles
Regular APR
13.99% to 22.99% variable
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Good
- $25 cash back awarded after making your first purchase
- $100 annual software credit after 11 consecutive monthly software transactions
- Earn 3% cash back on gas, cellphone services, office supplies, and dining expenses; and 1% on all other purchases
Pros
- Sign-up bonus
- No annual fee
- Unlimited rewards
Cons
- Short 0% APR period
- No 0% APR on balance transfers
- Rewards expire in time
- Free employee cards with individual credit limits
- Protection against terminated employees’ misuse up to $100,000.
- Free online reporting with spend analysis to help you make informed decisions about your expenses.
Intro APR
0% APR for the first six billing cycles
Regular APR
13.99% to 22.99% variable
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Good
- $25 cash back awarded after making your first purchase
- $100 annual software credit after 11 consecutive monthly software transactions
- Earn 3% cash back on gas, cellphone services, office supplies, and dining expenses; and 1% on all other purchases
Pros
- Sign-up bonus
- No annual fee
- Unlimited rewards
Cons
- Short 0% APR period
- No 0% APR on balance transfers
- Rewards expire in time
- Free employee cards with individual credit limits
- Protection against terminated employees’ misuse up to $100,000.
- Free online reporting with spend analysis to help you make informed decisions about your expenses.
American Express Blue Business® Plus Credit Card
The American Express Blue Business® Plus Credit Card lets you spend beyond your credit limit through its Expanded Buying Power feature. Also, it has no annual fee and a low ongoing APR. This card made it to our list of the best small business credit cards.
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
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 2x points per $1 and 0% introductory APR for 12 months
Intro APR
0% on purchases
Regular APR
16.24% - 24.24% Variable
Annual Fee
No annual fee
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter.
- You’ve got the power to use your Card beyond its credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power.
- *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, 16.24% - 24.24%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
Pros
- No annual fee
- 0% APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfer
- Welcome offer bonus points
- Expanded buying power
- Fixed-rate rewards
Cons
- Cash advances aren’t allowed
- Charges foreign transaction fees
- 2x points rewards are capped at $50,000 in spending
- Extended warranty protection: American Express will match the length of the original manufacturer’s warranty if it’s less than two years. It provides an additional two years if the original manufacturer’s warranty is between two and five years. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per occurrence and $50,000 per account each year.
- Purchase protection: The issuer will repair, replace, or reimburse you for an item purchased with the card that was damaged or stolen within 120 days of purchase. Coverage is limited to $1,000 per occurrence and $50,000 per account each year.
Intro APR
0% on purchases
Regular APR
16.24% - 24.24% Variable
Annual Fee
No annual fee
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter.
- You’ve got the power to use your Card beyond its credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power.
- *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, 16.24% - 24.24%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
Pros
- No annual fee
- 0% APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfer
- Welcome offer bonus points
- Expanded buying power
- Fixed-rate rewards
Cons
- Cash advances aren’t allowed
- Charges foreign transaction fees
- 2x points rewards are capped at $50,000 in spending
- Extended warranty protection: American Express will match the length of the original manufacturer’s warranty if it’s less than two years. It provides an additional two years if the original manufacturer’s warranty is between two and five years. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per occurrence and $50,000 per account each year.
- Purchase protection: The issuer will repair, replace, or reimburse you for an item purchased with the card that was damaged or stolen within 120 days of purchase. Coverage is limited to $1,000 per occurrence and $50,000 per account each year.
Bottom Line
The Associated Bank Visa® Business Real Rewards Card is a basic points-based rewards business credit card with no annual fee and a low ongoing APR. It lets you earn unlimited, fixed-rate points on all purchases without having to keep track of spending categories.
If this isn’t the right card for you, visit our Credit Card Marketplace for more options.
