NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--American Express OPEN today announced the launch of Blue Business Plus Credit Card. Blue Business Plus is built for entrepreneurs working to fuel their small business, with tools to help earn rewards on everyday purchases and manage cash flow. These include 2X Membership Rewards® points on the first $50,000 spent each calendar year1 and a low introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for up to 15 months— all backed by the service and security of American Express, with no annual fee 2.
“In the U.S. 70 percent of small businesses generate less than $1 million in annual revenues3. For them, every minute counts and access to money to help fulfill big orders or make capital purchases is critical,” said Audrey Hendley, senior vice president, global products, American Express® Global Commercial Payments. “Blue Business Plus is the only no-annual-fee small business credit card from a major issuer that offers 2X points with no category restrictions, so small business owners can be confident they are making the smart choice for their business.”
Twice the Rewards with No Annual Fee
Blue Business Plus Credit Card offers 2X Membership Rewards points per dollar on the first $50,000 in eligible purchases each calendar year and 1X points thereafter1, with no rotating or fixed category restrictions and no annual fee. Card Members have the choice to redeem the points for travel, statement credits, gift cards, or merchandise, and they also have the option to transfer points to one of our participating airline or hotel loyalty programs4.
“With so many different ways to redeem Membership Rewards points, purchases with Blue Business Plus can become an investment toward future growth,” says Hendley.
Tools to Help Manage Cash Flow and Fuel Growth Opportunities
In a 2017 American Express OPEN survey of small business owners5, more than a third of respondents said they had concerns about cash flow over the next six months. Blue Business Plus Credit Card can help small businesses better manage cash flow in three ways:
- Low introductory APR: Blue Business Plus offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for up to 15 months. After that, the APR will be 11.99% – 19.99%, based on Card Member creditworthiness and other factors. The low intro APR can help small businesses access the credit they need to start and grow their business, further alleviating cash flow concerns that could arise from interest payments on balances due.
-
Expanded Buying Power: Card Members are able to spend above
their credit limit* so they can pursue growth opportunities
quickly without the hassle of making calls or paying over limit fees.
Card Members earn points on the amount spent above their limit, which
is due in full each month as part of the minimum payment due. While
the amount the small business owner can spend beyond their credit
limit varies based on a number of factors unique to each Card Member,
if a Card Member is ever unsure whether they can use their expanded
buying power to pay for a particular purchase, they can consult the
Check Spend Ability feature in their online account or call the number
on the back of their Card.
* The amount they can spend above their credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with their use of the Card, their payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors.
- Employee Controls: Card Members can add Employee Cards to their account, also for no annual fee, and get real-time alerts when employees spend outside of merchant types that Card Members have approved such as U.S. gas stations, U.S. shipping, and U.S. office supply stores.
Blue Business Plus Credit Card is now available to small business owners in the U.S. To learn more information please visit: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/credit-cards/blue-for-business/
About American Express OPEN
Through its Global Commercial Payments division, American Express offers a suite of payment and lending products that help businesses and organizations of all sizes gain financial savings, control and efficiency. Global Commercial Payments provides solutions for travel and everyday business spending, cross border payments, global currency solutions, and business financing.
To learn more about American Express OPEN, which provides products and services for small businesses and entrepreneurs in the United States, visit www.OPEN.com.
About American Express
American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, foursquare.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/company/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress.
Key links to products, services and corporate responsibility information: charge and credit cards, business credit cards, Plenti rewards program, travel services, gift cards, prepaid cards, merchant services, Accertify, corporate card, business travel and corporate responsibility.
1. With the Blue Business Plus Card from American Express, you can earn one Membership Rewards® point for each dollar you spend on your Card for eligible purchases. For the first $50,000 in eligible purchases in each calendar year you also earn one additional point (for a total of 2 points). Eligible purchases are purchases for goods and services minus returns and other credits. Eligible purchases do NOT include fees or interest charges, balance transfers, purchases of travelers checks, purchases or reloading of prepaid cards, or purchases of other cash equivalents. Additional terms and restrictions apply. Terms and Conditions for the Membership Rewards® program apply. Visit membershiprewards.com/terms for more information. Participating partners and available rewards are subject to change without notice.
The value of Membership Rewards points varies according to how you choose to use them. To learn more, go to www.membershiprewards.com/pointsinfo.
2. Annual Fee: There is no annual fee for Blue Business(SM) Plus Credit Card. APRs: 0% intro APR on purchases for up to 15 months of Card Membership, based on your creditworthiness and other factors. After that, the APR will be a variable rate based on the Prime Rate, currently 11.99% to 19.99%. 0% intro APR on balance transfers for up to 15 months of Card Membership, based on your creditworthiness and other factors. After that, the APR will be a variable rate based on the Prime Rate, currently 11.99% to 19.99%. The following APRs vary based on the Prime Rate. APR for Purchases: currently 11.99% to 19.99%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening; APR for balance transfers requested within 60 days of account opening: currently 11.99% to 19.99%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors; Penalty APR 29.99%. Variable rates are accurate as of 5/2/2017. The variable penalty APR will not exceed 29.99%. Other Charges: Balance Transfer Fee: Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. Foreign Transaction Fee: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
3. 2016 Small Business Credit Survey, United States Federal Reserve System.
4. Enrollment in a participating Frequent Flyer or Frequent Guest program is required. Airline tickets and guest rooms are subject to availability. For each conversion of points into the Frequent Flyer program of a U.S. airline, a fee of $0.0006 per point, with a maximum fee of $99, will be charged to your Card account. We charge this fee to offset the federal excise tax we must pay on such conversions. The fee may be more or less than the actual amount of the excise tax we pay on any individual conversion. We may offer you the option to redeem points to cover this fee.
5. American Express OPEN Small Business Monitor, conducted since 2002, is based on a nationally representative sample of 700 U.S. small business owners/managers of companies with fewer than 100 employees. The anonymous survey was conducted via telephone by Ebiquity March 29-April 21, 2016. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.7% at the 95% level of confidence.
