The 1st Century Bank Visa® Business Rewards Credit Card offers valuable perks for small business owners looking to maximize rewards. With bonus categories tailored to everyday business spend and 0% intro APR offers, it provides a good incentive for daily purchases.
Our detailed review examines the pros and cons to reveal who should consider adding this card to their business wallet.
About This Card
Choosing the right credit card plays a key role in effective financial management for companies. Business credit cards provide purchasing convenience plus opportunities to earn lucrative rewards.
The 1st Century Bank Visa® Business Rewards Credit Card focuses specifically on small business owners with bonus categories relevant for common expenditures. The card allows earning unlimited 3% cash back on advertising services, gas stations and restaurants.
But how does it compare against other popular business credit cards in the market? Does it provide enough value to warrant a slot in your wallet? Let’s analyze further:
1st Century Bank Credit Card Benefits
The 1st Century Bank business credit card offers a suite of valuable perks for cardholders:
- Earn Unlimited 3% Cash Back: You get 3% cash back on all advertising services, gas stations and restaurant purchases. Additional 1% backs on all other purchases. There is no limit on total rewards earned.
- 0% Intro APR on Purchases & Balance Transfers: Enjoy 0% intro APR for the first 12 months on both new purchases and balance transfers. After that a competitive variable 15.99% – 19.99% APR applies.
- No Annual Fee: The card has no annual fee so you retain complete rewards earnings without recurring charges.
- Potentially Lower Interest Rates: APRs start from 15.99% based on your creditworthiness, which is lower than average business card interest rates.
Drawbacks and Limitations
While the 1st Century Bank credit card has many perks, be aware about a few limitations:
- High Balance Transfer Fee: The card charges a 3% balance transfer fee with $10 minimum. That’s steep for transferring large existing balances.
- Requires Good Credit: You need a minimum credit score of 700 for the highest approval odds for this card. New businesses face challenges.
- Foreign Transaction Fee: A 3% foreign transaction fee applies when using this card overseas so it’s not ideal for international businesses.
Credit Limit Offered
The 1st Century Bank Visa Business Card bases the credit limit assigned on your personal credit record and annual business revenues.
New businesses can expect modest starting limits around $1000. As your banking relationship matures, request credit line increases periodically to unlock higher spending capacity.
Alternatives to Consider
The 1st Century Bank Visa card compares well to other popular competitors:
- Capital One Spark Cash
The Spark Cash card offers a higher 2% flat rate cash back on all purchases but lacks bonus categories. Its foreign transaction fee is lower at 2% with similar approval requirements.
- Chase Ink Business Unlimited
With 1.5% cashback on every purchase, the Ink Unlimited provides higher overall rewards rate compared to 1st Century’s 1% base rate. But its introductory APR offer is shorter at 9 months only.
Based on your business spend patterns across gas, dining, advertising and overseas transactions, assess which card resonates better. Include the signup bonus values also for maximum rewards optimization.
1st Century Bank Credit Card Requirements
To qualify for the 1st Century Bank Visa Business Rewards card, you need:
- Minimum personal credit score of 700
- Valid Social Security Number
- At least 1 year in business
- Annual business revenue over $50K
As an FDIC insured commercial bank, 1st Century follows standard eligibility criteria for approving business credit card applications.
Tips to Applying for the 1st Century Bank Credit Card
You can submit an application for the business rewards card on the bank’s website. The application requires that you share basic information like:
- Your name and contact details
- Social Security Number
- Type of business and annual revenue
- Business address and phone number
- Banking relationship details
The entire application process takes less than 10 minutes. Approval decision is generally delivered within one business day.
Tips to Accessing the 1st Century Bank Credit Card Online Account
On approval, you gain access to an online card management portal through 1st Century Bank’s website. The login allows you to:
- Check account balance and available credit
- View monthly statements
- Make payments securely
- Set up alerts and notifications
An accompanying mobile app also provides account access and payments management on-the-go.
Conclusion
The 1st Century Bank Business Credit Card works best for small businesses with significant gas, restaurants and advertising expenses. Uncapped 3% cash back in these categories outperforms many competitor offerings.
Reasonable APRs and 0% intro period also provide good incentive for shifting daily business spending. Approval timelines within a day simplify access to extra purchasing capacity when required.
But the foreign transaction fees and balance transfer charges are definite pain points. Hence evaluate your expenditure mix before locking this as your primary business card.
Overall for domestic US businesses on growth trajectory, the 1st Century Bank credit card warrants strong consideration to turbocharge your business rewards potential.
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