Seattle, WA – May 14, 2026 – Amazon.com Inc. has announced a significant overhaul of its business credit card program, ushering in a new era for its corporate clients by partnering with U.S. Bank and leveraging Mastercard’s extensive network. This strategic shift, effective immediately for new applicants, introduces the Prime Business Card and Amazon Business Card, boasting a suite of enhanced rewards, flexible financing options, and advanced spend management tools designed to empower businesses of all sizes. The move marks a departure from its long-standing relationship with American Express, signaling Amazon’s continued commitment to deepening its integration within the B2B e-commerce landscape.
The launch of these new cards on May 13th signifies Amazon’s strategic intent to further solidify its position as a dominant force in business-to-business commerce. By integrating purchasing, payments, and robust spend controls into a single, cohesive platform, Amazon aims to streamline the procurement process for its millions of business customers. This initiative aligns with Amazon’s consistent growth trajectory, as evidenced by its perennial top ranking in Digital Commerce 360’s Top 2000 Database, which tracks the largest North American online retailers by annual e-commerce sales. Furthermore, Amazon’s influence extends globally, securing the third position in Digital Commerce 360’s Global Online Marketplaces Database, a testament to its significant third-party gross merchandise value (GMV).
A Strategic Pivot: From Amex to U.S. Bank and Mastercard
The transition of Amazon’s business credit card program from American Express to U.S. Bank, operating on the Mastercard network, represents a pivotal moment in the company’s financial service offerings. This partnership, effective for new applicants, aims to cater directly to the evolving needs of modern businesses. The previous arrangement with American Express, established in 2018, laid the groundwork for Amazon’s foray into business credit. However, the new offerings signal a desire to inject greater dynamism and breadth into the program.
Shelley Salomon, vice president of Amazon Business, articulated the driving force behind this strategic pivot. "We listened intently to our business customers," Salomon stated. "They expressed a clear demand for expanded rewards beyond the Amazon ecosystem, greater flexibility in payment methods, and more sophisticated control over their teams’ expenditures." The newly launched cards are a direct response to these articulated needs, promising rewards that dynamically adjust to individual spending patterns, interest-free installment plans, and integrated spend management functionalities.
Enhanced Rewards: Rewarding Every Business Dollar
A cornerstone of the new program is its revamped rewards structure, designed to offer significant value both within and outside the Amazon ecosystem. For Prime members, the Prime Business Card is poised to become an indispensable tool, offering an impressive 5% back on eligible U.S. purchases across Amazon Business, Amazon.com, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Whole Foods Market. This generous reward rate is capped at $150,000 annually, ensuring substantial benefits for high-volume spenders.
For businesses that do not hold a Prime membership, the Amazon Business Card provides a compelling alternative, offering 3% back on eligible U.S. Amazon purchases, subject to the same $150,000 annual cap. Both cards come with the attractive benefit of no annual fees and no foreign transaction fees, further enhancing their appeal to a global business clientele.
Crucially, Amazon has broadened the scope of rewards beyond its own platforms. Under the new program, customers will automatically earn 2% back on their top three eligible spending categories each statement cycle for non-Amazon purchases, up to an annual cap of $150,000. All other non-Amazon purchases will accrue 1% back, providing a consistent return on a wide array of business expenditures.
Recognizing the importance of travel for many businesses, the program also incorporates lucrative travel rewards. Prime Business Card holders can enjoy a 5% rebate on travel booked through the U.S. Bank Travel Center, while Amazon Business Card holders will receive a 3% rebate on similar travel bookings. This dual focus on everyday business expenses and essential travel services underscores Amazon’s commitment to providing comprehensive financial solutions.
Flexible Financing and Advanced Spend Management Tools
Beyond the attractive rewards, the revamped credit card program introduces a suite of financing and spend management features designed to provide businesses with enhanced control and flexibility. A key innovation is the ability for customers to split eligible Amazon purchases into fixed monthly payments with a 0% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for up to 12 months. This "buy now, pay later" functionality, while not eligible for rewards on those specific purchases, offers a valuable cash flow management tool for businesses facing large procurement needs.
The integration of these cards with Amazon Business tools and U.S. Bank Spend Management platforms is another significant development. Businesses can now leverage real-time spending tracking, access itemized reports with detailed Amazon transaction data, set granular spending limits for individual employees or departments, and issue an unlimited number of virtual cards. These virtual cards can be customized with specific spend restrictions and expiration dates, offering an unparalleled level of security and control over corporate expenditures.
Mastercard’s involvement brings its robust suite of security features to the forefront. Cardholders will benefit from AI-powered fraud monitoring, Zero Liability protection, tokenization for enhanced transaction security, and advanced cybersecurity tools. The global acceptance of Mastercard’s network, spanning over 100 million locations worldwide, ensures that businesses can utilize these cards seamlessly across diverse operational environments.
For existing Amazon Business American Express cardholders, a phased transition is in place. They will be able to continue using their current cards and accumulating rewards during the transition period. Amazon has confirmed that replacement cards will be issued, with existing rewards seamlessly carrying over to the new U.S. Bank-issued cards, which can be activated from August 14th.
This issuer switch also represents a strategic expansion for U.S. Bank, solidifying its role in Amazon’s small business payment ecosystem. With a client base of over 1.4 million small business customers, U.S. Bank is well-positioned to leverage this partnership to introduce a range of additional financial services tailored to the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Amazon Business: A Growing Ecosystem of Integrated Services
The launch of the new business credit cards is part of a broader strategic initiative by Amazon to continually enhance and expand its Amazon Business marketplace. This B2B platform has rapidly evolved into a powerhouse, now driving over $35 billion in annualized gross sales and serving more than 8 million organizations globally, including a remarkable 97% of the Fortune 100 companies.
Amazon’s commitment to innovation within Amazon Business is evident in its recent enhancements. Just a day after the credit card announcement, the company unveiled new conversational capabilities for its Amazon Business Assistant. This AI-powered assistant is now equipped to guide procurement teams through complex processes such as tax-exempt purchasing, approval workflows, spend control management, order visibility, and anomaly detection. Furthermore, business customers can now leverage Alexa for Shopping while browsing Amazon Business, integrating voice-activated convenience into their purchasing decisions.
Adding to the growing suite of services, Amazon Business recently introduced same-day delivery of fresh groceries to businesses in over 2,300 U.S. cities and towns. This expansion allows businesses to seamlessly order perishable items like produce, dairy, and baked goods alongside their usual office supplies and other operational necessities, blurring the lines between consumer and business purchasing convenience.
The revamped business credit card program, with its enhanced rewards, flexible financing, and robust management tools, coupled with the continuous innovation within the Amazon Business marketplace, positions Amazon as an increasingly indispensable partner for businesses seeking to optimize their procurement and financial operations. This strategic evolution underscores Amazon’s ambition to not only facilitate transactions but to provide comprehensive, integrated solutions that drive efficiency and profitability for its business clientele.
