A Guide to the First National Business Credit Cards

Already have a business bank account with First National? If so, you might be curious about the bank’s business credit cards. The First National business credit card program isn’t just for existing customers. In fact, the bank’s four business credit cards offer a range of terms and rewards that could tempt business owners who bank elsewhere, too.

To sort through the bank’s four offerings, we’ll break down each card for you here. We’ll also let you know which alternative business credit cards you should be aware of so you can compare your options and make the decision that’s right for you.

Three of the First National business credit cards come with no annual fee and an introductory break on your APR. The fourth card has an annual fee and no introductory APR offer, but lets you request your own credit limit and earn interest on your security deposit. Keep reading to learn more about the features of the four cards.

The Four First National Business Credit Cards, Reviewed

First National Business Edition Visa Card With Business Category Rewards

The First National Business Edition Visa Card With Business Category Rewards lives up to its name, with different rewards rates for different spending categories. Let’s start with the card’s fees and terms before we dive into those rewards.

The card has no annual fee, and comes with an introductory 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first six billing cycles. Just keep in mind that after that introductory period ends you’ll pay a variable APR at a rate that will depend on your creditworthiness and the market prime rate. Check the issuer’s terms and conditions for the latest APR information. Six billing cycles is definitely not the longest introductory APR period on the market, so if you need a longer runway for your interest-free spending, you might want to consider alternatives.

Now, about those rewards. The First National Business Edition Visa Card With Business Category Rewards offers five points for every dollar spent on qualifying business expenses (up to $25,000, after which you’ll earn one point per dollar you spend). You’ll also earn two points per dollar spent on dining and gas (up to the same $25,000 limit). Every dollar spent on purchases in other categories will earn you rewards at a rate of one point per dollar.

You can redeem your points online or by phone in several categories, including merchandise, gift cards, travel, cash back as a statement credit to the account, and other goods and services available via the card’s online portal.

Additional card features include free management reports to help you track expenses and deductions, as well as added security in the form of fraud protection, extended warranties, travel accident insurance, and identity theft protection.  

Top Alternative to First National Business Edition Visa Card With Business Category Rewards: American Express SimplyCash Plus

Not sold on the First National Business Edition Visa Card With Business Category Rewards? An alternative worth considering is the American Express SimplyCash Plus. The American Express SimplyCash Plus card comes with a 15-month introductory 0% APR. As with other cards, once that introductory period ends you’ll pay a variable APR that will depend on your creditworthiness and the market prime rate. In the meantime, though, a 15-month 0% APR is a generous offer. This 0% APR applies only to purchases, not balance transfers, so if you have balances to transfer this might not be the card for you.

Like the First National Business Edition Visa Card With Business Category Rewards, the American Express SimplyCash Plus has a tiered rewards system. You’ll earn 5% cash back on the first $50,000 you spend on wireless phone services and U.S. office supply stores purchases—great if you’re setting up an office and outfitting your staff with business phones.

The American Express SimplyCash Plus offers 3% cash back on a broad category that includes airfare, hotel stays, gas, restaurants, computer hardware and software, and more. That 3% cash back rate applies to the first $50,000 you spend across these categories.

Finally, you’ll earn 1% cash back on all other purchases categories and on any spending you do beyond the $50,000 cap in the 5% and 3% rewards categories.

Cash back cards like the American Express SimplyCash Plus are a little easier to use than points cards like the First National Business Edition Visa Card With Business Category Rewards, so if you’re looking for a card you can set and forget, you might prefer the American Express SimplyCash Plus. With the American Express SimplyCash Plus, you won’t have to worry about logging in to redeem your points and keeping track of how many points you’ve earned.

First National Business Edition Visa Card With Reward Simplicity

Next up on our rundown of First National business credit cards is the First National Business Edition Visa Card With Reward Simplicity. The “simplicity” in the name refers to the card’s single rewards rate, which, although not the highest on the market, is still decent.

With the First National Business Edition Visa Card With Rewards Simplicity you won’t have to keep track of tiered or rotating rewards categories. Instead, the card offers a single, unlimited rewards rate of 1.5 points per dollar spent anywhere. Points can be redeemed for merchandise, travel expenses (including airfare, hotels, and car rentals), gift cards, merchandise, or statement credit.

The First National Business Edition Visa Card With Reward Simplicity comes with no annual fee and a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers that last six billing cycles. At the end of the introductory period you’ll be subject to a variable APR that will depend on your creditworthiness and the market prime rate.

Top Alternative to First National Business Edition Visa Card With Reward Simplicity: Capital One Spark Cash for Business

Looking for a flat rewards rate but not sure the First National Business Edition Visa Card with Reward Simplicity is the one for you? An alternative you might be interested in is the Capital One Spark Cash for Business, which offers unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, with no cap.

Unlike the First National Business Edition Visa Card With Reward Simplicity, the Capital One Spark Cash for Business offers cash back rewards, not points, so it’s a good alternative for those who prefer not to have to think too hard about redeeming their credit card rewards.

The Capital One Spark Cash for Business has another feature you won’t get from the First National Business Edition Visa Card With Reward Simplicity, and that’s a signup bonus. With the Capital One card you’ll get $500 cash back when you spend $4,500 within your first three months as a cardholder.

If you need a 0% introductory APR offer, though, the Capital One Spark Cash for Business card isn’t the one for you. And while the card has no annual fee for the first year, after that year is up you’ll pay an annual fee of $95.

First National Business Edition Visa Card

The last no-fee card on our roundup of First National business credit cards is the First National Business Edition Visa Card. In addition to being fee-free, the card comes with a 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first six billing cycles. Once that introductory period ends, you’ll pay a variable APR based on your creditworthiness and the market prime rate.

The card doesn’t come with any rewards in the form of points or cash back, but it does come with the standard suite of First National business card perks. It’s relatively low on frills, but it won’t cost you anything, either. Plus, it comes with the standard First National business credit card program extras, including free management reports and free 24/7 online account access.  

Top Alternative to First National Business Edition Visa Card: Blue Business Plus Card From American Express

Is the First National Business Edition Visa Card a little too bare-bones for you? Looking for a longer 0% APR offer? A solid alternative choice for you could be the Blue Business Plus Card from American Express.

The AMEX Blue Business Plus Card boasts an intro 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months. Not bad! In fact, that’s the longest introductory 0% APR offer on the market right now. Having a longer introductory APR offer gives you more time to pay down any balances you transfer, or to make new purchases without accruing interest. Keep in mind that once that introductory APR period ends, you’ll pay a variable APR based on your creditworthiness and the market prime rate.

Like the First National Business Edition Visa Card, the AMEX Blue Business Plus Card has no annual fee. But unlike the First National Business Edition Visa Card, the AMEX Blue Business Plus Card comes with rewards. You’ll earn 2x points for the first $50,000 you spend. There is no signup bonus for new cardholders.

First National Business Edition Secured Visa Card

Last up on our list of the four First National business credit cards is the First National Business Edition Secured Visa Card. If your credit score isn’t where you’d like it to be, you might be in the market for a secured business card. The First National Business Edition Secured Visa Card allows you to request your own credit line of between $2,000 and $100,000, subject to credit approval.

Because it’s a secured card you’ll need to put some money down. For this card, the security deposit is 110% of the amount of your credit limit. However, you will earn some interest on your security deposit funds, so the money in your deposit won’t just be sitting there.

The card comes with annual fee of $39. You’ll be subject to a variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. There’s no 0% APR offer when you sign up. Instead, the APR you pay will depend on your creditworthiness and the market prime rate.

Top Alternative to First National Business Edition Secured Visa Card: Bento for Business Mastercard

Prefer a business credit card with no annual fee but don’t have the credit score for a regular business credit card? You might be interested in the Bento for Business Visa Debit Mastercard, which is fee-free if you have fewer than two business credit cards on the account.

The Bento for Business Visa Debit Mastercard is a prepaid card, not a secured credit card. Translation? Rather than putting down a security deposit, as you would with the First National Business Edition Visa Card, you’ll link your Bento for Business Mastercard to a business checking account and fund the card (or cards, if you’re giving additional cards to your team).

The card comes with some restrictions. If your team will need to spend more than $25,000 in a single day, this card isn’t the one for you. The card also doesn’t allow you to withdraw more than $500 in cash in a single day. Bento charges monthly fees for accounts with more than two cards, and those fees can add up if you have a large team.

On the plus side, the Bento dashboard lets you review account activity on all of the cards attached to the account. You’ll also be able to export that data for any reporting or accounting needs you might have.

Which First National Business Credit Card Is Right for You?

Choosing between First National business credit cards will most likely come down to two main factors: your credit score and whether you prefer a flat rewards rate or tiered rewards. If your credit score is too low for a traditional credit card, the First National Business Edition Secured Visa Card will be your best match among the First National business credit cards.

If your score is a little higher and you want to earn rewards on your spending, you might want to choose between the First National Business Edition Visa Card With Business Category Rewards and the First National Business Edition Visa Card With Reward Simplicity, depending on whether you prefer one simple rewards rate or rotating categories.

We’ve also let you know about some alternative cards on the market so you can get a sense of the comparable choices from other sources.

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