The switch that could reshape your everyday business spend
Four days from now—on August 14, 2026—Amazon’s small‑business credit cards officially move from American Express to U.S. Bank on the Mastercard network. That might sound like inside baseball, but the new reward structure and tools are substantial enough to change which card pays best on your real‑world business purchases. ([americanexpress.com](https://www.americanexpress.com/us/customer-service/faq.amazon-program-update.html))
What’s actually changing—and when
If you carry the Amazon Business or Amazon Business Prime card from Amex, you’ll receive a replacement U.S. Bank Mastercard you can start using on August 14. Amex says you’ll keep earning on the old card through August 13 and can redeem rewards through August 12; after the switch, online access and some benefits under Amex end, and you’ll need to reset things like AutoPay (Amex will cancel payments scheduled after August 16). Expect a new card number, so plan to update any recurring bills. ([americanexpress.com](https://www.americanexpress.com/us/customer-service/faq.amazon-program-update.html))
New applicants don’t need to wait. Amazon launched the new Prime Business Card (for Prime members) and the Amazon Business Card (for non‑Prime) this spring, both issued by U.S. Bank on the Mastercard network. The headline: 5% back for Prime (3% for non‑Prime) on U.S. purchases at Amazon.com, Amazon Business, AWS, and Whole Foods Market, all with a $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. ([press.aboutamazon.com](https://press.aboutamazon.com/2026/5/amazons-new-prime-business-and-amazon-business-credit-cards-powered-by-u-s-bank-and-mastercard-are-now-available-with-enhanced-rewards-and-flexible-financing))
The new earning math—how it stacks up
Two upgrades stand out. First, both cards now add 2% back automatically in your top three eligible non‑Amazon categories each statement cycle, up to $150,000 in annual non‑Amazon spend—then 1% after that. Second, travel booked via the U.S. Bank Travel Center earns 5% back on the Prime Business Card (3% on the Amazon Business Card). The core Amazon earn also has a cap: 5%/3% on the first $150,000 in combined annual Amazon purchases, then 1% after. ([usbank.com](https://www.usbank.com/business-banking/business-credit-cards/amazon-business-credit-cards.html))
There’s also a financing twist. Instead of the old 60/90‑day terms option, eligible Amazon purchases can be split into fixed Equal Monthly Installments at 0% APR for up to 12 months—if you choose installments instead of rewards on that purchase. For businesses managing cash flow, that’s effectively an interest‑free line for planned buys. ([press.aboutamazon.com](https://press.aboutamazon.com/2026/5/amazons-new-prime-business-and-amazon-business-credit-cards-powered-by-u-s-bank-and-mastercard-are-now-available-with-enhanced-rewards-and-flexible-financing))
Consider a quick example. Let’s say your company spends $80,000 a year at Amazon (Prime member) and $60,000 elsewhere spread across software, shipping, and gas—categories likely to land in your auto‑selected top three. Under the new setup, you’d earn:
- 5% of $80,000 = 4,000 back in Amazon Rewards (subject to the $150,000 cap), plus
- 2% of $60,000 = 1,200 back in non‑Amazon top‑three categories,
Network matters, too. Because these are Mastercards, they’re accepted at more than 100 million locations worldwide—useful if you’ve run into Amex‑acceptance gaps at smaller vendors or abroad. ([press.aboutamazon.com](https://press.aboutamazon.com/2026/5/amazons-new-prime-business-and-amazon-business-credit-cards-powered-by-u-s-bank-and-mastercard-are-now-available-with-enhanced-rewards-and-flexible-financing))
Your near‑term to‑do list if you have the Amex version
- Redeem any remaining rewards by August 12 and keep using your Amex through August 13. Benefits tied to Amex (like Global Assist Hotline) won’t carry over after the switch. ([americanexpress.com](https://www.americanexpress.com/us/customer-service/faq.amazon-program-update.html))
- Download statements and year‑end summaries from your Amex account; you’ll lose Amex online access after the transfer. ([americanexpress.com](https://www.americanexpress.com/us/customer-service/faq.amazon-program-update.html))
- Recreate AutoPay and update recurring bills once your U.S. Bank card arrives—AutoPay entries at Amex scheduled after August 16 will be canceled. ([americanexpress.com](https://www.americanexpress.com/us/customer-service/faq.amazon-program-update.html))
Should you apply now—or consider alternatives?
If Amazon is a top supplier for you, the case for the new cards is strong: $0 annual fee, 5% back for Prime members (3% for non‑Prime) on Amazon properties up to $150,000, 2% in your top three non‑Amazon categories up to $150,000, and 5%/3% on prepaid travel booked via the U.S. Bank Travel Center. Many applicants see a welcome offer that’s an Amazon gift card or statement credit of $100 or more at approval or after initial spend—useful day one value. ([usbank.com](https://www.usbank.com/business-banking/business-credit-cards/amazon-business-credit-cards.html))
Not all spend is Amazon‑centric. If you prefer transferable points on broad purchases, a $0‑annual‑fee workhorse like the American Express Blue Business Plus (2 Membership Rewards points per dollar on up to $50,000 in annual spend, then 1x) still has a place as an “everywhere else” card. Pairing that with the Prime Business Mastercard for 5% Amazon purchases could be the most efficient combo for many small teams.
Where this fits in a smarter rewards plan
- Heavy Amazon or Whole Foods spend: Prime Business Card likely anchors the wallet for all Amazon ecosystem purchases, with the auto‑2% categories catching common business expenses like software, shipping, or gas up to $150,000 a year. ([usbank.com](https://www.usbank.com/business-banking/business-credit-cards/amazon-business-credit-cards.html))
- Non‑Prime operations that still buy from Amazon: the Amazon Business Card’s 3% rate plus the same 2% top‑three structure covers a lot of ground without a fee. ([usbank.com](https://www.usbank.com/business-banking/business-credit-cards/amazon-business-credit-cards.html))
- Travel booked via portals: if you’re comfortable using the U.S. Bank Travel Center, 5% back on the Prime Business Card is competitive with many mid‑tier travel cards. ([press.aboutamazon.com](https://press.aboutamazon.com/2026/5/amazons-new-prime-business-and-amazon-business-credit-cards-powered-by-u-s-bank-and-mastercard-are-now-available-with-enhanced-rewards-and-flexible-financing))
Make this effortless with SuperPay
Here’s how to operationalize the change without spreadsheets:
- Smart Card Picker: At checkout—online or in‑store—SuperPay tells you which card wins that purchase. Pull into Whole Foods? You’ll get a real‑time nudge to use your Prime Business Card for 5% back; buy software from a provider that’s coding as “computer services”? You’ll see if that charge is tracking toward your 2% top‑three bucket for this cycle.
- Category tracking: The new Amazon cards auto‑select your top three categories each statement. SuperPay monitors those categories and alerts you when your mix shifts so you keep hitting 2% where it counts, and flags progress toward the $150,000 caps across Amazon and non‑Amazon spend.
- Receipt Scanner and Spending reports: Snap a receipt to confirm what you earned versus what you could have earned with different routing (for instance, portal‑booked travel vs direct). Monthly reports quantify how much the new structure is adding, so you can prove the ROI to your team.
Your next move
Map your August 14 transition now: redeem by August 12, update AutoPay once your U.S. Bank card arrives, and slot the new Mastercard into your stack where it wins—especially for Amazon, Whole Foods, AWS, and travel via U.S. Bank’s portal. Then let SuperPay handle the category math and the daily card choice while you focus on running the business. ([americanexpress.com](https://www.americanexpress.com/us/customer-service/faq.amazon-program-update.html))
Download SuperPay on the App Store and start optimizing your rewards today.