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Guide on How To Use United’s TravelBank

by The Frugal Tourist | Jan 6, 2024 | American Express , Travel , United | 22 comments

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In this blog post, I will walk you through the steps on how to fund and use United’s TravelBank.

Since some credit cards provide travel credits that expire within a year, depositing money in United’s TravelBank is a viable option to utilize those credits so they won’t go to waste.

Funds diverted into United’s TravelBank have a 5-year lifespan, offering some level of longevity and a lot of flexibility, especially since travel is not expected to pick up again anytime soon.

Whether you have plans this year or in the near future, funding your United TravelBank with free cash from your credit cards is a wallet-friendly strategy that can potentially save you a few hundred dollars when the time comes that you need to book your next flight.

United TravelBank 

According to United, your TravelBank funds can either be used alone or in combination with select forms of payment only when booking United or United Express flights .

Therefore, we are unable to use United TravelBank to purchase flight itineraries that include segments on partner airlines such as Air Canada, Lufthansa, etc.

I was also unsuccessful in tapping my TravelBank reserves to pay for taxes when booking an award ticket or paying additional fees to cover the airfare difference when redeeming a voucher or rebooking a travel credit.

However, I did not encounter any roadblocks when I booked paid United tickets, even if the airfare was Basic Economy .

Terms and Conditions   

The information below was taken from United.com

• Passengers can select from six purchase amount options, and once purchased, the value remains valid for five years from the date it is deposited in your TravelBank account. 
• Purchases are not refundable and are limited to $5,000 per day per MileagePlus account.
• This purchase is also subject to all of the TravelBank terms and conditions . 
• United has the right to terminate this promotion or to change the promotion’s terms and conditions, rules, regulations, policies and procedures, benefits, and/or conditions of participation, in whole or in part, at any time, with or without notice.

Guide on How to Fund United’s TravelBank

Access United TravelBank by clicking the button below. You will need to log in to your United Mileage Plus Account to purchase. 

Do not have a United membership yet? 

It is free and easy to register. Click the button below to enroll in United’s Mileage Plus Program.

After logging in, you will see your United Mileage Account, any United miles you have available for redemption, and your TravelBank Cash Balance. 

Plus Points – a points system that passengers can utilize to upgrade their flights – will also show up, but we will not go over that in this post. You can read more about this program here.  

Select the amount of travel cash you want to purchase.

As previously stated, there are six possible amounts that you can elect to deposit to your TravelBank.

The next page will ask for you to type in your Payment Information.

In this case, you would want to use a credit card that provides an Airline Credit.

I will list these credit cards in one of the sections below.

You will then get confirmation that your purchase was successful. A receipt will be emailed immediately after as well.

In this example, I used my The Business Platinum Card® from American Express to buy $100 worth of travel cash in United’s TravelBank.

Guide on How to Use Your United Travel Bank Cash

Thankfully, we are generously given five years to spend our travel cash. 

Once you are ready to book your flight, log back on to your United.com profile and enter your travel details.

United TravelBank purchased using certain IHG Credit Cards has a shorter lifespan. Please check the terms of your IHG Credit Cards for the most current UnitedTravel Bank policy.

Select your particular flight, verify your personal information, and pick your seat.

Afterward, you will be directed to the Payment Page. 

Next, United will offer you travel insurance (select yes/no), priority boarding, and miles for purchase.

Regardless of whether you decide or decline to purchase these additional bells and whistles, the payment section comes right after.

You have the following payment options:

• Pay In Full
• Pay Monthly 
• Travel Certificates and United TravelBank Cash (if this option does not appear, then the ticket you’re buying is not a permitted purchase using travel cash.)
• Other Forms of Payments (PayPal, etc)
• Debit / Credit Card 

Select “Travel Certificates and United TravelBank Cash.” 

As you can see, my $100 travel bank deposit is already reflected in my account.

Next, enter the amount you want to use for the flight you wish to book.

It is not necessary to spend your entire stash of United travel cash if you have other plans to spend it later.

Once you have a final amount in mind, click apply.

In this example, I decided to spend $75 of the $100 currently in my United TravelBank.

After your travel cash is deducted, the total amount you still owe will automatically be calculated.

Continue with your purchase by selecting the mode of payment you want to use for the remaining balance.  

I highly recommend paying a portion of the flight with a credit card that offers travel protections, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.  

Alternatively, you can purchase travel insurance to cover your entire trip. 

Where Do I Find My TravelBank Account?

United has recently updated its website. You can find your United TravelBank account information and balance by navigating to your United Wallet on the app and the computer.

Troubleshooting Potential Issues

Issue 1: united travelbank does not show up.

A few readers have expressed that they are having difficulty locating the TravelBank option on United’s website.

It appears that United’s site is currently updating its payment page. When you see the notice below under “Payment Method, ” click the “find those payment options…” link.

This link will direct you to the “United Travel Options” section, where you can add travel insurance to your purchase. Make your selection.

Afterward, you will be directed to “Payment Information,” where the TravelBank option appears.

Click “Travel Certificates and United TravelBank Cash” and select Travel Cash as your mode of payment.

Type the amount you would like to spend.

As suggested, charge a small portion of your airfare on a credit card that provides travel insurance, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

You may also elect to purchase travel insurance for additional coverage.

Issue 2: United TravelBank Keeps On Freezing

While booking a plane ticket to Cabo costing $167.78 recently, I found the United website struggling to process my TravelBank payment, ultimately freezing the payment page.

After attempting various troubleshooting strategies, I eventually made it work by typing a whole number into the TravelBank box.

In this case, I redeemed $165 of my TravelBank credits towards the purchase of this ticket and used a credit card that gives travel protections ( Chase Sapphire Reserve® ) to cover the remaining amount ($2.78).

Issue 3: TravelBank is Unable to Add a New Credit Card (Payment Error)

United.com can only save a certain number of credit cards on your profile.

If the website is not allowing you to add another credit card to your United TravelBank account, you will need to log in to your main United.com account, go to “Wallet,” remove the credit cards that you no longer use, and then add the ones you would like saved.

Once your new credit card is linked, note the last four digits of your card and its expiration date so you can easily find it on your list of saved cards when you try to purchase United TravelBank funds again.

Issue 4: Unable to Purchase

As mentioned above, your United TravelBank funds can either be used alone or in combination with select forms of payment when booking United or United Express flights only.

When Do United TravelBank Funds Expire?

As of this update, TravelBank funds appear to expire after five years.

The screenshot below, captured from my TravelBank account, supports this assertion.

While the money deposited in our United TravelBank accounts has a 5-year validity, it can be forfeited if no activity is recorded in our TravelBank accounts for 18 consecutive months.

Therefore, ensure that you either add money to your TravelBank or use your TravelBank funds to purchase tickets at least once every 18 months.

Heads Up: United also stipulated that any re-deposited funds originating from canceled tickets purchased with TravelBank money do not qualify as an eligible activity. In short, any re-deposited funds will NOT reset the expiration date.

United may also change the expiration date of subsequent deposits or discontinue the program altogether. Only time will tell.

For now, this option to convert our credit card airline credits to some form of flexible currency is available, so certainly consider this method if you are running out of ways to redeem your expiring credits.

Which Credit Cards to Use?

You should only purchase TravelBank funds when you anticipate no other eligible travel-related purchases for the remainder of the year.

Chase Credit Cards

Chase sapphire reserve® (csr).

The Chase Sapphire Reserve (CSR) comes with a $300 travel credit that resets every year on the card member’s anniversary date and does not roll over onto the following year; therefore, you either use it or lose it.

I do not recommend using your CSR travel credits to purchase funds on United’s TravelBank, given that Chase provides an extensive array of valuable avenues to redeem this credit. 

In addition to the traditional airfare purchase, you can also trigger the travel credit when paying for public transit, ride-sharing services, parking, hotels, campgrounds, cruises, etc. 

Citi Credit Cards

Citi prestige® credit card.

This card is no longer available to new applicants.

This credit card comes with a $250 travel credit, which can now be conveniently spent on groceries, restaurants, and take-out.

Like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, this credit resets every calendar year and likewise does not roll over.

I do not suggest using your Citi Prestige travel credits to purchase United TravelBank funds because of other beneficial spending options you have at your disposal.

American Express   Credit Cards

American express® credit cards with airline fee credits.

• The Platinum Card® from American Express ($200 Annual Airline Credit)

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express ($200 Annual Airline Credit)

• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card ($50 Quarterly Airline Credit)

American Express’s airline fee credit is challenging to redeem compared to Chase’s and Citi’s more flexible identical offerings.

In the past several years, consumers consistently find themselves jumping through hoops in search of effective methods to capitalize on these generous offers. 

First and foremost, Chase and Citi do not require activation – their credits apply to all airlines and other forms of travel.

Whereas Amex’s airline fee credit will not work unless you activate it.

Plus, it can only be used on one airline you pre-select, ideally at the beginning of the year.

Even though there are data points (DP) that Amex has been lenient in allowing the preferred airline to be changed via chat as of late, there is no way to predict until when they will allow this.

AMEX Airline Fee Credit Restrictions

AMEX has strict restrictions on what fees qualify under this credit. 

Technically, only incidental purchases, such as seat assignments, baggage fees, change fees, lounge access fees, and food/beverage inflight purchases, are eligible. 

As such, traditional expenses such as award fees, plane tickets, upgrades, and gift cards do not qualify.

But occasionally, we see additional methods that temporarily open up that trigger this airline fee credit – and for now, United TravelBank is one of them. 

While no language explicitly states this particular purchase will not qualify, I have to underscore that Amex can undoubtedly claw back this credit at any moment if they deem that TravelBank is not eligible. So, just be aware of that possibility. 

Hence, please utilize this tactic only if you do not anticipate using your airline fee credit throughout the rest of the year.  

Steps in Selecting Your Airline With Amex  

Before you go ahead with your purchase, follow the steps below on selecting your preferred airline, as AMEX does not make it simple to locate where to activate this benefit.

To optimize this TravelBank strategy, make sure that the airline you selected is United. 

Go to AmericanExpress.com, then log in to your account.

Select the particular AMEX credit card that currently offers an airline fee credit.

• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

On the main page, click “More, ” then select “ Benefits .”

On the Benefits page, scroll down to locate “ Airline Fee Credit. ” 

This is where you can also change your selected airline for the year. 

It bears repeating that you’re technically not allowed to change your preferred airline mid-year, so choose wisely.

With that said, there are data points from people reporting that they have successfully modified their airline choice by contacting AMEX through chat, but this is YMMV (your mileage might vary).

As of this writing, you can use your airline fee credit with the following U.S. carriers:

While on the Benefits page, enroll in all the offers available to you even if you are not sure you will use them. 

It is practically money you had already paid for when you paid your annual fee, so you might as well take advantage of it.

At any rate, maximizing this airline fee credit is a fantastic way to offset the steep annual fees Amex charges on their ultra-premium cards.

Add funds to your travel credit using your AMEX card.

If you are unsure how much airline credit you have left, AMEX generates a tracker under this benefit to display your remaining funds.

Periodically check your Amex credit card to see if the airline fee credit was successfully triggered.

If not, Amex has likely terminated this redemption method. 

Final Thoughts

Indeed, United’s TravelBank is a wonderful addition to the dwindling menu of possible purchases that can activate Amex’s elusive airline credit.

Being fully aware that this method is temporary, I try to take advantage of it while it’s still possible, especially when I am on the verge of running out of redemption alternatives for my Amex airline fee credit.

I hope that Amex follows Chase’s and Citi’s lead and relaxes this benefit, making it much easier to redeem in the future.

Until then, we will have to adjust to American Express’ policies.

Ultimately, I am glad that United’s TravelBank provides us with another fantastic alternative for using our travel credits.

Not only does it prolong the shelf-life of our funds, but it also affords us the flexibility we genuinely need. 

EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE – Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. The content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

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22 comments.

Bank of America Premium card also include benefits of $100 incidental travel credits, can I use it to purchase United Travel Bank fund too?

Hi Angie, I am not familiar with Bank of America rules but upon checking what qualifies under “incidental”, I got the following info: Get up to $100 in Airline Incidental Statement Credits annually for qualifying purchases such as seat upgrades, baggage fees, in-flight services, and airline lounge fees – automatically applied to your card statement.

It seems to me that this is similar to Amex. I would suggest purchasing the lowest allowed denomination of $50 to see if it would trigger it but if you have anticipated travel in the near future, I suggest redeeming the credits there instead.

Hi, I booked the ticket and when I entered the payment page, there is no Travel Bank part, I got 200+ dollars in travel bank and cannot seem to use it. Why is this? I can only see “Travel certificates” instead of “Travel certificates and United Travel Bank Cash”. What should i do?

Hi Tristan, thanks for asking. Sorry about that. Not all purchases in United.com are eligible. I wonder if the ticket you are purchasing includes a partner airline. From the Terms and Conditions: “TravelBank Cash is valid for air travel purchases on United and United Express® flights and as otherwise permitted by United. After a TravelBank Award is issued, a service charge may be imposed for each change or cancellation requested by the Member.”

I have encountered this exact problem and I am definitely booking a United airline airfare (from LAX – EWR): any more update on this?

HI Cindy, I had updated the post with hopefully a potential solution to your problem. Jump to the section “What to do? United Travel Bank Does Not Show Up”. I tried your route (LAX-EWR) and the steps I outlined worked in making Travel bank re-appear! Good luck and please let me know if it worked for you too!

Thank you for this post and the very detailed instructions!!! Really helpful as I’ll be using this as long as we can get that $200 credit from Amex Plat!

Thank you Tony for the kind feedback. I am glad you found it useful. Please feel free to ask questions anytime.

Great information, thank you!

Thank you so much!

Its unfortunate you can’t use your Travel Bank just to upgrade your seat. Or pay for the bundles upon checkout

I am sorry! Sadly, it is just not as flexible 🙁 But United might make some changes in the future that will allow us to use it for incidentals.

Newbie to United Travel Funds.

Is it possible to use it for booking a ticket for anyone else, any restrictions?

You can book it for anyone else. When they cancel though, the travel credits will be under their account.

This article saved me 30mins! I was typing a non-whole number to use my United Travel Bank and it would NOT take it. Apparently, it needs to be a WHOLE NUMBER. Thanks for the tip!

Glad you found it useful!

Can you combine miles and a travel bank balance? I have 33k miles I need to use and $600 in travel bank credits.

Unfortunately, you can not mix miles and travel bank balance. I’d use the travel bank first if you find cheap tickets as those expire. United miles do not expire.

Hi, how long does the Amex Airline Credit usually take? It’s been a week now and my credits have not shown up yet.

HI Kunal. It’s been about 10 days, on average, for me.

I wanted to add that you Travel Bank does not come up as an option to pay if your flight involves a leg operated by a partner airline (eg. Swiss Air).

I called United to see if they could book the ticket but it errored out for the representative and he gave me that as the reason.

This might be helpful to incorporate in your article.

HI Stephanie, thank you for sharing. That’s correct. Apologies that it was not clear in the article. Yes, it is sadly for United and United Express flights only. I highlighted that part of the article and added additional language under Troubleshooting so it’s much clearer. Thanks so much again for the feedback and Safe travels!

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The Amex Platinum Card: How To Best Use Your $200 Airline Credit [Every Year]

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Table of Contents

Amex platinum card – snapshot, what is the amex platinum card’s airline incidental credit, the best ways to use your airline incidental fee credit, what if my purchase isn’t automatically reimbursed, final thoughts.

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The Platinum Card ® from American Express is one of the top premium travel credit cards on the market, but also one of the most expensive.

The card’s annual fee is substantially higher than other cards. Still, it also comes with an extensive list of benefits like airport lounge access, Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy hotel elite status, major bonus earnings on flights booked with airlines, and much more.

While the card’s fee may seem like a shocker at first, it’s not so  bad when you take a look at the multiple statement credits offered, including an airline incidental credit of up to $200 (enrollment required).

Many travelers often aren’t sure how to take advantage of the airline incidental credit and what it can cover. After all, it doesn’t let you cover paid plane tickets but does let you cover other fees incurred from an airline — whether inflight or at the airport.

In this article, you’ll finally get clarity as to precisely what the Amex Platinum card’s airline incidental credit is and your best options for redeeming your card’s $200 annual credit. After all, what use is a benefit if you don’t know how to use it, right?

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with  no credit score impact.

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card ® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card  is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access , hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
• $695 annual fee ( rates and fees )
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards ® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards ® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards ® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts ® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card ® . The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card ® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection ® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card ® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card ® .
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $189 CLEAR ® Plus Credit: CLEAR ® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck ® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck ® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card ® . Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card ® . That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card ® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.
• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip:  Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 125k (or 150k) points with the Amex Platinum. The current public offer is 80,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

Both the Amex Platinum card and  The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express offer a $200 airline incidental fee credit upon enrollment.

According to American Express, this credit will be used to cover inflight expenses on your selected airline. Some of the items American Express lists as eligible for reimbursement include inflight refreshments and checked bag fees. Airline tickets, gift cards, and points or miles purchases aren’t eligible for reimbursement.

Here’s what the terms and conditions have to say:

“Incidental airline fees charged prior to selection of a qualifying airline are not eligible for statement credits. Airline tickets, upgrades, mileage points purchases, mileage points transfer fees, gift cards, duty free purchases, and award tickets are not deemed to be incidental fees. The airline must submit the charge under the appropriate merchant code, industry code, or required service or product identifier for the charge to be recognized as an incidental air travel fee.”

Once you’ve selected your airline, you can charge these expenses to your Amex Platinum card. You’ll automatically be reimbursed in the form of a statement credit within 6 to 8 weeks of the charge posting to your account.

If the statement credit has not posted after 8 weeks from the date of purchase, it is best to call the number on the back of the card.

Hot Tip:  You receive the airline incidental once per calendar year. The credit is dispersed on January 1st each year and doesn’t roll over.

Selecting an Airline for Your Airline Incidental Credit

Unlike the Chase Sapphire Reserve ® ‘s $300 travel credit, you’re limited to using your Amex Platinum card’s incidental fee credit on a single airline. You can select your airline when you receive your card and change it once per year in January. However, we at Upgraded Points have had luck changing the airline more than once when chatting (nicely) with an American Express representative.

You can pick from the following airlines:

• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• JetBlue Airways
• Spirit Airlines
• Southwest Airlines
• United Airlines

You must select an airline before you can use the airline incidental credit. Charges made to your account before choosing an airline are  not eligible for reimbursement , so select your airline as soon as you receive your Amex Platinum card and have a trip booked.

Thankfully, selecting your Amex Platinum card airline choice is easy. Just head over to the American Express website , log in, and select your Amex Platinum card (should you have more than 1 American Express card).

Click on the Rewards & Benefits  tab on the bar at the top of the screen. And then click on the Benefits tab.

Here, you’ll see the balance of your Airline Fee Credit — how much you’ve used and how much you have left.

Scroll down the page for a list of benefits included with your Amex Platinum card . There will be an option labeled $200 Airline Fee Credit. Click on the Learn More button, and from there you can select your airline using the drop-down menu at the center of the screen.

As mentioned earlier, the Amex Platinum card’s airline incidental fee credit cannot be used toward plane tickets, points purchases, or gift cards.

Frustrating, yes. But, thankfully, there are still plenty of great ways that you can spend the credit over the year.

Here are our favorite ways of utilizing the flight credit. We’ve split this section into 2 parts: official and unofficial ways to redeem the incidental fee credit.

Official Ways To Redeem the Incidental Fee Credit

Airport Lounge Day Passes and Annual Memberships

While the Amex Platinum card includes extensive lounge access , it doesn’t include access to all  of the U.S. carrier’s lounges. You can use your Amex Platinum card’s credit to buy day passes to:

• Alaska Lounge
• American Airlines Admirals Club
• Delta Sky Club
• United Club

Just remember, you have to select the applicable airline for the lounge charge to be covered. So if you choose Delta as your preferred airline, your charges to the Admirals Club won’t be covered by your incidental fees.

United American and American Airlines both sell day passes, which could be an option if you don’t have access to a lounge on a long layover. You must be flying with the airline to have lounge access.

Hot Tip:  If you purchase an annual lounge membership with your Amex Platinum card that costs more than $200, you’ll be credited the entirety of the incidental fee credit at once. So, in this case, you can think of it as a $200 discount on your lounge membership of choice.

Further, note that Amex Platinum cardmembers do not receive complimentary guest access at Delta Sky Clubs . However, guest access can be purchased for $50 for a standard day pass. If you purchase Delta Sky Club guest access and Delta is selected as your Amex Platinum card’s airline, you will be reimbursed for your entry fee.

Change Fees

Changing a trip’s date can be expensive, but your Amex Platinum card’s incidental fee credit covers the itinerary change fee. Note that the incidental fee will not likely cover the airfare difference as this is often charged like a plane ticket.

Hot Tip: Want more information on airline change fees? Learn how to avoid airline change fees in our dedicated article. 

Checked Baggage Fees

So you planned on checking a bag, but it isn’t included with your ticket? Just charge it to your Amex Platinum card. This is especially helpful if you’ve selected a low-cost carrier, such as Spirit, as your airline, as these carriers generally charge more for baggage. Remember that the incidental fee credit only covers baggage fees on your selected airline.

Most airlines have a co-branded credit card that provides perks such as free checked baggage. If you carry an airline’s co-branded credit card , check if that card provides free checked baggage. This allows you to use your Amex airline incidental fee credit elsewhere.

Inflight Entertainment Fees

The incidental fee credit covers inflight entertainment fees including TV, movies, and tablet rentals charged directly by the airline. A good example of this is renting an Alaska Airlines entertainment tablet in flight. The airline charges a fee to rent these in economy class.

Unfortunately, this does  not cover inflight internet, as a third party generally bills this . However, we have heard of United inflight entertainment being reimbursed, as it is usually charged by United directly. Proceed with caution, though, as there’s no guarantee it will be refunded.

Inflight Amenities

Most other inflight purchases are covered, too. Think amenities like headphones, blankets on budget carriers, food, and drink. The airline almost always charges for these directly, and you’re automatically reimbursed for them by your Amex Platinum card’s incidental fee credit.

Seat Selection Fees

Seat selection fees are another great way to redeem your airline incidental fee credit. You can use this when flying low-cost carriers or on a basic economy fare that doesn’t include free seat selection. Note that this  does include things like Even More Space seating on JetBlue and Economy Plus on United Airlines.

Most airlines charge anywhere from $10 up to $50 for a seat assignment on domestic flights.

Pet Flight Fees

If you’re taking a furry companion with you , use your Amex Platinum card’s incidental credit to cover the pet fee. This can take out a nice chunk of your reimbursement, though — for example, JetBlue charges $125 per one-way flight.

Phone Booking Fees

You can usually avoid these by booking online, but there may be instances where you need to call to book an award ticket or a flight with special routing. If you can’t get the agent to waive this fee, your Amex Platinum card’s incidental fee credit should cover it.

Priority Boarding

Priority boarding purchases work on virtually all airlines. This can be especially valuable when flying Southwest Airlines, as it gives you first dibs on the best seats . Again, remember that the incidental fees only cover priority boarding fees on your selected airline.

Unofficial Ways To Redeem the Incidental Fee Credit

The methods below are ways our team members have either tried or seen work for other travelers. Proceed with caution . There’s no guarantee that these will work for you, too. While we try to keep this section as up-to-date as possible, these things can change on a dime, and we can’t be held liable for a charge not  being reimbursed.

Fill Your United TravelBank Account

This might be the easiest unofficial way to use your Amex incidental fee credit. United’s TravelBank allows you to fund the account with cash to use on future United flights. Any money you put in your TravelBank account does not expire for 5 years, provided there is account activity at least every 18 months.

You can fund your account in different increments up to $1,000. However, it is best to fund with how much you have available with your credit. You need to make sure United is selected as your preferred airline.

Admirals Club Food or Drink Purchases

A number of American Airlines Admirals Club locations have premium food and drink available for purchase. American Express has reimbursed these purchases, as they’re billed directly by American Airlines.

Unfortunately, we don’t have data for purchases at other lounges at this time. Again, proceed with caution.

Delta Airfare Purchased Partially With a Gift Card

There are reports of Delta tickets purchased partially with a gift card being reimbursed by American Express. This is because, when the purchase processes, it adds an “additional collection” to the transaction instead of listing an airline route, like most airfare purchases.

This means that American Express sees the transaction as if it were some sort of add-on or other inflight expense. However, this is not officially supported, and American Express may choose not to honor your incidental credit for this purchase.

Airfare of $99 or Below on Certain Airlines

We’ve seen reports of below-$99 fares on Delta, Southwest, and JetBlue being reimbursed by the incidental fee credit. But again, this is very much something you would try at your own risk, as the purchase  will code as airfare.

Spirit Saver$ Club Memberships

Spirit Airlines has a members-only discount club called Spirit Saver$ Club. It provides access to discounted tickets and includes other perks but has an annual fee.

We’ve seen reports of Spirit Saver$ Club memberships being reimbursed by American Express. Definitely keep this in mind if you’re a frequent flyer on this ultra-low-cost carrier, as it can save you a nice sum of money as you travel throughout the year.

$5.60 TSA Passenger Security Fee on Award Tickets

Our team has had the $5.60 TSA passenger security fee reimbursed on multiple award tickets in the past.

Purchases That Do Not Trigger the Airline Incidental Credit

Now that you have a full list of things that  do (or might) trigger the airline incidental fee credit, here’s a quick look at the things that don’t trigger this credit.

Award Taxes and Fees

Aside from the $5.60 TSA security fee mentioned above, our team has not had luck having other award fees reimbursed. This is likely because these purchases code as airfare when posted to your American Express card.

Airline Gift Card Purchases

Airline gift card purchases were a longtime favorite for redeeming the airline incidental fee credit. However, as of this summer, our team has had no luck getting these reimbursed.

Class of Service Upgrades

Cabin upgrades are not eligible for reimbursement .

Inflight Wi-Fi

As mentioned, inflight Wi-Fi generally does not trigger the incidental fee credit, as a third party like Gogo or Panasonic usually bills it. However, we’ve seen reports of United Airlines Wi-Fi purchases being reimbursed because United does bill Wi-Fi purchases on its own or if you purchase the service through the airline before your flight.

While American Express states that it will reimburse eligible charges within 4 weeks, some charges don’t make it through the system. If you’re not reimbursed for an eligible charge, you can call the number on the back of your card or use the American Express live chat service to request reimbursement.

While the Amex Platinum card’s airline incidental fee credit is limited compared to travel credits offered by other premium credit cards, it still provides a ton of value. It has gotten hard to use the credits, but there are still ways to get the total value.

When you use the methods listed above, you’ll save money and have a better travel experience with extra checked bags, lounge access, and more. Better yet, the airline incidental credit can help offset the hefty annual fee of the Amex Platinum card.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the american express airline fee credit.

The American Express airline incidental fee credit allows you to receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged to your account. You must select a qualifying airline before you can use the airline incidental credit.

Do authorized users get additional airline incidental fee credits?

No, the airline incidental fee credits are up to $200 per account per calendar year.

Can I use my airline incidental credit toward airfare?

Generally speaking, no. The terms and conditions prohibit this, and it has not worked in practice for a majority of Amex Platinum cardholders. However, there are reports of fares of $99 or below triggering the credit when you book on certain airlines.

Can I cash out my incidental fee credit if I don't use it?

No, you must use the entirety of the incidental fee credit before the end of a calendar year. Otherwise, the credit expires.

When does the airline incidental credit renew?

You receive $200 per year in incidental fee credit. The credit renews on January 1 of the new calendar year.

Will I earn points on purchases reimbursed by the incidental fee credit?

Yes, you will still earn points on reimbursed purchases.

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About Andrew Kunesh

Andrew was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs and now splits his time between Chicago and New York City.

He’s a lifelong traveler and took his first solo trip to San Francisco at the age of 16. Fast forward a few years, and Andrew now travels just over 100,000 miles a year, with over 25 countries, 10 business class products, and 2 airline statuses (United and Alaska) under his belt. Andrew formerly worked for The Points Guy and is now Senior Money Editor at CNN Underscored.

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UP's Bonus Valuation

This bonus value is an estimated valuation  calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.

Why you may want to buy future United flight credits to earn a 5x miles bonus

Airlines are doing some interesting things to raise cash, while many would-be travelers are still on the ground. And while many of these sales and offers won't be a great deal for travelers who aren't sure when they'll fly next, there are exceptions to every rule. Sometimes these offers can make sense in the right situation.

United has brought back the opportunity to deposit future flight credits into a TravelBank account. The airline has offered this type of account at various times in the past. Now, it's incentivizing travelers to put money in by Sept. 23 by awarding five bonus United miles per dollar spent as a special offer. You are limited to $1,000 (5,000 bonus miles) per promotion, per MileagePlus account.

For more TPG news and deals delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our free daily newsletter .

Once you have funds in your account, they're available for use on United flights for five years. You can make deposits in the following denominations: $50, $100, $250 or $750.

In my tests, United TravelBank funds are available for immediate use -- which is different than some other airline gift cards that have a waiting period before you can use them. However, there are some potential downsides to consider before taking advantage of this offer.

Related: What it's like to fly in the U.S. right now

First, you can't stack TravelBank funds and credit from a previously canceled flight in the same transaction. You also can't use the funds on flights that aren't operated by United or United Express. Additionally, if you want built-in travel protections that may come from purchasing the trip with your credit card , you won't have those if you are using TravelBank funds to pay for the ticket. (Though you could likely still use a purchased trip insurance plan to cover your trip if you do go that route.)

I bought a little bit of United TravelBank credit to earn a bonus 5x redeemable United miles per dollar because I fly United frequently enough that I know it'll go to good use well before its five-year expiration date. I also paid with a credit card that has some unused 2020 airline fee credits ... just in case that happens to kick in.

Related: Guide to the United MileagePlus program

It won't make sense for everyone to stock up on United TravelBank credit to earn 5x miles on the purchase, but in my case, I was happy to buy a little bit of United credit -- and earn bonus miles in the process -- that I know I'll use in the coming months and years.

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United TravelBank Card: Closed to Applications, Replaced by United Gateway

What’s on This Page

The bottom line, pros and cons, detailed review, compare to other cards, benefits and perks, drawbacks and considerations, how to decide if it's right for you.

The card was suited to those who didn't travel much, but who flew United when they did travel. But it did not offer flexibility or traditional airline-card perks.

Rewards rate

Bonus offer

$150 in United TravelBank cash after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Ongoing APR

APR: 15.99%-22.99% Variable APR

Cash Advance APR: 24.99%, Variable

Balance transfer fee

Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Foreign transaction fee

• Earn 2% in TravelBank cash per $1 spent on tickets purchased from United.
• Earn 1.5% in TravelBank cash per $1 spent on all other purchases
• No foreign transaction fees
• Enjoy 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi onboard United®-operated flights when you pay with your United TravelBank Card.
• TravelBank cash is easy to use. $1 in TravelBank cash = $1 when used toward the purchase of a United ticket.
• Your TravelBank cash accumulates in your United TravelBank account on United.com.
• $0 Annual fee

High rewards rate

No annual fee

No foreign transaction fee

» This card is no longer available.

The United℠ TravelBank Card is no longer accepting applications. United Airlines and Chase have introduced a new credit card with no annual fee, the United Gateway℠ Card , which effectively takes the place of the TravelBank Card. Read our review of the United Gateway℠ Card , or explore other United Airlines credit card options . Below is our review of the United℠ TravelBank Card from when the card was still on the market.

If you fly United Airlines, the United℠ TravelBank Card might be tempting because of its annual fee of $0 . But it ultimately might not be worthwhile for most United flyers because of all that it lacks as an airline card.

The card has its own rewards currency that you can use to book free United flights. And its rewards rate is decent for both United spending and all other spending. It’s kind of like a cash-back card, where you can spend the cash only at United.

But you won't get free checked bags or early boarding like you do with many airline cards. And you won’t earn United MileagePlus miles, the airline’s frequent-flyer miles that have a chance at returning huge value.

If you want a card like this one, just get a true cash-back card . Then, you can spend your cash rewards on anything, not just United flights. Otherwise, ante up for a United card with an annual fee that comes with useful airline perks. There’s a good option in the United℠ Explorer Card .

» MORE: How to choose an airline credit card

United℠ TravelBank Card : Basics

Card type: Airline .

Annual fee: $0 .

2% in TravelBank cash per $1 spent on tickets purchased from United.

1.5% in TravelBank cash per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Sign-up bonus: $150 in United TravelBank cash after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Foreign transaction fee: None.

Interest rate: The ongoing APR is 15.99%-22.99% Variable APR .

Noteworthy perks:

25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi onboard United-operated flights when you pay with your card.

No foreign transaction fees.

Trip cancellation/interruption insurance.

Rental car insurance.

Purchase protection.

» MORE: Benefits of United Airlines credit cards

Simple rewards earning

With a typical airline card, you earn frequent flyer miles or points with every purchase. You then redeem those rewards for free flights or seat upgrades. But frequent flyer programs can be exceedingly complicated. The number of miles you’ll need for a particular flight depends on an array of factors. On top of that, the flight you want might not have award seats available. And your preferred travel dates might be “blacked out” — that is, reserved for paying customers.

The United℠ TravelBank Card eliminates the whole idea of miles. Instead, you earn “TravelBank cash,” which is redeemable for travel with United on a simple dollar-for-dollar basis.

The card earns 2% back on United purchases and 1.5% back on everything else. A $500 United flight, for example, would earn $10 in TravelBank cash. A $500 purchase elsewhere would earn $7.50.

Simple rewards redemption

When booking a flight with United, you can pay some or all of the fare with your accumulated TravelBank cash rewards. Consider a ticket that costs $400. If you had at least $400 in TravelBank cash, you could use it to pay the entire fare. If you had only $50 in rewards accumulated, you could apply it to the fare and reduce the cost to $350.

Some travel credit cards have annual fees measured in hundreds of dollars, while the typical airline card often charges a fee of close to $100 per year. This card has an annual fee of $0 .

Sign-up bonus

For a simple credit card with an annual fee of $0 , it’s a pleasant surprise to have a sign-up bonus: $150 in United TravelBank cash after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best airline cards

The United℠ TravelBank Card is light on flash compared with most travel cards, but it comes with minor perks:

In-flight discount: 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi onboard United-operated flights when you pay with the card.

No foreign transaction fees: Travel cards generally don’t charge a fee — 3% is common — for making purchases abroad. This United card doesn’t, either. And it uses the Visa network, which is widely accepted abroad.

Travel-related insurances: Trip cancellation/interruption insurance and secondary rental car insurance are nice-to-haves on an airline card.

Purchase protection: Covers new purchases made with the card for 120 days against damage or theft, up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.

How it compares with other United cards

The United℠ TravelBank Card is one of three co-branded consumer United Airlines credit cards. Its siblings pack more perks.

Here’s how they compare on key features:

Business owners, even those with side gigs, might consider the United℠ Business Card .

» MORE: Full review of the United℠ Business Card

No checked bags or early boarding

At $35 per bag each way when you don't prepay, fees for first checked bags add up in a hurry, especially when you’re traveling with others on your itinerary. That’s why typical airline cards are so valuable. But this card has no checked-bag-fee waivers, so you’ll have to pay. And you won’t get boosted toward the front of the boarding line, because the card lacks a priority boarding perk. That could hurt you when looking for overhead bin space.

» MORE: Airline credit cards that offer free checked bags

The logical solution is the United℠ Explorer Card . It offers:

2 MileagePlus miles per dollar spent on purchases from United.

2 miles per dollar spent on restaurant purchases and hotel stays.

1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.

First checked bag free for you and a companion on your reservation, if you use the card to purchase your ticket.

Two United Club one-time use passes per year.

Global Entry/TSA Precheck statement credit every four years.

25% off in-flight purchases.

Sign-up bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

It has an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $95 .

» MORE: Full review of the United℠ Explorer Card

You won’t earn United MileagePlus miles with this card. That keeps things simple, but you also lose the potential to reap outsize value by scoring a great awards seat — like a business-class international fare worth thousands of dollars — for relatively little spending.

Fewer benefits

Some airline cards give you perks at the airport. They might reimburse you the application cost of Global Entry or TSA Precheck to get through security lines quicker, or get you free or discounted passes to an airport lounge.

This card offers none of those.

» MORE: Cards that offer airport lounge access

Limited reward redemptions

Redeeming rewards is relatively simple, but you’re still locked into United Airlines. That's limiting compared with general travel credit cards , which allow you to apply rewards to a wide range of travel-related expenses.

An option for those looking to avoid an annual fee is the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card .

1.5 points per dollar spent.

3 points per dollar spent on eligible travel booked through the Bank of America® Travel Center.

A value of 1 cent per point when redeemed for travel credit and a little over half a cent per point for cash.

A sign-up bonus.

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card isn't tied to an airline or hotel chain. Book travel any way you want, with no restrictions and no blackout dates, and then use points to wipe out the cost on your statement. Bank of America® also has one of the broadest definitions of "travel" of any major issuers. You can use points to get credit for airfare, hotel stays, cruises, car rentals, campgrounds, art galleries, amusement parks, carnivals, circuses, aquariums and zoos.

» MORE: Full review of the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

The United℠ TravelBank Card offers a simpler way to earn free flights on United Airlines for casual flyers committed to that airline. But honestly, you’re better off with a cash-back credit card .

If you spread your flying among a number of carriers or want more flexibility, consider a general travel credit card . United loyalists are likely to get more value from the United℠ Explorer Card .

Information related to the United℠ TravelBank Card has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.

This card earns bonus rewards in multiple categories, including dining and travel. You can transfer points on a 1:1 basis to about a dozen hotel and airline programs, including United, or you can use them to book travel through Chase at 1.25 cents per point. However, you won't get any airline-specific perks. Annual fee: $95 .

Looking For Something Else?

Methodology.

NerdWallet reviews credit cards with an eye toward both the quantitative and qualitative features of a card. Quantitative features are those that boil down to dollars and cents, such as fees, interest rates, rewards (including earning rates and redemption values) and the cash value of benefits and perks. Qualitative factors are those that affect how easy or difficult it is for a typical cardholder to get good value from the card. They include such things as the ease of application, simplicity of the rewards structure, the likelihood of using certain features, and whether a card is well-suited to everyday use or is best reserved for specific purchases. Our star ratings serve as a general gauge of how each card compares with others in its class, but star ratings are intended to be just one consideration when a consumer is choosing a credit card. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.

About the author

Gregory Karp

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Credit Cards

U.S. Bank Business Platinum review 2024: It’s got one job – an intro APR for purchases and balance transfers

Julie Sherrier

Ashley Barnett

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

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Published 5:47 a.m. UTC May 14, 2024

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sommart, Getty Images

If your business is looking for a $0 annual fee card with a long introductory APR period on purchases and balance transfers purchases and balance transfers, then the U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card * The information for the U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. fits the bill.

Just know that besides the intro APR offer, this card doesn’t earn rewards or offer much else in terms of benefits. We’ll cover what you need to know in our U.S. Bank Business Platinum card review.

U.S. Bank Business Platinum basics

• Annual fee: $0.
• Welcome bonus: None.
• Rewards: None.
• APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 18 billing cycles, followed by a variable APR of 17.24% to 26.24%. A balance transfer fee of either 3% of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater, applies.
• Recommended credit score: Good to excellent.
• Other benefits: ExtendPay, free employee cards.

U.S. Bank Business Platinum review

The U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card is designed specifically for businesses seeking a lengthy intro APR period for purchases and/or balance transfers. This card offers no rewards, charges a foreign transaction fee, has no welcome bonus or other noteworthy benefits, so the only reason you’d apply is to use the card for its lengthy intro APR .

If you want to save on interest charges for over a year, then the U.S. Bank Business Platinum can help you do that. Just know that there are other business credit cards that offer both a rewards program as well as intro APR promotions, but the U.S. Bank Business Platinum offers one of the longest no-interest periods among competing business cards in this category you’ll find. 

• Long intro APR : Save on interest charges for over a year for both purchases and balance transfers.
• ExtendPay Plan : Once the intro APR promotion expires, you may be able to finance purchases through a fixed payment program for a monthly fee not to exceed 1.6% of the purchase amount.
• No annual fee: It won’t cost your business anything for card ownership.
• No rewards : The U.S. Bank Business Platinum does not earn cash back, points or miles on your purchases.
• Foreign transaction fee : If you’re traveling abroad, you’ll want to leave this card at home as it charges a fee of 3% of each foreign transaction, which is added to any purchases you make outside the country.
• Limited travel benefits : This card does not come with travel protections or travel credits other than secondary car rental protection and roadside dispatch.

U.S. Bank Business Platinum APR

The U.S. Bank Business Platinum offers one of the longest introductory offers of any business card. You’ll get a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 18 billing cycles, followed by a variable APR of 17.24% to 26.24%. A balance transfer fee of either 3% of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater, applies. Note that you cannot transfer a balance from one U.S. Bank card to another.

U.S. Bank Business Platinum drawbacks

If your business is looking to earn cash back, miles or points on your purchases, the U.S. Bank Business Platinum won’t help you do that. It doesn’t offer much in the way of benefits, travel protections or travel credits either. 

The only aspect of this card that makes it stand apart from other business cards is its lengthy 18-month intro APR on purchases and balance transfers. Just know that there are consumer cards offering even longer intro APRs than the U.S. Bank Business Platinum, such as the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card * The information for the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. which offers 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and on qualifying balance transfers made within the first 120 days, afterwards a 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% variable APR applies. There’s a balance transfer fee of 5% with a $5 minimum.

How the U.S. Bank Business Platinum compares to other business balance transfer cards

When choosing which business balance transfer card is best for your enterprise, here are a few competing cards to also consider.

U.S. Bank Business Platinum vs. U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card * The information for the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

A more robust U.S. Bank business card that also offers an intro APR on purchases and balance transfers — 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles, followed by a variable APR of 19.24% to 28.24% (balance transfers must be completed within 30 days to qualify for the intro rate). A balance transfer fee of either 3% of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater, applies — is the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card * The information for the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. .

For a $0 annual fee, cardholders can earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Travel Rewards Center, 3% cash back at gas and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cellphone service providers and restaurants and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases. 

Plus, there is a welcome bonus of $500 in cash back after spending $4,500 on purchases in the first 150 days of account opening.

U.S. Bank Business Platinum vs. State Farm® Business Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card * The information for the State Farm® Business Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

The State Farm® Business Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card * The information for the State Farm® Business Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. is also issued by U.S. Bank and has a 0% intro APR for the first 12 billing cycles on purchases and on balance transfers made within 60 days from account opening. After that, a 19.24% to 28.24% variable APR applies. A balance transfer fee of either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater, applies. 

Where this card shines is that it offers 3% cash back on insurance premium payments (up to $4,000 spent annually), 3% cash back at gas stations and electric vehicle charging stations, cell phone service providers, office supply stores and on dining and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases. That makes it a better choice long-term than the U.S. Bank Business Platinum.

U.S. Bank Business Platinum vs. PNC Visa® Business Credit Card * The information for the PNC Visa® Business Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

The PNC Business Visa has an intro APR as well, but just for balance transfers, offering 0% intro APR for the first 13 billing cycles following account opening when the balance is transferred within the first 90 days following account opening. Then a variable APR of 15.24% to 25.24% applies on both purchases and balance transfers. There's a balance transfer fee of $5 or 3% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater. While there is no annual fee or rewards program with this card, there is the possibility of qualifying for the lower end of the ongoing APR range once the intro balance transfer APR expires. If your business tends to carry a balance, this might make it a better choice for you. But if you’re looking for an offer on purchases, the U.S. Bank Business Platinum has one of the longest ones out there.

U.S. Bank Business Platinum is right for you if:

• You want a long intro APR on purchases and balance transfers. If your primary objective is to get a reprieve on interest charges for more than a year for either purchases or a balance transfer, the U.S. Bank Business Platinum offers 18 months of no interest.
• You don’t want to pay an annual fee. Along with saving money on interest charges for 18 months, you also won’t be assessed an annual fee for carrying this card.
• Simplicity is key for you with a new card. If you already have another rewards card for your business or are just not interested in a credit card rewards program, but you do want a card to help you finance a large purchase or transfer a balance to, then know that the U.S. Bank Business Platinum offers one of the longest intro APR periods among its competitors.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Your credit limit will depend on multiple factors, including your income, business revenue, credit standing, outstanding debts and more.

According to U.S. Bank, to qualify for a credit limit above $25,000, you will have to submit the last two years’ worth of financial statements as well as an accountant-prepared balance sheet and yearly income statements for the past two years or two years of company tax returns.

You will need a good to excellent credit score in order to qualify for the U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card. According to FICO, that means your credit score should range between 670 to 850.

Your minimum payment will be the greater of $40 or 1% of your balance, excluding any fixed payment program balances, plus any interest charges and fees. If your balance exceeds the credit limit, you will also be responsible for paying the overage.

No. In order to qualify for the U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card, you’ll need to meet the credit requirements (having a credit score in the 670 to 850 range) as well as have a business.

As with many business card applications , you’ll be asked to include information such as your Employer Identification Number (EIN), the year you started your business, your gross annual revenue, industry type, legal business name, the year you started your business and more.

*The information for the PNC Visa® Business Credit Card, State Farm® Business Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card, U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card, U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card and Wells Fargo Reflect® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Julie Stephen Sherrier is a personal finance writer and editor based in Austin, TX. She is the former senior managing editor for LendingTree, responsible for all credit card and credit health content. Before joining LendingTree, Julie spent more than a decade as the managing editor and then editorial director at Bankrate and CreditCards.com. She also served as an adjunct journalism instructor at the University of Texas at Austin.

Ashley Barnett has been writing and editing personal finance articles for the internet since 2008. Before editing for USA TODAY Blueprint, she was the Content Director for an international media company leading the content on their suite of personal finance sites. She lives in Phoenix, AZ where you can find her rereading Harry Potter for the 100th time.

Robin Saks Frankel is a credit cards lead editor at USA TODAY Blueprint. Previously, she was a credit cards and personal finance deputy editor for Forbes Advisor. She has also covered credit cards and related content for other national web publications including NerdWallet, Bankrate and HerMoney. She's been featured as a personal finance expert in outlets including CNBC, Business Insider, CBS Marketplace, NASDAQ's Trade Talks and has appeared on or contributed to The New York Times, Fox News, CBS Radio, ABC Radio, NPR, International Business Times and NBC, ABC and CBS TV affiliates nationwide. She holds an M.S. in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University. Follow her on Twitter at @robinsaks.

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• Why You Should Trust Us

U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card Review 2024: Features and Benefits

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate credit cards to write unbiased product reviews .

The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

Introduction to the U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card

Small business owners who need a little more time to pay off their balances may find that the U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card fits the bill.

Although the U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card doesn't earn rewards on purchases, its lengthy 0% intro APR period beats out most competitors and covers both purchases and balance transfers.

0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 18 billing cycles, then 16.24% - 25.24% Variable APR.

0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 18 billing cycles

16.24% - 25.24% Variable

Good to Excellent

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Extra-long introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No annual fee
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. No rewards or welcome bonus
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Few benefits compared to other small-business cards
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Foreign transaction fees

While it doesn't earn rewards or come with a welcome bonus, the U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card might be just what your business needs if you don't want to get hit with big interest charges on large purchases you can't pay off all at once.

U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card Overview

The U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card is a simple, no-fuss card for small businesses. Its features are limited, but a standout offer of 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 18 billing cycles (then 16.24% - 25.24% Variable APR) is among the best you'll find anywhere, especially on a business credit card. Furthermore, the introductory no-interest period covers both purchases and balance transfers, which means you can float large business expenses on this card without paying extra.

The U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card doesn't charge an annual fee, and allows business owners to add employee cards for free. These benefits make the card a good option for entrepreneurs looking to save on out-of-pocket costs. 

Once the introductory period of no interest is over, the U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card also charges a lower-than-average ongoing APR of 16.24% - 25.24% Variable APR, which means that business owners who have no choice but to carry an outstanding balance can at least save some money on interest.

U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card Benefits and Features

0% intro apr.

You'll have plenty of time to pay off your balance with this card's 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 18 billing cycles (then 16.24% - 25.24% Variable APR). The offer includes both new purchases and balance transfers of existing debt, which isn't something you see on all cards.

Note that you'll have to pay a fee if you choose to transfer a balance of 3% of each transfer amount with a $5 minimum. 

Extended Pay Plans

The U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card offers an ExtendPay option if you have upcoming purchases you can't fully pay off immediately. ExtendPay allows you to pay a fixed monthly fee of up to 1.6% of the original balance each month without incurring interest charges. 

Visa Spend Clarity 

Business owners will appreciate Visa Spend Clarity , an expense management tool that helps them visualize and track business expenses. 

U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card Card Annual Fee and Other Costs

The U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card doesn't charge an annual fee, nor will it cost you anything to add employee cards. 

Standard APR

Once the promotional 0% APR period is over, cardholders can expect an interest rate of 16.24% - 25.24% Variable APR on outstanding balances. 

Foreign Transaction Fees

Those using the U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card abroad should note that there is a foreign transaction fee of 3% of each foreign purchase or foreign ATM advance transaction in U.S. Dollars. 

Compare the U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card

The U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card has a long intro APR period (then 16.24% - 25.24% Variable APR), but otherwise doesn't have many features to recommend. Here's how it stacks up against competitors. 

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card vs. U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card

Like the U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card also offers an intro 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months APR (then 18.49% - 24.49% Variable APR) and no annual fee.

In contrast to the U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card, however, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card also earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on every dollar spent.

Although its intro APR period is shorter — and it's just for purchases, not balance transfers — this Chase business credit card also comes with a hefty welcome offer of $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, making it significantly more valuable to business owners who value travel rewards. 

U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® vs. U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card

Another offering from U.S. Bank, the U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® is another $0 annual fee option. This card has a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles (then 19.24% - 28.24% Variable APR), nearly matching that of the U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card. 

The U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® comes with a welcome offer of $500 cash back after spending $4,500 on purchases on the account holder's card in the first 150 days of opening your account.

It also offers strong ongoing rewards with 3% cash back on categories such as dining, gas stations, and office supply stores, making it significantly more valuable long-term compared to the U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card vs. U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is the only card in our comparison list that comes with an annual fee. It also doesn't offer an introductory period with no interest.  

However, the huge welcome offer of 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening should definitely be taken into consideration, especially for cardholders who like to travel. The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which can be transferred to more than a dozen hotel and airline partners. 

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card also comes with complimentary cellphone insurance, and earns 3x points on several common categories of business expenses including shipping, travel, and various utilities and bills. 

U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card Cardholder Insights

The U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card isn't as popular as other business credit cards, likely because of its limited overall benefits. That being said, U.S. Bank is a trusted banking institution, and anyone looking for a long-term 0% introductory APR could do worse than applying for this card. 

Be aware that U.S. Bank can be tough regarding approval for business credit cards. If you don't already have an established banking history or business income, you may face issues when trying to open a U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card.

U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card Frequently Asked Questions

The credit limit you'll receive for your business credit card will depend on various factors including your personal credit score, payment history, income, and debts. 

Generally speaking, you'll need to have good or excellent credit to get a U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card. Your credit score will be impacted by how many accounts you have open, the types of credit you have, your payment history, and how much of your credit you're utilizing. 

Before applying for a U.S. Bank business credit card, make sure you know your Employer Identification Number (EIN), legal business name, country in which your business was incorporated, the year you began your business, your business physical mailing address, gross annual revenue, and industry type (selected from a keyword search list). Once you have all your paperwork, you can apply for the card. 

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed the U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card

Our team reviewed the U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card by comparing its against the merits of other small business credit cards. We considered multiple factors, including: 

• Standout benefits — Does the card offer benefits that beat out the competition? 
• Potential rewards — Does the card provide a welcome offer? Will it reward you for your business spending?
• Annual fee — Does the card charge an annual fee? What, if any, credits does it provide to offset this cost?

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

**Enrollment required.

For rates and fees of the US Bank Business Platinum Card, please click here.

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Find the best credit card for you

Here are the best corporate credit cards of 2024, these cards offer rewards and additional features designed to help corporations manage the financials..

Corporate credit cards are similar to business credit cards but have a few key differences. Small business cards are typically designed for smaller businesses or sole proprietorships and usually require a personal guarantee and personal credit check . However, corporate cards typically don't require a personal guarantee and instead often have other requirements such as revenue minimums or are only available to U.S. registered business entities (LLCs, corporations, etc.).

Corporate cards are designed to help business managers seamlessly manage spending for a large number of employees and some offer rewards as well. Below, CNBC Select details the best corporate cards with a range of benefits. (See our methodology for information on how we chose the best corporate credit cards).

Best corporate credit cards

• Best for travel spending: Brex Card
• Best for cash back: Ramp Visa® Corporate Card
• Best for travel perks: The American Express Corporate Platinum Card ®
• Best for mid-sized corporations: U.S. Bank Commercial Rewards Card

Best for travel spending

Earn rewards and cash back on everything you spend, like 7x on rideshare, 2x on recurring software, and access exclusive events and over $400K in software discounts.

Welcome bonus

10,000 points when you spend $3,000 on your Brex card within three months of your Brex business account being opened.

• No annual fee

Brex does not charge interest

Regular APR

Balance transfer fee, foreign transaction fee.

No foreign transaction fees, free ACH and wires worldwide, global acceptance on the Mastercard network

Credit needed

No personal guarantee or credit check. Only companies organized and registered in the United States may apply for a Brex account. See Platform Agreement for business criteria.

• No foreign transaction fee
• You'll have to pay off the balance daily or monthly

* Offer available to new Brex Card customers only.

Brex Mastercard® issued by Emigrant Bank, Member FDIC. Brex Cash provided by Brex Treasury LLC, member FINRA and SIPC. Brex Treasury is not a bank; Brex Cash is not a bank account. Testimonials may not represent experiences of all clients. Terms apply, visit brex.com. Information about the Brex Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

Who's this for? Brex is a fintech company that offers financial services to corporations, including the Brex Card , which offers an exceptional return for many different bonus spending categories.

Standout benefits : The Brex Card is available to Brex business account members (a cash management account). Eligible businesses can earn generous rewards in useful bonus categories like rideshare , Brex travel, restaurants, eligible Apple purchases through the Brex rewards portal, recurring software and additional categories depending on your primary industry. The Brex Card is a charge card that must be paid off monthly or daily. If you opt for daily payments, your company may earn additional rewards in certain categories.

[ Jump to more details ]

Best for cash back

Ramp visa corporate card.

Earn an unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases

Receive $250 after you apply and are approved with no minimum spending requirement.

No personal guarantee or credit check.

• Strong cash-back rate
• Need at least $75,000 in a U.S. business bank account to qualify

Who's this for? The Ramp Visa® Corporate Card is worth considering if your company wants to earn straightforward, yet valuable cash-back rewards.

Standout benefits : The Ramp Visa Corporate Card can boost your company's bottom line with an uncapped 1.5% cash back on all purchases. This card has no annual fee and a long list of partner deals which can save you even more money. Ramp members enjoy discounts with UPS, OpenAI, Stripe, Amazon Web Services, QuickBooks , Indeed and more. You can even transfer Ramp rewards to various airline and hotel loyalty programs.

Best for travel perks

The american express corporate platinum card®.

Earn 1X Membership Rewards® points on all purchases; 5% Uber Cash on Uber rides and U.S. Uber Eats orders

Good/Excellent

Terms apply.

• Amazing airport lounge access benefits
• Annual statement credit when you have a personal Amex Platinum Card
• Hotel and rental car perks
• Low reward earning rate
• Corporate Membership Rewards program doesn't allow point transfers

Information about the The American Express Corporate Platinum Card® has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

Who's this for? The American Express Corporate Platinum Card ® offers some of the same valuable benefits as other versions of The Platinum Card® from American Express but with some key differences.

Standout benefits : Corporate employees on the go will appreciate this card's travel benefits, and the crown jewel of what this card offers is its airport lounge access . Cardholders can access over 1,400 airport lounges through the American Express Global Lounge Collection, including Amex Centurion lounges , Delta Sky Clubs , Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium lounges, Escape lounges and Lufthansa lounges.

Best for mid-sized corporations

U.s. bank commercial rewards card.

Companies can choose rebates or rewards as follows: Qualify for 1% cash back after spending $150,000 per quarter or earn 5X points on car rentals, 4X points on lodging, 3X points on airlines and 1X points on all other purchases

Revenue requirements

$10 to $150 million annually

• Flexibility in what type of rewards you earn
• No annual fees or interest
• Quarterly spending requirement to qualify for rebates

Who's this for? The U.S. Bank Commercial Rewards Card provides mid-sized corporations flexibility in how they earn rewards.

Standout benefits: With a U.S. Bank Commercial Rewards Card account, companies can choose what type of rewards they earn. If your company opts for earning a rebate, it will earn a 1% cash rebate after hitting $150,000 in quarterly spending. With the rewards option, the company earns 5X points on car rentals, 4X points on lodging, 3X points on airlines and 1X points on all other purchases.

More on our best corporate credit cards

The Brex Card has extremely generous spending categories, which are even more valuable than they appear because you can transfer Brex points to partner travel programs.

Brex Exclusive rewards (monthly payments):

• 7X points on rideshare
• 4X points on Brex travel rewards
• 3X points at restaurants
• 3X points on eligible Apple purchases through the Brex rewards portal
• 2X points on recurring software
• 1X points on all other purchases

By opting for daily payments (instead of monthly) you can earn an additional 1X points in select categories. Life sciences companies don't earn bonus rewards on software, rideshare or restaurant purchases. Instead, they earn additional points on lab supplies and life sciences conference tickets.

Brex also has a custom rewards program that's available to companies with 50 or more Brex users who also will meet minimum spending requirements. You'll have to speak with Brex to see if your company qualifies.

Learn more about all reward multipliers and options  here .

Earn 30,000 points after spending $3,500, or 50,000 points after spending $9,000 in the first 30 days.

$0 (paid plans available)

Notable perks

The Brex Card is a  World Elite Mastercard® and includes Mastercard ID Theft Protection ( activation required ), MasterRental Insurance (rental car damage and theft coverage) and Mastercard Luxury Hotel Program (free daily breakfast for two guests, room upgrades when available, etc.).

The card also unlocks discounts for a long list of software services and business products such as TurboTax , Microsoft 365, QuickBooks® and Salesforce Essentials. Brex account holders also receive 5% back on Microsoft advertising purchases on up to $10,000 in annual spending per card.

You can use Brex rewards for a long list of redemptions including, gift cards, travel, cryptocurrency, cash back and more. One of the best ways to use Brex points is to transfer points to one of its partner airline loyalty programs, including:

• Air France/KLM (Flying Blue)
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• Emirates Skywards
• Avianca LifeMiles
• Aeromexico Club Premier
• Qantas Frequent Flyer
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

You are allowed to transfer points to any cardholder associated with the Brex account.

[ Return to card summary ]

Ramp Visa® Corporate Card

Ramp is a financial technology company that issues the Ramp Visa® Corporate Card and provides expense management and other services to U.S.-based corporations.

• 1.5% cash back on all purchases

Earn a $250 bonus after account approval.

$0 (paid subscriptions available)

Ramp is a fintech company that offers businesses a variety of tools to manage and automate their finances, including bill payments, expense reimbursement and corporate cards. To qualify for Ramp your company will need at least $75,000 in a U.S. business bank account , be a business registered in the U.S. and the majority of your operations and spending should be in the U.S.

The Ramp card's Visa Signature Business benefits include:

• Rental car collision insurance (primary coverage)
• Purchase security
• Extended warranty protection
• Travel and emergency assistance services

Ramp users have access to a massive amount of deals and discounts on business-related products, services and software. Some of these deals include (at the time of writing):

• QuickBooks discounts
• Up to $5,000 in Amazon Web Services credits
• Up to $2,500 in OpenAI credits
• UPS discounts
• 50% off Amazon Business Prime
• And many more

In addition to straight cash back or gift cards, you can transfer Ramp rewards to airline and hotel partners at a 1.5:1 ratio, including:

• AeroMexico Rewards
• Air France/KLM Flying Blue
• British Airways Executive Club
• Etihad Guest
• Marriott Bonvoy
• Qatar Airways Privilege Club
• TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go
• Wyndham Rewards

While Ramp's transfer ratio isn't great, having the option to convert your cash back to hotel and airline points can help you increase the value of your rewards. For example, you can often book one-way Star Alliance business-class awards from the U.S. to Europe through Avianca for 63,000 miles (94,500 Ramp points).

The American Express Corporate Platinum Card ® provides cardholders with a robust list of travel perks such as lounge access and elite-status benefits.

• 1X points on all purchases
• 5% Uber Cash on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders (enrollment required)

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The U.S. Bank Commercial Rewards Card is available to corporations with an annual revenue between $10 million and $150 million.

A company can choose how it earns rewards:

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With a U.S. Bank Commercial Card account, your company will have access to more than just the ability to earn rewards. This card also has several tools and features designed to simplify expense management and corporate travel. It offers integration with popular accounting software, including QuickBooks online, NetSuite, Xero and more. When employees book through the travel platform it automatically tracks the receipts. You can also set card limits or merchant category restrictions to align with company policies.

How do corporate cards differ from small business cards?

The key differences between corporate and small business cards are how you qualify and what type of business the card is designed for. Small business cards usually require a personal guarantee and personal credit check, whereas corporate cards do not. Corporate cards typically require the business to have a specific legal structure, minimum revenue or cash holdings or a certain minimum number of employees.

Is it hard to get a corporate credit card?

Corporate credit cards aren't necessarily hard to get, but your business typically needs to be larger than a small business with just a couple of employees. To qualify for a corporate card, you could need 15+ employees, a minimum of six figures in annual expenses or a large sum of money in the bank.

Does a corporate credit card hurt your credit score?

If your employer issues you a corporate credit card it won't have an impact on your personal credit score. Corporate card activity isn't tied to your personal credit report.

Bottom line

Corporate credit cards are designed for larger businesses and often offer additional services beyond just credit card rewards. If your company is at the point where managing small business credit cards is becoming tedious, the features offered by the best corporate credit cards may be able to save you time and money.

Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card   article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card   products .  While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See  our methodology  for more information on how we choose the best corporate credit cards.

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Our methodology

To determine which credit cards are best for corporations, CNBC Select analyzed corporate cards based on a range of features. We compared rewards (e.g., cash back, points and miles), annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks, protections and other features available to corporations. 

We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.  

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of  credit cards ,  banking  and  money , and follow us on  TikTok ,  Facebook ,  Instagram  and  Twitter  to stay up to date.

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Shanghai Platinum Week: Hydrogen’s going to feature big, says World Platinum Investment Council

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WPIC's Trevor Raymond and Edward Sterck interviewed by Mining Weekly's Martin Creamer. Video: Darlene Creamer.

World Platinum Investment Council Director of Research Edward Sterck.

Last year's Shanghai Platinum Week.

Shanghai Platinum Week.

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17th May 2024

By: Martin Creamer

Creamer Media Editor

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The growth in demand for platinum applications in China is extremely high, making detailed access to the China market hugely advantageous.

Providing this detailed access from July 8 to 11 will be the far-reaching Shanghai Platinum Week 2024, which is sandwiched between the London Platinum Week in May and the New York Platinum Week in September.

The Shanghai event takes place with simultaneous translation amid China reinforcing itself as the world’s largest user of platinum group metals (PGMs).

The crucial event will also unfold for the fourth time in an emerging new era where vehicle manufacture in China is increasing beyond that of the US, making the Asian country’s market extremely important from a palladium, platinum, and even rhodium perspective, World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) CEO Trevor Raymond noted in a Zoom interview with Engineering News & Mining Weekly.

Moreover, platinum is integral to China’s commitment to global decarbonisation by 2060, with the country’s strong interest illustrated by last year’s Shanghai Platinum Week attracting more than 1 200 in-person delegates from more than 400 different organisations, as well as 180 000 online attendees.

Although the second week of July is still some way off, confirmed attendees include the likes of Anglo American, Northam Platinum, the Bank of Montreal, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and Japan’s JPX, with Guangzhou Futures Exchange and many financial, recycling and industrial organisations within China indicating their intention to be there.

Although roughly a third of all PGMs go into China, the country is one of the more opaque markets for non-Chinese market participants, which the week sets out to remedy by providing insight into where China’s value proposition for PGMs lies.

Even ahead of the agenda being finalised, it is already patently clear that hydrogen is going to be a big feature across the conference, along with growing use of PGMs in the semiconductor industry and in the extended- range electric vehicle segment, WPIC director of research Edward Sterck spelt out in the same Zoom interview.

Extended-range electric vehicles are battery electric vehicles that also have internal combustion engines that effectively recharge the battery and extend the range of travel.

Most extended-range electric vehicles have ranges of about 1 000 km on full battery charge and full fuel tank, and their exhaust treatment systems continue to contain PGMs.

Chinese investors have known platinum for many years as jewellery and with more people saving for retirement, having platinum as part of a retirement investment makes a lot of sense.

There are no platinum mines in China and having platinum on Chinese soil is seen as a good idea.

“We know that supply growth and demand growth don’t always match, so we’ve encouraged the Chinese policymakers to recognise the importance of platinum investment demand, and of having more platinum metal on Chinese soil as a certain support to the industrial use of platinum over time.

“Having the Shanghai Platinum Week on the global calendar is probably ideal timing. The four-year gestation period has certainly been well worth it and we look forward to the Shanghai Platinum Week becoming something that is really helpful to investors around the world and participants in the broader PGM industry,” said Raymond.

Following the Shanghai Platinum Week, international participants will be taken to meet a number of the hydrogen-related companies in the Shanghai region, and they will also be given an opportunity to meet and converse with Chinese policymakers.

Those wanting to know more about the event should go to www.shanghaiplatinumweek.com, where all of the details are available, along with the registration process. Also listed are the emails of WPIC contacts Yvonne: [email protected] and Grace: [email protected]

WPIC in Shanghai Since 2017

With an office in Shanghai since 2017, the WPIC team is able to provide PGMs knowledge to China, which helps investors to make more informed investment decisions.

All the current PGM uses are represented in China, where there is a strong growth in the automotive, industrial, jewellery, and investment sectors.

While significant awareness of PGMs has been created, market liquidity remains an issue for investment and industrial participants.

To increase participation, great effort is being made to ensure that a platinum and palladium future is available to enable local users of these metals to hedge price risk.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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