Two $0-annual-fee flat-rate business cards with no categories to track — the decision comes down to whether you already bank with Bank of America or Merrill. On its own, BofA Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards pays a flat 1.5%, identical to Chase Ink Business Unlimited. But Preferred Rewards for Business can push BofA's rate up to 2.62% for customers with large combined balances — a real edge Chase's card has no equivalent for.
Scored against our published methodology · Updated July 31, 2026
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Bank of America
Bank of America and Merrill business customers enrolled in Preferred Rewards for Business — the flat 1.5% base rate scales up with combined balances: 25% higher (1.87%) at the Gold tier ($20,000+), 50% higher (2.25%) at Platinum ($50,000+), and 75% higher (2.62%) at Platinum Honors ($100,000+). No annual fee, no category tracking, uncapped earning.
Find your matchBusinesses whose spend doesn't concentrate in a specific bucket — unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, no annual fee, and no earning cap makes this the simplest 'set it and forget it' card in Chase's Ink lineup. There's also 5% total cash back on Lyft rides through September 30, 2027.
Find your matchBest for — by the numbers
Per-spec leads are computed from each issuer's published facts and our scored methodology — there is no single overall winner. Reviewed July 31, 2026. ClearValue Cards earns compensation through our CardRatings partnership, paid when a reader clicks out to CardRatings from our match tool, and through separately labeled, paid partner placements (marked "Advertiser Disclosure · Sponsored") that sit outside our card rankings. Neither compensation source influences editorial scoring or ordering.
| Spec | Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards | Chase Ink Business Unlimited |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| 0% intro APR period | 7 months | 12 months |
| Ongoing APR (from) | 16.74% | 16.74% |
| Foreign transaction fee | 3% | 3% |
| Rewards score | 15/20 | 14/20 |
| Fee-structure score | 20/20 | 20/20 |
| ClearValue score | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| Balance transfer fee | 5% of the transaction amount | $5 or 5% |
A check marks the card that leads that spec on published figures. Rows with no marker are either tied or judgment calls (fee wording, late-fee terms) where a single "winner" would misrepresent the data.
Tap the spec you care about — we'll show which card leads on it.
For 0% intro APR period, the Chase Ink Business Unlimited leads (12 months).
Bank of America or Merrill business customers enrolled in Preferred Rewards for Business
The Preferred Rewards for Business multiplier scales the base 1.5% up to 1.87% (Gold, $20K+ combined balances), 2.25% (Platinum, $50K+), or 2.62% (Platinum Honors, $100K+) — a meaningful edge over any flat-rate competitor once you clear the Gold tier.
See your matchesBusinesses with no Bank of America or Merrill deposit relationship
Without Preferred Rewards for Business, BofA's card is a plain 1.5% flat rate — identical to Ink Business Unlimited on earn rate, but with a worse intro APR window (7 billing cycles vs. Ink's 12 months) and a higher foreign transaction fee (3% vs. Ink's 3% — a wash, but Amex Blue Business Cash beats both on that front at 2.7%).
See your matchesBusinesses with real spend concentrated in office supplies, telecom, gas, or dining — Chase Ink Business Cash's 5%/2% categories beat either flat 1.5% card for that spend profile. Neither reports positive activity to personal credit bureaus, so don't hold one expecting a personal-credit boost.
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Answer a few questions about how you spend and we'll point you to the cards that actually fit — no guesswork.
Take the 60-second quizAnnual fee
Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards: $0
Chase Ink Business Unlimited: $0
Earn rate
Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards: 1.5% flat, uncapped; up to 2.62% with Preferred Rewards for Business (Platinum Honors, $100K+ combined balances)
Chase Ink Business Unlimited: Unlimited 1.5% on every purchase, no cap; 5% total on Lyft rides through Sept. 30, 2027
Best for
Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards: BofA/Merrill business customers who can reach a Preferred Rewards for Business tier
Chase Ink Business Unlimited: Businesses with no bank-relationship angle to work — the flat rate stands on its own
Intro APR
Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards: 0% on purchases for 7 billing cycles, then 16.74% – 26.74% variable
Chase Ink Business Unlimited: 0% on purchases for 12 months, then 16.74% – 24.74% variable
Foreign transaction fee
Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards: 3%
Chase Ink Business Unlimited: 3%
Rewards format
Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards: Statement credit or deposit to a BofA business account
Chase Ink Business Unlimited: Chase Ultimate Rewards points; 1 cpp as cash, 1.5+ cpp only if paired with a Preferred or Sapphire to transfer
Honest knock
Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards: The multiplier that makes this card competitive requires parking real balances at BofA/Merrill — without that relationship it's an unremarkable 1.5% card with a shorter intro-APR window
Chase Ink Business Unlimited: 1.5% flat means no boosted category — a business with real office-supply or telecom spend is leaving money on the table versus Ink Business Cash
Neither is universally better — it depends on how you spend. On our published 100-point methodology the Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards scores 82/100 (Solid pick) and the Chase Ink Business Unlimited scores 88/100 (Solid pick). Bank of America or Merrill business customers enrolled in Preferred Rewards for Business should lean Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards; businesses with no Bank of America or Merrill deposit relationship should lean Chase Ink Business Unlimited. Take the 60-second quiz to see which fits your profile.
The Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards carries $0 (no annual fee), sourced from the issuer's published Schumer Box as of July 31, 2026. The Chase Ink Business Unlimited carries $0 (no annual fee), as of July 22, 2026. Fees change — confirm the current number at the issuer before you decide.
The Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards is the one with a 0% intro offer: 0% intro APR on purchases for 7 billing cycles. Chase Ink Business Unlimited offers 0% on purchases for 12 months. Intro terms are variable — verify the current window at the issuer.
We score every card across five dimensions — effective rewards, fee structure, audience fit, transparency, and the weakness named — 0–20 each for a 100-point total. The Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards earned 82/100 and the Chase Ink Business Unlimited earned 88/100. Scoring follows our published methodology and is never influenced by compensation.
Independent editorial comparison. ClearValue Cards is not a card issuer, a bank, or a lender. ClearValue Cards earns compensation through our CardRatings partnership, paid when a reader clicks out to CardRatings from our match tool, and through separately labeled, paid partner placements (marked "Advertiser Disclosure · Sponsored") that sit outside our card rankings. Neither compensation source influences editorial scoring or ordering. Card facts are sourced from each issuer's published Schumer Box and terms — confirm current numbers at the issuer. See disclosure.
