The data speaks volumes about the critical role community banks play in small-business financial counsel. According to the JD Power 2025 U.S. Small Business Banking Satisfaction Study, 94% of small-business owners who received guidance said it positively influenced their financial habits. With 60% of U.S. small-business loans funded by community banks, they hold a unique position as the banks of choice for small businesses. They look to them for insights, including on the role payments play in their portfolios.
In today’s environment, payments are vital to a small business’s success, and credit cards serve as the link between efficiency, productivity and reporting. Whether business customers are focusing on cash flow, seeking greater insights into employee spending, monitoring project expenses or subscriptions, or a host of other needs, credit cards are a tool that helps them achieve business objectives.
Therein lies the community bank opportunity. Payments are an essential component of maintaining a full treasury relationship with a small business, and small-business credit cards solve customer pain points and allow community banks to grow revenue and deepen relationships at the same time.
The business credit card opportunity for community banks that serve small businesses
As community banks provide financial counsel, they should consider the following ways credit cards can meet small businesses’ needs:
- Cards can address short-term capital requirements. Mastercard found that 86% of U.S. small businesses explicitly state: “I am looking for faster and easier access to capital.” Community banks can provide a simple solution by offering them cards for times when cash flow is tight.
- Credit cards provide transparency into employee expenses. Small-business cards make expense reporting clear, and as AI plays a larger role in employee travel and expense (T&E) processes, small businesses need to have transparent reporting mechanisms in place. Community banks that position credit cards as a product to support T&E as it evolves will both grow their card portfolio and support their customers’ efficiency.
- Credit cards offer a trackable, simple accounts-payable solution—and business rewards. Paying vendors and partners with credit cards not only creates a cash flow breather but also simplifies accounts-payable processes through clear data and reporting. In addition, depending on the rewards tied to your card program, community banks might have another selling point for customers to use credit cards.
As trusted financial advisors to U.S. small businesses, community banks should emphasize how credit cards meet growth needs. By doing so, they not only support customers’ goals but can also grow fee revenue, expand wallet share and deepen relationships. A community bank’s advice will set its customers up for success and deliver on the bank’s business objectives.