Rippling

Overview

The Rippling Corporate Card provides a rewards program centered on cash back, which is legally owned by the business entity rather than the individual cardholding employee. The primary reward is an unlimited 1.75% cash back on all purchases, with no caps on earning potential. This flat rate applies across all spending categories. While the program does not directly accrue airline miles or points in a traditional travel rewards sense, the cash back earned provides companies with financial flexibility. The business can use these funds to offset corporate travel expenses, reinvest in other areas of the business, or, at its discretion, establish its own internal policy to pass rewards on to employees. The card's integration with the broader Rippling ecosystem includes 'Rippling Travel,' and its policy engine references 'Mileage Loyalty Programs' and 'Hotel Loyalty Programs,' indicating a system designed to be compatible with travel management, even if the direct reward mechanism is cash back.

Key Features

The governance structure of the rewards program centralizes control at the company level. The legal terms of the card agreement specify that the 'Customer' (the business) is the owner of all accrued rewards. Rippling retains the right to determine the conditions for qualifying, accruing, and redeeming rewards, with specific details outlined in its 'Corporate Card Rewards Terms.' This structure ensures that the financial benefits of corporate spending revert to the company, which can then strategically decide on their allocation. This model differs from some corporate card programs where employees might retain points or miles earned on business expenses. The card itself is a charge card, meaning the full balance must be paid at the end of each statement cycle. This structure eliminates interest charges (APR) but subjects accounts to late fees if the balance is not paid in full by the due date. The fee for the card service ranges from $0 to $11 per employee per month, depending on the service tier and any promotional offers.

Technical Specifications

The issuance of the Rippling Corporate Card is managed through partnerships with established financial institutions. For customers in the United States onboarded on or after February 10, 2025, the card is issued by Fifth Third Bank, N.A., through a program managed by Marqeta. For US customers onboarded before this date, the issuer was Celtic Bank via Stripe. In Canada, the card is issued by Peoples Trust Company. This multi-issuer approach supports its operations across different regions. For new customers, a sign-up bonus may be available, such as a $500 gift card after meeting an initial spending threshold of $5,000 within the first three months. The card functions in over 200 countries and supports expense reimbursements in more than 37 currencies, making it suitable for businesses with global operations.

How It Works

One of the key differentiators of the Rippling Corporate Card compared to legacy providers is its deep integration with Rippling's Human Resources Information System (HRIS). This allows for the creation of highly customized spending policies based on employee data such as department, role, location, or tenure. These policies can proactively block non-compliant spending in real-time. Furthermore, the card program is designed to be more accessible for many businesses as it does not require a personal guarantee or credit check from the business owners. Instead, underwriting is based on the commercial creditworthiness of the applicant business. Rippling reports that it can offer credit limits up to 20 times higher than some traditional corporate cards. The card lifecycle is also automated; cards can be automatically issued during employee onboarding and revoked during offboarding, streamlining administrative workload.

Use Cases

Limitations and Requirements

Comparison to Alternatives

Summary

In conclusion, the Rippling Corporate Card's rewards program is structured around a flat-rate 1.75% cash back system that gives the company full ownership and control over the earned rewards. It does not offer direct accrual of airline miles, but the cash back can be used for any business purpose, including travel. The card's primary value proposition lies in its integration with HR data for advanced policy control, its automated lifecycle management, and its accessibility features like no personal guarantee. Businesses considering the card should evaluate the benefits of a straightforward, company-controlled cash back program against traditional travel rewards programs, taking into account the card's fee structure and charge card payment requirements.