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If this is an important point for you, check what an issuer’s policy is before applying.
Most business card issuers won’t report your payment activity or will report certain infractions only. However, some issuers will report all payment activity to consumer bureaus.
Keep in mind that because most issuers require a personal guarantee, they will check your personal credit when you apply for a business credit card.
Bank or issuer | Reports business cards to personal bureaus | Credit check with personal credit bureaus? |
---|---|---|
American Express | Yes, but only delinquencies | Yes |
Bank of America | No | Yes |
Barclays | May report according to Barclays’ discretion | Yes |
Capital One | Yes | Yes |
Chase | Yes, but only delinquencies of 60 days or more | Yes |
Citi | No | Yes |
Discover | Yes | Yes |
Navy Federal | No | Yes |
PNC Bank | No | Yes; potential soft pull |
Synchrony Bank | Yes, but only delinquencies | Yes |
TD Bank | Yes | Yes |
U.S. Bank | Yes, but only delinquencies of 60 days or more | Yes |
Wells Fargo | Yes, but only when in default | Yes |
Yes. You’ll find business credit cards whose issuers won’t report your payment activity to consumer credit bureaus. Other issuers will report payment activity only in certain instances, such as if your payments are very late.
When you submit a business card application, the issuer may check your personal credit. The issuer will also likely require a personal guarantee for your debt, allowing it to go after your personal assets if you fail to pay off your business card balance.
Business card | How it reports | Learn more |
---|---|---|
Brex 30 Card | Brex 30 Card has no personal liability, meaning your personal credit score won’t be affected. | Read review |
Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card | Chase typically reports to personal credit bureaus if your payments are late by 60 days or more. | Read review |
Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards | BofA doesn’t report activity to personal credit bureaus. | Read review |
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® | Citi business card activity doesn’t show up on personal records. | Read review |
Wells Fargo Business Platinum Credit Card | Wells Fargo reports to personal credit bureaus if your card is in default — typically 180 days overdue. | Read review |
U.S. Bank Business Select Rewards | U.S. Bank does not report to personal credit bureaus unless your payments are late by 60 days or more. | Read review |
Healthy credit comes with monitoring your finances — ever important when you’re running a business. Even if your business card provider reports to the commercial bureaus, work to protect your personal credit with these pointers:
If you’re worried about potential hiccups with your business credit card, you can look into cards that won’t report to the personal credit bureaus. But serious delinquencies — late payments of 60 days or more, defaulting on your account or reports to collections — may end up on your personal credit history regardless.
If you’re confident in your business’s financial health, instead focus on weighing cards that can best benefit and maximize your business spending, whether with a low interest rate, a balance transfer promotion or tiered rewards.
The short answer is: it depends. Learn the mechanics of how your business card activity might affect your personal credit. For example, it’s likely that your personal credit will be impacted slightly when you apply for a business credit card.
You’ll also want to know your provider’s policies on payment history reporting. The good news is most of the time, your business card activity won’t affect your personal credit. But this might not be the case in certain situations — for example, if you default on your debt. Also, certain issuers will report your payment activity to consumer bureaus in all instances.
If your issuer does report to consumer bureaus, watch your balance on your business credit card as your credit utilization will affect your credit score.
For most business owners, the need for a business credit card can be a sign that you’ve made it — your company is robust enough to need separating from your personal spending, and you can take advantage of rewards designed for your spending habits.
Still, your business activity could negatively affect your personal credit score without knowing the terms you’ve agreed to. Minimize any risk to your personal credit by managing your business spending carefully.
To find a card to best suit your unique business needs, read our comprehensive guide to business cards.
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