What Business Cards Report to Credit Bureaus? | Nav (2024)

• For business owners who plan to get small business loans, the best business credit cards are ones that report to the major business credit bureaus — this can help build business credit.
• However, not all small business credit cards report to these bureaus.
• In this article, we’ll explore why your business credit report matters, how it can affect your personal credit, and the business cards that report to one or more business credit bureaus.

Do Business Credit Cards Report to Business Credit?

It depends. Some business credit cards report to one or more of the business credit bureaus, but not all cards do. And for those credit cards that do report, they usually don’t report to all of the major business credit reporting agencies, which are:

• Experian Small Business
• Equifax Business

The Small Business Financial Exchange (SBFE) is another place that business credit information can be reported to.

If the cards do report to one or more of the bureaus, these business accounts act as an important business tradeline, also called trade credit. This simply means that when you use a business credit card for your regular business expenses and pay it off one time, you’ll get a positive mark on your business credit report. A good standing can help you secure better interest rates and terms on business financing.

In this way, having a credit card that reports your payment history can help you build good business credit and business credit scores, which can be essential to secure business funding. Some cards also can help build up your funding eligibility with the SBFE, or the Small Business Financial Exchange.

Business Cards Reporting to Credit Bureaus

Whether a business credit card issuer reports to the bureaus is up to them. Let’s look at where some of the most popular companies report to.

Perks of Business Credit Cards

In addition to helping boost your business credit, business credit cards can bring plenty of other benefits and perks to cardholders:

• Additional available credit, up to your credit limit
• A revolving line of credit
• Rewards like cash back or bonus points
• 0% intro APR (great option for balance transfers)
• No annual fee (not all cards offer this)
• Free employee cards
• Spending controls

If you’re having a hard time qualifying for a business credit card, it can be a good idea to look at secured business credit cards or charge cards. These can be easier to qualify for since they often require a lower credit rating — or don’t look at your credit score at all. Learn more about how to establish business credit here.

Do Business Cards Report to Personal Credit?

Personal credit card providers usually report on-time payments (and late ones) to consumer credit bureaus. But what about business credit cards? Small business owners may wonder whether their personal credit report is at risk by using a business credit card.

Here’s the deal: Business credit cards typically don’t report to consumer credit bureaus like FICO unless you fall behind on payments, default on the card, or if the credit card issuer has a personal guarantee requirement. So if there’s negative information, your personal finances could take a hit from your business credit accounts.

However, this scenario doesn’t apply to cards without a personal guarantee. Here’s how it generally works:

• No personal guarantee: If you apply for a business credit card without a personal guarantee, the card’s activity is typically reported only to business credit bureaus. In this case, your personal credit history is generally not affected by the card’s activity. However, these credit cards are few and far between.
• Personal guarantee: Most business credit cards require a personal guarantee, especially if your business is new or doesn’t have a well-established credit history. When you provide a personal guarantee, it means that you are personally responsible for the card’s debt, and the card issuer may report the card’s activity to both business and personal credit bureaus. This means that late payments or high balances on the business card could impact your personal credit score.

It’s essential to understand the terms and conditions of the specific business credit card you’re considering, especially whether it requires a personal guarantee.

Do Business Credit Cards Report to DUNS?

Again, it depends. Business credit cards might report to business credit bureaus like Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) or other similar agencies. These credit bureaus compile and maintain credit profiles for businesses, just as personal credit bureaus do for individuals. When a business gets a credit card, the card issuer may report the business’s credit activity to these bureaus.

Dun & Bradstreet, in particular, is known for its Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, which is a unique identifier for businesses. Business credit card activity can contribute to a business’s credit profile and affect its DUNS score. This score is often used by lenders, suppliers, and other businesses to evaluate a business’s creditworthiness.

However, it’s important to note that not all business credit card issuers report to all credit bureaus. Some may report to one or more of the major business credit bureaus, while others may not report at all.

Do Banks Check Dun & Bradstreet?

Many banks will perform a credit check, also called a hard inquiry, before agreeing to lend your business money. It’s common for banks to look at DUNS reports to assess your creditworthiness, which can tell them how likely your business is to pay back what it owes. But not all lenders care about your D&B rating — a lot of lenders care more about your business’s Experian or Equifax reports.

Banks can also use your credit reports to determine your interest rates and terms of your small business loans and other financing. The better your business credit, the more likely you are to secure lower interest rates and better repayment terms.

Does Capital One Business Credit Card Report to Dun and Bradstreet?

Not all credit card companies disclose where they report. Capital One doesn’t disclose which credit bureaus they report to at the time of writing. Since these things can change frequently, you’ll want to read the fine print or ask them before you apply.

What Credit Bureau Does American Express Report To?

For its business cards, American Express currently only reports to the Small Business Financial Exchange. The Small Business Financial Exchange is a non-profit organization that acts as a data warehouse for the exchange of small business financial information among lenders. Many lenders use this information to assess the creditworthiness of small businesses.

However, for its personal credit cards, American Express also send your information to your personal credit report for Experian. This can help build your personal credit score with that bureau.

Do American Express Business Credit Cards Report to Dun and Bradstreet?

At the time of writing, American Express doesn’t report directly to Dun & Bradstreet.

But they do report to the SBFE. Lenders can buy credit reports that include SBFE data to determine if your commercial credit fits with their qualifications.

Does Amazon Business Amex Report to Dun and Bradstreet?

At the time of writing, American Express business credit cards don’t report to Dun & Bradstreet. They only report to the Small Business Financial Exchange. Be sure to check before you apply since these things can change.

Who Does Bank of America Credit Report To?

The business side of Bank of America currently only reports to the SBFE. The SBFE data can be used by lenders to determine your creditworthiness.

However, Bank of America’s consumer credit cards report to three personal credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and Transunion. These cards can help you build up your personal credit, which can factor into your eligibility for business financing.