July 24, 2024

Business credit cards that don't report to personal credit bureaus

As a business owner, it's essential to separate your personal and business finances. One way to do this is by using a business credit card that doesn't report to personal credit bureaus. This can help protect your personal credit score and keep your business and personal credit activity separate.

In this article, we'll explore which business credit cards don't report to personal credit bureaus, which ones report to business credit bureaus, and the pros and cons of using a business credit card that doesn't report to personal credit.

Which business credit cards report to personal credit bureaus?

Here's a table of some popular business credit card issuers and whether they report to personal credit bureaus:

Card issuer

Reports to personal credit bureaus

Ramp

No

American Express

Yes, but only negative payment history

U.S. Bank

Yes, but only for serious delinquencies

Wells Fargo

No

Bank of America

No

Discover

Yes

Capital One

Plus and Venture X business credit cards report delinquencies

Chase

Yes, but only for serious delinquencies

Citi

No

As you can see, only a few card issuers, such as Ramp, Bank of America, Citi, and Wells Fargo don't report any activity to personal credit bureaus. This means that using these cards responsibly won't impact your personal credit score, but it also means that any negative activity, like late payments or high balances, won't show up on your personal credit report.

Which business credit cards report to business credit bureaus?

While some business credit cards don't report to personal credit bureaus, most do report to major business credit bureaus. Reporting to commercial credit bureaus can help you build your business credit profile, making it easier to qualify for loans, lines of credit, and other financing options in the future. Here's a table showing which business credit cards report to which business credit bureaus:

Card issuer

Dun & Bradstreet

Equifax

Experian

Ramp

Yes

Yes

Yes

Chase

Yes

Yes

Yes

American Express

Yes

Yes

Yes

Bank of America

Yes

Yes

Yes

Capital One

Yes

Yes

Yes

Discover

Yes

Yes

Yes

Wells Fargo

Yes

Yes

Yes

U.S. Bank

Yes

No

No

Citi

Yes

Yes

Yes

Business credit cards that don't report to personal credit bureaus

Now that we've seen which card issuers report to personal credit bureaus, let's take a closer look at some specific business credit cards that don’t.

Card comparison

Ramp Corporate Card
The fastest, easiest way to manage expenses.
Best overall business card

The Ramp corporate card offers an all-in-one platform that automates expense management, enforces spending policies, and helps businesses save an average of 5% on their expenses, without requiring personal credit checks or founder guarantees.

Annual Fee

$0

APR

N/A

Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card
Best for office and gas rewards
  • 2% cashback on gas station purchases and dining at restaurants (on the first $25,000 in combined purchases per account anniversary year, then 1%)
  • 5% cashback on the first $25,000 spent at office supply stores, internet, cable, and phone services per account anniversary year
  • 1% cashback on all other purchases
  • Offers a $750 bonus after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months
  • 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases, followed by a variable APR
  • No annual fee
  • Employee cards at no additional cost

Annual Fee

$0

APR

18.49%–24.49% (variable)

Recommended Credit Score

700–850 (good to excellent)

Rewards Rate

1%–5%

Costco Anywhere Visa Business Card by Citi
Best for Costco members' gas rewards
  • 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases worldwide, including at Costco, for the first $7,000 per year; 1% thereafter
  • 3% cashback on eligible travel and restaurants
  • 2% cashback at Costco and Costco.com
  • 1% cashback on all other purchases
  • No annual fee with a Costco membership
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Cashback is redeemable once a year as a rewards certificate, which can be used at Costco

Annual Fee

$0 with a paid Costco membership

APR

19.74%–27.74% (variable)

Recommended Credit Score

720–850 (good to excellent)

Rewards Rate

1%–4%

A blue U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards Visa cardU.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards Visa Business Credit Card
Best for category-specific rewards
  • The U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards Visa Business Card offers between 1%–3% cashback on eligible purchases
  • Not all purchase categories qualify for elevated rewards
  • Introductory 0% APR for 12 months, followed by a high variable APR
  • Annual $100 statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses

Annual Fee

$0

Intro APR

0% for 12 months

Regular APR

17.99%–26.99%

Rewards

Cashback

Wells Fargo Active Cash Credit Card
Best for points-based rewards

The Well Fargo Active card offers a generous $200 cash rewards bonus when you spend $500 in purchases within the first 3 months from account opening, providing a valuable incentive on top of its unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

Annual Fee

$0

APR

20.24%, 25.24% or 29.99% variable APR

American Express Blue Business Plus
Best for points-based rewards
  • No annual fee
  • Earn 30,000 membership rewards points after you spend $6,000 in purchases within three months of account opening
  • 0% intro APR for the first 12 months
  • 2x points on up to $50,000 per year
  • Unlimited 1x points on all other purchases
  • Buy above your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power
  • Expense management tools

Annual Fee

$0

APR

18.49%–26.49%

Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Credit CardBank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best for customized rewards
  • The Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card offers 3% cash back in a category you choose and 2% on dining, with a $50,000 annual cap on these bonus categories.
  • It features a 0% intro APR on purchases for 9 billing cycles, followed by an APR of 18.49% to 28.49% variable.
  • There's no annual fee, but it does have a 3% foreign transaction fee.
  • While flexible, the spending cap on bonus rewards limits its appeal for big spenders​.

Annual Fee

$0

Intro APR

0% for 9 billing cycles

Regular APR

17.49%–27.49%

Rewards

Cashback

Citi AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard
Best for American Airlines travel

This is a rewarding business credit card for companies with frequent travel on American Airlines, offering a generous sign-up bonus, enhanced earning rates on select categories, and valuable travel perks.

Annual Fee

$99 annual fee (waived first year)

APR

21.24%–29.99% variable APR for purchases

At Ramp, transparency and integrity are core values guiding our content. We believe in the exceptional value of our products, which may shape our perspective. Our methodical approach involves competitor analysis, comparison of credit cards, and frequent reviews to maintain reliability. Review our full methodology for choosing the best business credit cards.

Pros of using a business credit card that doesn't report to personal credit bureaus

Separating personal and business finances

Using a business credit card that doesn't report to personal credit bureaus helps keep personal and business expenses separate, making it easier to track and manage business finances. This separation is important for maintaining a clear distinction between personal and business credit, which is crucial for legal and tax purposes.

Protecting personal credit score

When using a business credit card that doesn't report to personal credit bureaus, the card activity won't impact the cardholder's personal credit score, as long as payments are made on time and the account is managed responsibly. This prevents potential negative effects on personal credit, such as high credit utilization or late payments on the business card.

Higher credit limits

Business credit cards often have higher credit limits compared to personal credit cards, providing more purchasing power for business expenses. These higher credit limits can be beneficial for businesses with significant expenses or those looking to make large purchases.

Cons of using a business credit card that doesn't report to personal credit bureaus

No positive impact on personal credit score

Responsible use and timely payments on a business credit card that doesn't report to personal credit bureaus won't contribute to improving the cardholder's personal credit score. This means missing out on the opportunity to build personal credit through business credit card use.

Personal guarantee requirement

Some business credit cards, including those that don't report to personal credit bureaus, may still require a personal guarantee from the business owner. This means the business owner is personally responsible for the debt incurred on the card, blurring the line between personal and business finances.

Limited options

The number of business credit cards that don't report to personal credit bureaus may be limited compared to those that do. This can restrict the choice of cards with specific rewards, benefits, or features that may be advantageous for the business.

Does a business credit card affect your personal credit score?

In most cases, a business credit card will not go off your personal credit score as long as you make payments on time and keep your account in good standing. However, if you default on your business credit card or make late payments, the card issuer may report this negative activity to your personal credit report, which could hurt your personal credit score.

Build business credit with Ramp

If you're looking to build business credit without impacting your personal credit, Ramp is a great option. Ramp provides a corporate card that doesn't require a personal credit check or personal guarantee, making it an attractive choice for business owners with less-than-perfect personal credit.

Once you're approved for a Ramp card, you can start making purchases and earn cashback on transactions. Ramp also offers a variety of expense management and accounting software integrations to help streamline your business finances.

While Ramp doesn't report to personal credit bureaus, it does report to major business credit bureaus. This means that using your Ramp card responsibly can help you build your business credit profile over time.

In addition to building business credit, using a Ramp card can also help you:

  • Manage employee expenses with custom spend controls and real-time alerts
  • Automate expense reporting and receipt matching
  • Integrate with popular accounting software like QuickBooks, Xero, and Sage Intacct
  • Access higher credit limits than traditional business credit cards
Try Ramp for free
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John IwuozorContributor Finance Writer
John is a freelance writer and content strategist with over three years of experience and expertise covering topics on finance, HR/business, and IT security for small and medium-sized businesses. His work has been featured on reputable platforms like Forbes Advisor and Techopedia.
Ramp is dedicated to helping businesses of all sizes make informed decisions. We adhere to strict editorial guidelines to ensure that our content meets and maintains our high standards.

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