Does an Amex corporate card affect personal credit?

American Express treats most small-business credit card applications like any other consumer credit request: there’s usually a hard inquiry on your personal credit report at application time. That brief check can nudge your score down a few points for a short period.

Corporate cards are different. Those are typically underwritten on the business, not the individual, and they generally don’t show up on personal credit unless something goes seriously wrong. Because many guides blur that distinction, you’ll see mixed answers online. Below, we break down how Amex handles personal credit checks for small business cards, how corporate cards differ, and what that means for your credit and your options going forward.

Does American Express check personal credit for business cards?

Yes, American Express usually checks your personal credit when you apply for a small-business credit card. The company uses a hard inquiry to evaluate your credit history and determine eligibility. Because small-business credit is often tied to a personal guarantee, Amex wants to confirm that you have a solid repayment track record before extending a business line of credit.

This inquiry appears on your personal credit report and may cause a slight, temporary drop in your credit score. However, it’s a normal step in the approval process for business cards that rely on personal creditworthiness.

What type of credit check does Amex perform?

American Express performs a hard credit inquiry when you apply for a small-business card. That means Amex requests your full credit report from one or more major credit bureaus to assess risk.

A hard pull can cause a small, short-term drop in your score because it signals that you’re applying for new credit. A soft pull, by contrast, doesn’t affect your score and usually happens when you check your own credit or when lenders preapprove you for offers.

If you’re approved for the card, the inquiry itself has no lasting impact—your score typically rebounds within a few months.

Why does Amex check personal credit for business cards?

Business cards require a personal guarantee from the business owner. This guarantee means you're personally responsible for paying back any debt if your business can't cover it, so Amex checks your personal credit to confirm you can back this commitment.

New businesses often lack established credit histories. Without business credit data, lenders rely on the owner's personal credit to assess risk and determine creditworthiness.

In addition, federal lending regulations require financial institutions to verify a borrower's ability to repay. Checking personal credit helps Amex meet these obligations while protecting both sides from unmanageable debt situations.

What credit bureau does American Express use?

Amex pulls reports from all three of the personal credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. They will also report late payments and delinquent business accounts, which can have a negative effect on your personal credit score.

Which Amex business cards require personal credit checks?

Most American Express business cards involve a personal credit check during the application process. There’s also a difference between corporate cards and small-business cards you should be aware of.

Cards that always require personal credit checks

These popular American Express business cards all require personal credit verification:

• Business Platinum Card: A premium option that offers extensive travel benefits and rewards. Amex typically looks for excellent credit, with scores of 700 or higher recommended for approval.
• Business Gold Card: A flexible rewards card designed for everyday business spending in categories such as advertising and shipping. Good to excellent credit is preferred, usually 670 or above.
• Blue Business Cash Card: A straightforward cash back option for businesses seeking simple rewards with no annual fee. Fair to good credit may qualify, with scores around 660 or higher.

All three cards require personal credit checks because they include personal guarantees from the business owner.

Corporate cards vs. small-business cards

Small business cards are issued to individual business owners and require personal credit checks plus personal guarantees. You're personally liable for any balances if your business defaults.

Corporate credit cards are issued directly to established companies with strong business credit profiles. Large corporations can often obtain these without personal guarantees, meaning the company assumes liability instead of the individual owner.

The application process differs significantly between these categories. Small-business applications focus on the owner's personal financial history, while corporate applications emphasize company financials, revenue, and business credit history.

How personal credit checks affect your credit score

A hard inquiry from an Amex business card application creates an immediate but minor impact on your credit score. The effect is temporary and makes up only a small part of your overall credit profile.

The long-term effects are minimal if you manage the account responsibly. Making on-time payments and keeping balances low can actually improve your score over time, offsetting the initial inquiry within months.

How many points will your score drop?

Most applicants see their score decrease by 5 to 10 points after a hard inquiry. Some people experience no change at all, while others might see slightly larger drops depending on their specific situation.

Several factors influence how much your score drops. Your current credit mix, total number of recent inquiries, length of credit history, and overall credit health all play a role in determining the exact effect.

How long do inquiries stay on your report?

Hard inquiries remain visible on your credit report for two years from the application date. This is standard across all three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.

The inquiry stops affecting your credit score calculation after about 12 months. During the second year, it stays on your report as a record but no longer carries weight in scoring models.

Building business credit without personal credit checks

You can build business credit without subjecting your personal credit to hard inquiries. Several options exist for business owners who want to keep their personal and business credit profiles separate.

Business credit cards that don't check personal credit

There are few business credit cards that don’t do personal credit check:

• Ramp Card: The Ramp Card evaluates your business based on cash balance and spending patterns. It requires connecting your business bank account for underwriting instead of pulling personal credit. The card offers automatic expense categorization and vendor tracking to streamline accounting processes.
• Brex Card: Requires at least $50,000 in your business bank account or $100,000 in annual revenue. For commercial businesses qualifying for monthly payments, Brex typically looks for more than $1 million in annual revenue. No personal credit check or personal guarantee is needed for qualifying businesses.
• Divvy Card: A free corporate card that bases approval on your business bank account activity rather than personal credit scores. Requires at least $20,000 in your business bank account. The platform includes built-in budgeting tools at no additional cost and works best for companies with consistent cash flow.

Secured business cards offer another path forward. You deposit funds as collateral, which becomes your credit limit. These cards help establish business credit history while protecting issuers from risk, eliminating the need for personal credit checks.

Other ways to build business credit

Trade credit with vendors provides a strong foundation for business credit. Suppliers may report payment history to business credit bureaus when you pay invoices on time, helping you establish a positive track record.

Business credit bureaus such as Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax Business, and Experian Business track your company's creditworthiness separately from personal credit. Opening a business credit file with these agencies gives lenders a way to evaluate your company independently.

Net 30 accounts let you purchase goods or services with payment due in 30 days. Many office supply companies, shipping providers, and wholesalers offer these terms and report to business credit bureaus.

Tips for applying for an Amex business card

A strong application timed well increases your chances of approval and can help you qualify for a higher credit limit.

Preparing your application

Gathering the right information beforehand makes the application process faster and smoother:

• Documents needed: Have your business formation papers ready, including articles of incorporation or your LLC operating agreement. Your employer identification number (EIN) is essential for most applications, or your Social Security number if you’re a sole proprietor.
• Business information requirements: Prepare details about your business structure, industry type, annual revenue, and how long you’ve been operating. Amex will ask for your business address and contact information.
• Income documentation: Be ready to provide your estimated monthly business expenses and revenue figures. Some applications may request bank statements or tax returns for verification purposes.

Having this information organized before you start saves time and reduces errors that could delay your application.

Timing your application strategically

Apply when your credit report looks strongest. Wait until recent hard inquiries are at least two months old and your credit utilization ratio is below 30%. Avoid applying right after opening other credit accounts or carrying high balances.

Spacing out credit applications protects your score from multiple hard inquiries in a short period. If you’re considering multiple business cards, wait at least 90 days between applications to give your credit time to recover and demonstrate responsible management of new accounts.

Get a Ramp Corporate Card with no credit check or personal guarantee

If you're looking for a business credit card that doesn’t require a credit check or personal guarantee, consider Ramp.

The Ramp Card is designed to simplify expense management and streamline financial operations for your business. Ramp focuses on your business’s financial health rather than your personal credit, making it a good alternative if you’re looking to avoid personal liability.

Apply for a Ramp Card and see for yourself how it makes your expense management easier.

The information provided in this article has not been officially confirmed by American Express and is subject to change.