When does American Express report to credit bureaus?

Understanding how and when American Express reports to credit bureaus is essential for managing both personal and business credit effectively. American Express regularly submits information to credit bureaus, ensuring that your credit activity is accurately reflected in your credit reports.

What credit bureau does American Express use?

Personal accounts

American Express reports credit data for personal accounts to the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. This includes information such as payment history, credit limits, and account status. Timely payments can positively impact your credit score with these bureaus, while late payments or high credit utilization can have a negative effect. Reporting to all three bureaus ensures comprehensive documentation of your credit history, which is beneficial when applying for new credit or loans.

Business accounts

For business accounts, American Express reports to Equifax, Experian, and Dun & Bradstreet. These agencies specialize in business credit reporting, which differs from personal credit reporting. Business credit reports help companies establish their creditworthiness and financial stability, which is important for obtaining business loans, lines of credit, and favorable terms with suppliers. This reporting includes payment history, credit utilization, and any changes in credit limits or account status, helping businesses build and maintain a strong credit reputation.

When does American Express report to credit bureaus?

American Express generally reports to credit bureaus once a month. The specific timing can vary but usually occurs a few days after your billing cycle ends. This means that the details of your account activity, including your balance, payments made, and any changes in credit limits, will be updated on your credit reports approximately every 30 days. Additionally, American Express may report when the balance is paid down to zero.

Does American Express report authorized users to credit bureaus?

Yes, American Express includes authorized users in their credit reporting. When an authorized user is added to an American Express credit card account, their details are sent to the same bureaus that receive the account information: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. The authorized user’s credit report will show the account's activities, such as payment history, credit utilization, and account status.

This can help the authorized user build or improve their credit score, but it's crucial to manage the account responsibly as negative actions, like missed payments or high credit utilization, can also affect the authorized user’s credit report​.

Does American Express make a hard inquiry?

When you apply for a new American Express credit card or loan, a hard inquiry is typically made. A hard inquiry, or hard pull, happens when a lender reviews your credit report to make a lending decision. This can temporarily lower your credit score and will be noted on your credit report, visible to other lenders.

For pre-qualification or pre-approval offers, American Express usually performs a soft inquiry, which does not affect your credit score. A soft inquiry allows American Express to check your creditworthiness without impacting your credit report. If you proceed with a formal application after a pre-approved offer, a hard inquiry will then be made​

Forget credit utilization with a Ramp corporate card

Traditional credit cards affect your credit score based on your credit utilization rate—the percentage of available credit you're using. High utilization can negatively impact your credit score, making it a constant challenge to keep the percentage low.

Ramp offers a different model. Our charge card must be paid in full each month, eliminating the concept of revolving credit balances. Since Ramp doesn’t report your credit utilization, your credit score is not impacted by your business spending.

This structure allows you to use your card according to your business needs without worrying about its effect on your credit score. Ramp enables you to manage your expenses efficiently and focus on growing your business without the usual constraints related to credit utilization.

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