How to get a business credit card with an EIN only

Evidence tier: A1 Evidence type: Auto-discovered official publication Source: Ramp Blog Official publication date: 2026-07-15 Captured: 2026-07-17T13:20:13.976Z

You can use an Employer Identification Number (EIN) instead of a Social Security Number (SSN) to apply for a credit card, as long as it's a business credit card or corporate card.

However, it's important to note that these EIN-only business credit cards tend to come with certain credit, revenue, and cash-on-hand requirements that other business credit cards lack.

Fortunately, there are a number of business credit cards more ideally suited to medium and small businesses—although some may require not just your EIN but your SSN to sign up. Some of the best business credit cards for smaller organizations belong to Ramp, Stripe, and BILL.

EIN-only cards work differently by issuer, and knowing how to go about applying for one can help you find the best fit for your business.

5 best business credit cards with EIN only

It's entirely possible to sign up for a business credit card using only your EIN, but it will have to be what's called a corporate card. If you want to apply primarily with your EIN instead of relying on personal credit, corporate cards are usually the best option. They're intended for established companies and usually come with requirements like high revenue and cash-on-hand.

Major financial institutions like Capital One, Chase, and American Express offer corporate cards, but they're generally designed for large corporations generating millions in revenue. For small to mid-sized businesses and startups, online corporate card providers are a more suitable option.

The following corporate cards focus on your EIN and business finances rather than traditional personal credit checks:

The Ramp Business Credit Card provides cashback on purchases and comes with no annual fee or foreign transaction fees. It includes advanced expense management tools to help you automate financial workflows, control spending, and improve reporting. Ramp doesn't require a personal guarantee and offers a straightforward approval process tailored to your business needs.

Designed for modern businesses, the card emphasizes simplicity and efficiency with features like spend controls, detailed analytics, and smooth integration with accounting software. With no preset spending limits and a focus on optimizing expenses, Ramp helps you manage your finances effectively while earning consistent rewards.

FairFigure is a business credit-building card designed for you if you want to establish or strengthen your business credit profile. Unlike traditional charge cards, FairFigure is technically a debit card that provides funding offers based on your business's bank account activity rather than your personal credit. The card doesn't require a personal guarantee or personal credit check.

The standout feature is dual tradeline reporting. Each month, FairFigure reports two tradelines to business credit bureaus, which can accelerate your credit-building timeline compared to cards that report only once. You'll need at least three months in business and $2,500 in deposits to qualify, and there's no annual fee, one of the lowest barriers to entry on this list.

The BILL Divvy Corporate Card provides a points-based rewards program and offers no annual fee, though foreign transaction fees of up to 0.9% apply. It includes budgeting tools to help you manage spend limits by category and align employee expenses with company policies. The card integrates directly with BILL's financial tools for streamlined payment processes.

However, the foreign transaction fee could make this card less ideal for businesses with significant international operations. The points-based rewards program may also require more effort to maximize value compared to simpler cashback cards, and the features are geared more toward companies actively using BILL's ecosystem.

The Stripe Corporate Card offers no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or personal guarantee requirements. It provides cashback rewards on all purchases, making it straightforward for you to earn savings without category restrictions. The card integrates directly with Stripe's payment platform, benefiting you if you're already using its services.

While the card's focus on cashback is straightforward, it lacks category-specific bonuses or additional perks like travel benefits, which some businesses may find limiting. The card is primarily suited for companies that already operate within the Stripe ecosystem, potentially narrowing its appeal to others.

The Brex Card doesn't require a personal guarantee if you maintain a qualifying cash balance—$50,000 for funded startups, or higher if you haven't raised funding. Brex sets credit limits dynamically based on your cash balance and business financials, adjusting them as your balance changes.

One tradeoff: you'll need to maintain at least $25,000 in cash to keep any credit limit at all. Capital One completed its acquisition of Brex in Apr 2026, so it's still worth confirming current terms directly with Brex as the integration continues.

Summary of the best EIN-only business credit cards

Card comparison

Ramp Corporate Card

The fastest, easiest way to manage expenses.

Best business credit card with EIN-only

Annual Fee

$0

APR

N/A

BILL Divvy Corporate Card

Best for low capital requirements

Annual Fee

$0

APR

N/A

Stripe Corporate Card

Annual Fee

$0

Foreign transaction fee

None

Personal Guarantee

Not required

FairFigure Capital Card

APR

None

Annual Fee

$0

Personal Guarantee

Not required

Brex Corporate Card

APR

None

Annual Fee

$0

Personal Guarantee

Not required (with qualifying cash balance)

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.

Alternatives to EIN-only business cards

If you have poor credit or don't meet the requirements for a corporate card, secured cards can be a good alternative. With these cards, you put down a cash deposit that will act as your credit limit. Secured credit cards report to the business credit bureaus, so you can use them to build your credit score.

Although secured credit cards don't come with credit score or capital requirements, you'll have to provide your SSN to qualify. This is necessary for the personal guarantee you agree to with these cards.

Here are a few secured business credit cards:

Bank Of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured Mastercard® Credit Card

This secured credit card from Bank of America has no annual fee and requires a minimum $1,000 cash deposit. When you're approved, your cash deposit will act as your line of credit. The card offers 1.5% cash back rewards with no annual cap, making it a good option for funding business expenses while improving your credit score.

The First National Bank Business Edition® Secured Mastercard® Credit Card

The First National Bank Business Edition® Secured Mastercard® Credit Card requires a cash deposit between $2,200 and $110,000, which acts as its credit limit. The card reports to Dun & Bradstreet, so you can build your business credit score with that bureau. It also comes with some expense management features, like receipt capture for recordkeeping. The card has a $35 annual fee if your balance stays under $500, or $39 if it's $500 or more.

Valley Bank Visa® Secured Business Credit Card

The Valley Bank Visa Secured Business Credit Card requires a security deposit of 110% of your desired credit limit, up to $25,000, which acts as your line of credit. The card offers unlimited 1% cash back on every purchase, plus a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first six billing cycles. There's no annual fee.

Two other options worth a look: fleet cards and prepaid cards. If gas or fleet spend matters more to you than building credit with just an EIN, a dedicated fleet card may be a better fit—most fleet cards evaluate fuel spend and vehicle usage instead of personal credit. Prepaid business cards are another no-credit-check option, though prepaid cards work differently: you're spending against a loaded balance, not a credit line.

Can you get a business credit card without an SSN?

It's possible to get a business credit card using only an Employer Identification Number (EIN) instead of a Social Security Number (SSN), though it isn't easy. If your business doesn't have established credit, you'll need to meet additional requirements to get approved for a card using just your EIN. Those requirements can involve meeting a certain monthly revenue threshold or having a certain amount of capital in the bank.

While sole proprietors can get an EIN, they're typically not eligible for small business credit cards using only their EIN. If you have a large, established business, you can usually get a corporate card without using an individual SSN.

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Ramp tip

Can you get a business credit card without an SSN? Yes. With an EIN, though new businesses usually can't avoid a personal credit check and personal guarantee even so. If you don't have an SSN (say, you recently immigrated), you may be able to use an ITIN in the application process instead.

There are a few reasons you might prefer an EIN-only card over one that requires your SSN. Using an EIN instead of an SSN helps separate your personal finances from those of your business, so you can avoid personal liability for your business's debts if it becomes unable to repay them. Cards that use only an EIN are also one of the few types of business credit cards that won't affect your personal credit.

Using an EIN can also help your business build a credit history over time, as long as the card issuer reports payments to business credit-rating agencies—this can give your company access to extra sources of capital later and make it more affordable to borrow money. Once you have your EIN, you can build business credit further by getting a free D-U-N-S Number and opening tradelines, like net-30 vendor accounts, that report to the credit bureaus.

If you have bad personal credit, an EIN-only card also means you won't be denied based on your personal credit history. Just keep in mind that your business credit score is inextricably linked to your EIN, the same way your SSN is tied to your personal credit score—credit bureaus use it to determine your company's creditworthiness.

Why some issuers don’t approve applications with only an EIN

Many card issuers prefer an SSN over an EIN—and many may ask you to provide both—because they require business owners to provide a personal guarantee. That’s because lending money to startups is extremely risky, and most credit cards don’t require collateral. Lenders want to protect themselves from losses by requiring individuals to promise to repay their debts if their business can’t.

Business credit card issuers that require a personal guarantee will look at your personal credit when deciding whether to approve your credit card application. In those cases, your personal credit will also factor into the size of the credit limit you receive and the interest rate, if applicable.

Some, but not all, business credit card issuers that require an SSN will report payments on the card to personal credit bureaus.

Pros and cons of credit cards with EIN only

EIN-only credit cards are a great option if you want a card with no credit check, but they have their drawbacks. Here are the pros and cons of credit cards with EIN only:

<table><thead><tr><th colspan="1" rowspan="1"></th><th colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Pros</p></th><th colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Cons</p></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Finance separation</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Using an EIN rather than your personal SSN keeps your business credit score separate from your personal credit score.</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Even though your personal credit score will be separate, as the business owner you’ll still be on the hook for any debt incurred on your card.</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Business credit</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Cards that use your EIN usually report to the business credit bureaus, meaning that you can build your business credit score.</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>If you’re a small business owner or have no business credit history to begin with, it may be harder to find a card that doesn’t require your SSN.</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Credit limits</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>EIN-only cards often come with higher credit limits, as long as your business can prove it’s bringing in substantial revenue each month.</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Higher credit limits open up the possibility of misuse if not managed properly. You can prevent this problem by choosing a card that allows for custom spending limits.</p></td></tr></tbody></table>

How to apply for a business credit card with EIN

Here's how to apply for a business credit card with only an EIN, in three steps:

1. Get your EIN

Before you can apply for a business credit card using your EIN, you'll need to get an EIN for your business. You typically get an EIN when you register your business with the state, but if you don't have one, you can apply for an EIN online directly through the IRS.

tip

Already have an EIN number but unsure where to find it?

Read our guide to learn how to perform an EIN lookup.

2. Find EIN-only business credit cards that work for you

Once you have an EIN, you'll need to look for card issuers that will approve you with just an EIN—we've listed a few options below. Usually, your business will need to be registered as a limited liability company (LLC), a partnership, or a corporation. Then, apply for a business credit card as you would any other credit card. If the issuer supports EIN-only applications, they’ll either provide a dedicated corporate card flow or let you complete the business sections without a personal guarantee. Follow the issuer’s instructions—some issuers still require an SSN or ITIN for identity verification or a soft credit check.

3. Apply for a business card with EIN

You'll also need to include other information about your business, like its name and corporate structure, its contact information, the size of your business, its current and projected revenues, and its date of registration. Once you've filled out the application, the card issuer will review and verify the information and then let you know whether you've been approved. Some card issuers will complete the verification process instantly, while others might take a few days.

How to maximize rewards with your EIN-only business card

Getting approved is just the first step. The real value comes from using your card strategically.

Match your card to your spending patterns. If your business spends heavily on software or advertising, look for cards with multipliers in those categories. Ramp cardholders get access to over $350,000 in partner rewards from vendors like AWS, QuickBooks, and HubSpot—on top of standard cashback.

Put recurring expenses on your card. Monthly subscriptions, cloud services, and regular vendor payments add up fast. Routing these through your corporate card means you're earning rewards on spend that's already happening.

Consolidate your business spend. Splitting purchases across multiple cards dilutes rewards and complicates expense tracking. Pick one primary card—you'll earn faster and simplify bookkeeping.

Stack discounts with cashback. Partner perks and cashback aren't mutually exclusive. If your card offers exclusive vendor discounts, combine those savings with the rewards you're earning on every purchase.

Minimum balance requirements by issuer

Most corporate business credit cards require a U.S. business bank account with a certain minimum balance. For the Ramp Card, you need a balance of at least $25,000. The Brex Card requires a minimum balance of $50,000 if you own a funded startup business, or higher if you haven't fundraised. BILL Divvy's minimum balance requirement is only $20,000, but they do run a soft credit check. Eligibility for Stripe's corporate card is decided on a case-by-case basis.

Using a corporate business credit card also means your business is responsible for any credit card debt, eliminating the need for a personal guarantee. Many corporate business credit cards let you qualify based primarily on your EIN and business financials rather than your personal credit.

How WizeHire sped up month-end close by 58% using a Ramp card with EIN only

WizeHire, a growing HR-tech firm, needed a better way to manage spend as they scaled, without relying on personal credit. Using Ramp's EIN-only corporate card, they unlocked faster and more secure finance operations, without involving employee Social Security numbers. Before switching, WizeHire funneled all spend through one shared AMEX, resulting in limited control, significant receipt chasing, and expensive net-12 closes.

Ramp allowed WizeHire to issue cards to individuals, impose real-time limits, and enforce automated spend controls. That switch drove a dramatic impact: WizeHire went from a 12-day to a 5-day close, shaving 58% off month-end timeline, and fully automated their reconciliation tied to their enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. "With Ramp, it was all perfectly furnished… it was just an incredible experience," said CEO Sid Upadhyay.

Ramp's automated spend controls delivered:

• Sharpened expense reporting with employees empowered to spend within pre-set budgets
• Full audit readiness, with receipts automatically matched and tied to ERP
• Department-level granularity, enabling near real-time P&L visibility and faster ad-spend analysis
• Streamlined expense-backed contract negotiation, as Ramp-based budgets informed Intercom renewal talks

WizeHire's transition to Ramp checked several boxes for EIN-only financing: no SSN required, corporate spend separated from personal credit, and scalability for issuing multiple cards. The result? A finance stack that supports autonomy, accelerates decisions, and frees up cash flow to reinvest in growth.

Sign up for Ramp's corporate business credit card using your EIN

Ramp's corporate business credit cards offer more flexibility than other types of cards, as well as a range of additional perks for managing your business finances. You can use Ramp at all different types of stores while building your business credit score. Plus, Ramp helps you save more with its rewards and has credit limits higher than traditional banks.

We also make it easy to start an employee card program by allowing you to issue unlimited virtual credit cards. You can place spending limits or restrictions on where your employees can use the cards, empowering your company to spend as necessary while controlling for unnecessary expenses.

Plus, Ramp's cards come packaged with a suite of expense management tools that allow you to track your finances in real-time.