How to Build US Credit as a Foreigner from Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina founders frequently encounter the invisible-credit barrier when entering the United States market. Because local credit history established through the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina's Central Registry of Credits does not cross borders, founders arrive in the United States with an effectively blank financial slate. This lack of a domestic credit footprint creates substantial friction when attempting to secure corporate leases, obtain business financing, or issue corporate credit cards without personal guarantees. Overcoming this hurdle requires a methodical approach that bridges international banking networks with foundational US credit mechanisms.

Why US credit matters

A US credit file changes what a US company can do. Without one, financing means cash collateral or a personal guarantee, corporate cards come with a deposit, and commercial leases ask for six months up front.

With one, the same company borrows at a normal rate. That is the whole difference, and it is why the sequence below is worth the months it takes.

No part of this is guaranteed. Credit decisions belong to lenders, and nobody — including us — can promise you a score or a limit.

The Amex Global Transfer route

American Express runs a programme — Global Transfer, sometimes called the Global Card Relationship — that lets an existing Amex cardholder apply for a US card using their established relationship with Amex rather than starting from nothing.

Your credit history does not transfer. This is the most common misunderstanding about the programme. What transfers is the relationship — Amex's own record of how you have handled your account with them. Your local bureau file, your repayment record with other lenders and your local credit score do not cross the border. Amex US underwrites you as a new customer who happens to be a known quantity to Amex.

That is still a considerable advantage over building a US file from zero. It is not the same as arriving with a credit history.

Four conditions apply, and all four must be met:

1. The card you already hold must be issued by American Express itself, not by a local bank operating under an American Express licence.
2. You must be the primary cardholder, not an additional or supplementary cardholder.
3. You must have held the card for at least three months.
4. The account must be open and in good standing when you apply.

Corporate cards are excluded separately from all four.

Condition one eliminates more applicants than the other three combined. In many markets American Express operates through Global Network Services, where a local bank licenses the Amex brand and issues its own cards under it. Those cards carry the Amex logo, but the account relationship belongs to the bank — so there is nothing to transfer. A local partnership is not an alternative route to eligibility; it is the thing that removes it.

How to check your own card: read the cardholder agreement, not the card. The agreement names the legal entity that issued it. If that name is a local bank, the card will not qualify. If it is an American Express entity, it may. If you cannot find the agreement, call the number on the back and ask which legal entity issued the card.

We maintain a country-by-country reference for this, including which markets are confirmed and which are not: Amex Global Transfer country eligibility [blocked]

Check before you rely on this: American Express sets these terms and can change them. Confirm current conditions with American Express directly.

The ITIN path

Securing an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a foundational milestone for foreign founders seeking to build US credit without a Social Security Number. The standard five-step sequence for obtaining and utilizing an ITIN involves the following actions:

1. Form a US entity, such as a Wyoming LLC or Delaware C-Corp, which creates the underlying requirement for US federal tax reporting and identification.
2. Complete IRS Form W-7 (Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) alongside a federal income tax return or under a valid exception document.
3. Gather certified copies of identity documents, such as a valid passport issued by Bosnia and Herzegovina, certified by the issuing agency or a Certifying Acceptance Agent.
4. Submit the completed Form W-7 package to the Internal Revenue Service either by mail or through an authorized Certifying Acceptance Agent or Tax Acceptance Center.
5. Receive the assigned ITIN from the IRS, after which founders can apply for secured credit cards, open business bank accounts, and report financial activity to US credit bureaus.

Nova Credit

Nova Credit acts as a cross-border credit bureau bridge that allows foreign nationals to translate their home country credit history into a US-equivalent credit profile. However, Nova Credit's coverage is restricted to specific partner bureaus globally, including countries such as Australia, Canada, India, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and Brazil. Because Nova Credit does not currently maintain a data-sharing partnership with the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina or local Bosnian credit reporting agencies, Bosnian founders cannot directly port their domestic credit history into the US ecosystem through this platform. Founders must rely on alternative foundational credit-building strategies, such as secured credit cards linked to an ITIN.

Business credit: the faster lane

Building commercial credit provides an accelerated lane that bypasses the strict reliance on personal consumer credit scores. By obtaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN) and establishing a Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) profile, a US company can begin accumulating trade references. Vendors and suppliers that report payment experiences to commercial credit bureaus help establish the company's D&B Paydex score. Maintaining prompt payment terms on commercial accounts enables the business to qualify for vendor credit lines, fleet cards, and corporate loans backed solely by corporate performance rather than the founder's personal history.

Recommended sequence

1. Establish a US legal entity (LLC or C-Corp) and obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS.
2. Open a US business bank account using remote incorporation services or non-resident banking partners compatible with Bosnian documentation.
3. Apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) via IRS Form W-7 to enable formal financial identification within the United States.
4. Secure a US secured credit card using a cash deposit tied to your ITIN, ensuring the issuing bank reports payment history to major US credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion).
5. Establish trade credit lines with business vendors that report payment performance to Dun & Bradstreet to build corporate credit scores.

What Keystone Bridge does

We handle the US side for founders based outside the United States: entity formation, EIN, ITIN, US business banking access, and business credit.

The price of every stage is published on this site, so a first conversation is about whether we fit — not a pitch. If the answer is that you can do this yourself, we will tell you so. This guide is for informational purposes only and is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult a qualified adviser for your specific situation.