How to Build US Credit as a Foreigner from Hungary

Hungarian founders launching U.S. startups frequently encounter the "invisible-credit barrier"—the challenge of building commercial and personal financial credibility in the United States without a prior U.S. credit history, SSN, or domestic borrowing record. In Hungary, credit history is tracked by the Central Credit Information System operated by BISZ Zrt. (Bankközi Informatika Szolgáltató Zrt.) under the KHR (Központi Hitelinformációs Rendszer), but this local history does not automatically transfer to U.S. credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).

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

If you do not qualify for the Amex Global Transfer program, your foundational step is obtaining an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) from the IRS:

1. Prepare Form W-7: Complete the IRS Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number along with your federal tax return or qualifying exemption documentation.
2. Obtain Certified Identification: Have your Hungarian passport certified by a Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) or directly through a U.S. Embassy/Consulate in Budapest, or submit original documents to the IRS.
3. Submit Application: Mail Form W-7 and supporting documentation to the Internal Revenue Service ITIN Operation in Austin, Texas.
4. Receive ITIN: Receive your assigned nine-digit ITIN via mail, which serves as your tax identification identifier in lieu of an SSN.
5. Open Secured Credit: Use your ITIN to apply for secured credit cards (such as Capital One or Discover) or fintech credit builder accounts designed for non-residents.

Nova Credit

Nova Credit is a cross-border credit bureau reporting agency that bridges international credit history into the U.S. ecosystem.

• Coverage Status: Nova Credit primarily integrates credit bureaus from specific partner countries (such as Canada, the UK, India, Mexico, Brazil, South Korea, and others).
• Hungary Status: Hungary is not currently part of Nova Credit's primary direct bureau integration network. Hungarian founders should check Nova Credit's current country list for updates or rely on the Amex Global Transfer program and ITIN-based secured card building sequence.

Business credit: the faster lane

Building commercial credit separates your personal liability from your company's financial profile.

• Dun & Bradstreet (D&B): Obtain a free DUNS number for your U.S. LLC or C-Corporation.
• Establish Trade Lines: Open accounts with U.S. vendors, suppliers, and SaaS providers (e.g., Uline, Quill, AWS) that report payment activity to commercial credit bureaus.
• Build Paydex Score: Consistently pay invoices ahead of terms to establish a strong D&B Paydex score (ranging from 0 to 100), enabling your business to qualify for commercial credit lines without personal guarantees.

Recommended sequence

1. Incorporate Entity: Form your U.S. LLC or C-Corp and obtain your EIN (Employer Identification Number).
2. Leverage Amex: Apply for a U.S. American Express card via Global Transfer if you hold an active Hungarian Amex card.
3. Secure an ITIN: Apply for an IRS ITIN using Form W-7 to unlock standard banking and tax services.
4. Establish Business Credit: Obtain a DUNS number, open a U.S. business bank account, and establish reporting vendor trade lines.
5. Monitor Credit Reports: Regularly check your business credit reports through Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business, and Equifax Business to track growth.

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.