How to Build US Credit as a Foreigner from Moldova

Moldovan founders expanding into global markets frequently encounter the "invisible-credit" problem. When applying for US business credit cards, corporate software financing, or commercial leases, US financial institutions evaluate credit history compiled by major US credit bureaus such as Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Because credit history established in Moldova—overseen by local bureaus such as “Biroul de Credit” S.R.L. [2]—does not automatically transfer across borders, founders arrive in the US financial ecosystem with a blank credit slate. Building robust US credit is an essential milestone that unlocks non-dilutive financing, high-limit corporate cards, and favorable commercial terms.

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 American Express Global Transfer shortcut, establishing a US credit profile requires obtaining a US Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or an Employer Identification Number (EIN). Follow this standard 5-step sequence:

1. Form a US Entity: Incorporate your US LLC or C-Corp to secure an official EIN from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
2. Apply for an ITIN: Submit IRS Form W-7 along with certified identification documents through a certified acceptance agent (CAA) or designated IRS taxpayer assistance center.
3. Open a US Business Bank Account: Partner with fintech-friendly digital banking platforms (such as Mercury or Relay Financial) using your EIN, company formation documents, and ITIN.
4. Secure a Secured Credit Card: Apply for a secured business credit card that reports payment activity to major US credit bureaus, depositing collateral to establish your initial credit limit.
5. Maintain Flawless Utilization: Keep credit utilization below 30 percent and set up automated full-statement payments to establish a consistent, positive payment history.

Nova Credit

Nova Credit is a premier cross-border consumer credit reporting agency that bridges international credit bureaus with US financial institutions. By partnering with global credit bureaus, Nova Credit allows immigrants and international founders to share their home country credit history with participating US lenders (such as American Express and Chase).

• Supported Jurisdictions: Nova Credit currently supports credit bureau data from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Dominican Republic, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, South Korea, the UK, and Vietnam.
• Application for Moldovan Founders: Because Moldova is not currently featured on Nova Credit’s standard direct integration list, Moldovan founders should check Nova Credit’s continuously updated country directory [4] or rely on alternative pathways such as the Amex Global Transfer program, secured corporate cards, and business credit-building strategies.

Business credit: the faster lane

Building business credit allows your US LLC or C-Corp to establish a standalone credit profile independent of your personal social security number (SSN) or ITIN.

• Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) Registration: Register your US entity with Dun & Bradstreet to obtain a unique D-U-N-S number, which serves as the foundational identifier for your corporate credit file.
• Establish Trade Lines: Open accounts with tier-1 vendor and supplier partners (such as Uline, Quill, or corporate software vendors) that report your payment performance to commercial credit bureaus.
• Build the Paydex Score: Pay your vendor invoices ahead of schedule (Net-30 or Net-60 terms) to achieve a D&B Paydex score of 80 or higher, signaling elite financial reliability to US lenders and suppliers.

Recommended sequence

1. Incorporate your US Entity: Establish your US LLC or C-Corp and obtain your official EIN from the IRS.
2. Leverage Amex Global Transfer: Check eligibility through your existing regional Amex relationship to secure your first US card.
3. Obtain an ITIN: File IRS Form W-7 to secure your individual tax identification number for personal credit-building.
4. Open US Business Banking: Set up digital business banking with fintech partners supporting international founders.
5. Establish Trade Credit & Secured Cards: Open vendor trade lines reporting to Dun & Bradstreet and secure business credit cards to scale your credit limits.

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.