How to Build US Credit as a Foreigner from Serbia

Serbian founders launching global startups frequently encounter the invisible-credit problem when expanding into the United States [1]. Upon arrival, your robust credit history built through the National Bank of Serbia (Narodna banka Srbije - NBS) and the Credit Bureau (Kreditni biro) maintained by the Association of Serbian Banks does not cross national borders [2] [3]. In the United States financial system, a foreign founder without domestic credit history is treated as a ghost, presenting severe hurdles when attempting to lease office space, secure enterprise SaaS contracts, obtain corporate credit cards, or access venture debt without personal guarantees. Establishing a pristine US credit profile is therefore a foundational requirement for international founders scaling operations in North America.

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

For founders who cannot utilize the Amex Global Transfer pathway, acquiring an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) via IRS Form W-7 serves as the primary gateway to the US financial ecosystem. An ITIN allows foreign nationals who are not eligible for a Social Security Number to open US bank accounts and apply for select unsecured credit cards.

1. Form Formation & EIN Acquisition: Form your US entity (LLC or C-Corp) and obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS.
2. US Business Bank Account: Open a US digital business bank account using your EIN and formation documents via platforms specialized in non-resident founders.
3. ITIN Application Preparation: Complete IRS Form W-7, attaching federal tax documentation or certification documents verifying your foreign status.
4. Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA): Submit your W-7 application through an authorized IRS Certifying Acceptance Agent or designated IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center to avoid mailing your physical passport abroad.
5. Credit Card Application: Once your ITIN is assigned, apply for entry-level secured or unsecured credit cards that accept ITINs in lieu of an SSN to begin reporting positive payment history to major US credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion).

Nova Credit

Nova Credit acts as a cross-border credit bureau bridge that enables immigrants and international founders to share their home-country credit bureau data with US financial institutions. While Nova Credit maintains extensive partnerships across major economic corridors—covering countries such as Canada, India, the UK, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, and South Korea—its coverage for Serbian credit bureau files (Kreditni biro) is not natively integrated into standard US retail credit card application portals [2] [6]. Serbian founders should verify Nova Credit's current partner directory when applying for specialized financial products, but should primarily rely on the Amex Global Transfer or ITIN secured card methods as primary levers [6].

Business credit: the faster lane

Building corporate credit independently of your personal SSN or ITIN accelerates your company's financial autonomy. By obtaining an EIN and establishing a DUNS number through Dun & Bradstreet, your Serbian-founded US entity can begin transacting with vendors and suppliers who report payment performance to commercial credit bureaus like Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business, and Equifax Business.

To build a strong commercial credit profile (such as a strong D&B Paydex score), establish trade credit lines with US business vendors (such as office suppliers, cloud providers, and shipping services) that offer Net-30 or Net-60 payment terms. Consistently paying these invoices ahead of schedule establishes commercial trustworthiness, enabling your US corporation to secure business lines of credit and corporate cards without personal guarantees.

Recommended sequence

1. Maintain and utilize a primary local Amex card in Serbia for at least six months to establish internal tenure [4] [5].
2. Form your US entity (LLC or C-Corp) and secure your federal EIN.
3. Execute Amex Global Transfer using your Serbian card history to secure your first US consumer or business credit card without a US credit history [4].
4. Apply for an ITIN via IRS Form W-7 to unlock broader banking and credit card products that require US tax identification.
5. Establish commercial trade lines under your US entity's EIN and DUNS number to build independent corporate credit (Paydex) [6].

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.