How to Build US Credit as a Foreigner from Slovenia

Slovenian founders and entrepreneurs expanding into the United States frequently encounter the "invisible credit" problem. When arriving in the US or establishing a US-facing business, having zero credit history creates severe friction when renting office space, leasing equipment, securing business loans, or obtaining corporate credit cards without personal guarantees. In Slovenia, your domestic credit history is tracked by credit bureaus such as SISBON (Sistemizirana izmenjava podatkov o zadolženosti fizičnih oseb), but this credit score does not cross US borders.

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, obtaining an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is the foundational step for entering the US financial system.

1. Step 1: Form a US Entity or Establish Tax Need: Form a US LLC or establish a valid tax filing requirement with the IRS (such as filing Form 1040-NR or Form 5472).
2. Step 2: Complete IRS Form W-7: Fill out the Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number with accurate biographical and foreign status details.
3. Step 3: Gather Supporting Documentation: Collect your valid Slovenian passport (certified copy or original) and supporting identity documents.
4. Step 4: Use a Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA): Work with an IRS-authorized Certified Acceptance Agent in Slovenia or online to verify your passport without mailing the physical document to the IRS.
5. Step 5: Submit and Receive ITIN: Submit the application package to the IRS. Once issued, your ITIN allows you to open US personal and business bank accounts, apply for secured credit cards, and build an official US credit file with major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion).

Nova Credit

Nova Credit is a cross-border credit bureau infrastructure partner that enables international newcomers to share their home country credit history with US financial institutions [13] [14].

• Global Reach: Nova Credit partners with consumer credit bureaus across numerous countries (including Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Mexico, UK, South Korea, and others).
• Slovenian Status: While Nova Credit supports major international bureaus, its coverage varies for smaller European markets. Slovenian founders should check Nova Credit's current country list during onboarding. If Slovenia is not directly supported via Nova Credit's network, founders must rely on the Amex Global Transfer program or the secured credit card path using an ITIN.

Business credit: the faster lane

Building personal US credit takes months, but establishing business credit can be done in parallel and operates independently of your personal history.

• Dun & Bradstreet (D&B): Once your US LLC or C-Corp is formed with an EIN (Employer Identification Number), you can register for a D&B D-U-N-S number for free.
• Paydex Score: D&B measures business credit repayment reliability through the Paydex score (ranging from 1 to 100).
• Actionable Steps: Open a US business bank account (e.g., Mercury, Relay, or Brex), obtain a secured business credit card or vendor credit lines (such as Uline, Quill, or Grainger) that report to commercial credit bureaus (D&B, Experian Business, Equifax Business), and pay all invoices early or on time to build a pristine business credit profile within 6 to 9 months.

Recommended sequence

1. Incorporate your US Entity: Form your US LLC or C-Corp and obtain your official EIN from the IRS.
2. Open a US Business Bank Account: Utilize digital banking platforms (Mercury, Relay) designed for international founders with your EIN and formation documents.
3. Leverage Amex Global Transfer: If you hold an eligible American Express card in Slovenia, apply for your first US consumer or business Amex card using the Global Transfer program.
4. Apply for an ITIN: Submit IRS Form W-7 via a Certified Acceptance Agent to secure your ITIN for broader US financial services and secured credit cards.
5. Build Business Credit: Register for a D-U-N-S number, open vendor accounts, and establish commercial credit lines that report to Dun & Bradstreet and Experian Business.

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.