Corporate Cards (Ramp, Brex, Divvy, Mercury) vs. Bank Business Credit Cards

There are two very different kinds of “business card” on the market. Bank business credit cards (Chase Ink, American Express, Capital One Spark, Bank of America, U.S. Bank) look mostly at you. Corporate cards from fintech companies (Ramp, Brex, BILL Divvy, Mercury IO) look mostly at your company’s bank account.

The key differences

	Bank business credit card	Corporate card
Approval based on	Your personal credit and income	The business’s cash balance, revenue and setup
Personal guarantee	Usually yes	Usually no
Who can apply	Most accept new businesses and sole proprietors	Usually a registered LLC or corporation with an EIN
Paying it off	You can carry a balance (with interest)	Most are charge cards: pay in full, sometimes daily or weekly
Rewards	Often 1.5%–2% or bonus categories, plus welcome bonuses	Often up to about 1.5%, fewer welcome bonuses
0% intro APR	Common	Not offered (you pay in full)
Team tools	Basic employee cards	Strong: limits per employee, receipts, budgets, accounting sync

What the main corporate cards ask for

Based on each company’s own pages when we checked (October 2026):

• Ramp: a registered corporation, LLC or LP with an EIN, a U.S. physical address and at least $25,000 in a U.S. business bank account. No personal guarantee.
• BILL Divvy: a registered business with an EIN and a U.S. business bank account, a soft credit pull, credit lines from $1,000 to $5 million, and it reports to the SBFE business credit bureau. Best rewards come with weekly or daily payoff.
• Mercury IO: you need a Mercury business bank account. Your limit depends on your balance; with $15,000 or more you get 30-day terms, below that it is repaid daily.
• Brex: aimed mainly at venture-backed and mid-size companies.

Terms change often. Our card finder shows the date each card was last checked.

Which one fits you

Choose a bank card if:
– Your business is new or small and has little cash in the bank.
– You are a sole proprietor.
– You want a 0% intro APR or a big welcome bonus.
– You have good personal credit and are comfortable with a personal guarantee.

Choose a corporate card if:
– You have a registered LLC or corporation with real cash in the bank (often $25,000 or more).
– You don’t want to put your personal credit on the line.
– Several employees spend money and you need controls and receipts.
– You always pay in full.

Many growing businesses end up with one of each: a corporate card for the team and a bank card for the owner’s 0% offers and bonuses.

Watch out for

• Daily or weekly repayment: good for rewards, hard on tight cash flow.
• “No personal credit check” is not “no verification.” Corporate card companies still verify owners’ identity.
• Business credit: check whether the card reports to business bureaus if building business credit matters to you. BILL Divvy states it reports to SBFE.

See only cards that skip the personal guarantee in our list of no-personal-guarantee business cards.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a corporate card and a business credit card?

Bank business cards approve mainly on your personal credit with a personal guarantee; corporate cards approve on the company's bank balance and usually have no personal guarantee.

How much money do I need in the bank for Ramp?

Ramp asks for at least $25,000 in a U.S. business bank account, according to its help center when we checked.

Can a sole proprietor get a corporate card?

Usually not. Most corporate cards require a registered LLC or corporation with an EIN.