What Business Credit Cards Pull From Equifax?

Applying for a business credit card involves a review of your company’s financial standing. Lenders assess creditworthiness through information provided by credit reporting agencies. These agencies collect and compile data on businesses, offering a comprehensive view of their financial health.

Understanding Business Credit Bureaus

Business credit bureaus collect and maintain financial information about businesses. Unlike consumer bureaus, which track personal financial history, business bureaus focus on a company’s financial behavior, often linked to its Employer Identification Number (EIN). The three primary business credit bureaus are Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business, and Equifax Small Business. They gather data from lenders, suppliers, and public records to create a credit profile.

This information includes payment history, outstanding debts, and public filings such as liens or bankruptcies. Dun & Bradstreet is well-known for its PAYDEX score, which primarily reflects payment to vendors. Experian Business and Equifax Small Business also provide scores and reports based on their unique data sets. Lenders often choose which bureau or combination to consult based on their underwriting criteria and the type of credit being sought. A business’s score can vary between bureaus due to different scoring models and data sources.

Identifying Lenders Using Equifax

Determining which business credit card lenders pull from Equifax can be challenging, as issuers typically do not publicly advertise their preferred credit bureau. Lending practices can vary and may change over time, making a static list difficult to maintain. Some major issuers might have a general tendency to use certain bureaus, but this is not a guaranteed practice for every application. Lenders may also pull from multiple bureaus, or their choice might depend on whether the application relies more on the business’s credit history or the applicant’s personal credit.

One method for identifying which bureau a lender uses is to consult online forums and credit card review sites. Many applicants share their experiences regarding which credit bureau was pulled for specific business credit card applications. This collective knowledge can offer insights into a lender’s common practices, though individual results may differ. While it is possible to contact the card issuer directly to inquire about their credit check process, they may not always disclose this information.

An exhaustive, fixed list of lenders that use Equifax is not feasible. Instead, the focus should be on researching individual cards of interest. Some lenders might use Equifax because they integrate data from the Small Business Financial Exchange (SBFE), of which Equifax is a certified vendor. This exchange compiles payment data from participating lenders, which can influence Equifax’s business credit reports.

Preparing for an Equifax Credit Check

Preparing for an Equifax credit check involves understanding the information Equifax assesses and proactively reviewing your credit standing. Equifax’s business credit reports include a company profile, a summary of credit accounts, public records like liens and judgments, and payment trends. It also features various scores, such as a Payment Index score based on payment history, a Credit Risk Score indicating delinquency likelihood, and a Failure Risk Score assessing the chance of business closure. For many business credit card applications, personal credit scores of the owner also play a role, making it important to review both personal and business reports.

You can access your personal Equifax credit report for free annually through AnnualCreditReport.com or myEquifax. Reviewing this report allows you to identify incorrect account information, accounts that do not belong to you, or outdated details. For your business credit report from Equifax, direct access is generally not offered for free unless you are actively applying for business credit and can provide proof. However, some platforms offer access to Equifax business credit scores and reports, and you can also purchase a report directly from Equifax or through authorized resellers.

If you identify any inaccuracies on your Equifax reports, whether personal or business, it is important to dispute them promptly. For personal reports, you can file a dispute online, by mail, or by phone, and Equifax is legally required to investigate within 30 days. For business reports, you can contact Equifax directly via customer support or email, providing detailed information and supporting documentation to prove the error. General strategies to improve creditworthiness, as reflected in an Equifax report, include paying bills on time, managing debt to keep credit utilization low (ideally below 30%), and establishing a positive payment history.