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Lenders can choose whether they report information to the credit bureaus, which bureaus they report to, and what information they report.
Credit reporting is an important part of building credit, as the information given is used to update your credit report and corresponding credit score. It also matters when a credit card reports to the bureaus, as your borrowing information is constantly changing.
Does Amex report to the 3 major credit bureaus?
Yes, Amex reports to the three major credit bureaus:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
When does Amex report to the credit bureaus?
Amex claims to report “at the same time each billing cycle.” In all likelihood, this means they report on or within 3 days of your statement closing date.
Your statement closing date is the final day of your credit card billing cycle. To find your statement closing date, you can:
- Check your credit card statement.
- View your billing cycle information in your online account.
- Call the number on the back of your credit card and ask a customer service representative.
How often does Amex report to the credit bureaus?
Amex reports to the credit bureaus every 28–31 days.
What information does Amex report to the credit bureaus?
Amex reports the following details to the credit bureaus:
- Your credit limit
- Your current balance
- Late payments
How to view your credit report
Amex offers free credit reports through MyCredit Guide. Through this you can view your credit report and VantageScore credit score as often as you’d like, without costs or limitations.
How to build credit with a Amex credit card
Because Amex reports to all three major credit bureaus, you can use your credit card to build credit and improve your credit score.
To build credit with your Amex credit card:
- Use your card regularly: Using your Amex card responsibly each month gives Amex positive marks to report to the credit bureaus. If you have a low credit limit or worry about being able to pay your credit card bill, charge a small recurring purchase to the card (like your Netflix or Amazon subscription).
- Use less than 30% of your credit limit: An important factor in determining your credit score is your credit utilization rate, which is how much of your total credit you’re using. You want this number low, so try to only use less than 30% of your credit limit, or less than 10% for an even better rate.
- Pay your bill on time: The most important part of building credit and raising your credit score is making on-time payments to your Amex account. When you pay your credit card bill also matters if you’re trying to raise your score. Pay your credit card bill in full by the due date, and pay down most of it by the statement closing date (since that’s when Amex reports your account standing) to maximize positive reporting.
- Ask for a credit limit increase: Taking on a larger credit line can strengthen your credit history by showing you can handle access to more funds and boost your credit score by reducing your credit utilization. You may be able to increase your credit line by asking for a credit limit increase on your American Express card.
- Keep your account open: The length of your credit history also contributes to your credit score, so keep your Amex credit card account open to increase your average credit age.
