What Is a Corporate Credit Card? Info, Tips & Top Cards

Nov 24, 2020

WalletHub Managing Editor

Fact checkedFact Checked by Alina Comoreanu, WalletHub Senior Researcher

WalletHub Senior Researcher

The term “corporate credit card” can mean slightly different things to different people. Technically, a corporate credit card is a special type of business credit card account that’s issued to a corporation (generally one with $10+ million in annual revenue), rather than an individual representing a business. As a result, individuals are not liable for corporate credit card debt, unlike balances on traditional business credit cards. And approval decisions aren’t based on the CEO’s personal credit history. Issuers instead review a company’s financial track record and use some of its assets as collateral.

A corporate credit card agreement typically gives the issuing bank a “security interest” in any deposit accounts the company has with it. In other words, the issuer can go after funds held in savings accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), etc. You can’t get this type of card – also known as a commercial credit card – simply by filling out an application online, either. You have to schedule an appointment with a sales rep. And that’s just the beginning.

But in a more colloquial sense, a corporate credit card is what you might call the card that an employee receives as an authorized user on a company’s business credit card account. Some people also use it as a synonym for “business credit card.” And they’re not wrong. Other than matters relating to who’s legally responsible for paying the bill, there’s really no difference.

Compare 2026's Best Business Credit Cards

In particular, there’s nothing to the notion that corporate credit cards are for big companies while small businesses get business credit cards. Yes, corporate credit card programs may limit access to companies with annual revenue above a certain threshold. But size doesn’t matter with traditional business cards. Just consider the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card – one of the top offers available. You can add an unlimited number of employees as authorized users. And it’s designed to be used by “a public or private company,” according to its terms and conditions.

So if you’re a business owner, you can get right to comparing business credit card offers. And we’ll tell you the top offers to target below. Just make sure to check your personal credit score first.

If you’re an employee looking to understand your company’s corporate credit card policy, you too can find everything you need to know below. In particular, we’ll tell you how to use your corporate credit card responsibly while reaping all the benefits you can. We’ll also highlight some of the best cards to consider if your arrangement involves submitting expense reports for work-related purchases made with a card of your choosing.

By the way, unless noted otherwise, we’ll stick to the more commonplace definitions of corporate credit cards from here on out. Only 3.5% of businesses bring in $10 million or more per year, after all, according to data from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Table of Contents

Notable Corporate Credit Card Programs

Just to give you a sense of what true corporate credit cards offer to and require of applicants, here’s a quick breakdown of some of the most popular offers:

Issuer	Corporate Credit Cards	Annual Revenue Requirement
American Express	7	$4 million
Capital One	1	$10 million
Chase	6	$20 million

Common Corporate Credit Card Arrangements

In general, there are two types of corporate credit card relationships that are actually attainable for the vast majority of the business community. The main distinction is whether or not employees must actually pay for the purchases they make.

Employee Authorized User: Small business credit cards allow company owners to designate employees as authorized users on the corporate account. The primary accountholder can also set custom spending limits for each employee and earn rewards on their spending. But the primary accountholder has to foot the bill, too. Authorized users aren’t legally responsible for making payments.So if you own a business, be sure to set your employees’ credit limits at amounts you’re comfortable paying . You should also establish clear policies about when the card can be used and what, if any, purchases the employee must repay the company for.

Employee Reimbursement: Many companies allow employees to use their own credit cards for work-related spending and then submit expense reports for review and reimbursement. This is the best arrangement if you’re an employee. It lets you rack up rewards on your personal credit card without really spending any of your own money.This can be particularly effective if you’re a light spender but want to qualify for one of the market’s best initial bonuses. They require you to spend a few thousand dollars within a few months of account opening.Bear in mind, however, that such an arrangement could lead to high credit utilization. But that won’t cost you anything, as long as you pay your bill on time (and in full) each month and don’t plan to take out a loan in the near future. Paying your bill multiple times per month can also help reduce your utilization.

Whether you’re an owner looking for the right business credit card or an employee in search of a personal card to use for the occasional work expense, we’ve got you covered below. WalletHub’s editors picked the top offers for each group.

Best Credit Cards for Small Business Owners

		WINNER
4.2WalletHub Rating WalletHub Rating 4.2 This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated this card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need with the highest score, which is "Business - Earn Rewards." A score of 5 is the best a card can receive, and the rating for the card may vary on different pages where it is compared to other cards for different needs. Editor’s Rating 4.8 Market Comparison 4.1 fees: 2.9 rewards: 4.7 cost: 4.5 Other Features: 0.0	3.6WalletHub Rating WalletHub Rating 3.6 This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated this card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need with the highest score, which is "Earn Hotel Rewards." A score of 5 is the best a card can receive, and the rating for the card may vary on different pages where it is compared to other cards for different needs. User Reviews 3.7 Market Comparison 3.6 fees: 2.5 rewards: 3.9 cost: 4.0 Other Features: 0.0	3.5WalletHub Rating WalletHub Rating 3.5 This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated this card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need with the highest score, which is "Business - Earn Rewards." A score of 5 is the best a card can receive, and the rating for the card may vary on different pages where it is compared to other cards for different needs. Editor’s Rating 4.0 User Reviews 3.7 Market Comparison 3.4 fees: 2.9 rewards: 3.5 cost: 3.7 Other Features: 0.0
(6)	(15)	(99)
annual fee$195	annual fee$60	annual fee$95
rewards rate Earn unlimited 2.5% total cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more and unlimited 2% cash back on all other business purchases. Travel Benefits: Unlimited 5% total cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, No Foreign Transaction Fees and Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance. 2 - 5% Cash Back	rewards rate Up to 85,000 Bonus Points: earn 50,000 points after your first purchase plus 35,000 points once you spend $2,500 on your card within the first 90 days. Receive 40,000 renewal bonus points each year when you renew your card by paying the annual fee. Earn 10 points per $1 spent in eligible net purchases at participating Radisson Family of Hotels and 5 points per $1 spent in eligible net purchases everywhere else. Earn one free night e-cert for each $10,000 in spend (up to $30,000), then renew your card by paying the Annual Fee. Gold status upgrade is automatic and you will receive 15 qualifying nights toward obtaining or maintaining Platinum status after you activate and use your new card. 5 - 10 points / $1	rewards rate Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases 1 - 3 points / $1
bonus offer Earn $1,000 bonus cash back after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. $1,000	bonus offer 85,000 points	bonus offer Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. 100,000 points
Purchase Intro APRN/A	Purchase Intro APRN/A	Purchase Intro APRN/A
transfer intro aprN/A	transfer intro aprN/A	transfer intro aprN/A
Regular APRFlex for Business APR: 17.74% - 28.49% (V)	Regular APR16.24% - 25.24% (V)	Regular APR17.74% - 26.74% (V)
Learn More SponsoredApply Now Learn More	Learn More SponsoredApply Now Learn More	SponsoredApply Now Rates & Fees SponsoredApply Now Rates & Fees Learn More

If you need a credit card for corporate financing, we recommend the Citi Simplicity Card. It offers extended 0% intro periods and don’t charge annual fees. Citi Simplicity is also a general-consumer credit card, and that’s no mistake. Credit card companies can raise the interest rate on a business credit card balance at any time. That’s not the case with consumer cards, which means 0% credit cards intended for personal use are the best choice for company financing.

The fact that business-branded credit cards aren’t always the best credit cards for business could also be a reason for using the term “corporate credit card” instead.

Best Credit Cards for Employees

WINNER	WINNER
4.5WalletHub Rating WalletHub Rating 4.5 This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated this card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need with the highest score, which is "Lower Cost of Existing Debt." A score of 5 is the best a card can receive, and the rating for the card may vary on different pages where it is compared to other cards for different needs. Editor’s Rating 5.0 User Reviews 3.4 Market Comparison 4.5 fees: 5.0 cost: 4.4 APR: 4.4	4.5WalletHub Rating WalletHub Rating 4.5 This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated this card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need with the highest score, which is "Earn Rewards." A score of 5 is the best a card can receive, and the rating for the card may vary on different pages where it is compared to other cards for different needs. Editor’s Rating 5.0 User Reviews 3.8 Market Comparison 4.4 fees: 2.9 rewards: 4.8 cost: 5.0 Other Features: 0.0	4.2WalletHub Rating WalletHub Rating 4.2 This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated this card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need with the highest score, which is "Earn Rewards." A score of 5 is the best a card can receive, and the rating for the card may vary on different pages where it is compared to other cards for different needs. Editor’s Rating 5.0 User Reviews 3.6 Market Comparison 4.2 fees: 3.8 rewards: 4.3 cost: 4.6 Other Features: 0.0
(2,254)	(2,758)	(917)
annual fee$0	annual fee$95	annual fee$0
Purchase Intro APRN/A	Purchase Intro APRN/A	Purchase Intro APR0% for 15 months
transfer intro apr0% for 18 months Transfer Fee: 3% intro fee ($5 min) for each transfer in first 4 months, after that 5% ($5 min) for each transfer	transfer intro aprN/A	transfer intro apr0% for 15 months Transfer Fee: Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days (5%, min $5 after)
Regular APR17.49% - 27.49% (V)	Regular APR19.49% - 28.49% (V)	Regular APR18.24% - 27.74% (V)
rewards rate Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel. 2 - 5% Cash Back	rewards rate Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 2 - 5 miles / $1	rewards rate Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases. 1.5 - 5% Cash Back
bonus offer Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back. $200	bonus offer Earn a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel 75,000 miles	bonus offer Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening $200
SponsoredApply Now Rates & Fees SponsoredApply Now Rates & Fees Learn More	SponsoredApply Now Rates & Fees SponsoredApply Now Rates & Fees Learn More	SponsoredApply Now Rates & Fees SponsoredApply Now Rates & Fees Learn More

You can find more great options on the full list of WalletHub’s picks for the year’s best overall credit cards.

3 Corporate Credit Card Tips

Save Your Receipts – Record-keeping and organization are essential to responsible credit card use, both for business owners and the rest of us. Saving receipts helps business owners with expense management and tax prep. And it could be the ticket to reimbursement for an employee.

Know Your Limits – It’s best for your credit score if you use less than 30% of your available credit each month. And if you’re an authorized user, knowing how much spending power your employer has given you will help you determine whether a given purchase will go through.

Consider a Separate Card for Personal Use – There are many benefits to using more than one credit card. For starters, it helps you get the best possible terms for each type of transaction you plan to make, rather than one card that’s average across the board.For example, if you’re a business owner, you could get a business rewards credit card for everyday company spending and a general-consumer 0% credit card for company financing. And you could add a general-consumer rewards card to the mix for personal spending. If you’re an employee, you could get a cash back credit card for personal purchases and a travel rewards card for work-related spending, or vice versa.This strategy, known as the Island Approach, also makes it easier to understand your finances. By segmenting different types of spending, you gain visibility over how you’re allocating resources and where you might need to cut back. Keeping everyday spending apart from revolving debt will also help you save on interest.

Finally, you’d be wise to sign up for a free WalletHub account. In addition to free credit scores and reports that are updated daily, you’ll get personalized savings alerts and credit improvement tips. That’s everything you and your company need to reach top WalletFitness®

Questions & Answers(10 questions)

Editorial and user-generated content on this page is not reviewed or otherwise endorsed by any financial institution. Please keep in mind that it is not a financial institution’s responsibility to ensure all posts and questions are answered.In addition, WalletHub independently collected information for some of the cards on this page.

Upvotes

Can you get a corporate credit card with bad credit?

Christie Matherne, Credit Card Writer

Yes, you can get a corporate credit card with bad credit, as most corporate credit cards won't check your personal credit during the application process. Though corporate credit cards are considered business credit cards, they're a bit different.

Typically, a business has to meet certain revenue requirements or have a certain amount of money in the bank in order to qualify for a corporate credit account. That's why a corporate credit account doesn't need a personal credit check or a personal guarantee. A qualifying business will have enough assets on its own for a personal guarantee to be unnecessary.

What to Do If You Don't Qualify for a Corporate Credit Card

If you're a small business owner, you're unlikely to qualify for a corporate credit card based on revenue. So, you're probably in the market for a traditional business credit card. These cards will require a personal credit check.

There aren't many business cards available to people with bad credit, but a handful of secured business credit cards offer very high odds of approval. You'll just need to put down a security deposit that you'll get back when you close the account with a $0 balance.

You might also want to consider using a consumer credit card for bad credit instead. But if you use a consumer credit card for business purposes, make sure you don't charge personal expenses on it. That can make bookkeeping very difficult.

Key Things to Know About Corporate Cards for Employees

Many business and corporate credit cards don't check authorized users' credit reports. That's because the business itself is liable for the charges, not each individual cardholder. However, if you're responsible because of a joint liability arrangement, you may face a credit check. There are still some issuers that will check the employees' credit reports before issuing them a card.

You can learn more about corporate credit cards and business credit cards for bad credit here on WalletHub.

Upvotes

What are the best corporate credit cards for large businesses?

Chip Lupo, Credit Card Writer

One of the best corporate credit cards for large businesses is the Amex Corporate Platinum card. It offers business-friendly perks such as an annual $200 airline fee credit, trip delay insurance, trip cancellation / interruption insurance, concierge service, airport lounge access and elite status at Marriott and Hilton hotels. These high-end benefits come at a cost, though, as the Corporate Platinum card charges a hefty $550 annual fee.

Large businesses also have other options...

Upvotes

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

Cameron DiGiovanni, Writer

The main differences between a corporate credit card and a business credit card are that corporate cards are meant for larger corporations – those with over $4 million in annual revenue – and may not require a personal guarantee. Business credit cards are for smaller companies and are closely tied to the user's personal finances. In addition, there are some other important differences between business and corporate cards in regard to account opening and cost.

...

Upvotes

What are the best cash back corporate credit cards?

Theresa Chalfant, Writer

One of the best cash back corporate credit cards is the PNC Commercial Rewards Card®, which offers 1.5% cash back on qualifying purchases. Corporate cards are typically only issued to large corporations with $10+ million in annual revenue, though there are several business cash back cards available to smaller companies.

Corporate cards are relatively rare, and the process to get one is more complicated than filling out a typical credit card application. A company looking to get...

Upvotes