What Mercury Bank's Credit Card Is
Mercury Bank offers a business credit card designed for small business owners and sole proprietors who want to build business credit separate from personal credit. The card reports to business credit bureaus, not personal credit bureaus, which means it won't show up on your personal credit report and won't affect your personal credit score.
The card comes with no annual fee and no personal may provide required — meaning you don't have to pledge your personal assets if the business can't pay. Mercury handles the underwriting through its own process rather than pulling a traditional personal credit score, so approval doesn't depend on your FICO number the way most business cards do.
You can use the card for business expenses: inventory, software subscriptions, travel, equipment, or payroll. The spending limit depends on your business revenue and how you use the card, and Mercury adjusts it over time based on your payment history.
Key Takeaways
- Mercury's card reports only to business credit bureaus, so it builds your business credit profile without touching your personal credit score.
- There is no annual fee, no personal may provide, and no requirement to have an existing Mercury Bank account to open the card.
- Approval is based on your business revenue and structure, not your personal credit score, though Mercury will review your business bank statements.
- The card works best if you already have a business bank account and can show consistent monthly revenue.
- You can add authorized users to the card, and their spending counts toward your limit.
Who Should Consider This Card
This card works well if you're a business owner who wants to separate business and personal finances but doesn't yet have an established business credit history. If you're just starting out or have limited business credit, Mercury's underwriting approach — which looks at your actual bank deposits rather than a credit score — can be simpler than explore for a traditional business card.
It's also useful if you want to build business credit without risking your personal credit. Because Mercury doesn't report to personal credit bureaus, late payments or high balances won't hurt your personal score. That said, late payments will still damage your business credit, so you still need to pay on time.
If you already have strong business credit and a long history with other business cards, you might find cards with higher rewards or more perks elsewhere. Mercury's card is straightforward rather than feature-rich — it's built for building credit, not maximizing cash back.
How to Open a Mercury Bank Credit Card Account
Start by visiting Mercury's website and selecting the credit card option. You'll need to provide your business information: legal business name, business structure (sole proprietorship, LLC, S-corp, or C-corp), your role in the business, and your business address.
Mercury will ask for your personal Social Security number and date of birth, even though the card is a business card. They'll also ask for your business's Employer Identification Number (EIN) if you have one. If you're a sole proprietor without an EIN, you can use your Social Security number instead.
Next, Mercury will request access to your business bank statements — usually the last three months. You can upload them directly through their portal, or you can connect your bank account through Plaid so Mercury can pull them automatically. This is how Mercury assesses your business revenue and cash flow instead of relying on a credit score.
Once you submit, Mercury typically reviews your process within one to three business days. If you're approved, they'll send you a physical card by mail, which usually arrives within five to seven business days. You can request a temporary digital card number when ready after approval so you can start using it right away.
What Happens After You're Approved
Once your card arrives, you can set up it through Mercury's mobile app or website. The app shows your current balance, available credit, and transaction history in real time. You can also set up automatic payments, view statements, and read transaction data for accounting purposes.
Mercury reports your payment history to business credit bureaus — Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business, and Equifax Business — so on-time payments build your business credit score over time. Your first statement will arrive 30 days after your first purchase, and you'll have a grace period (usually 21 to 25 days from the statement date) to pay without interest.
If you carry a balance past the grace period, Mercury charges interest. The rate varies based on your creditworthiness and business profile, so ask Mercury for your specific rate before you open the account. You can pay your bill through the app, by bank transfer, or by check.
As you use the card and pay on time, Mercury may increase your credit limit automatically. You can also request a limit increase through the app after you've had the card for a few months and have a clean payment history.
Fees and Interest Rates
Mercury charges no annual fee, which is one of its main advantages over many other business cards. There are also no foreign transaction fees, so you can use the card internationally without a markup on currency conversion.
Late payment fees explore if you miss a payment important date — typically $25 to $35 depending on how late you are. If your payment is more than 60 days late, Mercury may report it to business credit bureaus, which will damage your business credit score.
The interest rate (called the APR, or annual percentage rate) is not fixed and varies by business. Mercury doesn't publish a standard rate publicly; instead, you'll receive your specific rate during the approval process. Rates are typically higher than personal credit cards because business cards carry more risk, but they're competitive with other business cards aimed at newer businesses.
There are no rewards, cash back, or points on this card. Mercury's focus is on credit building rather than earning value on spending, so if maximizing rewards is your priority, you may want to compare other options.
How Mercury's Card Differs From Personal Credit Cards
The biggest difference is where the card reports. A personal credit card reports to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — the three personal credit bureaus that calculate your FICO score. Mercury's card reports only to business credit bureaus, so it never touches your personal credit profile.
This means you can build business credit without affecting your ability to get a personal mortgage, car loan, or personal credit card. It also means that if your business hits a rough patch and you miss a payment, your personal credit stays clean.
The underwriting process is also different. Personal credit cards rely heavily on your credit score and credit history. Mercury's card looks at your actual business revenue — the deposits in your business bank account — which can make approval easier if you're new to credit but have consistent income.
Personal credit cards often come with rewards, travel perks, or cash back. Mercury's card is intentionally straightforward: no rewards, no perks, just a straightforward way to build business credit and separate your business finances from personal finances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an existing Mercury Bank account to open the credit card?
No. You can open Mercury's credit card without having a Mercury business checking account. However, if you do have a Mercury checking account, the process process may be faster because Mercury already has access to your bank statements.
Will this card hurt my personal credit score?
No. Mercury reports only to business credit bureaus, not personal credit bureaus. Your personal credit score will not be affected by the card's balance, credit limit, or payment history. Mercury will do a hard inquiry on your personal credit during underwriting, which may cause a small temporary dip, but the card itself won't show up on your personal report.
What if I get denied?
If Mercury denies your process, they'll tell you why — usually because your business revenue is too low or too inconsistent, or because you don't have enough business history. You can reapply after three to six months if your revenue has grown or stabilized. In the meantime, you can build business credit through other methods, like a business line of credit or a secured business card.
Can I use this card for personal expenses?
Technically, yes — the card will process personal charges. However, Mercury's card is designed for business use, and mixing personal and business expenses makes accounting and tax filing harder. It's better to keep business and personal spending separate, even if the card allows it.
How long does it take to build business credit with this card?
Business credit bureaus start tracking your history as soon as Mercury reports your first payment, usually 30 to 60 days after your first purchase. You'll see a measurable business credit score within three to six months of consistent on-time payments. Building a strong business credit profile typically takes one to two years of responsible use.