Yes—you can build U.S. credit with just your Amex BCE; Amex reports account information to credit bureaus, and FICO says one reported account can be enough.
“I recently moved to the US and got my first credit card (Amex BCE) with zero US credit history. A Chase representative told me I need one of their cards to build credit because Amex is a 'closed-off system.' Is this true, or can I build my credit score with just my Amex card to eventually get a card with no foreign transaction fees?”
Summary
You already have the one account needed to start: use it carefully and give the record time to mature. There is no reason to rush into a Chase application solely because a representative called Amex “closed off.”
You can build with the BCE now and later choose either another issuer’s no-fee card or an Amex no-fee card; opening a Chase card solely to create credit is unnecessary.
Let the BCE build your , then make one application for a no- card when the account is at least six months old and your reports are accurate. Amex says relevant balance and limit information is reported monthly, FICO says one account can satisfy its minimum scoring criteria, and Chase currently publishes cards whose purchases outside the U.S. are not subject to foreign transaction fees (Amex Credit Bureau FAQ; FICO Minimum Requirements; Chase No-FTF Cards).
Amex itself currently publishes a no-foreign-transaction-fee card category. You may later apply for one of those products after building history with BCE; a second issuer is not required for the first account to generate a (Amex No-FTF Cards; FICO Minimum Requirements).
A Chase card is not required merely to create a score. Amex reports personal-card account data to credit bureaus monthly, and FICO expressly says its minimum criteria may be satisfied by a single account; another application can also create a (Amex Credit Bureau FAQ; FICO Minimum Requirements; CFPB Hard Inquiries).
The six-month FICO rule concerns whether a score can be generated, not whether any particular issuer must approve you.
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Watch out for
Next steps
These steps build a clean, scoreable record with the card you already have and position you for one later no-foreign-transaction-fee application.
Every billing cycle
Use BCE lightly and pay it in full on time
Use the BCE for normal purchases, then pay the full statement balance on time. CFPB says on-time repayment is the leading score factor and that carrying a balance is unnecessary; automatic payment or an electronic reminder can protect the due date.
Requirements
Before each closing date
Keep the balance low before the statement closes
If spending is high, make an early payment before the billing period closes. Amex says it reports balance and credit-limit information monthly on that closing date, and CFPB says a high balance at score-calculation time can hurt even when paid the next day.
Requirements
After Amex has completed a monthly reporting cycle
Pull your three official credit reports
Request your reports at https://www.AnnualCreditReport.com or call (877) 322-8228. Look for the Amex account, opening date, balance, limit, and payment status on each report; this also resolves which bureaus received this exact account.
At or after six months
Let the account reach the FICO minimum age
Keep the same routine until BCE has been open at least six months. FICO states that one account can satisfy its minimum criteria, so adding Chase solely to create a score is unnecessary; the six-month point does not guarantee approval for another card.
Requirements
After the file is scoreable
Make one targeted no-fee application
Choose one card from the current official no-foreign-transaction-fee listings at https://creditcards.chase.com/no-foreign-transaction-fee-credit-cards or https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/category/no-foreign-transaction-fee/. Submit only the application you need because CFPB says a new-card application usually creates a hard inquiry that affects your score.
Requirements
Legal sources
The answer is grounded in American Express’s reporting and product pages, FICO’s published score criteria, CFPB consumer guidance, and Chase’s current no-foreign-transaction-fee page.
American Express Consumer Credit Bureau Reporting FAQs
Amex confirms that a personal card’s relevant account information is furnished monthly, so the account is not isolated from credit reporting.
Consumer Credit Bureau Reporting FAQs
Relevant credit account information, such as your account balance and credit limit, is reported to the credit bureaus each month on your billing period ’s closing date .
FICO Score Minimum Requirements
One reported account—not one card from each issuer—can be enough to generate a FICO Score after the minimum age and recent-reporting conditions are met.
What are the minimum requirements for a FICO Score?
In order to receive a valid FICO Score, the credit report must have: At least one account opened for six months or more, and At least one account that has been reported to the credit bureau within the past six months, and No indication of deceased on the credit report (Please note, if you share an account with another person this may affect you if the other account holder is reported deceased). The minimum scoring criteria may be satisfied by a single account or by multiple accounts on a credit file.
CFPB Ask CFPB 318
CFPB establishes the core routine: pay on time, keep balances low, do not carry debt, preserve history, and apply sparingly.
How do I get and keep a good credit score?
Most credit scores consider repayment history as the number one factor for building a strong credit score. Credit scoring models look at how close you are to being “maxed out,” so try to keep your balances low compared to your total credit limit. You don’t need to carry a balance on credit cards to get a good score. In fact, you don’t need outstanding debt at all. Paying off the balance in full each month helps get you the best scores and keeps your interest costs as low as possible.
CFPB Ask CFPB 1293
The balance visible when a score is calculated can matter even if you pay in full shortly afterward.
Will paying off my credit card balance every month improve my credit score?
Consistently paying off your credit card on time every month is one step toward improving your credit scores. However, credit scores are calculated at different times, so if your score is calculated on a day you have a high balance, this could affect your score even if you pay off the balance in full the next day.
CFPB Ask CFPB 5
This is the official route for checking whether the Amex account appears accurately on each nationwide report.
How do I get a free copy of my credit reports?
To get the free credit report authorized by law, go to AnnualCreditReport.com or call (877) 322-8228.
Blue Cash Everyday Card Terms
The current BCE itself is not the desired no-foreign-transaction-fee card.
Are there any fees for using the American Express Blue Cash Everyday Card abroad?
Yes, the American Express Blue Cash Everyday ® Card charges a foreign transaction fee of 2.7% on each transaction after conversion to U.S. dollars. ¤ ‡
American Express Closed Loop Network
Amex uses “closed loop” to describe its visibility into both sides of payment transactions, not a credit file hidden from other lenders.
B2B Payments for Large Businesses
Our Closed Loop Network provides data from both sides of the transaction and enables relationships with both buyers and suppliers — giving us the knowledge and insights to partner with you to create a successful B2B program.
American Express No Foreign Transaction Fee Cards
Amex itself offers a later path to a card without foreign transaction fees.
No Foreign Transaction Fee Cards Enjoy travel without foreign transaction fees
Chase No Foreign Transaction Fee Cards
Chase also has current no-foreign-transaction-fee choices, but you do not need one now merely to build credit.
No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards
Purchases made with these credit cards outside the U.S. will not be subject to foreign transaction fees.
CFPB Ask CFPB 322
A real new-card application generally creates a score-affecting hard inquiry, so unnecessary applications should be avoided.
When will my lender run or obtain a copy of my credit report?
Lenders usually run a credit check when you apply for a new loan, such as a new credit card, auto loan, mortgage, or other consumer loan. This type of credit inquiry is known as a “hard inquiry” or “hard pull” and will impact your credit score.
CFPB Ask CFPB 1265
A score shown in one app may differ from the model a future card issuer uses.
Do I have to pay for my credit score?
You actually have more than one credit score. Credit scores are calculated based on the information in your credit reports.
These are the official agency, score-provider, and card-issuer rules or terms as published on the cited dates and fetched on August 22, 2026; rules and product terms can change.
This is general information about official credit and consumer processes, not legal advice, and SettleKit is not a law firm.
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