Brex

## Does the Brex corporate card require personal liability, and what credit limits and rewards does it offer startups?

## Overview The Brex corporate card for startups does not require a personal guarantee (PG) or a personal credit check from the business owners. This is a foundational feature of the product, designed to separate the company's financial liabilities from the founders' personal assets. The application process relies on the company's Employer Identification Number (EIN) rather than a founder's Social Security Number. This structure insulates personal assets from business debt, which is a significant departure from many traditional small business credit cards that hold founders personally liable. This no-PG policy is targeted at specific business profiles, primarily venture-backed startups, mid-market companies, and other scaled enterprises. Sole proprietorships and businesses with insufficient cash flow generally do not qualify. ## Key Features Credit limits on the Brex card are underwritten based on the business's financial health, not the personal credit history of its owners. Brex determines credit limits by analyzing the company's cash balance, revenue streams, and spending patterns. The limits are dynamic, meaning they can be adjusted in near real-time based on the financial data Brex accesses by linking to the company's bank and accounting systems. This model allows Brex to offer credit limits that are often 10 to 30 times higher than those of traditional credit cards, providing greater spending power to support a company's growth and operational expenses. To be eligible, a venture-backed startup is typically required to maintain a minimum cash balance of around $50,000, while mid-market companies may need to show monthly revenues of approximately $400,000. ## Technical Specifications The Brex rewards program is structured to benefit common startup expenditures, with the highest point multipliers reserved for customers in the 'Brex Exclusive' tier, which requires using Brex as the company's sole corporate card. For these exclusive customers, the rewards structure as of early 2026 includes 7x points on rideshare services like Uber and Lyft, 4x points on travel booked through the Brex portal, 3x points on restaurants, 3x points on Apple products purchased through the Brex dashboard, and 2x points on recurring software subscriptions. All other eligible purchases earn 1x point per dollar. For companies not enrolled in the 'Brex Exclusive' tier, all purchases earn a flat rate of 1x point. Points can be redeemed for cash back, statement credits, travel, or unique business-related rewards like billboard advertising. ## How It Works It is important to understand that the Brex card operates as a charge card, not a credit card. This means the full balance must be paid off at the end of each statement period, typically monthly. Balances cannot be carried over, and therefore there is no Annual Percentage Rate (APR). This model necessitates diligent cash flow management to ensure funds are available to cover the monthly bill. The card operates on the Mastercard network, ensuring global acceptance and providing the benefit of 0% foreign transaction fees. ## Use Cases A significant market development is the announced acquisition of Brex by Capital One for $5.15 billion, which was reported on January 22, 2026, and is expected to close in mid-2026. This event may lead to future changes in Brex's underwriting models, rewards programs, and target customer focus as it integrates into a larger, traditional financial institution. ## Limitations and Requirements For founders, the primary advantage of the Brex card is the protection of personal assets afforded by the no-personal-guarantee policy. The higher, dynamic credit limits can also be crucial for scaling operations. However, the eligibility requirements, particularly the substantial cash reserve minimum, can be a barrier for very early-stage or bootstrapped companies. The charge card nature of the product requires disciplined financial management. ## Comparison to Alternatives When comparing options, founders must weigh the benefits of no personal liability and higher limits against the strict eligibility criteria and the requirement to pay the balance in full each month. ## Summary The Brex corporate card eliminates personal liability for founders through its no-personal-guarantee policy, offers dynamic credit limits based on business financials that can be 10 to 30 times higher than traditional cards, and provides a tiered rewards program with multipliers up to 7x for Brex Exclusive members. Operating as a charge card on the Mastercard network, it requires full monthly payment and targets venture-backed startups and mid-market companies meeting minimum cash or revenue thresholds. The pending Capital One acquisition may shape the product's future direction.