September 21, 2026

American Express Business Line of Credit Review 2026 (Formerly Kabbage)

Amex Business Line of Credit — The former Kabbage line: fees, limits and who qualifies
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If you are searching for Kabbage reviews, the product you can apply for today is the American Express® Business Line of Credit. Former Kabbage customers now sign in with an American Express user ID, and Amex offers lines from $2,000 to $250,000, with each draw repaid as a 6-, 12-, 18- or 24-month installment loan with a monthly loan fee instead of interest. American Express lists a 660 FICO score, one year in business and $3,000 in average monthly revenue as minimums. It suits established small businesses that want a revolving line from a large bank and can repay over months rather than years.

This review is part of the SMB Compass lender reviews series. SMB Compass is a financing broker, not a lender: we help owners compare offers from a panel of lending partners. The figures below come from American Express’s own website, checked on September 21, 2026.

What happened to Kabbage?

Kabbage was an online small-business lender. American Express acquired it, and Kabbage’s line of credit continues as the American Express Business Line of Credit, managed in the American Express Business Blueprint™ dashboard and app. The Amex Business Blueprint help center answers the question “Can I still access my Kabbage account?” by telling customers to “sign in using the email address and password that was associated with your Kabbage account” and create an American Express User ID. Amex’s line-of-credit page still uses the phrase “Kabbage Funding.”

The practical point for borrowers: older Kabbage reviews describe a product with different terms and a different lender. Today, “American Express® Business Line of Credit loans are issued by American Express National Bank,” and the terms below are the ones that apply.

American Express Business Line of Credit at a glance

FeatureWhat American Express says
LenderAmerican Express National Bank
Line size$2,000 to $250,000; initial lines over $150,000 only for select customers
RepaymentEach draw is a separate installment loan of 6, 12, 18 or 24 months, subject to eligibility; billed monthly
Pricing (as Amex quotes it)Monthly loan fee of 0.55% to 1.55% of the total amount borrowed (terms page); fee shown before each draw
Minimum credit score660 FICO
Time in businessAt least one year
RevenueRecent average monthly revenue of at least $3,000
Speed1 to 3 business days after you draw and sign; immediate with Amex Business Checking
SecuritySecured by business assets, with a personal guarantee
Early payoffUnposted monthly fees on installment loans are not charged if you repay principal early

How the line works

You apply once for a line. Amex says you can “apply online in minutes,” and “when you link your business bank accounts to the application, your financial info is reviewed in real time.” Once approved, each time you draw funds you choose a repayment term and sign a loan agreement for that draw. Amex says “you can have more than one outstanding loan at one time, up to your approved line size.”

After a draw, you get a monthly invoice. The first bill can come “as early as 21 days from disbursement or as long as 51 days after disbursement,” depending on your cycle date. “Each month you will be billed for a portion of your loan principal, plus a loan fee,” along with any late fees. Compare this with a revolving card, which lets you pay a minimum and carry a balance; our guide to a business line of credit vs a credit card covers the difference.

The help center also describes single repayment loans of one to three months, repaid in one payment, alongside the installment loans.

What it costs

American Express prices each draw with a loan fee, not an interest rate. A loan fee is a charge set as a percentage of the amount you borrow; it is not the same as an APR (annual percentage rate), which spreads all costs over a year. Because these loans last 24 months or less, a monthly fee can equal a higher APR than the fee percentage suggests. Our explainer on factor rates, fees and APR shows how to convert.

Amex’s line of credit terms say: “Currently, the monthly loan fees may range from 0.55% to 1.55% of the total amount borrowed, but the loan fee offered to you for future loans may change at any time.” Its help center gives the fees as totals by term instead:

  • Installment loans: 3% to 9% of the amount borrowed for 6-month loans, 6% to 18% for 12-month loans and 9% to 27% for 18-month loans
  • Single repayment loans: 0.95% to 1.80% for 1-month loans, 1.90% to 3.75% for 2-month loans and 2.85% to 6.05% for 3-month loans

American Express gives two sets of figures, so confirm which applies. Amex says “you will see the applicable loan fee before you take the loan,” so check the fee on each draw screen and ask for it in writing if you need it for a comparison. Late fees may apply; Amex does not list the amount on the pages we checked.

Early payoff: “If you repay the total principal of an installment loan early, you will not be required to pay the loan fees that have not posted for subsequent months.” That rewards paying early. The help center adds that “repaying a single repayment loan early will not reduce the loan fee.”

Who qualifies

American Express’s Business Line of Credit page lists these minimums. Applicants must:

  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • “Have started your business at least a year ago”
  • “Have a FICO score of at least 660”
  • “Have recent average monthly revenue of at least $3,000”

Credit checks: asked whether a full credit report is obtained, Amex answers “Yes, American Express obtains reports from consumer reporting agencies,” and it “will also report your funding account payment status to consumer credit reporting agencies.” The terms add that loans “are secured by assets of the borrower, require a personal guarantee.” For more on guarantees, see personal guarantee vs no-PG business loans.

How fast is it?

After approval, you draw and sign the loan agreement, and funds go to your verified business bank account. “Funds may take 1 to 3 business days to process and post, depending on your bank.” If you choose Amex Business Checking as the deposit account, “your funds are deposited immediately.”

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Loans issued by a large bank, American Express National Bank
  • Published fee range and published eligibility minimums
  • Choice of 6- to 24-month repayment on each draw, billed monthly rather than daily or weekly
  • Paying off an installment loan early skips the unposted monthly fees
  • Low revenue minimum: $3,000 a month on average
  • Immediate funding with Amex Business Checking

Cons:

  • 660 FICO minimum may not suit owners rebuilding credit
  • Requires a personal guarantee and a security interest in business assets
  • Maximum repayment of 24 months per draw
  • Fees are quoted as percentages, not APR, so comparing takes a calculation
  • Lines above $150,000 are for select customers only

Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere

The American Express Business Line of Credit suits businesses with at least a year of history and good credit that want a line from a large bank for inventory, payroll gaps or one-time costs, and that can repay each draw within two years. It fits well for owners who already bank with Amex, because draws to Amex Business Checking arrive immediately.

Look elsewhere if:

Pitfalls to watch

  • Relying on old Kabbage reviews. The lender, terms and fees are now American Express’s.
  • Comparing a monthly fee with an annual rate. Convert the fee to an APR or compare total dollars repaid.
  • Picking the longest term by default. A longer term charges more months of fees; pay early if you can.
  • Stacking several draws. Each is a separate loan with its own monthly payment.

Frequently asked questions

Is Kabbage still in business?

Kabbage is now part of American Express. The line of credit is offered as the American Express Business Line of Credit, and former Kabbage customers sign in with their Kabbage email and password to create an American Express User ID.

What credit score do you need?

American Express lists a FICO score of at least 660, along with one year in business and $3,000 in recent average monthly revenue.

How much does the Amex Business Line of Credit cost?

Amex’s terms put the monthly loan fee at 0.55% to 1.55% of the amount borrowed. Its help center also lists total fees by term, such as 3% to 9% for a 6-month loan. You see the fee for each draw before you accept it.

Does applying affect my credit?

American Express says it obtains reports from consumer reporting agencies and reports payment status to them under the loan agreement. Ask Amex how the credit check will appear on your report before you apply.

Next step

If you are weighing an Amex line, compare it with at least one other line on total cost per draw and on how long you need to repay. Our business line of credit page explains how SMB Compass can help you compare offers from our lending partners, and the lender reviews hub covers other lenders.

Sources

  • American Express, Business Line of Credit: americanexpress.com
  • American Express, Business Line of Credit terms and conditions: americanexpress.com
  • American Express, Business Blueprint help center: americanexpress.com
  • American Express, “What is a business line of credit?”: americanexpress.com

About this page. Written by Ezra Cabrera, Content Team Lead at SMB Compass. Figures were checked against each lender’s own website on September 21, 2026; lenders change their terms, so confirm current terms before you apply, and let us know if you spot a figure that has changed. SMB Compass is a business financing broker: we don’t lend our own money, and we are paid by the lenders we place loans with. This page is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice.

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