Getting Approved for the Atmos Business Card After Having the Alaska Airlines Business Card

Back in January 2025, I opened the Alaska Airlines Business Card and earned a welcome bonus of 70,000 Alaska Miles. Since then, Alaska Miles have been converted into Atmos Rewards Points following the Alaska-Hawaiian Airlines merger. Atmos Rewards Points are among the most valuable airline currencies available, primarily because of the strong redemption options available through airline partners.

Although the Alaska Airlines Business Card no longer exists, it has been replaced by the Bank of America Atmos Business Card. This opens up some interesting possibilities for me. Importantly, the Atmos Business Card appears to be treated as a separate product. That means people who previously had the Alaska Airlines Business Card may still be eligible to earn a signup bonus on the Atmos Business Card.

For anyone trying to maximize their Atmos Rewards balance, that’s a valuable opportunity. However, actually getting approved for the card may be more difficult than you expect.

I was recently approved for the Atmos Business Card after previously holding the Alaska Airlines Business Card. That’ll add another 85,000 Atmos Points to my Atmos account balance, which is very valuable for me. In this post, I wanted to go over my application history with this card and what ultimately worked for me to get approved for it.

My History Applying for the Atmos Business Card

I first opened the Alaska Airlines Business Card in January 2025 when it was offering a welcome bonus of 70,000 Alaska Miles. The card carried a $95 annual fee. Since I didn’t have an ongoing use for the card, I decided to close it when the annual fee came due in the second year. I closed the account in March 2026.

After Alaska Miles became Atmos Rewards Points, I started hearing reports that it might be possible to hold both the old Alaska Airlines Business Card and the new Atmos Business Card. With that in mind, I applied for the Atmos Business Card in October 2025. I applied as a sole proprietor and used my Social Security number as the tax ID number.

Unfortunately, my application for the Atmos Business Card was instantly denied. While getting denied for a credit card is part of the game when you apply for new cards frequently, it still hurts because you take a hard inquiry without getting anything in return. I decided not to call reconsideration and simply moved on to different cards.

A few months later, in April 2026, I decided to try again for the card, figuring that maybe I had a better shot at getting it since I had closed my Alaska Airlines Business Card. Once again, I applied as a sole proprietor using my Social Security number. And once again, I received an instant denial.

After two failed applications, I figured my chances were slim. Either Bank of America didn’t like my profile, or the previous Alaska Airlines Business Card approval was preventing me from getting approved for the Atmos version.

Applying For The Atmos Business Card With An EIN

A few weeks after my second denial, I was talking with a friend about my failed Atmos Business Card application. During that conversation, he mentioned that Bank of America combines hard pulls for applications made within 30 days. In other words, if I applied for another Bank of America card within 30 days, the bank likely wouldn’t pull my credit again.

Since there was little downside, I decided to give the Atmos Business Card one more shot. This time, however, I applied using the EIN for an LLC that I own instead of applying as a sole proprietor.

Getting an EIN is relatively easy. In fact, you can obtain one for free directly from the IRS. I personally have two EINs—one for my sole proprietorship and another for my LLC.

For this application, I chose to use the LLC’s EIN because I thought it might improve my chances of approval compared to using an EIN for myself as a sole proprietor. Would using the EIN from my sole proprietorship have worked as well? Maybe. I honestly don’t know. However, I felt more comfortable applying through my LLC and figured it’d give me a better shot at approval.

The Approval Process

After submitting my application, I received a message stating that the application was under review. During my previous two attempts at getting this card, I had received instant denials. Seeing the application move into review suggested that something had changed. I also did not receive an additional hard pull, so it was true that Bank of America combines hard pulls over a 30-day period.

At that point, I wasn’t sure what would happen next. Some business credit card applications are approved immediately, while others remain pending for several days while the issuer reviews the information.

After a day, I checked my Bank of America account and saw that the Atmos Business Card was now visible in my online dashboard. Shortly after, I received an email saying that my application was approved.

One thing I was curious about was whether applying with an EIN would create additional complications. I have an LLC registered with the state, so I could provide any documentation that might have been requested. In this case, though, I didn’t have to provide any additional information, and the business information I provided appeared to be sufficient for Bank of America to complete its review.

My Thoughts on Applying With an EIN

The EIN appears to be a sort of secret weapon when it comes to getting approved for new business credit cards. Historically, I’ve never applied for business cards with an EIN, mainly because I didn’t want to have to deal with the possibility of having to submit additional documentation. So, for the vast majority of my business card applications, I’ve applied as a sole proprietor using my SSN.

However, over the past year, there have been a few changes that have made applying for new cards using an EIN a necessity. The main change was with the Chase Ink Business Cards. These are valuable cards that, in the past, allowed you to apply for and earn the bonus on them essentially as often as you wanted. Chase changed the terms on these cards recently, which made it so you couldn’t earn the bonus on these cards if you had already earned a bonus on them before. That being said, I found it was possible to continue to open new cards and earn the signup bonus so long as you used an EIN for a different business.

With this information in mind, I think everyone should apply for an EIN and have that handy for at least some business card applications. Everyone can have an EIN for themselves individually (i.e., you don’t need a separate business entity). If you have a business entity, such as an LLC, it’s worth having an EIN for that as well.

Of course, every bank uses different underwriting standards. Approval is never guaranteed. Still, based on my experience, using an EIN did not create any additional obstacles during the application process.

Final Thoughts

Overall, my Atmos Business Card application process was surprisingly smooth.

After two denials while applying as a sole proprietor, I applied again using my LLC’s EIN and was ultimately approved.

While I can’t say for certain that the EIN made the difference, it was the only major change between my unsuccessful applications and my approved one.

If you already have an established business entity and have been considering the Atmos Business Card, this data point may be helpful.

As always, approval will depend on factors such as your business profile, revenue, credit history, and overall relationship with Bank of America. However, in my case, applying with an EIN worked out well. And it’s a big score for me, as it’ll add another 85,000 Atmos Rewards points to my account balance.

This post may contain affiliate links.

More Recommended Ebike/Scooters

Check out these other ebikes and scooters I've reviewed:

Urban Arrow Ebike – Last year, I made one of the largest purchases I’ve ever made – I bought a $9,000 electric cargo bike from Urban Arrow. In my Urban Arrow review, I will discuss what it is and why I decided to buy this bike, as well as discuss how impactful a bike like this can be on your journey to financial independence.
Troxus Explorer Step-Thru Ebike – The Troxus Explorer Step-Thru is a fat-tire ebike that I’ve had the pleasure of riding for a while now. It has amazing power, great looks, and awesome range. If you’re looking for a great fat-tire ebike that offers a lot for the price, the Troxus Explorer Step-Thru is definitely one for you to consider. Check out my Troxus Explorer Step-Thru Review.
Hovsco HovBeta Ebike – The HovBeta is a folding ebike with great specs and a lot of interesting features, and importantly, it’s sold at a good price point. I’ve had a blast commuting with it and using it to do deliveries with DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. Check out my Hovsco HovBeta Ebike Review.
Vanpowers Manidae Ebike – The Vanpowers Manidae is a fat tire ebike that I’ve been riding as my primary winter commuting bike and have also been using it to do food delivery with apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. After clocking in a decent number of miles with this ebike, I wanted to write a post sharing what my experience with the Vanpowers Manidae ebike has been like. Check out my Vanpowers Manidae Review.
Sohamo S3 Step-Thru Folding EBike Review – A Great Value Folding Ebike – The Sohamo S3 Step-Thru Folding Ebike is an entry-level folding ebike that offers a lot of value for the price point. I’ve been riding the Sohamo S3 for a while now, putting the bike through its paces, and I have to say, this bike has exceeded all of my expectations. Check out my Sohamo Review.
KBO Flip Ebike – The KBO Flip is an excellent bike. I’ve had a great time riding it and think it’s a versatile bike that can be used for a lot of purposes and can fit a variety of lifestyles. It’s worked out great for me as a general commuter bike and as a food delivery bike. Check out my KBO Flip Review.
Hiboy P7 Commuter Ebike – The Hiboy P7 is an excellent electric commuter bike that’s offered at an affordable price point. The range and speed of this bike are both very good, so you won’t have any trouble getting anywhere you need to go with it. As a food delivery vehicle, this is also good – with how much range it offers, you’ll be able to work all day on a single charge. Check out my Hiboy P7 Commuter Electric Bike Review.
Himiway Escape Ebike – The Himiway Escape is an interesting bike for anyone looking for a moped-style ebike. If you’re a gig economy worker, the Himiway Escape is particularly interesting and it’s possible to think of it as an investment, especially if you can opt to do deliveries with the Himiway versus using a car. It’s not cheap, but you can definitely make your money back when you compare the mileage you’ll put on your car versus using an ebike. Check out my Himiway Escape Bike Review.
Espin Sport Ebike – The Espin Sport is a good ebike for someone who is looking for an ebike that feels and rides more like a regular bike. There are many ebikes that are really only bikes in name. In reality, they’re basically electric mopeds. The Espin Sport, by contrast, is a bike you could probably ride without the battery and you’d feel like you’re just riding a regular bike. Check out my Espin Sport Review.
Varla Eagle One Scooter – The Varla Eagle One is an excellent scooter that can make sense for a lot of people. It can work as a primary mode of transportation. You can use it to work on gig economy apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. And it can also be a recreational vehicle if you’d prefer to use it for that. Check out my Varla Eagle One Review.
Varla Falcon Scooter – The Varla Falcon is an excellent scooter that offers a good amount of power at a lower price point compared to more powerful scooters. It’s not exactly an entry-level scooter, nor is it a high-powered scooter. I think it fits somewhere in-between those two categories – an intermediate scooter if I had to give it a category. Check out my Varla Falcon Review.
Hiboy S2 Scooter – The Hiboy S2 is an excellent entry-level commuter scooter that's perfect for someone looking to save some money in transportation costs and improve their commute. Check out my Hiboy S2 Review.
Hiboy S2R Scooter – The Hiboy S2R is one of the more interesting electric scooters I’ve been able to test out. It’s not a high-powered scooter, but for an everyday transport option, it’s very useful, especially given some of the unique features that it has. Indeed, for the price, the Hiboy S2R might be the best value scooter I’ve used. Check out my Hiboy S2R Review.
Fucare H3 Scooter – The Fucare H3 is a fun scooter and I’ve enjoyed testing it out. For a daily commuter or quick trips or errands, the Fucare H3 is probably the scooter I’ll use. It’s portable and easy to maneuver, so it’s just easier to take on the road when I need it. Check out my Fucare H3 Scooter Review.

More Recommended Investing App Bonuses

For additional investing app bonuses, be sure to check out the ones below:

M1 Finance ($75) – This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $75 for opening an account. Check out my M1 Finance Referral Bonus – Step-By-Step Guide.
SoFi Invest ($25) – SoFi Invest is an easy brokerage account bonus that you can earn with just a few minutes of work. Use my SoFi Invest referral link, fund your SoFi Invest brokerage account with just $10 and you’ll get $25 of free stock. I also have a step-by-step guide for the SoFi Invest referral bonus.
Robinhood (1 free stock) – Robinhood gives you a free stock valued between $2.50-$225 if you open an account using my referral link.
Public (1 free stock) - Public gives you a free stock valued between $3-$70 if you open an account using my referral link.

More Recommended Bank Account Bonuses

If you’re looking for more easy bank bonuses, check out the below options. These bonuses are all easy to earn and have no fees or minimum balance requirements to worry about.

Ally Bank ($100) – Of all the banks out there, Ally is, without a doubt, my favorite. At the moment, Ally is offering $100 to customers who open an eligible Ally account and meet the requirements. Here are the step-by-step directions to earn your Ally Bank referral bonus.
Chime ($100) - Chime is a free bank account that offers a referral bonus if you use a referral link and complete a direct deposit of $200 or more. In practice, any ACH transfer into this account triggers the bonus. This bonus is easy to earn and posts instantly, so you’ll know if you met the requirements as soon as you move money into the account. I wrote a step-by-step guide on how to earn your Chime referral bonus that I recommend you check out.
US Bank Business ($400/$1200) – This is a fairly easy bank bonus to earn, since there are no direct deposit requirements. In addition, you can open the Silver Business Checking account, which comes with no monthly fees. Check out how to earn this big bonus here.
Current ($50) – Current is a free fintech bank that’s offering new users a $50 referral bonus after signing up for an account using a referral link. Current is an easy bonus to earn and also gives you access to three savings accounts that pay you 4% interest on up to $2,000. That means you can put away up to $6,000 earning 4% interest. That’s very good and makes Current an account I recommend to everyone. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to earn your Current Bank bonus.
Novo Bank ($40) - Novo bank is a free business checking account that’s currently offering a $40 bonus if you open a Novo business checking account using a referral link. In addition to being a good bank bonus, Novo is also a good business checking account. It has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements and operates a good app and website. Indeed, it’s the business checking account I currently use for this blog. Check out my post on how to easily open a Novo account.
Varo ($25) – Varo is a free fintech banking app similar to Chime or Current. It’s currently offering a $25 bonus to new users that open a new Varo account with a referral link. The bonus for this bank is very easy to meet, all you need to do is spend $20 within 30 days of opening your Varo account. Check out my step-by-step guide to learn how to earn this bonus.

Kevin is an attorney and the blogger behind Financial Panther, a blog about personal finance, travel hacking, and side hustling using the gig economy. He paid off $87,000 worth of student loans in just 2.5 years by choosing not to live like a big shot lawyer.

Kevin is passionate about earning money using the gig economy and you can see all the ways he makes extra income every month in his side hustle reports.

Kevin is also big on using the latest fintech apps to improve his finances. Some of Kevin's favorite fintech apps include:

SoFi Money. A really good checking account with absolutely no fees. You'll get a $25 referral bonus if you open a SoFi Money account with a referral link, and an additional $300 if you complete a direct deposit.
5% Savings Accounts. I'm currently getting 5.24% interest on my savings through a company called Raisin. Opening a Raisin account takes minutes to complete, it's free, and all of your funds are FDIC-insured. I explain how it works, why I'm now using it to store my emergency fund and any other cash savings I have, and why I recommend everyone check it out in this review.
US Bank Business. US Bank is currently offering new business customers a $400/$1200 signup bonus after opening a new account and meeting certain requirements.
M1 Finance. This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $75 for opening an account.
Empower. One of best free apps you can use to monitor your portfolio and track your net worth. This is one of the apps I use to track my financial accounts.

Feel free to send Kevin a message here.