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If you want a credit card but have no credit history, there are plenty of options — as long as you limit your search mostly to secured and student cards. Use our table to compare your options and narrow your search by clicking "Show filters" to see products that fit your credit range and have features that will benefit you most.
Finder rating 4 / 5 ★★★★★
| Welcome Offer | n/a |
|---|---|
| Rewards | None |
| Annual Fee | $35 |
| Minimum Credit Score | 300 |
Finder rating 3.1 / 5 ★★★★★
| Welcome Offer | n/a |
|---|---|
| Rewards | 10% cash back |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Minimum Credit Score | New to credit |
Finder rating 4 / 5 ★★★★★
| Welcome Offer | n/a |
|---|---|
| Rewards | None |
| Annual Fee | $25 |
| Minimum Credit Score | 300 |
Finder rating 4.3 / 5 ★★★★★
| Welcome Offer | n/a |
|---|---|
| Rewards | 1% cash back |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Minimum Credit Score | New to credit |
If you’re just moving to the US, you’ll want to look at credit cards that cater to those without prior credit history and a Social Security number. Though your choices are more limited than traditional credit cards, you do have several strong no-credit options for immigrants.
To get a credit card with no credit:
Here are a few tips to increase your odds of approval:
If you have no credit history, follow these steps to start building it:
In addition to these things, you can also help your score by keeping your card balance low, retaining your cards for a long time, opening other types of credit accounts and opening new accounts sparingly. The aim is to eventually build a good credit score — at least 670 for your FICO score. This gives you the opportunity to apply for more valuable credit cards and get better interest rates on loans. There are four types of credit-building credit cards that are especially useful if you’re just starting out.
You’ll want to apply for credit cards you have a good chance of being approved for. These include:
When you’re looking for the right credit card for no credit, you’ll want to ask yourself a few questions to narrow down your choices:
If you have no credit, it means you have no history on your credit report.
Your credit report is a record that shows information such as your debt, payment history and how long you’ve had credit accounts. If you haven’t borrowed money — for example, through a loan or credit card — you won’t have a credit history.
A credit history is important because it’s similar to a report card. It’s something lenders can use to judge how reliable of a borrower you are. If you have no credit, you’re a question mark to lenders, and they’ll be more hesitant to accept you as a customer.
Your credit score plays an important role in whether providers are willing to lend to you when it comes to making big purchases. Personal loans, mortgages, and auto loans are just a few of the big-ticket items you’ll need to consider as you make life’s big purchases. Depending on your credit score, the amount a provider is willing to loan you can increase or decrease.
You can check your credit score through one of the three major credit bureaus.
One of the best ways to beef up your credit report is by opening a credit card.
Look for a product that’s available to someone new to credit — such as a secured card. Unlike an unsecured card, a secured card requires you to put down a deposit which serves as your credit limit. As you spend with your card and pay your card bill on time, your provider will report your positive payment activity to the credit bureaus. Eventually, you’ll get a credit score. And as you continue being a responsible cardholder, you’ll steadily see your score rise.
Scott Nelson, CEO of MoneyNerd Ltd, tells Finder that building credit is important for a several reasons.
“In today’s society, it is very rare for an individual to be able to go through life without the need for credit, a mortgage or any other financial product,”
“For this reason, in order to qualify for the best financial products and, more importantly, the lowest interest rates granted to prime
borrowers, one must have a strong credit history.
“Without a strong credit history, you may be declined loans, receive extremely high interest rates and end up in greater debt through being forced into taking out poor financial products like payday loans.”
If you have no credit, there are plenty of good credit cards to start with. As you make card payments on time, you’ll steadily build your credit score. With a strong score, you can apply for better credit cards, including cashback and travel products.
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