It's also important to note that you may only be able to use a portion of your credit limit while you wait for your physical card. Below, we'll list credit cards that offer instant access, without waiting for the physical card to arrive in the mail.

Most credit card issuers offer an instant decision on whether you're approved or denied, but don't frequently offer instant use of your card. All Amex cards have the ability to receive an instant card number once your identity is validated.

If you're approved for a card and are eligible for instant access, you'll receive your card number, temporary four-digit card identification number and expiration date that allows you to use the card anywhere American Express is accepted.

Take note that Amex co-branded cards may only be used with the brand until you receive your physical card. For instance, a temporary co-branded Delta Amex card may only be valid at Delta. If you open a co-branded or store credit card at checkout online or in-store you can begin using your card right away.

You'll typically receive a temporary card number or barcode on your receipt that allows you to use the card at the retailer.

Store cards can only be used at the retailer, but co-branded cards can be used anywhere the card is accepted. However, a temporary co-branded store card might only be accepted at the store, as is the case with the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi see rates and fees.

You'll have to wait to use the card elsewhere until it arrives in the mail. There are exceptions to that rule, such as the Apple Card. New Apple cardholders receive access to the card instantly after approval and can load it to their Apple Wallet for immediate use anywhere Mastercard is accepted.

As you'll notice from the cards mentioned above, instant card numbers primarily come with Amex cards, co-branded cards and store cards. That leaves out many major card issuers, such as Discover and Chase, so you'll have to wait roughly 10 business days to receive those cards in the mail before being able to use them.

However, you may be able to get your new card sooner if you're approved for a premium card. Many issuers provide expedited shipping for high-end cards or upon request for any card. Keep in mind, if you request faster shipment, you may have to pay a fee.

Before submitting your request, consider whether you really need the card ASAP and whether the fee is worthwhile. If it's not, you can simply wait for it to arrive in the mail. Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox.

Sign up here. At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money.

Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products.

While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of credit cards , banking and money , and follow us on TikTok , Facebook , Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date. For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, click here.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here. For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here. Citi Custom Cash® Card. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card. Other notable options.

Major issuers and their policies on instant credit access. Terms Apply. Terms apply see rates and fees. Eligible cardholders will be able to get an instant card number immediately after being approved online.

The number can be used anywhere American Express is accepted where a physical card isn't required. Eligibility for an instant card number is based on AmEx's ability to instantly verify your identity.

Instant card numbers are available only on online AmEx applications, not through applications processed by phone. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a popular card for frequent travelers seeking perks without the big price tag of ultra-premium cards.

Points are worth 1. Upon approval, you can add the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to your digital wallet to use when shopping in person or online, where digital wallets are accepted.

Chase-issued cards are compatible with several well-known digital wallets, including Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay. You'll need to have at least one existing account with Bank of America® and open the new card through a targeted promotion in the bank's mobile app in order to qualify for an instant card number.

If you meet these qualifications, you can add your new card information to a digital wallet until your physical card arrives. This isn't an option if you apply through the app but don't select one of the targeted promotions. Upon approval, card members will have only one opportunity to write down their temporary account information.

Access to account information will not be available again until the physical card arrives in the mail, which may take seven to 10 days. According to Citi, most customers who receive instant access to their credit card details can access a portion of their full credit limit immediately.

Once they have the physical card in hand, they will have access to the full credit line. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is designed for people who want travel rewards that are easy to earn and nearly effortless to redeem.

Miles are worth 1 cent each and can be used to book travel through Capital One, redeemed as a statement credit against travel purchases, or transferred to multiple partner airline and hotel programs. Once your application is approved, a virtual card number will become accessible through the Capital One app.

The U. Bank issues an instant card number for all new applicants who pass an identity verification. The card number can be added to your virtual wallet for immediate use both in stores and online.

The Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card , issued by Wells Fargo, allows cardholders to pay rent with their card without any fees and earn valuable, transferrable travel rewards.

Note: You must make five purchases per billing cycle with the Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card to qualify for the rewards. Approved cardholders will receive a digital Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card instantly through the Bilt app. Those card details can then be added to a mobile wallet for immediate use, both in stores and online.

Many popular "co-branded" credit cards — whether store cards or cards that are offered in partnership with another kind of business — offer instant credit access.

Here are some notable examples:. The Apple Card , issued by Goldman Sachs, can be used immediately through Apple Pay after approval. Once approved for the Amazon Prime Visa card, you'll be able to access it from your Amazon account and use it to make Amazon purchases.

You'll have to wait for the physical card to show up to use it at other retailers. Note that this access comes from Amazon, not Chase.

Cardless , a credit card provider that partners with various pro sports franchises, has a mobile app that allows for instant access to a virtual card number upon approval. The Digital First Card , from Deserve, lets those who are approved use the card instantly through Apple Pay.

The PayPal Cashback Mastercard® , issued by Synchrony Bank, can be used right away for purchases processed through PayPal.

The Venmo Credit Card , issued by Synchrony Bank, can be used instantly upon approval. The card lives within the Venmo app and can be added to some digital wallets with the exception of Apple Pay.

NerdWallet's survey of issuers found that while many of them offer some form of instant access to credit, American Express has by far the most comprehensive policy. With AmEx, all consumer cards give you access to an instant card number that you can use almost anywhere, as long as the issuer can instantly verify your identity.

Other issuers either didn't offer instant access to credit or made it available on a more limited basis. The following list is accurate as of October Upon account approval, an instant card number can be made available on select American Express U.

consumer credit and charge cards, including co-branded cards, according to the issuer. Applicants must meet certain criteria to receive an instant card number, but if you are eligible, you will receive an instant card number that can be used virtually anywhere AmEx is accepted, and a physical card will not be required.

An instant card number is available only when you apply online for select U. consumer credit and charge cards through American Express via a desktop or mobile device and meet all required criteria, AmEx says. It's not available on applications made by phone.

This functionality allows eligible clients to enjoy immediate access to credit without waiting for physical cards to arrive in the mail. The following cards do not offer instant credit upon approval, according to Barclays:. The AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®.

But the issuer notes that several of its other co-branded cards do offer instant credit under certain circumstances. A sampling:. The Frontier Airlines World Mastercard® offers instant credit upon approval toward your Frontier purchase when you apply while booking a flight or other travel through the site.

The Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® offers instant credit upon approval when you apply while booking a flight or other travel through the site.

Credit Cards That Offer Instant Credit Card Numbers ; Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card Editor's picks: Instant approval credit card details. Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Best for welcome offer with no annual fee The best credit card for instant approval and use is the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. Applicants can get approved instantly for this

Instant approval cash back credit cards - Top credit cards that give instant rewards · Apple Card · Capital One cards · Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card · U.S. Bank cards · American Credit Cards That Offer Instant Credit Card Numbers ; Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card Editor's picks: Instant approval credit card details. Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Best for welcome offer with no annual fee The best credit card for instant approval and use is the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. Applicants can get approved instantly for this

Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox. Sign up here. At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money.

Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of credit cards , banking and money , and follow us on TikTok , Facebook , Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date. For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, click here.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here. For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.

For rates and fees of the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card, click here. For rates and fees of the American Express Cash Magnet® Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, click here.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here. If you purchase something through the Amazon credit card links, we may earn a commission.

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National Debt Relief. LendingClub High-Yield Savings. This isn't an option if you apply through the app but don't select one of the targeted promotions. Upon approval, card members will have only one opportunity to write down their temporary account information.

Access to account information will not be available again until the physical card arrives in the mail, which may take seven to 10 days.

According to Citi, most customers who receive instant access to their credit card details can access a portion of their full credit limit immediately. Once they have the physical card in hand, they will have access to the full credit line.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is designed for people who want travel rewards that are easy to earn and nearly effortless to redeem. Miles are worth 1 cent each and can be used to book travel through Capital One, redeemed as a statement credit against travel purchases, or transferred to multiple partner airline and hotel programs.

Once your application is approved, a virtual card number will become accessible through the Capital One app. The U. Bank issues an instant card number for all new applicants who pass an identity verification.

The card number can be added to your virtual wallet for immediate use both in stores and online. The Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card , issued by Wells Fargo, allows cardholders to pay rent with their card without any fees and earn valuable, transferrable travel rewards.

Note: You must make five purchases per billing cycle with the Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card to qualify for the rewards. Approved cardholders will receive a digital Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card instantly through the Bilt app.

Those card details can then be added to a mobile wallet for immediate use, both in stores and online. Many popular "co-branded" credit cards — whether store cards or cards that are offered in partnership with another kind of business — offer instant credit access. Here are some notable examples:.

The Apple Card , issued by Goldman Sachs, can be used immediately through Apple Pay after approval. Once approved for the Amazon Prime Visa card, you'll be able to access it from your Amazon account and use it to make Amazon purchases. You'll have to wait for the physical card to show up to use it at other retailers.

Note that this access comes from Amazon, not Chase. Cardless , a credit card provider that partners with various pro sports franchises, has a mobile app that allows for instant access to a virtual card number upon approval. The Digital First Card , from Deserve, lets those who are approved use the card instantly through Apple Pay.

The PayPal Cashback Mastercard® , issued by Synchrony Bank, can be used right away for purchases processed through PayPal. The Venmo Credit Card , issued by Synchrony Bank, can be used instantly upon approval.

The card lives within the Venmo app and can be added to some digital wallets with the exception of Apple Pay. NerdWallet's survey of issuers found that while many of them offer some form of instant access to credit, American Express has by far the most comprehensive policy.

With AmEx, all consumer cards give you access to an instant card number that you can use almost anywhere, as long as the issuer can instantly verify your identity. Other issuers either didn't offer instant access to credit or made it available on a more limited basis.

The following list is accurate as of October Upon account approval, an instant card number can be made available on select American Express U. consumer credit and charge cards, including co-branded cards, according to the issuer. Applicants must meet certain criteria to receive an instant card number, but if you are eligible, you will receive an instant card number that can be used virtually anywhere AmEx is accepted, and a physical card will not be required.

An instant card number is available only when you apply online for select U. consumer credit and charge cards through American Express via a desktop or mobile device and meet all required criteria, AmEx says. It's not available on applications made by phone.

This functionality allows eligible clients to enjoy immediate access to credit without waiting for physical cards to arrive in the mail. The following cards do not offer instant credit upon approval, according to Barclays:.

The AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®. But the issuer notes that several of its other co-branded cards do offer instant credit under certain circumstances. When you are approved for the SoFi Credit Card , you can immediately add it to a digital wallet and begin using it for purchases with your mobile device.

Several Barclays co-branded credit cards offer instant card numbers and credit available for purchases made through the co-branded website:. The Apple Card will allow cardholders to use the card instantly upon approval via the Wallet app on your iPhone.

The only cards offered by Synchrony that give instant access to your card number are:. USAA will give you an instant card number to use, along with the expiration date and 3-digit code.

This option is currently limited to those processing a credit card application with the text-to-apply option, which only can happen for an application processed by a banker, either in-branch, over the phone, or via email. The most important thing to remember is that not all credit cards, or credit issuers, offer an instant card number feature.

Some issuers, like American Express, will provide you with an account number immediately upon approval that you can begin using until your physical card arrives. A great card option that is relatively easy to be approved for and offers instant use is the Freedom Unlimited card.

While some credit cards are easier to get than others, for those that are worth having at least where earning rewards are concerned, you will need a relatively strong credit score no matter what.

Yes, in fact, 2 of our favorite business cards, The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express and the American Express ® Business Gold Card are both able to receive an instant card number after being approved for the card. This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card tailored toward business owners who are frequent travelers with a high number of annual expenses. The current public offer is , points. This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.

American Express Membership Rewards. The American Express ® Business Gold Card is excellent at racking up rewards for your business spend. With no need to opt-in or preselect your categories, so you can focus on what matters most — running your business.

We highly recommend both business cards, not just for the rewards and benefits they provide, but as great options for those who need a business card that they can use instantly.

If you happen to need access to your card right away, we recommend you consider an American Express card, as that will likely be your best bet.

Keep in mind that these policies can change at any time, and issuers can operate at their own discretion when deciding whether or not to issue your new card number instantly. We love it when our readers share their experiences with us, so if you have a data point that confirms or conflicts with ours, please let us know in the comments below!

The information regarding The JetBlue Plus Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature ® credit card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

The information regarding the SoFi Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

The information regarding the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard ® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

The information regarding the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding The JetBlue Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

The information regarding the Apple Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here. For rates and fees of the American Express ® Gold Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday ® from American Express, click here.

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred ® Card from American Express, click here. For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here.

For rates and fees of the American Express ® Business Gold Card, click here. Unless the credit card issuer allows newly approved cardholders instant access to their card number, you will have to wait until the card arrives in the mail.

You can begin using your card immediately after receiving it in the mail and following the designated instructions to activate. Assuming you apply online and receive instant approval, some issuers like American Express can provide you with access to your credit card number immediately, but others will not.

However, another option is to ask if your card can be shipped via expedited mail. In some cases, you may be approved instantly after submitting your application. However, it is not uncommon for an issuer to need extra time to review your application before making a decision on whether or not to approve it.

In some instances, they may take 2 weeks, or more, to review your application. Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times.

We respect your privacy. Google's privacy policy and terms of service apply. This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.

Advertiser Disclosure Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation.

Jarrod West Senior Content Contributor Countries Visited: 21 U. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in o Edited by: Stella Shon ×. Stella Shon News Managing Editor Countries Visited: 25 U. With a degree in media and journalism, Stella has been in the points and miles game for more than 6 years.

She most recently worked as a Corporate Communications Analyst for JetBlue. Find her work in Keri Stooksbury Editor-in-Chief Countries Visited: 44 U. With years of experience in corporate marketing and as the Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar, Keri is now Editor-in-Chief at UP, overseeing daily content operations and r Close In This Article Best Instant-Use Credit Cards by Category Why Would You Need an Instant Credit Card Number?

Bank Wells Fargo Issuers That Do Not Currently Offer Instant Card Numbers How Do I Get an Instant Credit Card Number? What Is the Easiest Instant Credit Card To Get? Are There Business Credit Cards That Offer Instant Use? Final Thoughts. Upgraded Points: Expertise You Can Trust.

Rating The U. Rating System. The ratings for these cards have been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products.

Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. Best Instant-Use Credit Cards by Category SCROLL FOR MORE.

Instant approval cash back credit cards - Top credit cards that give instant rewards · Apple Card · Capital One cards · Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card · U.S. Bank cards · American Credit Cards That Offer Instant Credit Card Numbers ; Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card Editor's picks: Instant approval credit card details. Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Best for welcome offer with no annual fee The best credit card for instant approval and use is the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. Applicants can get approved instantly for this

Then, WebBank, analyzes your bank statements and other data, such as bill payments and earnings, to determine your eligibility. The best part of the Petal 2 card is its lack of fees, it has no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, no late payment fee and no returned payment fee.

The ability to earn up to 1. Check out CNBC Select's best credit cards for bad credit. The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is an excellent secured credit card that not only earns rewards but also comes with a potentially lucrative welcome bonus.

The cash back you earn during the first year you have the card will be matched. What's nice about this offer is there's no minimum spending requirement , so you won't risk missing out on your intro bonus.

Plus, this card charges no foreign transaction fees. The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is an easier credit card to get, even if you're in the process of rebuilding your credit.

It allows you to earn rewards as you improve your credit score and offers a clear path to upgrading to an unsecured card.

The Discover it® Secured Credit Card requires a refundable security deposit, but after seven months there's an automatic review to see if you can be moved to an unsecured card.

This takes the guesswork out of wondering when you'll qualify for an unsecured credit card. There are no foreign transaction fees, so you won't be dinged for using the card abroad. The cashback you earn can be redeemed at any time with no minimums, including directly through PayPal.

Check out CNBC Select's best cards for building credit. If you have bad credit, the Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card is one of the easiest cards to get because the issuer considers other factors, such as banking activity, in addition to your credit score.

If you have a credit score of , the easiest credit cards to get will be secured credit cards that require a deposit, such as the Discover it® Secured Credit Card or U. To become an authorized user on someone else's credit card account, the primary account holder needs to add you as an authorized user.

Authorized users get their own credit card but typically won't have access to the same benefits available to the primary cardholder and there could be a fee for adding authorized users. Store credit cards are typically easier to qualify for, but they can have limited rewards or other limitations.

Many store cards can only be used with that particular retailer or have fewer useful benefits than other types of credit cards. Just because you're a beginner or are repairing your credit doesn't mean you can't get approved for a credit card or have to sacrifice the opportunity to earn rewards.

The best easy-to-get credit cards earn rewards that compete with cards that have stricter credit score requirements. Even some secured credit cards can offer the opportunity to earn cash back on your purchases.

After a few months of paying your bills on time and in full, you may be able to upgrade or switch to an even more generous card. Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox.

Sign up here. At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products.

While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best easy credit cards.

To determine which cards will put the most money back in your pocket, CNBC Select evaluated credit cards offered by the biggest banks, financial companies and credit unions that allow anyone to join. We compared each card on a range of features, including cash-back rewards, annual fee, welcome bonus, introductory and standard APR, balance transfer fee and foreign transaction fees, as well as factors such as required credit and customer reviews when available.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of credit cards , banking and money , and follow us on TikTok , Facebook , Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date. Some may not see improved scores or approval odds. Not all lenders use Experian credit files, and not all lenders use scores impacted by Experian Boost.

Information about the U. For rates and fees of the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Discover it® Student Cash Back, click here.

Skip Navigation. Credit Cards. Follow Select. Our top picks of timely offers from our partners More details. Choice Home Warranty. National Debt Relief. LendingClub High-Yield Savings. Freedom Debt Relief. UFB Secure Savings.

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Learn More. View More. Pros No annual fee You can earn cash-back for everyday spending, a rare feature for a secured credit card Opportunity to upgrade to an unsecured card if you pay your bills on time and stay within your credit limit Flexibility to change your payment due date. On Discover's secure site.

Pros Cash-back program Generous welcome bonus. citizen and college student to apply for this card. Cons Card isn't for rebuilding credit, but it's good for building credit No special financing offers No welcome bonus.

Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. Pros Cash-back program Generous welcome bonus Starting at seven months from account opening, Discover will automatically review your credit card account to see if you can transition to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.

Who's this for? Standout benefits The best part of this card is its simplicity. See rates and fees Check out CNBC Select's best cash-back credit cards. Approved cardholders will receive a digital Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card instantly through the Bilt app.

Those card details can then be added to a mobile wallet for immediate use, both in stores and online. Many popular "co-branded" credit cards — whether store cards or cards that are offered in partnership with another kind of business — offer instant credit access.

Here are some notable examples:. The Apple Card , issued by Goldman Sachs, can be used immediately through Apple Pay after approval. Once approved for the Amazon Prime Visa card, you'll be able to access it from your Amazon account and use it to make Amazon purchases.

You'll have to wait for the physical card to show up to use it at other retailers. Note that this access comes from Amazon, not Chase. Cardless , a credit card provider that partners with various pro sports franchises, has a mobile app that allows for instant access to a virtual card number upon approval.

The Digital First Card , from Deserve, lets those who are approved use the card instantly through Apple Pay. The PayPal Cashback Mastercard® , issued by Synchrony Bank, can be used right away for purchases processed through PayPal.

The Venmo Credit Card , issued by Synchrony Bank, can be used instantly upon approval. The card lives within the Venmo app and can be added to some digital wallets with the exception of Apple Pay. NerdWallet's survey of issuers found that while many of them offer some form of instant access to credit, American Express has by far the most comprehensive policy.

With AmEx, all consumer cards give you access to an instant card number that you can use almost anywhere, as long as the issuer can instantly verify your identity. Other issuers either didn't offer instant access to credit or made it available on a more limited basis.

The following list is accurate as of October Upon account approval, an instant card number can be made available on select American Express U. consumer credit and charge cards, including co-branded cards, according to the issuer.

Applicants must meet certain criteria to receive an instant card number, but if you are eligible, you will receive an instant card number that can be used virtually anywhere AmEx is accepted, and a physical card will not be required.

An instant card number is available only when you apply online for select U. consumer credit and charge cards through American Express via a desktop or mobile device and meet all required criteria, AmEx says. It's not available on applications made by phone. This functionality allows eligible clients to enjoy immediate access to credit without waiting for physical cards to arrive in the mail.

The following cards do not offer instant credit upon approval, according to Barclays:. The AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®. But the issuer notes that several of its other co-branded cards do offer instant credit under certain circumstances.

A sampling:. The Frontier Airlines World Mastercard® offers instant credit upon approval toward your Frontier purchase when you apply while booking a flight or other travel through the site.

The Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® offers instant credit upon approval when you apply while booking a flight or other travel through the site.

The Holland America Line Rewards Visa® Card offers instant credit upon approval when you apply while booking a cruise or when you apply onboard. The JetBlue Card offers instant credit upon approval toward your JetBlue purchase when you apply while booking a flight or vacation through the site.

The Princess Cruises Rewards Visa® Card offers instant credit upon approval when you apply while booking a cruise or when you apply onboard. The Carnival World Mastercard offers instant credit upon approval when you apply while booking a cruise or when you apply onboard.

The RCI Elite Rewards Mastercard offers instant credit upon approval when you apply while visiting one of the resorts in the RCI affiliate network. The majority of new Capital One cardholders will receive a virtual card number upon approval, according to Capital One.

That number will be accessible through the Capital One app and can be used for online shopping while you wait for your physical card to arrive.

Many Chase consumer cards that are on the Visa payment network can be immediately added to digital wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay upon approval, so you can shop in person or online wherever your digital wallet is accepted.

This also includes a number of co-branded Chase airline and hotel cards. Business credit cards are also excluded. For the Costco card, you'll get access to a temporary barcode linked to your account that can only be used for purchases at Costco warehouses. Discover does not offer instant card numbers upon approval for its credit cards, the issuer confirms.

Per U. Bank's website, the issuer may offer instant credit card numbers for consumer cards such as the U. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card and U. Some applicants who are approved may be granted instant access to their credit card number, allowing them to add the card to a digital wallet.

On a similar note Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you. Credit Cards. Credit Cards You Can Use Instantly After Approval. Follow the writers. MORE LIKE THIS Credit Cards Travel Rewards Credit Cards Applying for a Credit Card Credit Card Basics Credit Card Resources.

Top credit cards you can use instantly after approval. Our pick for: Intro APR. Why we like it. NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.

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