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For personal advice regarding your financial situation, please consult with a financial advisor. These cards can be easier to get — some may not require a credit check at all — but they often charge high fees, sometimes hundreds of dollars a year. credit bureaus.

That defeats the purpose of getting such a card, which is to build your credit. Even if you have poor, thin or no credit, products from subprime specialist lenders aren't your only option.

Secured credit cards require a refundable cash deposit, which is usually equal to your credit limit. The deposit reduces the risk to the issuer; in the event you don't pay your bill, the card issuer will close the account and use the deposit to pay the outstanding charges.

You use a secured card just like any other credit card, making purchases and paying them off. If you make payments on time and keep your credit utilization low, the card can help you build good credit.

And when you close the account or upgrade to a regular unsecured card from the same issuer, you get your deposit back. Here are some of NerdWallet's top secured credit cards:.

The Discover it® Secured Credit Card has been a NerdWallet favorite because it offers rewards — a rare feature on secured credit cards. The card has a bonus offer: INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match — only from Discover.

Just a dollar-for-dollar match. It also offers a path to upgrade: After seven months, Discover begins reviewing your account to determine whether your account can be upgraded to an unsecured card. It doesn't require a credit score to apply.

These deposits can also be made in installments. You could gain access to a higher credit limit with no additional deposit if you pay on time for as little as six months. Approval standards are tighter for this card than for some others.

The OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card card doesn't require a credit check, and you can pay your bill with a debit card, wire transfer, money order or check. In addition, the card reports to all three credit bureaus.

In the long term, it's an expensive and limiting option. Again, approval for secured credit cards is not guaranteed. You might still be declined if, for example, you don't have a source of income, you don't have a bank account, or you have an undischarged bankruptcy. You're not necessarily limited to secured products either.

Some newer unsecured credit cards can opt not to rely solely on traditional FICO scores to evaluate creditworthiness. Two cards from Petal — the Petal® 1 "No Annual Fee" Visa® Credit Card and Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card — are good examples.

Petal's issuing bank — WebBank, Member FDIC — can use proprietary underwriting, taking into account factors like an applicant's cash flow. This could make either card a good choice for someone who lacks a strong enough credit history otherwise.

Again, neither card requires a security deposit, and both report your payments to the three major credit bureaus. You'll often need at least some existing credit to qualify for a student credit card, and in most cases you must also be an enrolled student. But some student cards — like the Discover it® Student Cash Back and the Discover it® Student Chrome — don't have any kind of FICO history requirement for applicants.

Neither of these Discover products charges an annual fee or security deposit, and both earn rewards. Store credit cards generally have less stringent credit requirements, meaning they can be easier to get than other kinds of cards.

But you'll still usually need at least fair credit to qualify FICO scores of at least , and you'll also likely encounter higher APRs and lower credit limits with these kinds of products. In addition, you may run into acceptance issues: Some store cards are "closed loop" products, meaning you can't use them for purchases outside of the brand.

If you become an authorized user of someone else's card account, you'll get your own credit card with your name on it — no credit check required.

That's because you're not opening an account; you're merely being added to a primary user's account often a spouse or parent. Even though you'll be able to make charges with the card as an authorized user, the primary user is the one responsible for actually paying the bill.

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. Instant Approval Credit Cards May Not Offer What You Seek. Follow the writers.

MORE LIKE THIS Credit Cards Choosing a Credit Card Credit Card Resources. Instant approval vs. instant access vs. guaranteed approval.

Trying to get approved for a card? Create a NerdWallet account for insight on your credit score and personalized recommendations for the right card for you.

GET STARTED. But there are exceptions. Major issuers and their policies on instant credit access:. American Express.

Bank of America®. Capital One. Wells Fargo. Secured credit cards. For rewards and upgrading: Discover it® Secured Credit Card. NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.

Apply Now. Read Review. For low deposit: Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card. For no credit check or bank account: OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card.

Alternative credit cards. Student credit cards. Store credit cards.

The best credit card for instant approval and use is the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. Applicants can get approved instantly Best Instant-Use Credit Cards That Issue Card Numbers Upon Approval [February ] ; Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express · $ · $0 American Express is by far the easiest bank when it comes to getting an instant card number. All cardmembers receive immediate access to their card number upon

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