First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card
No Credit History or Minimum Credit Score Required
- Regular Purchase APR 9.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance APR 18.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Annual Fee $49
- Credit Needed Poor , No Credit Required
- Processing Network Mastercard
- Get a fresh start! A discharged bankruptcy still in your credit bureau file will not cause you to be declined
- Quick and Complete Online Application; No credit inquiry required!
- Full-Feature Platinum Mastercard® Secured Credit Card; Try our new Mobile App for Android users!
- Monthly Reporting to all 3 Major Credit Bureaus to Establish Credit History
- 24/7 Online Access to Your Account
- Nationwide Program though not yet available in NY, IA, AR, or WI ** See Card Terms
- Includes Free Real-Time Access to Your Credit Score and Ongoing Credit Monitoring powered by Experian
- Regular Purchase APR: 9.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance APR: 18.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: Either $10 or 3% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Annual Fee: $49
- Foreign Transaction Fee: 3% of the transaction amount
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $40
- Return Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $29
- Minimum Deposit Required: $200
Oakstone Gold Secured Mastercard®
Fast, Easy Application Process
- Regular Purchase APR 13.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance APR 19.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Annual Fee $39
- Credit Needed Poor , No Credit Required
- Processing Network Mastercard
- Credit lines available from $200 to $5,000. Low 13.99% variable interest rate on purchases - with no penalty rate
- No minimum credit score requirements. We invite all credit types to apply. No processing or application fees
- Helps strengthen your credit with responsible card use. Reports to three national bureaus
- Fast, easy application process. Choose your credit line and open your Personal Savings Deposit Account to secure your line
- Nationwide Program though not yet available in NY, IA, AR, or WI
- See website for additional Oakstone Gold Secured Mastercard® details
- Includes Free Real-Time Access to Your Credit Score and Ongoing Credit Monitoring powered by Experian
- Get a fresh start! A discharged bankruptcy still in your credit bureau file will not cause you to be declined
- Regular Purchase APR: 13.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance APR: 19.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: Either $10 or 3% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Annual Fee: $39
- Foreign Transaction Fee: 3% of the transaction amount in U.S. dollars
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $40
- Return Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $29
- Minimum Deposit Required: $200
Oakstone Platinum Secured Mastercard®
Credit Lines Available From $200 to $5,000
- Regular Purchase APR 9.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance APR 18.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Annual Fee $49
- Credit Needed Poor , No Credit Required
- Processing Network Mastercard
- Credit lines available from $200 to $5,000! Super Low 9.99% variable interest rate on purchases - with no penalty rate
- No minimum credit score requirements! We invite all credit types to apply. No processing or application fees
- Helps strengthen your credit with responsible card use. Reports to three national bureaus
- Fast, easy application process. Choose your credit line and open your Personal Savings Deposit Account to secure your line
- Nationwide Program though not yet available in NY, IA, AR, or WI
- See website for additional Oakstone Platinum Secured Mastercard® details
- Includes Free Real-Time Access to Your Credit Score and Ongoing Credit Monitoring powered by Experian
- Get a fresh start! A discharged bankruptcy still in your credit bureau file will not cause you to be declined
- Regular Purchase APR: 9.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance APR: 18.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: Either $10 or 3% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Annual Fee: $49
- Foreign Transaction Fee: 3% of the transaction amount in U.S. dollars
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $40
- Return Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $29
- Minimum Deposit Required: $200
Showing 121 Cards
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Disney® Visa® Debit Card
- Annual Fee None
- Credit Needed No Credit Required
- Processing Network Visa
- Save 10% on select purchases at Disney store and shopDisney.com
- Pose for special photos at our private Cardmember locations at Walt Disney World® Resort and the Disneyland® Resort
- 10% off select merchandise purchases of $50 or more at select Disney locations
- 10% off select dining locations most days at Walt Disney World® Resort and the Disneyland® Resort.
- 10% off the non-discounted price of select recreation experiences at Walt Disney World® Resort.
- Foreign Transaction Fee: 3% of the transaction in U.S. dollars
Delta SkyMiles® Debit Card
- Annual Fee $0 for the first year, up to $95 after that
- Credit Needed No Credit Required
- Processing Network Mastercard
- No annual fee for the first year
- Earn 1 miles for every $2 spent on eligible purchases
- Miles never expire
- Annual Fee: $0 for the first year, up to $95 after that
- Minimum Deposit Required: $100
Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card
- Regular Purchase APR 23.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer APR 23.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance APR 26.99% to 27.24% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Annual Fee None
- Credit Needed No Credit Required
- Processing Network Visa
- No annual fee
- Monthly reporting to the 3 major credit bureaus
- Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- Chance at a deposit return with responsible usage
- Regular Purchase APR: 23.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer APR: 23.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer Transaction Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater
- Cash Advance APR: 26.99% to 27.24% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: Either $10 or 3% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater
- Penalty APR: Up to 29.99%
- Foreign Transaction Fee: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each transaction in U.S. dollars
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $40
- Return Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $29
- Minimum Deposit Required: $300
Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students
- Regular Purchase APR 13.99% to 23.99% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer APR 13.99% to 23.99% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance APR 16.99% to 26.99% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Annual Fee None
- Credit Needed Fair , No Credit Required
- Intro Purchase APR 0% for 15 months
- Processing Network Visa
- No annual fee
- Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase
- Build credit with responsible use
- 0% introductory APR for 15 months from account opening
- Intro Purchase APR: 0% for 15 months
- Regular Purchase APR: 13.99% to 23.99% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Intro Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 months for transactions made within 60 days of account opening
- Balance Transfer APR: 13.99% to 23.99% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer Transaction Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater
- Cash Advance APR: 16.99% to 26.99% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: Either $10 or 3% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater
- Penalty APR: Up to 29.99%
- Foreign Transaction Fee: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each transaction in U.S. dollars
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $40
- Return Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $29
Tomo Card
- Regular Purchase APR 0%
- Annual Fee None
- Credit Needed No Credit Required
- Processing Network Mastercard
- No credit history required
- No annual fees or security deposit
- No APRs
- Earn 1% cash back on all purchases
- Customizable credit limit
- Regular Purchase APR: 0%
Merit Platinum Card
- Regular Purchase APR 0%
- Annual Fee None
- Credit Needed Fair , Poor , No Credit Required
- Processing Network N/A
- Bad Credit, No Credit? No Problem
- Reports to Major Credit Bureau
- Fast and Easy Application
- No Employment or Credit Check
- Regular Purchase APR: 0%
Principal Platinum Card
- Annual Fee None
- Credit Needed Poor , No Credit Required
- Processing Network N/A
- Instant Approval / $750 Credit Line
- No Employment or Credit Check
- Reports to Major Bureau
- Bad Credit, No Credit - OK
- Always 0.0% APR
Point Card
- Annual Fee $49
- Credit Needed No Credit Required
- Processing Network Mastercard
- Earn 5X points per $1 on subscriptions, 3X points on food deliver and rideshares, and 1X points on everything else
- Membership includes access to exclusive partner offers through collaborations with up-and-coming brands
- Receive up to a $1,000 reimbursement if a new item bought with the Point Card is damaged or lost within 90 days of the purchase
- Get trip cancellation insurance of up to $1,500 for any out-of-pocket expenses you incur
- Receive both a physical and a virtual card for purchases
- Annual Fee: $49
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Card
- Regular Purchase APR 23.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer APR 23.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance APR 26.99% to 27.24% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Annual Fee None
- Credit Needed Poor , No Credit Required
- Processing Network Visa
- 3% cash back in the category of your choice: gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement/furnishings
- 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubS
- Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases
- No annual fee
- Regular Purchase APR: 23.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer APR: 23.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer Transaction Fee: Either $10 or 3% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater
- Cash Advance APR: 26.99% to 27.24% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater
- Penalty APR: Up to 29.99%
- Foreign Transaction Fee: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each transaction
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $40
- Return Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $29
- Minimum Deposit Required: $300
Current Debit Visa Card
- Annual Fee See Terms
- Credit Needed No Credit Required
- Processing Network Visa
- No hidden fees
- Earn up to 15X points at over 14,000 participating merchants in the U.S.
- Get paid up to 2 days early when you sign up for direct deposit
- Free instant money transfers, spending notifications, spending limits, and more
- Annual Fee: See Terms
- Foreign Transaction Fee: 3% of the transaction amount in U.S. dollars
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Does No Credit History Mean You’ve Never Had Any Credit?
Just because you don’t have a credit history does not mean you’ve never had credit. As confusing as it sounds, you can have experience with credit in the past, yet still have no credit history to FICO or VantageScore.
No credit means you have no recent credit history. Those without a past credit history (within the last seven to ten years, will find themselves lumped into the same “no credit” category as those who are entirely new to credit. So even if you have borrowed money in the past, you may have no score.
FICO, VantageScore and Credit History
Different credit scoring models have a different definition of no credit history.
FICO requires the following to establish a credit history:
- One tradeline reported within the previous six months. A tradeline is also known as a credit account.
- A tradeline at least six months old,
- Proof that the account holder is alive.
VantageScore, on the other hand, does not have as strict requirements for establishing a credit history. The VantageScore model only needs one month of credit activity to generate a credit score. This makes the scoring system popular with those who want to judge the recent credit activity of an applicant.
Regardless, if you don’t satisfy the requirements above, you might not have a credit score.
Is No Credit Score the Same as Bad Credit?
So, if you have no credit, what is your score? In the same vein, no credit history does not mean you have a bad credit score. It merely means the scoring models don’t have relevant enough, recent information from an accurate assessment of your risk.
You may have an excellent history of paying off your credit card or loan balances in the past. Maybe you even paid off all your student loans. You may also have a history of non-payments and defaults. Or, you might have no practical experience with credit at all.
According to Experian, one of the largest credit reporting agencies, very few people with a credit past have a score below 470. Around 99% of Americans with a credit score have one above 470, which is good news if there is a correlation between your lack of recent credit history and bad credit.
Why Credit Matters
There are approximately 45 million Americans with no credit history, according to recent statistics. With so many lacking a credit score, you might wonder why your credit score matters?
Credit influences many aspects of our daily financial and personal lives. People with excellent credit scores enjoy greater access to credit, higher credit limits, and lower interest rates. That’s because they have proven their financial responsibility and trustworthiness to lenders.
Those with poor credit, however, will struggle. Bad credit scores can impact every aspect of your life.
A poor or bad credit score can cause the following difficulties in life:
- Trouble Renting: With bad credit, you can struggle to find an apartment. Because landlords and rental agencies look at an applicant’s credit report, a bad score can indicate you are a potential risk for missing rent payments. This can lead to rejections when applying for accommodation.
- Loss of Job Opportunities: Employers can also access your credit report. While they won’t see your score, they can see past remarks on your credit report. These can make you a risk for employment, as they might deem you untrustworthy.
- Poor Credit Choices: People with bad credit struggle to find good credit products at reasonable rates.
Given the difficulties that those with poor credit experience, imagine how much more difficult it is with no credit.
Without a credit history, you will struggle to find many credit card issuers or lenders willing to take a chance on you. You likely won’t qualify for a mortgage, a personal loan, or possibly even a car loan. That’s why it is so critical to take steps to build your credit score quickly, so you can enjoy many of the benefits good credit scores offer.
How to Build Credit History
Building a credit score requires time and patience. There are, however, specific steps you can take right away to improve your score in as little as a few months.
Getting Started with Credit Repair
First, you need to establish a credit history. One option is to become an authorized user. The easiest way to build credit, however, is by getting a credit card. Getting a secured card is the most straightforward route and can make the approval process much easier. That’s because secured credit cards require a security deposit when applying for a credit card.
This deposit required, which usually starts as low as $200 and runs as high as $5,000, also acts as the credit limit. Examples of popular secured cards include the Discover It Secured Card, the Secured Mastercard from Capital One, and the Citi Secured Mastercard. These cards also have no annual fee.
Once you have a secured card, you can use that card to make small purchases. Then, once you receive your statement, you pay your bill in full. A few months of this practice can provide you a decent score (if new to credit) and increase a damaged score by several points.
Building Credit Takes Times
While short term improvement is possible, establishing a good credit score can take months – or even years. That’s because both VantageScore and FICO place significant weight on payment history with their respective scoring models.
FICO scoring places significant weight on payment history, as this is the largest sign of a person’s ability to repay any new credit. Nearly as significant is the amount of available credit that individual is currently utilization, or how much of the available credit line they use. VantageScore, on the other hand, emphasizes a variety of credit, though it also prioritizes payment history.
This means that it will take time to build a history of on-time payments. With patience, however, it is a very achievable goal.
Failing to keep up with payments, however, can cause serious harm to your score. With a young credit history, one missed payment can destroy your credit score. Even worse, late or missed payments stay on a credit report for seven years, meaning the harm carries on for some time.
The Best Credit Cards for No Credit History
Just because you have no credit history doesn’t mean you can’t build one. No credit score simply means you have a blank canvas on which to begin (or return) to your credit journey. If you find yourself wondering “I have no credit score, how do I get a credit card?” don’t worry – there are still options available.
The credit card options for no credit are limited, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t great offers available. Here are some of our top credit cards for no credit score picks for 2021:
- Best Secured Card with a Low APR: First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Card
- Best Secured Card for Those Brand New to Credit: Oakstone Platinum Secured Mastercard
- Best Unsecured Card for No Credit: Group One Platinum Card
- Best Unsecured Card for Credit Limit Increases: Reflex Mastercard®
Find the Best Card for Establishing Credit Today
The team at BestCards.com knows how hard it can be to find the perfect credit card for rebuilding credit, especially without the right tools and knowledge. That’s why we strive to provide insightful credit card reviews, as well as informative articles and advice to guide you. Take advantage of these resources and more to find a trusty credit-building card today!
