Credit Cards for Limited or No Credit History
Getting a card with limited or no credit history is a common goal for people starting their credit journey. While secured credit cards are often the most reliable option, there are a number of unsecured cards designed specifically for this audience.
These cards are different from those for bad credit because the focus is on a lack of history, not on a history of poor payments. Lenders will still evaluate your application, but they'll look for other indicators of financial responsibility.
Building credit when you have a limited or no credit history is challenging. While secured cards require a cash deposit as collateral, the Arro Card stands out as an innovative and valuable alternative, offering an unsecured path that avoids many of the pitfalls of subprime credit options. For more information on the Arro Card, read our article on, Arro Card: Build Unsecured Credit with No Hard Credit Check
Arro Card
- No hard inquiry to apply.
- Apply in 5 minutes or less.
- Get up to $300 with the unsecured Arro Card. Grow your credit line up to $2,500.
- Earn 1% cash back on gas & groceries, including Walmart and Target
- Instantly increase your credit limit as you master your personal finances in the Arro app.
- Reports to all 3 credit bureaus.
- The Arro Card is issued by Community Federal Savings Bank, member FDIC, pursuant to license by Mastercard International.
- CLICK HERE TO APPLY ONLINE
*Subject to terms and conditions
Atlas Rewards Credit Card
- Cash back on gas, subscriptions and more
- Safe spending limits that grow with you
- No credit history required
- CLICK HERE TO APPLY ONLINE
opensky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
- Earn up to 10% cash back on everyday purchases
- No credit check required – 89% approval rate with zero credit risk to apply!
- Boost your credit score fast—2 out of 3 opensky® cardholders see an average increase of 47 points after 6 months
- Track your progress with free access to your FICO® score in our mobile app
- Build your credit history with reporting to all three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion
- Seamless payments—add your card to Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay
- Start with just $200—secure your credit line with a refundable deposit
- Fast and easy application—apply in minutes with our mobile-first experience
- Flexible payment options—pick a due date that works for you
- More time to fund—spread your security deposit over 60 days with layaway
- Join 1.6 million+ cardholders who have used opensky® to build better credit!
- CLICK HERE TO APPLY ONLINE
*See Terms and Conditions
opensky® Plus Secured Visa® Credit Card
- No annual fee – keep more money in your pocket!
- No credit check required – 89% approval rate with zero credit risk to apply!
- Earn up to 10% cash back on everyday purchases
- Boost your credit score fast—2 out of 3 opensky® cardholders see an average increase of 47 points after 6 months
- Track your progress with free access to your FICO® score in our mobile app
- Build your credit history with reporting to all three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion
- Seamless payments—add your card to Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay
- Start with as little as $300 – Secure your line with a refundable security deposit
- Fast and easy application—apply in minutes with our mobile-first experience
- Flexible payment options—pick a due date that works for you
- More time to fund—spread your security deposit over 60 days with layaway
- Join 1.6 million+ cardholders who have used opensky® to build better credit!
- CLICK HERE TO APPLY ONLINE
*See Terms and Conditions
opensky® Launch Secured Visa® Credit Card
- This product offers the lowest upfront cost ($100 security deposit) for a secured card with no credit check
- Annual fee billed in monthly installments of $2 per month in year 1 and $3 per month thereafter
- Minimum payment as low as $10
- No credit check
- Up to 10% cash back rewards on everyday purchases at over 40,000 merchants
- Opportunities for credit line increases and graduation to our by invitation only unsecured product
- CLICK HERE TO APPLY ONLINE
*See Terms and Conditions
The Secured Self Visa® Credit Card
- Start building credit with all three credit bureaus with the secured Self Visa® Credit Card.
- Apply Now: Intro No Annual Fee with the secured Self Visa® Credit Card^
- No credit check
- No hard inquiry
- $100 minimum security deposit*
*Qualification for the secured Self Visa® Credit Card is based on meeting eligibility requirements, including income and expense requirements and establishment of security interest. Criteria Subject to change.
The secured Self Visa® Credit Card is issued by Lead Bank, Sunrise Banks, N.A., or First Century Bank, N.A., each Member FDIC.
^$0 annual fee for the first year only, $25 annual fee thereafter. Variable APR of 27.74%. Offer valid for new customers only. - CLICK HERE TO APPLY ONLINE
Merrick Bank Secured Credit Card
- Choose your own credit line based on how much money you want to put down as a security deposit.
- Initial deposits can be from $200 to $3,000. You can increase your credit line at any time by adding additional money to your security deposit, up to $3,000.
- After 9 months, we review your account for a credit line increase. No additional deposit required!
- Secured Credit Cards are great for people looking to build or rebuild credit and are available to people with all kinds of credit backgrounds.
- Unlike a debit card or a pre-paid card, it helps build your credit history. We report your payment history to all three major credit-reporting agencies.
- Get your FICO® Credit Score for free each month.
- Fraud coverage if your card is lost or stolen. Access your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Get help staying on track with available Auto Pay and account alerts.
- Card issued by Merrick Bank, Member FDIC.
- CLICK HERE TO APPLY ONLINE
*See Terms and Conditions
What Lenders Look For
Since there's no credit history to review, lenders who offer these cards will often look at other factors to assess your creditworthiness:Income: A stable source of income is a strong sign that you can make payments on time.
Banking Relationship: Having an existing checking or savings account with the same bank (like Chase or Capital One) can increase your approval odds.
Student Status: Many cards for limited credit are student cards, which have more lenient requirements because lenders know students are just starting out.
Found this guide helpful? Bookmark it for future reference as you continue your financial journey!
Experian Boost: A Comprehensive Guide to Boosting Your Free Credit Score
FICO® Credit Scores
FICO® Score Ranges:
- Exceptional: 800–850
- Very Good: 740–799
- Good: 670–739
- Fair: 580–669
- Poor: 300–579
What is a Credit Score?
A credit score is a three-digit number, typically ranging from 300 to 850, that predicts your creditworthiness—how likely you are to repay borrowed money on time. Lenders use this score to assess the risk of lending to you and to determine the interest rates and terms of any credit you might receive.
Why is a Credit Score Important?
A credit score is important because it acts as your financial reputation. Lenders, landlords, insurers, and employers use this single number to quickly judge how reliable you are with money. A higher score helps you qualify for loans and credit cards, often securing lower interest rates that can save you significant money. Conversely, a poor credit score can lead to application denials or much higher costs for borrowing, making it a key factor in your overall financial opportunities.
FICO® Credit Score Facts
- Three-Digit Number: Like other credit scores, FICO® Scores are a three-digit number that summarizes a consumer's credit risk.
- Range: Most standard FICO® Scores range from 300 to 850. Higher scores indicate lower credit risk.
- Data Source: FICO® Scores are calculated using data from your credit reports maintained by the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Your score may vary slightly depending on which bureau's data is used.
- Industry Standard: Lenders rely on FICO® Scores for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards because they provide a consistent, statistically sound assessment of the likelihood that a borrower will repay their debt.
Note: Credit scores are used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any credit card product.
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*See the online credit card applications for details about terms and conditions of credit card offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. When you click on the " Apply Now " button you can review the credit card terms and conditions on the credit card issuer's web site.
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