What is the minimum FICO for unsecured credit card?
What credit score is needed for an unsecured credit card? You need a credit score of 550 to 750 to be approved for most unsecured credit cards. The higher your credit score is, the better your chances of getting approved for one of the best credit cards with no security deposit will be.
Most unsecured credit cards require credit in the good to excellent range (670-850). This range is where you'll become eligible for many different kinds of rewards and 0 percent intro APR cards. You can also find some cards that will accept a score in the fair to good range (580-669).
Some of the easiest unsecured cards to get approved for are the Indigo® Mastercard®, Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card and Milestone® Mastercard®.
A credit score of about 700+ will likely qualify you for just about any credit card, including those with cash back rewards, lower annual percentage rates (APRs) and more. However, there are plenty of cards you can get with a score lower than this (more on that later).
The lowest score you can get with either model is 300, though past scoring models have gone lower (and aren't used so much today). According to FICO, an estimated 11.1% of Americans have a FICO score ranging between 300 and 549 as of 2019.
First Progress Platinum Elite Secured Mastercard: The First Progress Platinum Elite Secured Mastercard requires no credit history or minimum credit score for approval. Your security deposit is refundable, and the card is accepted nationwide.
An unsecured credit card may require a higher income level and credit score than a secured card. The exact requirements canvary by credit card issuer, but if you get turned down for an unsecured card, you can apply for a secured card and work on building or rebuilding credit until you qualify for an unsecured card.
The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Secured Card is easy to get, even with poor credit or no credit, because it is a secured credit card and requires an upfront deposit. But unlike many other secured credit cards, it has a generous rewards structure.
If you don't want to pay a security deposit, the Petal® 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa® Credit Card is an unsecured option that you can get with little to no credit history. Your ongoing APR with this card can be lower than rates you'll typically find on credit cards for limited or bad credit.
Using a credit card responsibly can help you reestablish your credit. If you're unwilling or unable to pay the deposit to get a secured card, you have another option: A “second-chance” credit card with no security deposit required.
What is a beginner FICO score?
Most people's initial credit scores are between 500 and 700 points, depending on the steps taken when establishing credit. However, you won't have a credit score to report if you've never opened a credit account. Read on to learn more about your starting credit score and how to build your credit over time.
Good: 670–739. Very Good: 740–799.
A bad credit score is a FICO score below 580, meaning it falls in the poor credit range. Along the same lines, a bad score in the VantageScore model is one below 601, which would belong in the poor or very poor credit ranges.
Fortunately, no one's credit score can equal zero – the range for FICO scores is 300-850 – and even people with poor or bad credit have a credit score of at least 300. A “no credit score” means there is insufficient information for a credit score calculator to compute a score.
FICO 5 uses information from Equifax, while FICO 8 takes information from all three major credit reporting agencies. FICO 5 is more comprehensive as it includes employment and residential history along with detailed collection items, while FICO 8 is more forgiving of one-off late payments.
In the U.S., the average credit score is 716, per Experian's latest data from the second quarter of 2023. And when you break down the average credit score by age, the typical American is hovering near or above that score.
The best credit card overall is the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card because it gives 2% cash rewards on all purchases and has a $0 annual fee. For comparison purposes, the average cash rewards card in 2024 gives about 1% back.
The OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa® Credit Card is the easiest credit card to get approved for because there's no credit check for new applicants. In addition to being easy to get, the OpenSky Plus Card has a $0 annual fee and reports to the major credit bureaus, making it easy to save money and build credit.
Card name | Intro APR | Credit score |
---|---|---|
Mission Lane® Visa Credit Card | N/A | Fair, Good |
Citi Custom Cash® Card | 0% for 15 months | Excellent, Good, Fair |
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | N/A | Average, Fair, Limited |
Capital One Platinum Credit Card | N/A | Average, Fair, Limited |
- Start with a secured credit card. ...
- Apply through a bank, credit union or store. ...
- Pay your bills on time. ...
- Pay off debt. ...
- Prequalify.
What unsecured credit card can I get with a 550 credit score?
- Best card for bad credit with no deposit: Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card.
- Best for being prequalified: Avant Credit Card.
- Best for unlimited cash back: Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card.
- Best for low annual fee: Prosper® Card.
With the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, you can upgrade to an unsecured card after six consecutive on-time payments and maintaining good status on all your credit accounts, and if you qualify, we will increase your credit line.
There is one card that consistently offers instant access to your card number, however: the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®. The information for the Capital One Walmart Rewards card has been collected independently by The Points Guy.
Consider a secured credit card
If your credit history is too short or you have a poor credit score, you may want to consider applying for a secured credit card. A secured credit card requires that cardholders put down a deposit, which acts as collateral if they're ever unable to make payments.
An instant approval credit card lets you know within just a few minutes whether or not your application is approved – just enter your personal information, verify your identity, and let the underwriting algorithms do their thing! If you have bad credit, you may need to apply for a secured credit card.
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