Best Credit Cards for People With No Credit History in the U.S.

Best Picks: Top Credit Cards for No Credit History

Best Overall — Discover it® Secured Credit Card The Discover it Secured card combines no annual fee, cash back rewards, and a clear path to upgrading to an unsecured card. It is one of the most complete beginner cards available and works well for most immigrants starting their credit journey.

Best for Easy Approval — OpenSky® Secured Visa OpenSky requires no credit check at all. Approval is based almost entirely on the security deposit. For anyone who has been denied elsewhere or wants certainty before applying, this is the most accessible option.

Best Unsecured Card — Capital One Platinum The Capital One Platinum requires no security deposit and no existing credit score. For those who do not want to tie up money in a deposit, this is the most accessible unsecured starting point.

Best for ITIN Holders — Petal 1 Visa Petal evaluates applicants based on banking and income history rather than credit score alone, and may accept ITIN applications. This makes it particularly relevant for immigrants who do not yet have a Social Security Number.

Best for Building Credit and Savings — Chime Credit Builder The Chime Credit Builder charges no interest and requires no minimum deposit. It is a low-risk way to build credit history for those who already bank with Chime.

Individual Card Reviews

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

The Discover it Secured card is one of the strongest beginner credit cards available. It is designed for people with no credit history who want to earn rewards while building a credit profile. After seven months, Discover automatically reviews the account for a potential upgrade to an unsecured card.

Pros

• No annual fee
• Earns 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants; 1% on all other purchases
• Discover matches all cash back earned in the first year
• Automatic review for unsecured upgrade after 7 months
• Reports to all three major credit bureaus

Cons

• Requires a $200 minimum security deposit
• Discover is not accepted at all merchants internationally

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Capital One Platinum Credit Card

The Capital One Platinum is an unsecured card — no deposit required — designed for people with limited or no credit history. It is one of the few unsecured options genuinely accessible to beginners. After six months of responsible use, Capital One automatically considers the account for a higher credit limit.

Pros

• No annual fee
• No security deposit required
• Automatic credit limit review after 6 months
• Reports to all three major credit bureaus

Cons

• No rewards program
• Approval is not guaranteed for all applicants with no credit history

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Petal® 1 Visa Credit Card

The Petal 1 Visa stands out because of how it evaluates applicants. Rather than relying solely on a credit score, Petal may review our banking history — income, spending patterns, and savings — to make an approval decision. This approach is particularly useful for immigrants who are new to the U.S. credit system. Petal has also indicated it may accept applications using an ITIN rather than a Social Security Number, though this should be confirmed directly with the issuer before applying.

For more on how immigrants can navigate the credit system without an SSN, see our guide on [How Immigrants Can Build Credit in the United States].

Pros

• No annual fee
• No security deposit required
• May approve based on banking history, not just credit score
• May accept ITIN applications
• Reports to all three major credit bureaus

Cons

• Approval is not guaranteed
• ITIN acceptance policies should be verified with the issuer directly

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Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa®

The Chime Credit Builder works differently from most secured cards. There is no minimum deposit and no credit check. We move money from our Chime spending account into the Credit Builder account, and that becomes our spending limit. Because we are spending money we have already set aside, there are no interest charges.

The card reports our payment activity to all three credit bureaus each month. It charges no annual fee. The main requirement is that we must already have a Chime spending account to qualify.

Pros

• No annual fee
• No minimum security deposit
• No interest charges
• No credit check required
• Reports to all three major credit bureaus

Cons

• Requires an existing Chime spending account
• Not available as a standalone product

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OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

OpenSky is one of the most accessible credit cards available anywhere in the U.S. market. It requires no credit check for approval — the decision is based almost entirely on the security deposit, which starts at $200. For anyone who has been denied by other issuers or wants to avoid the uncertainty of a credit check, OpenSky offers a reliable path in.

The card does carry a $35 annual fee, which distinguishes it from the no-fee options above. It reports to all three major credit bureaus. There is currently no automatic upgrade path to an unsecured card within OpenSky, so after building credit here, we will likely move to a different institution for our next card.

Pros

• No credit check required
• Approval is highly accessible
• Reports to all three major credit bureaus

Cons

• $35 annual fee
• No rewards
• No clear path to an unsecured card within OpenSky

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Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Quicksilver Secured card brings together two things that are rarely found together in beginner credit cards: a security deposit structure and a cash back rewards program. We earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase with no category restrictions. There is no annual fee and a $200 minimum deposit.

After six months, Capital One reviews the account for a potential upgrade to an unsecured card and a credit limit increase. This makes the Quicksilver Secured a strong choice for those who want to earn rewards from day one while still having a clear path forward.

Pros

• No annual fee
• 1.5% cash back on all purchases
• Automatic upgrade review after 6 months
• Reports to all three major credit bureaus

Cons

• Requires a $200 minimum security deposit

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How to Choose a Credit Card With No Credit History

Choosing a first credit card does not need to be complicated. A few key factors will narrow the options quickly.

Secured vs. Unsecured Cards Secured cards require a deposit that becomes our credit limit. Because the bank holds our money as collateral, approval is generally easier. Unsecured cards do not require a deposit but can be harder to qualify for with no credit history. For most beginners, a secured card is the more reliable starting point. If we prefer to avoid tying up cash in a deposit, options like the Capital One Platinum or Petal 1 may be worth exploring first.

Why Credit Bureau Reporting Matters A credit card only builds our credit history if it reports our payment activity to the credit bureaus. Every card in this comparison reports to all three major bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. This is a non-negotiable feature for any beginner card we consider. Understanding exactly how this system works is important before we apply; our guide [Credit in America Explained for Immigrants] breaks it down clearly.

What Beginners Should Look For Beyond credit reporting, the most important features for a first card are a low or no annual fee, a manageable credit limit, and a straightforward upgrade path to an unsecured card once our credit score improves. Rewards are a nice addition but should not be the deciding factor when we are just starting out.

One of the most common errors new cardholders make is using the card too heavily or missing a payment in the first few months. Our guide [10 Credit Mistakes Immigrants Make in America] covers the patterns that set new credit users back and how to avoid them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can immigrants get a credit card with no credit history? Yes. Several credit cards are specifically designed for people with no U.S. credit history, including all of the cards listed in this guide. Immigrants can begin applying for these cards after establishing a U.S. address. Some issuers may also require a Social Security Number or ITIN.

Can we get a credit card without a Social Security Number? Some issuers accept an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) as an alternative to an SSN. Petal is one example of an issuer that has indicated ITIN acceptance, though policies vary and should always be confirmed directly with the issuer. Certain credit unions and banks also have programs designed for immigrants without an SSN.

What is the easiest credit card to get approved for? The OpenSky Secured Visa requires no credit check and bases approval almost entirely on the security deposit. It is generally considered the most accessible option for people who have been denied elsewhere or who want to maximize their chances of approval.

How long does it take to build credit from zero? A credit score typically appears within three to six months of opening a first account. A score that qualifies for most standard financial products — loans, apartment rentals, better credit cards — usually takes one to two years of consistent, on-time payments to develop. The key factors are paying on time every month and keeping balances low relative to the credit limit.

Conclusion

Starting with no credit history in the United States is a challenge that millions of immigrants face every year. The cards in this guide exist to solve exactly that problem — giving us a legal, structured, and reliable way to enter the credit system and begin building a financial reputation in America.

The right card depends on our situation. If we want no deposit, the Capital One Platinum or Petal 1 are the places to start. If we want the most reliable approval, OpenSky removes almost all barriers. If we want rewards from the beginning, Discover it Secured and Capital One Quicksilver Secured both deliver.

Whatever we choose, the most important thing is to use the card consistently, pay the balance on time, and keep spending well within our limit. Credit is not built overnight — but with patience and the right starting point, it is built reliably.

Related Guides:

[How Immigrants Can Build Credit in the United States (step-by-step)] 

[Credit in America Explained for Immigrants: A Complete Beginner Guide]

[10 Credit Mistakes Immigrants Make in America (And How To Avoid Them)]

The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Credit card terms, fees, and eligibility requirements may change. Always verify current details directly with the card issuer before applying. marvodyn.com