Easy to get credit cards with no deposit

Eric Bank has been covering business and financial topics since 1985, specializing in taking complex subject matters and explaining them in simple terms for consumer audiences. Eric's writing regularly appears on Credible.com, eHow, WiseBread, The Nest, Get.com, Zacks, Chron, and dozens of other outlets. A former software engineer, Eric holds an M.B.A. from New York University and an M.S. in finance from DePaul University.

Student credit cards can be a great way for those with no or limited credit to build a credit history, no deposit required.

If you have an income and a good credit score, you can apply and potentially be approved for most credit cards with no deposit, including cash back, travel and student credit cards. 

How to access credit cards with no security deposit

If you have limited credit history or no credit history, there are several ways to get a credit card with no deposit.

Becoming an authorized user on a credit card account allows you to use someone else’s credit card as if it were your own, even if you can’t qualify for a card on your own. As an authorized user, you don’t have all the account capabilities of a primary account holder, but you can use the cardand make purchases against the credit limit.

One of the main benefits of being an authorized user is that if the primary account holder is responsible with their account, the authorized user may reap some of the benefits on their own credit. Many — but not all — issuers report authorized user activity to the credit bureaus, which means you can essentially piggyback off a primary account holder’s good management of the account. For example, when a primary account holder adds a friend or family member as an Authorized User to their Discover® card, they can help them build a credit history, with responsible use.1  On the other hand, if the primary account holder misses credit card payments or keeps a high credit balance — both negative impacts to credit — you risk damaging your credit score by becoming an authorized user on the account.

2. Student credit cards with no down payment are accessible

Some student cards don’t require a security deposit, so this can be a great option to start your credit journey. If you’re a student, no credit score is required to apply for Discover Student credit cards.3 Student credit cards also offer cash back rewards and can help you build a credit history, among several other benefits.

If you’re interested in applying for a student card, you’ll want to make sure you have the right information to apply and get the right card for you.

3. Secured credit cards may be an alternative to no-deposit credit cards

If you can’t find a no-deposit credit card that works for you, an alternative could be to start with a secured card. A secured credit card can help you build your credit with responsible use,2 but will require a security deposit that is used as collateral. The deposit could be as low as a couple hundred dollars, and you may be able to qualify to get the deposit back. The plus side is that you can still earn rewards and build your credit history at the same time. You may want to learn more about how a secured card works before you dismiss it as a viable alternative. before you dismiss it as a viable option.

Naomi Bishop

Last Updated on: Dec 13, 2022

According to Experian, nine percent of customers have a FICO score below 550; between 2020 and 2021, the average credit score ranged from 578 to 586. If you have a low credit score, you are not alone; however, like many others, you may find getting the credit you need challenging. Several credit card companies and personal lenders approve consumers with poor credit but often charge additional fees, require deposits, or have higher interest rates.

What We'll Cover

• Can I Get a Credit Card With a $500-$1,000 Limit Without Depositing Money?
• How Can I Get a Credit Card With No Money Down?
• What Credit Score is Needed for an Unsecured $1,000 Credit Card?
• Best Credit Cards with $500 - $1,000 Credit Limit and No Deposit (Even for People With Fair-Bad Credit)
• Capital One Platinum Credit Card
• Citi Custom Cash℠ Card
• Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Aspire® Cashback Reward Card
• Citi Rewards+® Card
• Merrick Bank Double Your Line® Credit Card
• Fit Mastercard® Credit Card
• Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
• Fortiva® Credit Card
• PayPal Cashback Mastercard® Credit Card
• PREMIER Bankcard® Mastercard® Credit Card
• Reflex Mastercard® Credit Card
• Surge Mastercard® Credit Card
• First Phase Visa® Credit Card
• Can I Get a High-limit Credit Card with Fair to Bad Credit?

If you need a credit card with at least $500- $1k available credit, and do not have the money to open a secured card, continue reading to learn more about your options.

Read: Second Chance Credit Cards: Best Unsecured Options for People with Poor Credit

Can I Get a Credit Card With a $500-$1,000 Limit Without Depositing Money?

Yes! Several $1,000 credit limit credit cards are available for people with bad credit, and many offers guaranteed approval without depositing a month. Each card company has other requirements before getting the official approval for one of their credit cards.

Secured credit cards offer guaranteed credit limits based on how much you deposit; however, if you do not have the money available to make a deposit, you still have a few options to get a $500-$1000 limit credit card in your wallet.

Before applying for a credit card, compare side-by-side to determine which cards offer you the best options for your current credit score. Not all cards are alike, and the different cards could vary in interest rates and annual/monthly fees.

How Can I Get a Credit Card With No Money Down?

If you are looking for an unsecured credit card, there are plenty to choose from; however, those with lower credit scores have fewer options available. But there are still plenty to choose from, especially if you are proactive and work on improving your credit score. Researching companies that offer credit cards for people with poor credit is the best way to see if they have a pre-approval option. In most cases, getting pre-approved does not affect your credit score, but it also does not guarantee approval when you officially apply.

If you have a family or friend who trusts you, ask to be an authorized user on their credit card account. Many consumers who choose to do this often ask their parents. Make sure you do not cause problems by not paying for your purchases.

Another way to get a credit card with no money down is to step back and take a few months to bring up your credit score. Disputing errors, paying down balances, paying current debts on time, and paying off collection accounts, may raise your score enough to get approved for an unsecured high-limit credit card.

What Credit Score is Needed for an Unsecured $1,000 Credit Card?

Consumers with credit scores of 700 and above have a greater chance of qualifying for a high limit credit with a limit of $1,000 to $5,000. Though having a higher score helps improve your chances of getting approved for high-limit credit cards, it does not completely disqualify you from getting one.

Read: How to Get a 700-750 Credit Score in 3 to 6 Months? (Read this Guide)

Below is our top pick of the best $1000 limit credit cards with no security deposit needed reviewed, as well as their credit score requirements. And if you don't have an excellent credit score... Don't worry! we've also included great options for you

Best Credit Cards with $500 - $1,000 Credit Limit and No Deposit (Even for People With Fair-Bad Credit)

Chances are you have received emails or letters regarding a “guaranteed approval” for credit cards. Though there are not credit cards with $1,000 limit guaranteed approval, there is still an excellent chance you will get approved. Several credit cards for people with poor credit have minimal requirements, which qualifies most applicants. A secured credit card would be the only way to get accepted; however, it would require a deposit.

Here are the best credit cards with $1000 limit and other high-limit credit cards:

Top Pick

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Capital One Platinum Credit Card

If you have fair credit (580+) or need to build it, the Capital One Platinum credit card may be a perfect fit for you. The card is designed for people with average or limited credit, has a pre-approval option and a credit line that can range from $300 - $3,o00.

Additionally, the Capital One Platinum credit card has no annual or foreign transaction fee, making it a low cost option unlike most unsecured cards for those needing to build their credit score. However, as the card has a high APR rate of 28.49% (variable) you should avoid carrying a balance and practice a responsible use of the card.

Last but not least, if you're not happy with your starting credit line, Capital One will automatically review your account for a credit line increase after 6 months of on-time monthly payments.

Pros

• $0 Fraud liability
• No foreign transaction fees
• Free credit monitoring with CreditWise from Capital One
• No Penalty APR

Cons

• High APR
• No Rewards Program

Citi Custom Cash℠ Card

For those who loves rewards and bonuses, the Citi Custom Cash card is an incredible option!. The card has an impressive cash back rate of 5% in popular categories like gas, groceries, and restaurants, but the great thing is that you'll automatically earn it on your top elegible spending category each billing cycle (up to $500 in purchases per billing cycle, then 1%). A minimum $500 starting credit limit is guaranteed for those approved for the card, however, you may get a higher limit depending on different factors like credit score, income, etc.

Additionally, the card has a sign-up bonus of $200 cash back* when you spend $1,500 on purchases within the first 6 months of account opening, and is a low-maintenance option since the card comes with a 0% introductory APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers (then 17.74% to 27.74% variable APR based on creditworthiness) and a $0 annual fee.

* The bonus offer is given as 20,000 ThankYou® points which can be remdeemed for $200 cash back.

Pros

• No annual fees
• Great rewards and bonuses
• Points can be redeemed for gift cards, checks, among others, as well as pooled them with other Citi ThankYou rewards cards
• Free FICO score access
• No security deposit

Cons

• At least 670+ FICO score
• A low spending cap of $500 on 5% cash back category each billing cycle
• High balance transfer fee

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Most credit cards for people with fair-bad credit tend to have high fees and/or APR and don't offer good enough rewards either. However, the Capital One QuicksilverOne credit card is another great options with generous rewards that offer 1.5% cash back on every purchase and 5% cash back on rental cars and hotels when you book them through Capital One Travel. Not to mention that you can also check if you're pre-approved without hurting your credit score.

The Capital One QuicksilverOne card credit line is between $300 - $1,000, however, as the Capital One Platinum card, after 6 months your credit line can be considered for an increase automatically when using it responsibly.

Pros

• Fraud Protection
• Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase
• No foreign transaction fees
• Free credit monitoring with CreditWise from Capital One

Cons

• High APR
• Has an annual fee

Aspire® Cashback Reward Card

The Aspire® credit card is a great option that provides a credit limit of up to $1,000. Despite that the card have high fees and APR rate compared to other unsecured/no-deposit options, this card helps consumers looking to rebuild their credit while still receiving solid rewards

Pros

• Monthly credit bureau reporting
• Great rewards
• People with bad credit can qualify
• No "one-time" fee for application processing

Cons

• High fees
• No balance transfers
• No intro APR on purchases

You may also like: No Interest Credit Cards For 24 Months: Best Options

Citi Rewards+® Card

If you're looking for a card that has at least $1,000 credit limit, The Citi Rewards+ Card is a great option for you. Since the card has a starting credit limit of $1,000 or more, this amount is guaranteed for those that get approved for the card. Additionally, the Citi Rewards+ is a $0 annual fee card that allows cardholders to earn great rewards on their everyday purchases. You'll earn 2 ThankYou points per $1 spent at gas stations and supermarkets (up to $6,000 annually in purchases, thereafter 1 point per $1 spent), and 1 ThankYou point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Another great thing is that the card has a distinctive feature that rounds up your ThankYou points earned on every purchase to the next multiple of 10 (so, 5 points earned on a purchase will be rounded up to 10 points), and the following bonuses:

• Sign-Up Bonus: Earn 20,000 points when spending $1,500 the first 3 months of account opening
• Annual Bonus: Each year, the card gives back 10% of points you redeem (up to 100,000 points annually)

For a limited time: Earn in your first 12 months 5 ThankYou points pear each dollar spent at restaurants (on up to $6,000 in spending, then 1 point per dollar spent)

Pros

• Free access to your FICO score as a Citi Rewards+ cardmember
• Great rewards and bonuses
• No annual fee
• 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for the first 15 months (then 17.24% - 27.24% variable APR)
• You can earn unlimited points, that can be redeemed for gift cards, merchandise, as well as shop with them on Amazon

Cons

• 670+ credit score required
• Points cannot be transferred to Citi’s travel partners as with other Citi cards
• Redemption options are not as high as other point programs

Merrick Bank Double Your Line® Credit Card

Merrick Bank Double Your Line® offers a credit card for consumers with bad credit or little to no credit, reporting activity on your account monthly to all three major credit bureaus. Initial credit limits range between $550 and $1,350, but here's the thing: With on-time payments during the first seven months, Merrick Bank® will automatically double your credit limit.

Pros

• People with little or no credit history can qualify
• Reports to all three major credit reporting agencies
• Fraud coverage if card is lost/stolen

Cons

• Membership fees
• No rewards

Fit Mastercard® Credit Card

Fit Mastercard® Credit Card offers credit card options for consumers with poor credit or little credit history while reporting all account activity to all three credit bureaus. Like some of the other cards listed, Fit Mastercard® Credit Card starts most users out with a $400 credit limit, but with on-time payments, this amount can double (or more) within six months. Compared to some of the other credit cards for those with bad credit, Fit Mastercard® Credit Card offers a higher starting limit than most.

Pros

• Qualifying with little or no credit history
• No security deposit required

Cons

• No rewards
• Many fees
• High APR

Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

Despite that the Citi Diamond Preferred Card lacks a rewards program, it has a terrific 21 months 0% intro APR offer on balance transfer* and 0% introductory APR on purchases for the first 12 months (then 16.74% - 27.49% variable APR on both balance transfer and new purchases ) that allows cardholders to hit pause on high monthly interest charges. As a result, the card is considered a great option for those needing to pay off credit card debt.

* Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening

Pros

• Free access to your FICO® Score online
• No annual fee
• Good Intro APR offers

Cons

• No rewards
• High balance transfer fee
• Requires at least 670+ credit score

Fortiva® Credit Card

The Fortiva® Credit Card is an unsecured option for those with bad credit that will help improve/build your credit score when using it responsibly, as the card reports to all three major credit bureaus. Comes with zero fraud liability, but fees and APR rate is something that you have to take into consideration if you want to apply for this card as there are cheaper alternatives.

Pros

• No security deposit
• Zero fraud liability
• No perfect credit required

Cons

• No rewards
• High Fees
• No introductory APR offer
• No one-time fee

PayPal Cashback Mastercard® Credit Card

With the PayPal Cashback Mastercard® you can earn 3% cash back on your purchases when using PayPal, and 2% on all other purchases. No security deposit needed and no annual fee. However, you'll need a PayPal account to apply for the card. Additionally, people with good - excellent credit scores are more likely to qualify, and since it doesn't have an intro APR offer, it is better for those that plan to pay in full their monthly balances.

Pros

• No annual fees
• Rewards available

Cons

• Higher credit scores required
• Has a foreign transaction fee
• Need a PayPal account

PREMIER Bankcard® Mastercard® Credit Card

The PPREMIER Bankcard® Mastercard® Credit Card offers an unsecured card for people wanting to establish or rebuild credit. There is no security deposit requirement; however, cardholders have some hefty fees. Also, the starting credit limit is low, starting at $200, with an available line of credit of $75 to $150 after all starting fees are charged to the card.

Pros

• Reports account activity to the credit bureaus
• Offers free FICO score access

Cons

• Sky-high fees
• A high APR
• High credit limit increase fee

Reflex Mastercard® Credit Card

Reflex Mastercard® Credit Card helps those with limited or no credit history and people with bad credit looking to start over; however, this card comes with costly fees. Consumers needing credit may find better options that do not charge as many or as high of fees.

Pros

• Reports to all credit bureaus
• No security deposit
• People with little to no credit history can qualify

Cons

• No sign-up bonus
• No rewards
• High fees (and too many)
• No balance transfer allowed

Surge Mastercard® Credit Card

Surge Mastercard® Credit Card offers credit card options for consumers with fair and bad credit that report monthly to all three credit bureaus. This card helps those with poor credit rebuild their credit and raise their FICO score. Fees can be high, but those struggling to get approved for a credit card will most likely qualify for a Surge Mastercard® Credit Card.

Pros

• Consumers can qualify with bad credit
• After 6 months of usage, you may qualify for a credit limit increase
• No security deposit required

Cons

• High APR
• Annual and monthly fees
• No rewards or reward bonuses
• No intro APR on purchases
• No balance transfers allowed

First Phase Visa® Credit Card

The First Phase Visa® credit card is a great option to help improve credit scores, with a credit line of $300 - $1,000 with no security deposit requirement, and a fast, easy and secure online application (you can get your results 1 min after completing your application). However, compared to other credit cards, it is quite expensive.

Pros

• $0 Fraud liability
• Reports to all major credit bureaus
• People with Fair-No credit can qualify

Cons

• No rewards
• No intro APR on purchases
• Incredibly high APR rate
• Many fees

Can I Get a High-limit Credit Card with Fair to Bad Credit?

Obtaining a high-limit credit card can help pay for emergencies and give you access to immediate cash flow. Additionally, having a high-limit credit card can help with your credit score, primarily if you only use 10 to 20 percent of the available credit.

Some things to do to help improve your chances of qualifying for a high-limit credit card include:

• Catch up on any late payments
• Continue paying current bills on time
• Pay off existing debts
• Pay down balances
• Opt for a secured card that can be converted to an unsecured card
• Ask your existing credit cards for a limit increase

If you would like to get a "high-limit" credit card, but you're struggling to get one (and/or even a $1k limit credit card) due to your fair to bad credit score, check out this helpful guide about how you can improve your credit scores in three to six months.

You may also want to read: The Easiest Credit Cards to Get For Immigrants (No SSN or Credit Score Required)

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To find all the details about the terms and conditions of an offer, check the online credit card application. We put a lot of effort to present you accurate and up-to-date information; however, we do not guarantee the accuracy of all credit card information presented.

Editorial Disclosure: All reviews/opinions expressed here are author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser included within our content. The information presented on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned below may have expired. Check the issuer's website for the most recent information.

The responses below are not provided, commissioned, reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any financial entity or advertiser. It is not the advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

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