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Credit Newcomer Gateway

No U.S. credit history? Start here. Cards built for people with no score yet, to help you start building.

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•••• •••• •••• 7288

Chase Freedom RiseVISA

$25 bonus (set up autopay)

Annual fee No fee Foreign transaction fee 3%

1.5% on all purchases
Friendly to credit newcomers
Chase says $250+ in Chase deposits helps

✓ Fees checkedStudent OK

Details

Capital OneStarter

•••• •••• •••• 2347

Capital One PlatinumMastercard

No sign-up bonus

Annual fee No fee Foreign transaction fee None

No rewards: pure credit building
Credit-line review after 6 months
No annual fee

✓ Fees checkedNone FTF

Details

Capital OneRebuild

•••• •••• •••• 7821

Quicksilver SecuredMastercard

No bonus (deposit from $200)

Annual fee No fee Foreign transaction fee None

1.5% rewards even on a secured card
Upgrade path to refund the deposit
No annual fee

✓ Fees checkedNone FTFSecured

Details

DiscoverStarter

•••• •••• •••• 3059

Discover it StudentDiscover

First-year Cashback Match

Annual fee No fee Foreign transaction fee None

Built for students with little or no credit history
5% rotating categories
No annual fee

✓ Fees checkedNone FTFStudent OK

Details

DiscoverRebuild

•••• •••• •••• 2359

Discover it Secured Cash BackDiscover

Cashback Match at the end of year one (deposit $49, $99 or $200)

Annual fee No fee Foreign transaction fee None

No credit score required to apply
Refundable deposit from $49 for a $200+ credit line
No annual fee

✓ Fees checkedNone FTFSecured

Details

Goldman SachsStarter

•••• •••• •••• 2465

Apple CardMastercard

No fixed sign-up bonus

Annual fee No fee Foreign transaction fee None

2% via Apple Pay
3% on Apple products
Best-in-class app experience

✓ Fees checkedNone FTF

Details

•••• •••• •••• 4205

Zolve AzpireMastercard

No sign-up bonus

Annual fee No fee Foreign transaction fee None

Apply with a passport, SSN or ITIN (per Zolve)
Apply before you land in the U.S.
Reports to all three bureaus

✓ Fees checkedNone FTFStudent OKPassport/ITIN OKSecured

Details

Stride BankRebuild

•••• •••• •••• 3899

Chime Card (formerly Credit Builder)VISA

No sign-up bonus

Annual fee No fee Foreign transaction fee None

No credit check, no annual fee, no interest
With qualifying direct deposits, cash back on a category you choose (5% Prime, 2% Plus, up to $1,500 of purchases)
Reports to all three credit bureaus

✓ Fees checkedNone FTFSecured

Details

Lead BankRebuild

•••• •••• •••• 3015

Self Visa Credit CardVISA

No sign-up bonus

Annual fee $25/yr Foreign transaction fee None

Secured by a Self savings-builder account
No hard credit check to apply
Reports to all three bureaus

✓ Fees checkedNone FTFSecured

Details

Capital OneStarter

•••• •••• •••• 5773

Capital One Quicksilver StudentMastercard

$50 (spend $100 in 3 months; confirm with issuer)

Annual fee No fee Foreign transaction fee None

1.5% cash back on every purchase
No annual fee and no foreign transaction fee
Built for students building credit

✓ Fees checkedNone FTFStudent OK

Details

•••• •••• •••• 8765

Upgrade Cash Rewards VisaVISA

$200 (confirm with issuer) after opening a rewards checking account

Annual fee No fee Foreign transaction fee 3%

1.5% cash back when you make a payment
Accessible to fair credit
Optional Pay Over Time plans for eligible purchases ($100+)

✓ Fees checked

Details

Mission LaneStarter

•••• •••• •••• 2735

Mission Lane VisaVISA

No sign-up bonus

Annual fee No fee Foreign transaction fee 3%

Designed for fair or rebuilding credit
No security deposit required
Reports to all three credit bureaus

✓ Fees checked

Details