Yes—you can get an unsecured first US credit card without prior US credit history, so try a suitable starter offer before committing money to a secured card.
“I recently finished college abroad, just started a job in the US, and have no banking history. I was rejected for a Bank of America unsecured card and told to get a secured card. Is there any chance I can get a normal, unsecured credit card as my first card, or should I just go with a secured one?”
Summary
Bank of America's rejection does not mean you have to start with a secured card. There are unsecured products aimed at people starting a US credit record, although your new job and any overseas record still need to satisfy the issuer's approval process.
You can try a first card without a security deposit before deciding whether tying up $200 in a secured card is worthwhile.
Capital One says unsecured cards can be available to people with no and describes its Platinum card as an with no deposit or annual fee; use its no-impact eligibility check first. Chase says Freedom Rise does not require prior credit history; having $250 in Chase checking within three days of applying may improve your chances, but is not required for a guaranteed approval. [Capital One](https://www.capitalone.com/learn-grow/money-management/getting-credit-card-with-no-credit-history/); [Platinum](https://www.capitalone.com/learn-grow/money-management/all-about-platinum-card); [Chase](https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/education/chase-cards/everything-to-know-about-chase-freedom-rise-starter-card)
Only if you actually have foreign credit history: Chase lets applicants use history from the UK or Canada for Freedom Unlimited or Freedom Flex. If you already held an American Express-issued card as its primary holder for at least three months and it remains in good standing, Amex offers a separate application process for a new US card. Neither shortcut creates foreign history you never had. [Chase](https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/novacredit); [American Express](https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/company/about-us/moving-abroad)
If your employer can document your US job and you do not yet have a Social Security number, City National Bank says you may apply for a personal credit card without a US Social Security number, credit history or permanent address. It requests proof of your current address, an employment-verification or assignment letter, and a passport copy. It does not promise approval or expressly promise an unsecured card, so treat this as an additional possibility, not a substitute for an approved offer. [City National Bank](https://www.cnb.com/content/dam/cnb/personal-banking/media/City-National-Bank-Expatriate-Banking.pdf)
If the unsecured routes do not produce a suitable offer and you can set aside the money, Bank of America's BankAmericard advertises a security deposit starting at $200. Its agreement says it reports the account and periodically considers returning the deposit, but not everyone qualifies for its return while the account stays open. [Bank of America](https://www.bankofamerica.com/credit-cards/products/secured-credit-card); [card agreement](https://www.bankofamerica.com/content/documents/creditcard/bankamericard_secured_english.pdf)
None of these issuers promises approval, and Bank of America's decision does not decide another issuer's application.
Read the full explanationHide the full explanation
Watch out for
Next steps
Work from the reason for the rejection toward the least costly suitable first card, using a secured card if the unsecured routes do not work.
Before another application
Read Bank of America's denial notice
Identify the stated reasons. If the notice offers reasons on request instead, request them from the contact named in it within 60 days of the notice; the creditor must provide them within 30 days of your timely request. If the denial was based on a credit report, request the free report from the reporting company named in the notice within 60 days of receiving it. [12 CFR 1002.9](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1002/9/); [CFPB](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-do-i-get-a-free-copy-of-my-credit-reports-en-5)
Requirements
Before choosing a new application
Identify any overseas-credit shortcut
If you built credit in the UK or Canada, Chase's process at https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/novacredit lets you select Freedom Unlimited or Freedom Flex and mark that you want international history considered. If you hold an eligible Amex-issued card as its primary holder for at least three months in good standing, use https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/company/about-us/moving-abroad and provide the existing account number and your new US address. Otherwise skip these shortcuts. [Chase](https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/novacredit); [Amex](https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/company/about-us/moving-abroad)
Requirements
Before a hard inquiry
Check for a Capital One unsecured offer
Use https://www.capitalone.com/apply/credit-cards/preapprove. Capital One says the eligibility check takes as little as 90 seconds and is a soft inquiry. If you receive a suitable Platinum offer, its published terms describe an unsecured card with no deposit and a $0 annual fee; accepting an offer triggers a hard inquiry. [Capital One eligibility](https://www.capitalone.com/apply/credit-cards/preapprove); [Platinum](https://www.capitalone.com/learn-grow/money-management/all-about-platinum-card)
Requirements
If no suitable offer appears
Consider Chase Freedom Rise or the job-based alternative
Apply for Freedom Rise at https://creditcards.chase.com/cash-back-credit-cards/freedom/rise or in a Chase branch; Chase says no prior credit history is required and a $250 Chase checking balance within three days of applying may help, without guaranteeing approval. If you lack a US Social Security number and can obtain an employment-verification letter, City National's expatriate program accepts inquiries at cbbteam@cnb.com for a personal-card application without a US SSN or credit history; its brochure does not promise an unsecured approval. [Chase](https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/education/chase-cards/everything-to-know-about-chase-freedom-rise-starter-card); [City National](https://www.cnb.com/content/dam/cnb/personal-banking/media/City-National-Bank-Expatriate-Banking.pdf)
Requirements
Fallback
Use a secured card if those routes do not work
The BankAmericard Secured product at https://www.bankofamerica.com/credit-cards/products/secured-credit-card advertises a $200 minimum security deposit. Bank of America says it reports the account and reviews whether you qualify to have the deposit returned, but return during an open account is not guaranteed. After any card opens, pay each bill by its due date and, where a purchase grace period applies, pay the full balance to avoid purchase interest. [Bank of America](https://www.bankofamerica.com/content/documents/creditcard/bankamericard_secured_english.pdf); [CFPB](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-do-i-avoid-interest-on-my-credit-card-en-47/)
Requirements
Legal sources
The answer comes from CFPB credit regulations and guidance, and the card issuers' own product pages and agreements.
12 CFR 1002.9
A denial notice must give specific reasons or a timely way to obtain them.
(a)(2)(ii)
A disclosure of the applicant's right to a statement of specific reasons within 30 days, if the statement is requested within 60 days of the creditor's notification.
CFPB, How do I get a free copy of my credit reports?
If a credit report led to the denial, the named reporting company must provide a free report when requested on time.
In this case, you have a right to a free report from the credit reporting company identified in the notice. To get the free report you must request it within 60 days after you receive the notice.
Capital One, How to Get a Credit Card With No Credit History
A lack of prior credit history does not restrict the asker to secured cards.
There may also be unsecured credit cards for people with no credit history.
Capital One, Platinum card
Capital One identifies Platinum as an unsecured product aimed at fair-credit applicants.
The [Platinum card from Capital One](https://www.capitalone.com/credit-cards/platinum/) is an unsecured credit card geared toward those with fair credit.
Capital One, Platinum card
Capital One states the Platinum card has no security deposit and no annual fee.
The Platinum card has no annual fee and doesn’t require a security deposit.
Capital One pre-approval tool
Checking Capital One eligibility and accepting an offer have different credit-report effects.
Checking your eligibility for card offers involves a soft inquiry, which doesn't affect your credit score. But if you choose to accept a card offer, the acceptance will trigger a hard inquiry, which may impact your score.
Chase Freedom Rise
Chase permits a Freedom Rise application without prior history and describes the optional checking-balance advantage.
Chase does not require a prior credit history to qualify for a Freedom Rise card. However, having at least $250 in your Chase checking account within three days of submitting your application may improve your chances of approval. Though none of these actions will guarantee you get approved for the card, they may increase your chances.
Chase international credit application
Chase's foreign-history route applies to history from the UK or Canada for selected cards.
Thanks to our partnership with Nova Credit, you can use the credit history you’ve built in the United Kingdom and Canada — with more countries to be added soon — when applying for select Chase cards.
American Express Global Card Transfer
Existing eligible Amex cardmembers have a separate way to apply after moving to the US.
To be eligible for a new Card in the U.S., your existing Card must be issued by American Express, you must be the primary Cardholder, and have held the Card for at least 3 months. Your Card Account must be open and in good standing at the time you apply for a new Card in the U.S.
City National Bank, Expatriate Banking
City National offers an expatriate-program credit-card application without those three US credentials.
page 1
You can apply for a City National Bank personal credit card or residential mortgage loan without the need for a U.S. Social Security number, credit history or permanent address.
BankAmericard Secured product page
The issuer advertises $200 as the minimum deposit for this secured product.
A minimum security deposit of $200 (maximum of $5,000) is required to open this account.
BankAmericard Secured Credit Card Agreement
A secured-card deposit may be returned after review, but graduation is not assured.
Return of Security Deposit
Periodically, we will review your overall credit history to see if you qualify to have your security deposit returned. A decision to return the security deposit is based on responsible credit management across all of your credit cards and loans, including Bank of America and others. Not all customers will qualify.
BankAmericard Secured Credit Card Agreement
Bank of America says the secured account appears on consumer reports.
Consumer Reporting Agencies; Collecting and Sharing Information
We report account information to Consumer Reporting Agencies, which means the account will appear on your consumer report and may appear on any Authorized User’s consumer report.
12 CFR 1026.51
An applicant under 21 needs independent ability to pay, unless the regulation's eligible adult-liability alternative applies.
(b)(1)(i)
Financial information indicating the consumer has an independent ability to make the required minimum periodic payments on the proposed extension of credit in connection with the account; or
12 CFR 1026.51
The under-21 regulation describes an alternative involving an adult who agrees to liability.
(b)(1)(ii)(A)
A signed agreement of a cosigner, guarantor, or joint applicant who is at least 21 years old to be either secondarily liable for any debt on the account incurred by the consumer before the consumer has attained the age of 21 or jointly liable with the consumer for any debt on the account; and
CFPB, Credit card grace periods
Paying in full on time can avoid purchase interest when the card has a grace period.
If your card gives a grace period and you are not carrying a balance, then you can avoid paying interest on new purchases if you pay your balance in full by the due date.
These are the official rules and issuer terms published on the dates shown; rules and card offers can change.
This is general information about official processes, not legal advice, and SettleKit is not a law firm.
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