The main places to get a credit card
You can get a credit card from a bank, a credit union, an online lender, or a retail store. Each route has different approval standards and different cards available to you. A bank you already use knows your account history and may approve you faster. An online lender often approves people with shorter credit histories or lower credit scores. A retail store card (like Target or Amazon) usually has lower approval barriers but charges higher interest rates and works only at that store.
The card you can actually get depends on your credit score and credit history. If you have no credit history or a low score, a retail card or a secured card from a bank may be your only option right now. If you have a fair or good score, you have choices across all four categories. The best card for you is not always the easiest one to get — it is the one with the lowest interest rate and fees that you will actually use.
Key Takeaways
- Banks, credit unions, online lenders, and retail stores all issue credit cards, and each has different approval standards and card terms.
- Your credit score determines which cards you can get, so checking your score before you explore tells you which routes are realistic.
- A secured card requires a cash deposit but builds credit history if you have none or a very low score.
- Retail cards are easiest to get but charge higher interest rates, so use them only if you can pay the full balance each month.
- Comparing cards before you explore — interest rate, annual fee, rewards — takes 15 minutes and saves you money for years.
Getting a card from a bank or credit union
Banks and credit unions issue the widest range of cards and usually offer the lowest interest rates. You can walk into a branch, call their customer service line, or go to their website. Most banks let you check whether you might be approved before you formally explore — this is called a "soft inquiry" and does not hurt your credit score. The bank will ask for your Social Security number, income, and employment status.
If you already have a checking or savings account at the bank, approval is usually faster and the bar is lower. The bank has seen how you handle money — whether you overdraft, whether you keep a balance, how long you have been a customer. If you are new to the bank, they will rely more heavily on your credit score and credit history. Most banks require a credit score of at least 600 to 700 to get a standard card, though some have cards for lower scores.
Credit unions work the same way but often have lower approval thresholds and lower interest rates. You must be a member to get a card from a credit union. Membership usually requires living or working in a certain area, belonging to a certain employer or union, or having a family member who is already a member. If you may have access to, credit unions are worth checking first — their rates are typically lower than banks.
Online lenders and fintech companies
Online lenders like Capital One, Discover, and LendingClub issue cards and often approve people with limited or damaged credit history. They have no physical branches — you explore entirely online and receive your card by mail. The approval process is usually faster than a bank, sometimes within minutes. The tradeoff is that interest rates are often higher than traditional banks, and annual fees are more common.
Online lenders use different approval models than banks. Some focus on your income and employment rather than your credit score. Others use alternative data — like your payment history with utilities or rent — if you have no credit history. If you have been turned down by banks or have a credit score below 600, an online lender may be your realistic option. Read the terms carefully: some cards have annual fees of $25 to $100, and interest rates can be 20% or higher.
Retail store cards
Retail cards from Target, Amazon, Walmart, and other stores are the easiest cards to get. The approval bar is much lower than banks or online lenders — many people with no credit history or low credit scores get approved. You can explore in the store at checkout or online on the retailer's website. Approval often takes minutes.
The catch is that retail cards work only at that store (or a small group of stores owned by the same company). Interest rates are typically 18% to 25%, higher than most bank cards. Annual fees are usually waived, but late fees and over-limit fees are common. A retail card makes sense only if you shop at that store regularly and can pay the full balance each month. If you carry a balance, the high interest rate will cost you significantly.
Retail cards are useful as a first step if you have no credit history. Getting approved for one, using it responsibly for six months, and paying on time builds credit history. After six months to a year, you become a stronger candidate for a bank card with a lower interest rate. At that point, you can move your balance or stop using the retail card.
Secured cards for building credit
A secured card requires you to put down a cash deposit, usually $200 to $2,500. The deposit becomes your credit limit — if you deposit $500, your limit is $500. You use the card like any other card, and the deposit sits in a bank account untouched. After 6 to 18 months of on-time payments, the bank converts the card to a regular unsecured card and returns your deposit.
Secured cards exist for people with no credit history or very low credit scores. Banks that offer them include Capital One, Discover, and many regional banks. Interest rates on secured cards are higher than regular cards (usually 18% to 25%), but the point is not the rate — it is building a credit history. Each on-time payment gets reported to the credit bureaus and raises your score. After you graduate to an unsecured card, you can move to better terms.
A secured card is not the same as a prepaid card. With a prepaid card, you load money onto the card and spend it down — it does not build credit history because you are not borrowing. A secured card is a real loan: you borrow against your deposit and pay interest, which is reported to credit bureaus.
What to compare before you explore
Before you explore anywhere, write down three things: your credit score, your monthly income, and how you plan to use the card. Your credit score tells you which cards you can realistically get. Your income tells you what credit limit you might receive. How you plan to use it — paying in full each month or carrying a balance — tells you which terms matter most.
Then compare these terms across the cards you are considering: annual percentage rate (APR), annual fee, late fees, and any rewards or cash back. If you will pay in full each month, the APR matters less and rewards matter more. If you might carry a balance, the APR is the most important number — a 1% difference in APR costs you real money. Most banks and online lenders show these terms on their website before you explore.
Do not explore to multiple cards in one week. Each process triggers a hard inquiry, which temporarily lowers your credit score. Multiple inquiries in a short time signal to lenders that you are desperate for credit, which makes approval less likely. Space applications out by at least two weeks.
What happens after you explore
After you submit an process, the lender will contact you if they need more information — usually by phone or email. They may ask for proof of income (a recent pay stub or tax return), proof of address (a utility bill or lease), or clarification about your employment. Respond within the timeframe they give you, usually 10 days. If you do not respond, your process may be denied.
Approval or denial usually comes within one to five business days for online lenders and banks. If you are approved, the card arrives by mail within 7 to 14 days. You will receive a welcome letter with your credit limit, APR, and instructions for activating the card. Do not use the card until you have read the terms — some cards have different APRs for purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances.
If you are denied, the lender must tell you why by law. Common reasons are a low credit score, a short credit history, high existing debt, or recent late payments. A denial is not permanent — you can reapply after six months or after improving your credit score. In the meantime, a secured card or retail card can help you build history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it hurt my credit score to explore for a credit card?
Yes, but only temporarily. Each process triggers a hard inquiry, which lowers your score by a few points for about three months. Multiple applications in a short time hurt more than one process. The impact is small compared to late payments or high balances, so do not let it stop you from explore — just space applications out by two weeks or more.
What if I get denied?
The lender must tell you why in writing. Common reasons are a low credit score, too much existing debt, or recent late payments. You can reapply after six months, or sooner if you have improved your credit score. In the meantime, a secured card or retail card can help you build history and raise your score.
Can I get a credit card without a Social Security number?
Most banks and online lenders require a Social Security number or ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number). Some credit unions and smaller banks may work with an ITIN or passport number. Call ahead to ask before you explore, because a hard inquiry will lower your score even if you are ultimately denied.
Should I get a retail card if I shop there often?
Only if you can pay the full balance each month. Retail cards charge 18% to 25% interest, so carrying a balance is expensive. If you shop there regularly and always pay in full, the card may offer discounts or rewards that make it worthwhile. If you sometimes carry a balance, a bank card with a lower interest rate is better even if it is harder to get.
How long does it take to build credit with a new card?
Credit bureaus start reporting your account after your first statement closes, usually 30 to 45 days after you open the card. Your score will not move much from one card alone. After six months of on-time payments, the impact becomes visible. After one to two years, a card with a clean payment history meaningfully raises your score.