Writer: Adam West
Editor: Lillian Guevara-Castro
Reviewer: Ashley Fricker
American cooks ran to stores in the early 1950s to snatch up boxes of instant mashed potatoes, the latest kitchen craze in many households. But some felt deceived when they opened the box to find freeze-dried potato flakes and filler.
You can run into the same confusion in the credit card world, where many issuers toss around terms like “instant” and “guaranteed” so often that it leaves consumers unsure of what they really mean.
While most online credit card applications now offer consumers instant approval decisions after they submit their application, no bank can offer guaranteed approval — and only a few banks offer consumers instant use of their new card after being approved.
Here are our top picks for instant-approval credit cards if you’re eager for a quick decision—often faster than making instant mashed potatoes!
Bad Credit | Fair Credit | Good Credit | No Credit Score | Instant Use | FAQs
Instant Approval Cards For Bad Credit (300-579 FICO)
Each card in this category offers an online application and almost immediate credit decision after you apply. That’s because each credit card company uses a unique system to scan applications and quickly determine whether you meet or fall below the bank’s acceptance standards.
These cards can provide much more than a quick decision. Each card also reports your payment history to the three major credit reporting bureaus so your on-time payments can improve your credit score. For low rates and fees, consider applying for a secured credit card that requires a cash deposit upon approval.
Instant Approval Cards For Fair Credit (580-669 FICO)
After a quick online application, each of the cards below may return a credit decision within seconds. In some cases, though, the bank may ask for additional information, which can delay the final decision.
- No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
- Help build your credit through responsible use of a card like this
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
- Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with online banking from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One's mobile app
- Check out quickly and securely with a contactless card, without touching a terminal or handing your card to a cashier. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you're all set
- Pay by check, online or at a local branch, all with no fee - and pick the monthly due date that works best for you
- Top rated mobile app
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
- No rotating categories or limits to how much you can earn, and you can use your cash back for any amount–get gift cards, cover purchases or redeem for cash. Plus, rewards don’t expire for the life of the account
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
- Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card usage
- Enjoy unlimited access to your credit score and tools to help you monitor your credit profile with CreditWise from Capital One
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases with your SavorOne Card and enjoy exclusive access and cardholder perks
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Capital One SavorOne cardholders can pay with their rewards via PayPal Pay with Rewards and at Amazon.com
- Top rated mobile app
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 16.74% - 25.74% applies
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Redeem cash back for any amount
- No annual fee
- Terms and conditions apply
+ See More Instant-Approval Cards for Fair Credit
A fair credit score typically falls between 580 and 669. If you’re in this range, you’ll likely have more options than those who have bad credit. However, you may have to pay more for your credit card in the form of higher interest rates than those with good credit.
Instant Approval Cards For Good Credit (670+ FICO)
Credit card companies really appreciate customers with good or excellent credit because there’s low risk when offering them credit. With your great score, you’re likely to get a speedy application response and access to a wide variety of credit card options.
- Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers; balance transfer fee applies. Then 17.74% - 26.74% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Redeem cash back for any amount. No annual fee
- Terms and conditions apply
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.49% - 28.74%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Additional Disclosure: Citi is a CardRates advertiser.
- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 18.74% - 28.74% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- Top rated mobile app
+ See More Instant-Approval Cards for Good Credit
Just remember that even consumers who have good or excellent credit can receive denials. This can happen in the case of Chase’s 5/24 rule or Capital One’s two-card limit.
As stated earlier, no bank can guarantee your approval until you apply. Be certain you understand the issuer’s rules before you submit your application.
Instant Approval Cards For No Credit
Having no credit history is very different from having bad credit. If you have no credit history, it just means that you haven’t created enough financial data to generate a reliable score. This often happens with younger consumers, which is why student credit cards often target applicants with limited or no credit.
- The secured Self Visa® Credit Card* requires no credit check or minimum score.
- Reports to all 3 major credit bureaus to establish and build credit, with free access to your credit score.
- Secure your credit line with a refundable security deposit as low as $100.**
- Deposits are returned upon account closure after settling outstanding balances.
- *The secured Self Visa® Credit Card is issued by Lead Bank, Sunrise Banks, N.A., or First Century Bank, N.A., each Member FDIC.
- **Qualification for the secured Self Visa® Credit Card is based on meeting eligibility requirements, including income and expense requirements and establishment of security interest. Criteria subject to change.
- No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
- Help build your credit through responsible use of a card like this
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
- Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with online banking from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One's mobile app
- Check out quickly and securely with a contactless card, without touching a terminal or handing your card to a cashier. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you're all set
- Pay by check, online or at a local branch, all with no fee - and pick the monthly due date that works best for you
- Top rated mobile app
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- Early Spend Bonus: Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees
- Lock your card in the Capital One Mobile app if it's misplaced, lost or stolen
- Earn up to $500 a year by referring friends and family when they're approved for a Capital One credit card
- Build your credit with responsible card use
- Whether you're at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card might be an option for you
- Top rated mobile app
+ See More Instant-Approval Cards for No Credit
The beauty in these cards comes from their ability to help you build credit quickly. Most cards report your payment history to the credit reporting bureaus every month. With on-time payments and responsible spending, you can start to generate a positive credit score in less than six months.
Card Issuers Offering Instant-Use Upon Approval
Some cards allow you to start using your new credit line right after being approved. The issuers below allow instant credit use, even before you receive your card.
This often happens thanks to a temporary virtual credit card number. You can use this card number online or make other card-not-present (CNP) transactions.
The number will be different from the card number on your physical card, so be sure to update any recurring payments you set up with the temporary number.
American Express: All American Express cards can be added to your digital wallet upon approval. You can use an Instant Card Number for online purchases, the amount of which will be withdrawn from your new credit line. You can generally only get an American Express card if you have good or excellent credit.
Bank of America: If you apply and are approved for select cards through the Bank of America mobile app, you can access a portion of your credit line immediately upon approval. The bank maintains the right to limit how much of your new credit line you can charge to your temporary card number before the permanent card arrives.
Barclays: Barclays is one of the world’s largest banks and issues several co-branded credit cards that allow instant access to card numbers. Some examples include the JetBlue Card and the FRONTIER Airlines World Mastercard®. One big caveat: These company-branded cards only allow you to immediately use your new credit line when purchasing from the company shown on the card.
Chase Bank: Chase offers Spend Instantly on select cards upon approval. This feature allows new cardholders to make secure payments by adding the card to their phone’s digital wallet, which can then be used in stores that accept digital wallets and online.
Citi: Citibank allows instant use on select co-branded cards, including its Costco and American Airlines cards.
HSBC: HSBC only provides approved applicants with their new credit card number upon approval — the bank will not provide the CVC security code or expiration date — which most merchants require to complete a transaction.
USAA: New USAA cardholders can instantly receive their new credit card number, along with the expiration date and CVC security code, upon approval. The only catch is that you’re limited to charging no more than $1,000 until your physical card arrives in the mail in seven to 10 business days.
Can You Get Approved For a Credit Card Immediately?
With the advent of the internet and the rise of financial technology, nearly every credit card company can now offer instant application decisions.
This happens when your application moves into the bank’s internal review system, which scans your details and pulls the information needed to reach a decision in just seconds.
Sometimes a bank will require more information from an applicant. When this happens, you’re given a window — often between seven and 30 days — to submit the necessary data that will allow the bank to make a definitive decision.
While banks can often give you an instant credit decision, you won’t know for sure if you’re approved until you officially submit your application. At that moment, they get a clearer picture of your credit report, but the bank can’t access that information until you authorize them by submitting the application.
Can You Use a Credit Card the Same Day You’re Approved?
In some cases, you can use your new credit card as soon as you’re approved — with some restrictions.
Some big banks, including American Express and Chase, let you add your new card account to your digital wallet through their mobile application after account opening. You can use your card to make purchases with any merchant or service provider that accepts compatible digital wallets, such as Apple or Google Pay.
Other co-branded cards, like the American Airlines credit cards from Barclays, will let you sign up for the card when checking out from the American Airlines website and let you use your new card account to cover the cost.
A few banks, namely HSBC, will provide you with your new credit card number but nothing else. You can’t see your expiration date or CVC security code. To get that information, you’ll have to wait for your card to arrive in the mail, which typically takes between seven and 10 business days.
USAA also provides instant access to your full range of credit card data but limits new cardholders from charging any more than $1,000 to their new credit line before the physical card arrives in the mail.
Can I Get a Physical Credit Card Same Day?
Some bank branches can now print new cards right on-site. If you’re approved at one of these locations, you may walk away with your credit card in hand. Still, this option may be limited to debit cards, so it’s smart to confirm with the bank first.
If you submit a credit application online, you can often receive an instant credit decision, but it’s nearly impossible for the bank to approve your application, print your card, and send it to you on the same day.
Some issuers will provide expedited shipping to get your card to you faster — but no one has found a way to make it all happen in one day… yet.
If your bank doesn’t provide on-demand printing and you desperately need access to a credit card that same day, you can consider opening a prepaid debit card account at your local grocery or convenience store.
To use these cards, you need to fund the account with a cash or debit deposit at the register. You’ll get your new card instantly and can start making credit charges against the amount you deposited.
While this isn’t a traditional credit card, you can use the card at any merchant that accepts credit cards — and you can start as soon as you purchase the card from the store.
What Is the Easiest Instant Credit Card to Get?
The simplest way to get an instant credit card approval is through a secured card, especially one that skips the credit check and doesn’t review your credit report from a bureau.
One secured credit card that doesn’t do credit checks is the opensky® Secured Visa® Credit Card. This card is great for rebuilding credit through on-time payments.
This card is accepted everywhere Visa is. A secured card is easier to get than an unsecured credit card because a cash deposit serves as collateral for the account. If you miss a payment, the card issuer can withdraw funds from your deposit to cover the missed payment.
Get an Approval Decision in a Matter of Seconds
Instant potatoes quickly became a staple in many American homes, but it took the credit card industry much longer to match that level of speedy processing.
Today’s rapid-fire internet banking makes it easier than ever for a bank to scan your application and return with a credit decision in a matter of seconds. But just because the bank can review your application quickly doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed a card.
Be sure you fully understand the state of your credit report before submitting an application for credit to a bank.
Editorial Note: Our site content is not provided or commissioned by any credit card issuer(s). Opinions expressed on CardRates.com are the author's alone, not those of any credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by credit card issuers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information; however, all credit card offer details, including information about rewards, signup bonuses, introductory offers, and other terms and conditions, is presented without warranty. Clicking on any offer on CardRates.com will direct you to the issuer's website, where you can review the current terms and conditions of the offer.
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