Access Finance Introduces the Juzt Credit Card with Financial Inclusion at Its Core

Access Finance has released the Juzt credit card in the U.S., which is welcome news for people with bad or no credit history.

That’s because the card can help people with credit scores under 600 or those who are using credit cards for the first time build their credit over time with responsible use.

The company reports your payment activity to Equifax so people who make regular on-time payments can build their credit history and improve their credit score.

We caught up with Ivan Arnaudov, the CEO of Access Finance, to learn more about the payment solution and how people can use it as a building block toward financial stability in their lives.

The Juzt card officially launched in the U.S. earlier this spring. The public’s initial demand for the product has already surpassed Arnaudov’s expectations. He told us the Juzt card racked up thousands of active customers in its first month of existence.

Access Finance is partnering with The Bank of Missouri to offer the Juzt credit card, which is compatible with Apple Pay and Google Pay. The Juzt card is first available as a digital card that successful applicants can begin using immediately.

Access Finance also offers a physical version of the card for people who prefer a payment tool they can place in the palm of their hand.

People who are interested in applying for the card but feel they’re too busy to do so should know that it only takes a matter of minutes to fill out and submit an application for the Juzt card. The company promises an “instant decision” on your card application but cautions that people’s circumstances can affect approval times.

“In 10 minutes, people that have never had access to credit cards can start paying with the Juzt card,” Arnaudov told us. “And something that is very interesting is we don’t need to have a separate department to activate the cards. You can utilize it immediately. We have enough self-service portals and information to show people how to handle things with the card.”

Though Juzt isn’t yet a household name at this time, the company has partnered with a force in the payments industry that most people are familiar with: Mastercard. You can use the Juzt card at locations around the world that accept Mastercard. 

Any discussion that revolves around a credit card program introduced in 2025 would be incomplete if it didn’t touch on aspects of fraud. Payments fraud is a growing problem in the U.S., where 62 million Americans saw fraudulent charges hit their credit or debit card accounts in 2024. 

Access Finance uses an identification verification system that Arnaudov told us is a very important piece of the company’s approach to mitigating fraud. As a newcomer to the U.S. credit card scene, Access Finance wants to build trust with people by securely handling the data they provide on their application, Arnaudov said.

Credit card companies may find it difficult to evaluate an application for a new card from a person who doesn’t have much experience using a credit product.

More than 60 million people in the U.S. had fraudulent charges on either their credit or debit card in 2024.

“We have an understanding of how to use open banking data and can make predictions and evaluations that can open the funnel for new customers,” Arnaudov told us. “And our data science team has been building machine learning tools from the beginning that will directly affect the scoring models in the near future.”

Approximately 5.6 million U.S. households don’t have an account with a bank or credit union, according to a recent FDIC report. Arnaudov told us that Access Finance’s own research confirms that many people encounter challenges when seeking to acquire the financial products they need.

“The problem is huge, but we see it as a big opportunity,” Arnaudov told us. “For a lot of the banks, they don’t want to sell one of the most expensive products, credit cards, to underbanked people because there can be a lot of risk there.”

“But we want to build trust with young people to get them from the subprime to the prime segment,” Arnaudov added. “They can grow with us step by step.”

The Juzt credit card is an unsecured card. Not requiring a security deposit from customers is one more way the card can assist people who are trying to establish a firm financial footing. Arnaudov told us the unsecured nature of the product is one of its competitive advantages.

While there’s no magic formula that ensures people who apply for the card will receive one, individuals who keep a relatively low debt-to-income ratio are more likely to be approved. You can also increase your odds of being approved for the card if you have a history of making on-time payments on rent and utility bills and other credit products.

New cardholders receive an initial credit limit of $400. But if you use the card responsibly, you may earn a higher limit over time. The maximum credit limit you can obtain on the Juzt card is $1,000.

More benefits may be coming to the card, and Arnaudov told us he has big plans for the future.

“We want to expand this portfolio with savings tools that provide more value to our customers over time,” Arnaudov said. “We have the opportunity to introduce loyalty programs as well. And education is part of our future strategy.”

Arnaudov said the Juzt app may not currently have all the educational elements he wants it to provide, but it does allow users to track their spending and set card alerts. Personalized analytics, including reports on your spending habits, are available within the app. Those tools can help people learn how to avoid harmful financial behaviors.

The app uses biometric authentication to protect customer data and offers cardholders direct access to customer support services so they can get answers to any questions they may have about the card’s features.

Customers who suspect fraud on their Juzt credit card can instantly block the card via the Juzt app. Access Finance encourages people who suspect fraud on their card accounts to reach out to its support team for additional assistance.

“We’re an option for people who others aren’t giving a chance,” Arnaudov told us. “Step by step, we will keep you on the boat and you will continue to grow with us. With healthy behaviors and by reporting payments to a credit bureau, you can get to prime. And you will do it. This is what we have in mind.”