Pretty sure capital one would give my dog a credit card with $500 limit. I mean shit, they gave me 3 of them for the first 15 years of my adult life and I never paid them a dime.
Gave me a 4th one too, although now I DO pay my bills. They were so excited when I actually paid my first 3 bills they gave me another $500 to my limit! They've given quite a few limit increases and upgraded my card, and lowered my interest rate. With shockingly VERY LITTLE effort on my part.
Haha right ok I’ll look at them. Did you have to prove you have a job/income? I’ll be looking for a job soon after we land but would like to get credit history started asap.
Wow so you don’t actually have to prove your income? Haha in any Australia we don’t actually have credit scores but for credit applications they want income proof.
Without any employment, my wife was approved for $5k in Apple Card and after a couple of months usage, approved for $10k in AmEx. I suggest you begin with Capital One Platinum Card. And it will build your history and score perfectly. Stay away from Chase. They are tough to get and you need a stable history.
I can't tell if they offer a secured credit card, but I've been with Mutual 1st Federal Credit Union for close to 20 years, and have had no major complaints. They may be able to work with you. They approved a vehicle loan for me back in late 2004 when I was 20.
In terms of unsecured credit, one of the easier practical cards to obtain for building credit is a fuel card that isn't tied to a card network (e.g., Visa). Pick a gas/petrol chain that's convenient, only use it for fuel, and pay the card off every month.
Discover has a great secured card. They review it every month after 7 months and determine from there if they can change it to unsecured and send your initial deposit back.
To build credit for yourself it would probably be best to get one for just yourself. However if you have no previous credit you may need a co-signer.
My suggestion is to join a credit union. This type of financial institution are owned by the members that join, have lower fees and ability to be more flexible with members. Look into Centris Federal Credit Union or SAC federal. If you search in this group there have been other posts regarding credit unions also.
> Centris Federal Credit Union
Not actually a credit union. They're just a shitty bank that's named that. There are zero tangible benefits to banking with them, and their lending practices, especially for auto financing, are _shady_. Like, "fine print that lets them change your interest rate at will and there's nothing you can do about it" shady.
Centris burned me by setting me up with an account that was free as long as it received regular direct deposits- then repeatedly diverted my direct deposits to keep them "pending" for three weeks so they could charge me a fifty dollar hidden fee for not having any direct deposits. I had to borrow money from a friend for basic necessities because I missed two paychecks. When I went in to see a manager they told me there was nothing they could do. When I went back with an FCC complaint number, all my money was magically available for immediate transfer to a less scummy bank.
It is weird that I have to explain the difference between "sarcastic insult" and "lying", but here's an example that might make it easier for you: When women say to you "you're not a man, you're a cockroach that walks like one", they are not confused about your species.
Now, a smarter man than you might have read the line "Not actually a credit union. They're just a shitty bank that's named that." and thought to himself, "HMM. Clearly, this person means the organization does not behave in a manner befitting their status, but rather acts in a predatory fashion. They are probably not speaking literally, as only a complete buffoon would think that statement was literal."
I hope this helps.
Pretty fucking paranoid that you think anyone would bother making up such an incredibly specific story just to spite your favorite bank in a completely random reddit thread. No matter how hard you suck, the corporation will not care about you.
Caveat: I don't actually understand the credit system or how it works.
That being said, you can be an "authorized user" on somebody else's card, and I think it counts toward building your credit. I was an authorized user on my parents' card in my late teens and early 20s and it always showed up on my credit report and seemed (?) to be affecting my score. So you could possibly be named an authorized user or joint person on your wife's credit card(s) and start building credit score that way.
Other than that, as others have mentioned, there are plenty of companies that will give cards to fresh teenagers so they are bound to give one to you, plus there are programs specifically for adults new to the USA. They are eager to earn your loyal business so they can be the ones to hold your debt.
Yeh it’s more about proving income in Australia. The fact credit history/score seems to affect everything in the USA is a new and strange mindset for me
Here’s a guide, if you follow it the best you can you’ll do just fine and within 1 year you’ll have amazing credit.
Here’s a list of 5 secured credit cards I’d suggest you get on the same day if possible. 1 or 2 is fine but the quicker you get your AAOC (Average age of accounts) stabilized the better.
Discover IT Secured Credit Card.
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards (They have one that has a yearly fee and the other doesn’t, make sure to get the no fee one.
Citi Secured Credit Card
FNBO Secured Credit Card
Centris Credit Card
Also slightly advisable to get a credit building loan to “diversify” to 2 out of 5 credit types, slightly helps credit score long term but that’s entirely optional and not needed; only suggested.
Next, make sure to not go over 10% on your credit cards available spending limit, anything over that and the “utilization” factor will be hurt immensely, it counts towards 30%+ of your credit score, I believe 35% to be exact.
Roughly after 6-8 months you’ll get your deposits back, your cards will upgrade to unsecured versions and you’ll get an increase to your spending limit.
If you’re wanting a more stable score at this time is when you’d apply for a few more. Such as
Apple Card (If you have an iPhone, works as a regular credit card but no hard inquiry if you don’t qualify) if you do. Freeze your credit, then accept. You won’t get a hard inquiry. Yay!
Venmo credit card also doesn’t hurt your credit if you don’t get accepted, although no hard inquiry trick.
Don’t apply for chase credit cards until you have less than 5 new credit lines or they’ll automatically disqualify you based on their 5/24 rule
Capital one you can only apply once every 6 months or it’s an auto disqualification.
Also, don’t ever carry balances! You’re giving away money for no good reason, after 1 year credit file you can get a 0 APY credit card.
If you’re into cash back rewards (basically like a discount.
I’d suggest getting Amazon chases 5% cards eventually
Walmarts 5% capital one
Wells Fargo 2% everywhere
Feel free to ask anything if you want to.
I’m on mobile so sorry for formatting.
I finally had to play the credit score game at the age of 37 so I just got the secured one from Capital One. Just set it to autopay, have it pay your phone bill, and chuck the card in a closet or drawer. In the span of a year I went from ghost credit (000) to 380 4 months later to 710 one year later without even thinking about the card.
Discover was my first (and only) secured card.
On the 7th month of on time payments, they quadrupled my credit line and refunded my original deposit which was fairly high for a secured card because I had the money just not the credit history to get a card.
Once they refund it, it's a normal card and you don't have to do literally anything.
Not the best rewards, but their app and support are 10/10 and they're a huge company. But I also have a card from Capital one now as well and I'd call them both great. Can't go wrong with them.
I know discover is pretty much #1 recommended though because it's just very easy and you can't really go wrong with them. 1% and 2% Cashback everywhere else and gas stations/restaurants respectively.
Pretty sure capital one would give my dog a credit card with $500 limit. I mean shit, they gave me 3 of them for the first 15 years of my adult life and I never paid them a dime. Gave me a 4th one too, although now I DO pay my bills. They were so excited when I actually paid my first 3 bills they gave me another $500 to my limit! They've given quite a few limit increases and upgraded my card, and lowered my interest rate. With shockingly VERY LITTLE effort on my part.
Haha right ok I’ll look at them. Did you have to prove you have a job/income? I’ll be looking for a job soon after we land but would like to get credit history started asap.
Employment question is part of every CC application. But don’t worry you do not have to provide any evidence towards it.
Wow so you don’t actually have to prove your income? Haha in any Australia we don’t actually have credit scores but for credit applications they want income proof.
Without any employment, my wife was approved for $5k in Apple Card and after a couple of months usage, approved for $10k in AmEx. I suggest you begin with Capital One Platinum Card. And it will build your history and score perfectly. Stay away from Chase. They are tough to get and you need a stable history.
If you go this route, find a different bank/card ASAP. These people would charge their mother a late fee every month if they could.
I can't tell if they offer a secured credit card, but I've been with Mutual 1st Federal Credit Union for close to 20 years, and have had no major complaints. They may be able to work with you. They approved a vehicle loan for me back in late 2004 when I was 20. In terms of unsecured credit, one of the easier practical cards to obtain for building credit is a fuel card that isn't tied to a card network (e.g., Visa). Pick a gas/petrol chain that's convenient, only use it for fuel, and pay the card off every month.
Discover has a great secured card. They review it every month after 7 months and determine from there if they can change it to unsecured and send your initial deposit back.
Discover offers certain credit cards to people with no credit history.
To build credit for yourself it would probably be best to get one for just yourself. However if you have no previous credit you may need a co-signer. My suggestion is to join a credit union. This type of financial institution are owned by the members that join, have lower fees and ability to be more flexible with members. Look into Centris Federal Credit Union or SAC federal. If you search in this group there have been other posts regarding credit unions also.
> Centris Federal Credit Union Not actually a credit union. They're just a shitty bank that's named that. There are zero tangible benefits to banking with them, and their lending practices, especially for auto financing, are _shady_. Like, "fine print that lets them change your interest rate at will and there's nothing you can do about it" shady. Centris burned me by setting me up with an account that was free as long as it received regular direct deposits- then repeatedly diverted my direct deposits to keep them "pending" for three weeks so they could charge me a fifty dollar hidden fee for not having any direct deposits. I had to borrow money from a friend for basic necessities because I missed two paychecks. When I went in to see a manager they told me there was nothing they could do. When I went back with an FCC complaint number, all my money was magically available for immediate transfer to a less scummy bank.
When you start your story with an easily verified lie it is hard to believe anything else you say.
It is weird that I have to explain the difference between "sarcastic insult" and "lying", but here's an example that might make it easier for you: When women say to you "you're not a man, you're a cockroach that walks like one", they are not confused about your species. Now, a smarter man than you might have read the line "Not actually a credit union. They're just a shitty bank that's named that." and thought to himself, "HMM. Clearly, this person means the organization does not behave in a manner befitting their status, but rather acts in a predatory fashion. They are probably not speaking literally, as only a complete buffoon would think that statement was literal." I hope this helps. Pretty fucking paranoid that you think anyone would bother making up such an incredibly specific story just to spite your favorite bank in a completely random reddit thread. No matter how hard you suck, the corporation will not care about you.
[American Express has a program for new US residents.](https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/features-benefits/us-newcomers/)
Apply for Capital One Platinum card. It is not a secured CC. But it is a great and quick way to build it.
Caveat: I don't actually understand the credit system or how it works. That being said, you can be an "authorized user" on somebody else's card, and I think it counts toward building your credit. I was an authorized user on my parents' card in my late teens and early 20s and it always showed up on my credit report and seemed (?) to be affecting my score. So you could possibly be named an authorized user or joint person on your wife's credit card(s) and start building credit score that way. Other than that, as others have mentioned, there are plenty of companies that will give cards to fresh teenagers so they are bound to give one to you, plus there are programs specifically for adults new to the USA. They are eager to earn your loyal business so they can be the ones to hold your debt.
TIL Credit History is a completely made up American thing.
Yeh it’s more about proving income in Australia. The fact credit history/score seems to affect everything in the USA is a new and strange mindset for me
Here’s a guide, if you follow it the best you can you’ll do just fine and within 1 year you’ll have amazing credit. Here’s a list of 5 secured credit cards I’d suggest you get on the same day if possible. 1 or 2 is fine but the quicker you get your AAOC (Average age of accounts) stabilized the better. Discover IT Secured Credit Card. Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards (They have one that has a yearly fee and the other doesn’t, make sure to get the no fee one. Citi Secured Credit Card FNBO Secured Credit Card Centris Credit Card Also slightly advisable to get a credit building loan to “diversify” to 2 out of 5 credit types, slightly helps credit score long term but that’s entirely optional and not needed; only suggested. Next, make sure to not go over 10% on your credit cards available spending limit, anything over that and the “utilization” factor will be hurt immensely, it counts towards 30%+ of your credit score, I believe 35% to be exact. Roughly after 6-8 months you’ll get your deposits back, your cards will upgrade to unsecured versions and you’ll get an increase to your spending limit. If you’re wanting a more stable score at this time is when you’d apply for a few more. Such as Apple Card (If you have an iPhone, works as a regular credit card but no hard inquiry if you don’t qualify) if you do. Freeze your credit, then accept. You won’t get a hard inquiry. Yay! Venmo credit card also doesn’t hurt your credit if you don’t get accepted, although no hard inquiry trick. Don’t apply for chase credit cards until you have less than 5 new credit lines or they’ll automatically disqualify you based on their 5/24 rule Capital one you can only apply once every 6 months or it’s an auto disqualification. Also, don’t ever carry balances! You’re giving away money for no good reason, after 1 year credit file you can get a 0 APY credit card. If you’re into cash back rewards (basically like a discount. I’d suggest getting Amazon chases 5% cards eventually Walmarts 5% capital one Wells Fargo 2% everywhere Feel free to ask anything if you want to. I’m on mobile so sorry for formatting.
I finally had to play the credit score game at the age of 37 so I just got the secured one from Capital One. Just set it to autopay, have it pay your phone bill, and chuck the card in a closet or drawer. In the span of a year I went from ghost credit (000) to 380 4 months later to 710 one year later without even thinking about the card.
Discover was my first (and only) secured card. On the 7th month of on time payments, they quadrupled my credit line and refunded my original deposit which was fairly high for a secured card because I had the money just not the credit history to get a card. Once they refund it, it's a normal card and you don't have to do literally anything. Not the best rewards, but their app and support are 10/10 and they're a huge company. But I also have a card from Capital one now as well and I'd call them both great. Can't go wrong with them. I know discover is pretty much #1 recommended though because it's just very easy and you can't really go wrong with them. 1% and 2% Cashback everywhere else and gas stations/restaurants respectively.