Good First Card

[nada9188]

I have two younger friends that are interested in getting a credit card. Both are 19, blank credit report, full time students, part time employed. One is attending a four year college and one is at a two year college. 

Are there options other than a secured card? 

What cards will approve a blank credit history?

Thanks

[mmduluth]

I always tell my friends to app for the Cap1 Platinum. High interest rate of course but a small, $19 annual fee. 

[Red1Blue]

If you have good credit history, you might want to make them as authorized users on some of your cards and wait for them post on to their credit reports and then look into applying for the cards on their name.

Discover Student

Citi Forward

Amex Zync

Citi MTV

are good starter cards.

My daughter 19 has these cards now on her own after being an AU on my cards.

Amex Zync

Amex Blue - 4k CL

Citi Forward - 4k Cl

Citi Divident - 4k Cl

Discover - 1k Cl

BOA - American University Card - 750cl.

[andyaycw]

The summer between high school and my first year of college, I applied for and was approved for two student cards from Citibank. I had a blank credit report and was approved for $1200 and $1000 for the Citi Platinum Select and Driver's Edge cards at the time.

For starting out with credit, I would highly recommend looking into Citi, as I've never had any issues with them.

[RyVision]

No matter what card they get first, they NEED to get AMEX Zync. It will allow their future cards with AMEX (and they'll have them one day) to backdate to their original membership date with AMEX, giving them a longer AAoA down the road.  I'm VERY glad I had an AMEX  22 years ago!

[andyaycw]

FWIW as a reference point for the OP, after I had my two student Citicards for one year, I app'd for and was instantly approved for the Amex Blue Sky for $5700 back in August 2007. It has since been converted to a Clear after I realized it would be a better fit for my spending habits. 

(Has Amex really tightened up that much in their guidelines that people with thin credit histories need to start out with Zync?)

[nada9188]

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@andyaycw wrote:

FWIW as a reference point for the OP, after I had my two student Citicards for one year, I app'd for and was instantly approved for the Amex Blue Sky for $5700 back in August 2007. It has since been converted to a Clear after I realized it would be a better fit for my spending habits. 

(Has Amex really tightened up that much in their guidelines that people with thin credit histories need to start out with Zync?)

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I haven't read about anyone getting approved even for the ZYNC with a thin credit file. I just got my BCP with an AAoA of 1.6 years. 

[real_madrid09]

Cap1 secured card. Then 3 months later Cap1 rewards card. Keep one at 0% and the other 9%. You score will go up much faster.

[clocktick]

My friend just applied for a student card with Cap One called Journey - a no annual fee cashback card.

The Discover will not approve the friend going to the 2-year school (from reading past posts on here).

Citi came through for me in college but that wasn't recent. 

[andyaycw]

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@real_madrid09 wrote:

Cap1 secured card. Then 3 months later Cap1 rewards card. Keep one at 0% and the other 9%. You score will go up much faster.

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For someone starting out with zero credit, especially for someone who meets the eligibility criteria for a student card, I am a firm believer that a secured card is not necessary to establish credit. I was able to build a substantial credit portfolio without ever having to resort to a secured card (unless of course my experience was atypical and I just got lucky.)

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@clocktick wrote:

My friend just applied for a student card with Cap One called Journey - a no annual fee cashback card.

The Discover will not approve the friend going to the 2-year school (from reading past posts on here).

Citi came through for me in college but that wasn't recent. 

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Agreed - Discover would not approve me until I had one year of credit history - same with Amex.