No credit card required
Browse credit cards from a variety of issuers to see if there's a better card for you.
What are some cards to apply for (if any) that one would have a chance at getting with just a year of history?
Any of the student cards
Walmart and other GE backed cards.
Student cards
Secured cards
Ive read people getting Discover with limited histories.
You could also check various credit unions.
I have just over a year of history. Average age of my accounts is under 6 months. I don't know of any card that couldn't be obtained with a 1 year AAoA. There are many other important factors. Do you have high limit accounts already? Good payment history, low utilization, decent income, ect....
There are so many factors, a low AAoA doesn't always completely hold you back.
It is also possible for somebody with a 1 year AAoA to be declined even secured cards. It just depends on the rest of the CR.
I have an AAOA of 0.8 mths, oldest account is 1.2 yrs.
You have to keep climbing the ladder, as you get more accounts the other creditors get more comfortable and will extend you credit. I started 1.2 yrs ago with a $500 BOA secured card and literally NO credit history.
I now have 13 cards, including all of the majors Amex (Plat, Gold, BCP), Citi Platinum, Citi Diamond, Discover, Chase Amazon, Chase Freedom, Nordstrom, GE Walmart, GE Amazon, GE Paypal Mastercard and a crappy CapOne. Total limits about $50k, with a $25k auto lease. My scores are around 750 on all three bureaus.
It can be done with a thin file, but you might need to lift your scores before the prime banks will give you a chance.
[Edit]
I forgot to mention, ALWAYS PIF on your accounts BEFORE the statement cuts, but leave one card reporting <9% and your score will climb nicely.
@Anonymous wrote:I have an AAOA of 0.8 mths, oldest account is 1.2 yrs.
You have to keep climbing the ladder, as you get more accounts the other creditors get more comfortable and will extend you credit. I started 1.2 yrs ago with a $500 BOA secured card and literally NO credit history.
I now have 13 cards, including all of the majors Amex (Plat, Gold, BCP), Citi Platinum, Citi Diamond, Discover, Chase Amazon, Chase Freedom, Nordstrom, GE Walmart, GE Amazon, GE Paypal Mastercard and a crappy CapOne. Total limits about $50k, with a $25k auto lease. My scores are around 750 on all three bureaus.
It can be done with a thin file, but you might need to lift your scores before the prime banks will give you a chance.
+1
I have 4 cc accounts with perfect history. Depending how much of an increase I get next week with NFCU will determine if I app or not. Im hoping a can get a 5k tradeline reporting with them so that will line me up with some decent tradelines down the road. Income is 50k
So long as you have been paying off your balance on time, you should be good to get one of the AMEX charge cards or entry level "prime cards," I got a CITI forward while I was a student and then 4 months after graduating went on to get an AMEX green and CITI diamond preferred.
@Anonymous wrote:So long as you have been paying off your balance on time, you should be good to get one of the AMEX charge cards or entry level "prime cards," I got a CITI forward while I was a student and then 4 months after graduating went on to get an AMEX green and CITI diamond preferred.
+1 for this.
When I got my Amex Gold they pulled all 3 bureaus as I was obviously a borderline approval. 7 months of good history later I got approved for the BCP at $2k (CLI to $6k at 61 days) and then a Platinum Charge card a few months later.