Best card for student- no history or file

[Anonymous]

Chase freedom, read that they like 1yr of experience. Anyone prove that wrong? 

Need a few recs for 18yo relative who is going to college. I know cap1 journey would approve. That could be changed later to a better one. 

I am thinking discover w/ co applicant. 

[Anonymous]

a secured credit card. i would go with cap 1... discover... 

[Anonymous]

freedom won't work. cap1 and discover will be nice and can grow with the person over time

[Anonymous]

I'm 19 now and my first cards, which I got at 18, were the Chase Freedom and Sapphire Preferred, which I got on the same day after being pre-qualified. But the only reason I got them was because I am an authorized user on a 18+ year old, $25k credit card. I'd recommend them being put on a family member's card as an Authorized User who has perfect payment history and has low credit utilization (1-9% best, not close to 50%). This will help a bit and should help them get their first card, but the Freedom is likely still out of reach. Check for pre-qualifications. I had over a year of that card on my report before I got my Freedom and CSP. A good secured card might still be a best bet.

[longtime_lurker]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

Chase freedom, read that they like 1yr of experience. Anyone prove that wrong? 

Need a few recs for 18yo relative who is going to college. I know cap1 journey would approve. That could be changed later to a better one. 

I am thinking discover w/ co applicant. 

---

How about their first card being at the University's CU, if there is one. Worry about the rewards later - the CU will treat your relative right.

[Anonymous]

I had no history when I was approved for Freedom when I was 19. I was initially denied but reconned and was approved a few days later. Had been banking with Chase for ~2.5 years.

Cap1's Journey is a decent 1.25% card that seems to be fairly easy to get (I was denied though).

The school's CU may also be a good card with great chances of approval. I was approved for my school's CU within 5 minutes of walking into the branch and it's a decent 1.1% card.

DiscoverIT for Students is also fantastic and relatively easy to get as long as you can prove you're a student. Great 1%/5% card, and with the 2%/10% promo going on easily makes it the best student card right now IMO.

[Anonymous]

I would recommend some sort of secured rewards credit card.

The BoA Cash Rewards has a special place in my heart as it was my first CC, so I would recommend that one!

I applied for that one at 19.

[Anonymous]

Alright. You guys are awesome. Thanks for the fast answers. 

The bonus will come again. No biggie.

Will leave the secured cards for a last resort. I mean personally I'd prefer they do secured just to prove themselves. But this person is frugal and only is doing this to build and not be all anti credit like I was! 

[WLRK11]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

Alright. You guys are awesome. Thanks for the fast answers. 

The bonus will come again. No biggie.

Will leave the secured cards for a last resort. I mean personally I'd prefer they do secured just to prove themselves. But this person is frugal and only is doing this to build and not be all anti credit like I was! 

---

I've read alot about the Bank of America (BankAmericard) Secured Card. It looks like after 12 months, BOA may review the account and refund the security deposit, thus unsecuring the card. From there the cardholder might be able to PC to something more exciting. BOA has been awesome to me. They CLI'd me to my largest CL and they are willing to accept consumer requested APR reductions. FYI, the BankAmericard Secured Card does not have an annual fee and does report to the three major credit bureaus. (I don't even bank with BOA!) 

Personally, I started with a Capital One Secured Card (before I knew about this fourm) and I kinda regret it. It's the higest APR in my porfolio, and Capital One will not PC it to another card. Plus, it has an annual fee! I'm closing it soon. This is the same advice I gave to my brother who's building his credit for the first time. Good luck!