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Firstcard® Secured Credit Builder Card
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The Credit Card
Made For Beginners

Want the best credit card for beginners? Firstcard is designed to make credit building safe, easy, and stress-free – even for beginners! There’s no hidden fees, no hard credit checks and you can apply online in just a few minutes.
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Begin your Credit Card Journey

There is a lot you should consider before selecting a credit card for beginners. Your credit score is the most important, though it’s likely you may not have a credit score yet. Once you get a credit card for beginners, factors like payment history, credit utilization, and account age play a significant role in determining your score. Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is also an important factor as many credit cards for beginners have high APRs which can be dangerous. Firstcard is one of the best credit cards for beginners as there is 0% APR. Firstcard also offers in app credit monitoring, and credit reporting to all three major credit bureaus to help ensure beginners build credit quickly and safely.
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Types of Credit Cards For Beginners

Student Credit Cards:

These are the best credit cards for students. Student credit cards typically have low fees, easy approval, and perks tailored to students. Firstcard helps students get a credit card for beginners so they can build credit early and safely in college. Learn more here.
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Secured Credit Cards:

These are typically the best credit cards for beginners who have no or low credit history and are ineligible for student credit cards. Secured credit cards require an upfront deposit, and often have a higher APR, but are a great way to build your credit. Firstcard’s secured card is a great credit card for beginners as there is 0% APR and no minimum deposit requirement.
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Credit Builder Cards:

These cards are great credit cards for beginners as they are designed to build credit quickly by reporting to major credit bureaus. Firstcard reports responsible use, such as on time payments, to all three major credit bureaus: Equifax®, Experian®, and TransUnion®. Learn more about how you can build credit with Firstcard here.
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How to pick the right credit card for beginners

With thousands of different credit cards to choose from, it may seem hard to identify the best credit card for beginners. We’ve narrowed it down to three categories to make your search a bit easier.
Secured Credit Cards require an upfront deposit, which typically becomes your credit limit and serves as collateral in case you are unable to pay your credit card bill. These cards are ideal for beginners who want to build credit without the risk of overspending.
Unsecured Credit Cards are usually not the best option for beginners, as they often come with higher fees and interest rates. Unlike secured cards, traditional unsecured cards extend a credit line where your credit limit is determined by your creditworthiness.
Credit Builder Cards are great credit cards for beginners, as they prioritize credit reporting and responsible usage. The Firstcard® Secured Credit Builder Card reports responsible usage to all three major credit bureaus and offers rewards like APY and cashback. These rewards set it apart from most other credit builder cards.

Use your Beginner Credit Card RESPONSIBLY

It’s important to use your credit card for beginners responsibly in order to build credit and avoid credit card debt. Factors like, on time payments, paying your balance in full, and keeping your credit utilization ratio low,  indicate responsible credit usage.

With the Firstcard® Secured Credit Builder Card, you’ll never have to worry about hurting your credit utilization ratio since you get to determine your credit limit each month. This makes Firstcard unique and an excellent credit card for beginners who want the flexibility to alter their credit limit each month without penalty.
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The best way to build credit without an SSN

As an immigrant, I struggled to find a credit card. Firstcard was the perfect solution with their no-SSN requirement. Now, I can build credit and earn rewards with every purchase.

Hana P.

Apply for a beginner credit card

Without good credit or credit history, getting a credit card for beginners may seem out of reach. Firstcard aims to remove this hurdle by pre-approving users that apply online and submit the required documentation. Here are some tips for easy approval:

Research Credit Cards For Beginners:

Before applying, make sure to do adequate research into which credit card for beginners is best for you. Take into consideration your ideal credit limit, APR, APY, and other rewards before coming to a decision.
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Check Your Eligibility:

Most credit cards for beginners require you to be 18 years of age or older in order to open an account. Many credit cards for beginners also require SSN for approval. If you do not have an SSN, Firstcard is a great choice as no SSN is needed for approval!
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Gather Necessary Documents:

You may be asked to provide: proof of income, Social Security Number (SSN) and/or ITIN, Passport, Visa, and other personal information. Make sure you have these documents close by before applying.
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Apply For Your Credit Card:

Depending on the requirements, you will need to apply online or in person for your beginner credit card. With Firstcard, you can apply online and start building credit in as little as 1 day.
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Start Building Credit:

Once approved for your credit card for beginners, start building credit by making on time payments. Make sure you are paying your balance off in full each month rather than just paying the minimum payment.
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Start fixing your Bad Credit

Step 1: Gather necessary documents to apply for your first credit card. To get started with your Firstcard application, make sure you meet the following requirements:
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Age Requirement:
You must be at least 18 years old.
Proof of U.S. Residency:
Provide a legal U.S. residential address.
Valid Government-Issued ID:
This can be a State ID, Driver’s License, or Passport.
SSN or ITIN:
If you don’t have an SSN, you’ll need two documents:
  1. A Passport
  2. Either a U.S. Visa or an ITIN
Step 2: Apply for Firstcard® Secured Credit Builder Card today. You’re pre-approved. No credit checks or hard inquiry.
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Step 3: After approval, add money to your Firstcard and start using your Firstcard with purchases
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Step 4: Turn on Autopay to make sure you make on-time payments.
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Step 5: Firstcard will report your good on-time spending behavior to all three major credit bureaus: Equifax®, Experian®, and TransUnion®.
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Security & support you can trust

Safe and Secure
Firstcard uses industry-standard encryption technology to ensure your account and information are safe and secure.
Insured up to $250,000
Money in your Firstcard account is insured up to the maximum amount of $250,000 through our bank partner Regent Bank, a member of FDIC.
Powered by Mastercard
Powered by Mastercard with Zero Liability Fraud Protection guarantee for unauthorized charges.

Frequently asked questions

How do credit card rewards work?

Most credit cards for beginners do not offer extensive rewards. Instead, these cards help users establish credit and often prioritize lower fees and simpler terms over cashback or points.

There are some credit cards for beginners, like Firstcard, that offer rewards and prioritize credit building. With Firstcard, you’ll earn up to 15% cashback when you shop at any of our 29,000+ partner merchants, up to 10% random cashback on qualifying purchases, and unlimited 1% cashback on all purchases when you subscribe to Firstcard Premium. Firstcard also offers a higher than average APY designed to help grow savings faster.

What is APR and why is it important?

Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is the ​​yearly interest rate plus any fees associated with borrowing money. As a beginner, it’s important to understand how APR works since a higher APR means higher costs if your balance is not paid in full each month. When searching for the best credit card for beginners, look for a card with low or no APR. Firstcard is a great credit card for beginners because there is 0% APR!

How do I choose between a secured card and a student card?

If you are a student, opting for a student card is your best bet as they typically have low fees and offer perks tailored to students. For students who are new to credit building, opting for a secured student credit card rather than a traditional credit card may be better so that you can learn to build credit safely without the risk of overspending.

For beginners who are non-students and don’t have access to student cards, opt for a secured credit card for beginners, like Firstcard. The Firstcard® Secured Credit Builder Card, which has 0% APR, is designed to help beginners build credit quickly and safely. Firstcard also offers rewards like unlimited 1% cashback on all purchases and 4.00% APY on the money in your account for Firstcard Premium subscribers. These rewards set Firstcard apart from other secured cards that typically have high APRs, low APY, and limited rewards.

What is a credit limit?

A credit limit is the maximum amount you can spend on your credit card in any given month. Issuers determine this limit based on factors such as your creditworthiness, income, and payment history. Spending over 30% of your credit limit can hurt your credit score since your credit utilization ratio is negatively affected when you exceed this percentage.

With the Firstcard® Secured Credit Builder Card, you’ll never have to worry about hurting your credit utilization ratio since you get to determine your credit limit each month. With Firstcard, what you deposit is what you can spend. This makes Firstcard an excellent credit card for beginners who want the flexibility to alter their credit limit each month without penalty.

How can I improve my credit score as a beginner?

The easiest way to improve your credit score is to get a credit card for beginners and use it responsibly. If you are a beginner looking to improve your credit, apply for a card like Firstcard that reports to all three credit major bureaus and does not require a hard credit check. Hard credit checks can temporarily lower your score, so should be avoided if possible when looking to improve your credit score as a beginner.

Build Credit As A Beginner Today!

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FTC

Firstcard is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by Regent Bank, Member FDIC. Firstcard credit cards are issued by Regent Bank, pursuant to a license from Mastercard. Valid for 18+ and subject to account approval. FDIC deposit insurance up to $250,000 per qualified customer account on a "pass-through" basis; FDIC insurance only covers failure of insured depository institutions. Certain conditions must be satisfied for pass-through FDIC deposit insurance to apply.

Forbes Featured Partner:  https://www.forbes.com/advisor/credit-cards/best/international-students/

Time Featured Partner:  https://time.com/personal-finance/article/best-credit-cards-for-students/

CNN Featured Partner:  https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/money/best-credit-cards-college-students

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Valid for 18+ and subject to account approval. Pre-approved means that you have met the initial criteria for this credit card; however, your application may be rejected if any of the following apply: you provided incorrect information or we are unable to verify your identity under federal law; you are under 18 years old.

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Merchant Cashback: The amount of cashback is determined by the transaction and participating merchants. See firstcard.app/cashback-policy.

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Random Cashback: Users will receive up to 10% of random cashback on qualifying purchases. A qualifying purchase is a purchase that has been processed and accepted by the merchant and has settled in the entrant's Firstcard account. This purchase may, but not necessarily, include tips, holds, and deposits related to the qualifying purchase. Additionally, the following transaction categories are NOT qualifying purchases and will not be eligible to earn entries into random cashback: ATM withdrawals, wire transfers or cash transfers, purchasing gift cards or other cash equivalents, gambling or online casino, peer-to-peer (P2P) transfers, such as Venmo, Cash App, transfers between Firstcard users, or similar services, gambling, bill payment, prepaid phone recharge and any other transaction types that we may deem ineligible at our sole discretion. See firstcard.app/random-cashback-policy.

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The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") for the Deposit Account is variable and may change at any time. The disclosed APY is effective as of November 7, 2024. . For cardholders without an SSN, credit monitoring and APY features are unavailable. For ITIN cardholders, APY feature is available; however, credit monitoring remains unavailable. No minimum balance is required. Firstcard Standard members are eligible for 0.75% APY. Firstcard+ members are eligible for 2.00% APY. Firstcard Premium members are eligible for 4.00% APY. Annual fees and other fees may impact your yield.

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Firstcard Premium customers will earn an additional 1% unlimited cashback on all eligible credit card purchases. Exclusions apply. Cashback rewards are not earned on ATM withdrawals, P2P transfers, purchases of gift cards or other cash equivalents, and certain other types of transactions as determined by Firstcard. Cashback is awarded within 7 days of the eligible transaction posting to your account. No minimum balance required to earn cashback.

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Data pulled from Chase Bank as of January 10, 2025: https://www.chase.com/content/dam/chase-ux/ratesheets/pdfs/rdfl1.pdf

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Data pulled from Bank of America as of January 10, 2025: https://www.bankofamerica.com/deposits/bank-account-interest-rates/

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Data pulled from Wells Fargo as of January 10, 2025: https://www.wellsfargo.com/checking/prime/

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Data pulled from Discover It Secured Credit Card as of January 10, 2025: https://www.discover.com/credit-cards/secured/

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Data pulled Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card from as of January 10, 2025: https://creditcards.chase.com/cash-back-credit-cards/freedom/unlimited

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Data pulled from Bank of America Secured Credit Card as of January 10, 2025: https://www.bankofamerica.com/credit-cards/products/secured-credit-card/

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According to the FDIC, the national average interest rate on savings accounts is 0.42% APY (as of December 16, 2024). https://www.fdic.gov/resources/bankers/national-rates/.