Firstcard

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It’s easy to add money to Firstcard! If you don’t already have an external bank account linked, you will need to link one to your Firstcard account within the app.

To link an external bank account:

Go to the Transfer tab
Click Add money from other banks
Firstcard partners with Plaid, the nation’s largest bank connection provider, to safely connect your external bank account with Firstcard. You will see a screen prompt that says “Firstcard uses Plaid to connect your account”. Tap Continue to safely connect your bank account via Plaid using your login credentials.

If your bank isn't listed or you have trouble connecting via Plaid, you can always reach out to us via email at support@firstcard.app

If you already have your bank account linked, you can easily add money to your Firstcard by following the below steps:

Go to the Home tab
Tap the Add money button under your card
Enter the amount of money you’d like to add
Tap Confirm to finish adding money

Go to the Transfer tab
You will see there are 4 ways to add money to your Firstcard: some text
1. Set up director deposit
2. Add money from your linked debit card
3. Add money from your linked bank account
4. Receive money from other banks
Pick one of the methods to add money to your bank account
Enter the amount of money you’d like to add
Tap Confirm to finish adding money

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Is Firstcard a secured credit card?

Firstcard is a secured credit builder card that helps you build credit. A secured credit card is a credit card that requires a cash deposit and is designed to help people build their credit score. Firstcard does not extend a credit line. What you deposit is what you can spend. This unique approach encourages healthy spending habits while protecting you from overspending. This also means that you don’t need to worry about the credit utilization ratio as it does not apply to Firstcard users.

By using Firstcard for purchases and making timely payments, your on-time credit activities are reported to all three major credit bureaus (Equifax®, Experian®, and TransUnion®) and you can improve your credit score over time.

Is Firstcard a secured credit card?

What do I need to apply for Firstcard?

To apply for Firstcard, you must meet the below requirements:

Be at least 18 years old
Have a legal U.S. residential address
A valid government-issued ID
An SSN
If you don’t have an SSN, you’ll need to submit 1) a passport 2) a Visa or an ITIN

How to add my Firstcard to Apple Pay or Google Wallet?

If you haven’t added your Firstcard to Apple Pay or Google Wallet, there are two ways to add your Firstcard to your digital wallet.

To add your Firstcard to Apple Pay or Google Wallet:

Go to the Home tab
Tap the banner that says “Add card to Apple Pay/Google Wallet”
Add your card to Apple Pay/Google Wallet

If you don't see the banner in the home tab, following the following instructions:

Go to the Home tab
Tap 👁️ on the credit card
Tap Add to Apple Wallet
Add your card to Apple Pay/Google Wallet

What is Autopay and why is it recommended?

Autopay is a feature that helps you build your credit score. The feature ensures you make on-time payments by automatically paying off your Firstcard credit card bills using the money you’ve already deposited into your Firstcard account every month.

If you don’t have Autopay turned on, you will need to remember to manually make a payment at the end of the month. To make sure you don’t forget to make your credit payment every month, we highly recommend turning on this feature as it helps you build credit with peace of mind.

To turn on Autopay:

Go to the Home tab
Tap the geared button ⚙️ in the top navigation bar
Scroll down to Credit builder
Tap Safer Credit Building: Autopay
Tap Turn on Autopay

To manually make a payment:

Go to the Home tab
Tap the geared button ⚙️ in the top navigation bar
Scroll down to Credit builder
Tap Safer Credit Building: Autopay
Tap Manual Payment to make a payment

When will my physical card be delivered?

If you requested a physical card be shipped to you, it will usually take 5-10 business days to arrive. You can also request expedited delivery for extra fees. Meanwhile, you can start using your Firstcard credit card right away by adding your virtual card to your Apple Wallet or Google Wallet and making a purchase using your virtual card.

Can I start using Firstcard to make purchases without a physical card?

Yes, absolutely! You can start using your Firstcard credit card right away by adding your virtual card to your Apple Wallet or Google Wallet and making a purchase using your virtual card.

If you haven’t added your Firstcard to Apple Pay or Google Wallet, there are two ways to add your Firstcard to your digital wallet.

To add your Firstcard to Apple Pay or Google Wallet:

Go to the Home tab
Tap the banner that says “Add card to Apple Pay/Google Wallet”
Add your card to Apple Pay/Google Wallet

Go to the Home tab
Tap 👁️ on the credit card
Tap Add to Apple Wallet
Add your card to Apple Pay/Google Wallet

I thought this is a credit card. Why do I need to deposit money into Firstcard?

Firstcard is a secured credit builder card. A secured credit card is a credit card that requires a cash deposit and is designed to help people build their credit score. Firstcard requires you to add money to your Firstcard account before you can make a transaction because we want to help you form good spending habits and prevent you from overspending.

With that said, Firstcard does not extend a credit line. What you deposit is what you can spend. This also means that you don’t need to worry about the credit utilization ratio as it does not apply to Firstcard users.

By using Firstcard for purchases and making timely payments, your on-time credit activities are reported to the major credit bureaus and you can improve your credit score over time.

What's my credit limit with Firstcard?

With Firsctard there is no credit limit. Instead, what you deposit is what you can spend! For example, if you deposit $500, that amount will be your spending limit.

Would there be a hard credit inquiry when I apply?

No, we do not conduct a hard inquiry for your Firstcard application.

Why is my account application denied?

We approve accounts for all U.S. residents aged 18 and above who have submitted accurate information, including those who do not have a Social Security Number and choose to apply with their passport and visa/ITIN.

To ensure approval, it is crucial that all information submitted is accurate and complete. If your application has been denied or approval has been delayed, it may be helpful to verify that all provided details are correct and comprehensive. You can reach out to support@firstcard.app for any additional help.

We do not approve fraudulent applications.

Why does Firstcard need my Social Security Number (SSN)?

Just like any other financial institution, we are required to gather this information by U.S. federal law. The PATRIOT Act requires all financial institutions to verify and record Social Security Numbers to verify identity. This helps identify and prevent potential terrorists and money launderers from opening bank accounts. It also serves as a security measure to prevent fraudulent accounts from being opened in your name.

Additionally, your SSN is protected. Firstcard uses AES strong encryption to encrypt your SSN.

Is Firstcard a credit card? Is Firstcard a secured credit card?

Firstcard is a secured credit card that helps you build credit. Secured credit cards are a type of credit card. Secured credit cards are like training wheels for managing credit. The cards require you to put down some money as a safety deposit and this becomes your spending limit. It makes sure that you can't spend more than you have, keeping you safe from getting into big debt and ensuring safe credit building habits.

In other words, what you deposit is what you can spend. By using Firstcard for purchases and making timely payments, your on-time credit activities are reported to the major credit bureaus and you can establish or improve your credit score over time.

One thing to note is that unlike a traditional credit card, Firstcard does not offer a line of credit.

Why does Firstcard ask me for SSN? Is my SSN protected?

Yes, your SSN is protected. Firstcard uses AES strong encryption to encrypt your SSN.

Are my deposits insured by the FDIC?

Yes, your deposits in the Firstcard account are insured up to the standard maximum deposit insurance amount of $250,000 through our partner, Regent Bank, Member FDIC.

Is Firstcard secure?

Firstcard uses industry-standard encryption technology to help keep your information safe and secure. Your Firstcard account is also insured up to the standard maximum deposit insurance amount of $250,000 through our partner, Regent Bank, Member FDIC.

I don’t have an SSN, can I see my credit score in the Firstcard app?

Unfortunately, you will not be able to see your credit score in the app if you don’t have an SSN.

Can I get an interest even though I don’t have an SSN?

If you don’t have an SSN, you may still earn interest on funds held if you have an ITIN number. Please reach out to Firstcard customer support team at support@firstcard.app with your ITIN number.

If you don’t have an SSN or ITIN, unfortunately, you will be unable to earn interest on funds held.

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I don’t have an SSN now, but can I apply now and add my SSN later once I have one?

Yes, you can apply now and get approved without an SSN. And of course, we’ll be able to add an SSN to your account at a later date.

Can I build my credit without a Social Security Number (SSN)?

Yes, it's possible to build a credit score without a Social Security Number (SSN). You will have a track record of your credit history in the U.S that is tied to your name, address and date of birth. You can apply for Firstcard and start building your credit score even without an SSN.

Is there a foreign transaction fee?

Yes, there is a 3% foreign transaction fee for Standard Firstcard Plan users and 1.5% foreign transaction fee for Firstcard+ users. Foreign transaction fee is waived for Firstcard Premium users.

Can I use Firstcard outside of the U.S.?

Yes! You can use your Firstcard anywhere in the world where Mastercard is accepted.

I am an international student with no Social Security Number (SSN), can I apply for Firstcard?

Absolutely! All U.S. residents aged 18 and above can apply, including those without an SSN.

To apply for Firstcard, you must meet the below requirements:

Be at least 18 years old
Have a legal U.S. residential address
A valid government-issued ID
An SSN
If you don’t have an SSN, you’ll need to submit 1) a passport 2) a Visa or an ITIN

‍

How to add my Firstcard to Apple Pay or Google Wallet?

If you haven’t added your Firstcard to Apple Pay or Google Wallet, there are two ways to add your Firstcard to your digital wallet.

To add your Firstcard to Apple Pay or Google Wallet:

Go to the Home tab
Tap the banner that says “Add card to Apple Pay/Google Wallet”
Add your card to Apple Pay/Google Wallet

Go to the Home tab
Tap 👁️ on the credit card
Tap Add to Apple Wallet
Add your card to Apple Pay/Google Wallet

What is Autopay and why is it recommended?

Autopay is a feature that helps you build your credit score safely by ensuring you make on-time payments. Once you turn on autopay, it automatically pays off your Firstcard credit card bills using the money you’ve already deposited into your Firstcard account every month.

To turn on Autopay:

Go to the Home tab
Tap the geared button ⚙️ in the top navigation bar
Scroll down to Credit builder
Tap Safer Credit Building: Autopay
Tap Turn on Autopay

To manually make a payment:

Go to the Home tab
Tap the geared button ⚙️ in the top navigation bar
Scroll down to Credit builder
Tap Safer Credit Building: Autopay
Tap Manual Payment to make a payment

What's my credit limit with Firstcard?

With Firstcard, there is no credit limit as we don’t extend a credit line. Instead, what you deposit is what you can spend. You need to deposit money to your First account before you can make a transaction. This approach helps you form healthy spending habits while protecting you from overspending. This also means that you don’t need to worry about the credit utilization ratio as it does not apply to Firstcard users.

How do I monitor my credit score?

You can monitor your credit score directly in the Firstcard app. Just tap the “Monitor Credit'' button and you’ll see your updated credit score every month. If you subscribe to Firstcard+ or Firstcard Premium, you will also get in-depth credit reports every month in addition to the credit monitoring feature in the app.

Which credit bureaus does Firstcard report to?

Firstcard reports to all three main credit bureaus in the US: Equifax®, Experian®, and TransUnion®.

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Can I build my credit even without an SSN?

Yes, you can! Firstcard is available to anyone without an SSN as long as you have the following requirements:

Be at least 18 years old
Have a legal U.S. residential address
A valid government-issued ID
If you don’t have an SSN, you’ll need to submit 1) a passport 2) a Visa or an ITIN

How often is my payment activity reported to credit bureaus?

We report your payment activity every month to all three major credit bureaus - Equifax®, Experian®, and TransUnion®.

Does my card report high utilization if I use all the money I deposited?

No, since we don’t have a predetermined credit limit set on any Firstcard account, we don’t report high utilization if you use all the money deposited. With Firstcard, what you deposit is what you can spend. So there's no need to worry about your credit utilization ratio—it simply doesn't apply.

What happens if I don’t make a payment on time?

Firstcard doesn’t charge any late fees or interest, but if you don’t make a payment on time, we are required to report this history to the credit bureaus, which can negatively affect your credit score.

How does Firstcard help me build my credit score?

Firstcard helps you build credit through two important methods:

Firstcard helps you form good spending habits by making sure that you don’t overspend—what you deposit is what you can spend.
With Firstcard, there's no need to worry about your credit utilization ratio—it simply doesn't apply. This means you can avoid the negative impact that a high credit utilization ratio can often cause.
Firstcard’s autopay feature ensures you make on-time payments by automatically paying off your Firstcard bills using the money you’ve already deposited into your Firstcard account every month.

By using Firstcard for purchases and making timely payments, your good on-time credit activities are reported to all three major credit bureaus (Equifax®, Experian®, and TransUnion®) and you can improve your credit score over time.

Can I use Firstcard for car rental or hotel?

Unfortunately, we temporarily paused car rental transactions for security reasons. We understand this may cause some inconvenience, and we apologize for any disruption this may cause. We are actively working on enhancing our security measures and hope to make car rental transactions available again soon.

What is Autopay and why is it recommended?

We highly recommend keeping the Autopay feature turned on as it helps you build credit with peace of mind.

To turn on Autopay:

Go to the Home tab
Tap the geared button ⚙️ in the top navigation bar
Scroll down to Credit builder
Tap Safer Credit Building: Autopay
Tap Turn on Autopay

Why was my transaction declined?

A purchase may be declined for various reasons. The most common reasons are listed below.

Billing address doesn't match: The address and zip code entered during the transaction do not match the address and zip code on your Firstcard account.
Insufficient funds: There is insufficient funds in your Firstcard account to cover the transaction
Card information is wrong or outdated: The cardholder entered the wrong name, card number, CVV, or PIN.
Card not activated: Your Firstcard physical card isn’t activated
Suspicious purchases: The card issuer suspects fraud or incorrect behavior.

We’re here to help you if you continue to experience transaction-related issues. Please reach out to our customer support team at support@firstcard.app with the date ofthe transaction, amount, and merchant name in order for us to help.

Does Firstcard give me a spending limit or line of credit?

Since Firstcard is a secured credit card, we do not offer a line of credit.

A secured credit card is a credit card that requires a cash deposit and is designed to help people build their credit score. Firstcard does not extend a credit line. What you deposit is what you can spend. This unique approach encourages healthy spending habits while protecting you from overspending. This also means that you don’t need to worry about the credit utilization ratio as it does not apply to Firstcard users.

How do I withdraw money?

To withdraw money:

Go to the Transfer tab
Tap Withdraw money from Firstcard
Enter your Firstcard password
Enter the amount of money you want to withdraw
Tap Review transfer
Tap Confirm to finish withdrawing money

‍It usually takes 1-2 business days for the money you withdraw from your Firstcard account to arrive in your bank account.

Can I deposit or withdraw money via ATM?

Certainly! You can use your card at any ATM that supports the Pulse or Mastercard networks.

When you withdraw money, there will be a $2.50 fee on each transaction in addition to any fees the ATM provider might charge.

Can I deposit a check into my Firstcard account?

Currently, we do not support check deposits. However, the team is working hard on it and will let our users know as soon as we launch this feature!

When will my deposit be available in my account?

It usually takes 2-3 business days for your deposit to arrive into your Firstcard account.

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How do I set up direct deposit?

It’s super easy to set up direct deposit with Firstcart.

To set up direct deposit:

Go to the Transfer tab
Click Set up direct deposit
Click Find employer or payroll provider
Find your payroll provider
Sign in to your payroll provider account to finish setting up direct deposit

Setting up direct deposit allows your employers to directly deposit your paycheck into Firstcard bank account.

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How do I add money to my Firstcard?

It’s easy to add money to Firstcard! If you don’t already have an external bank account linked, you will need to link one to your Firstcard account within the app.

To link an external bank account:

Go to the Transfer tab
Click Add money from other banks
Firstcard partners with Plaid, the nation’s largest bank connection provider, to safely connect your external bank account with Firstcard. You will see a screen prompt that says “Firstcard uses Plaid to connect your account”. Tap Continue to safely connect your bank account via Plaid using your login credentials.

If your bank isn't listed or you have trouble connecting via Plaid, you can always reach out to us via email at support@firstcard.app

If you already have your bank account linked, you can easily add money to your Firstcard by following the below steps:

Go to the Home tab
Tap the Add money button under your card
Enter the amount of money you’d like to add
Tap Confirm to finish adding money

Go to the Transfer tab
You will see there are 4 ways to add money to your Firstcard: some text
1. Set up director deposit
2. Add money from your linked debit card
3. Add money from your linked bank account
4. Receive money from other banks
Pick one of the methods to add money to your bank account
Enter the amount of money you’d like to add
Tap Confirm to finish adding money

‍

I thought this was a credit card. Why do I need to deposit money into Firstcard before I can make a purchase?

By using Firstcard for purchases and making timely payments, your on-time credit activities are reported to the major credit bureaus and you can improve your credit score over time.

How do I refer Firstcard to a friend? Do I get rewards?

You may earn rewards by referring friends and family members to Firstcard. You and your friend will each get $10 when your friend spends at least $30 in qualifying purchases within 30 days of new account opening.

To referral friends and family:

Go to the Home tab
Tap Earn $10 in the navigation bar on top of the Home tab
Click Copy or tap the Share Link button
Send the link to your friends

Once you friend makes at least $30 in qualifying purchases within 30 days of new account opening, both you and your friends will get $10.

How does Firstcard make money?

Firstcard mainly makes money through fees such as interchange fees and subscription fees.

What’s the difference between Firstcard credit builder card and a traditional credit card?

Firstcard is a secured credit card that helps you build credit. Secured credit cards are like training wheels for managing credit. Firstcard requires you to add money before making a purchase, and the amount you deposit is the amount you can spend. It makes sure that you can't spend more than you have, keeping you safe from getting into big debt and helping you form safe credit building habits. This also means that you don’t need to worry about the credit utilization ratio as it does not apply to Firstcard users.

Traditional credit cards usually involve overspending risk and high interest rates. With Firstcard, you don’t need to worry about overspending risks or high interest rates. It's also easier to get approved for Firstcard compared to a traditional credit card. Firstcard doesn’t check your credit history or require a good credit history to qualify.

Thus, Firstcard is a better option for people who have no credit history or those looking to rebuild a damaged credit score.

What is Firstcard’s mission?

Firstcard is on a mission to democratize credit for all.

What is Firstcard?

Firstcard is a secured credit builder card that helps everyone build credit no matter who they are, where they are from, or their credit history. Firstcard primarily focuses on serving immigrants, non-US citizens, international students, first-generation college students, and underserved low-credit communities in the US who are often denied credit due to the limited access to credit-building tools provided by traditional banks. Members can build credit, open a credit card and a bank account, earn cashback, and grow savings — all within a single platform.

Firstcard is on a mission to democratize credit for all.

Who can apply for Firstcard?

All U.S. residents aged 18 and above can apply, including those without an SSN.

To apply for Firstcard, you must meet the below requirements:

Be at least 18 years old
Have a legal U.S. residential address
Have a valid government-issued ID
Have an SSN. If you don’t have an SSN, you’ll need to submit 1) a passport 2) a Visa or an ITIN

How to start building credit with Firstcard?

It’s easy to start your credit-building journey with Firstcard!

To start building credit with Firstcard:

Sign up for Firstcard
Add money to your Firstcard account
Add Firstcard to your Apple Pay or Google Wallet to use the card virtually and/or order a physical card within the app
Make sure you turn on Autopay
Make purchases using your Firstcard
We will report your on-time payment to the three major credit bureaus

How does Firstcard work?

‍‍
Firstcard is a secured credit builder card that helps you build credit. A secured credit card is a credit card that requires a cash deposit and is designed to help people build their credit score. Firstcard does not extend a credit line. What you deposit is what you can spend. This unique approach encourages healthy spending habits while protecting you from overspending. This also means that you don’t need to worry about the credit utilization ratio as it does not apply to Firstcard users.

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About Firstcard