Credit cards have become a significant part of every individual’s life. After all, they bring convenience and help one tide over short-term financial crunches. They provide an easy way to make purchases, pay bills, and even make travel arrangements. Though a good credit score will give you more benefits, there are instant credit cards designed for users with limited credit history or poor credit. These cards are a great way to build credit.

What is an instant approval credit card?
Unlike the other credit cards where you have to wait until the arrival of a physical card to start spending, instant approval credit cards will be processed within minutes, followed by the funds shortly after.

They offer applicants a prompt decision on the status of their credit card application – whether it is approval or rejection. Apart from helping people build credit, such credit cards are helpful during certain situations and help meet unexpected expenses like healthcare emergencies or home repairs.

Top instant approval credit cards

Whether you’re new to instant credit cards or are recovering from a credit card with bad credit, we have evaluated some of the best credit cards to get approved for.

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

The Discover it® Secured Credit Card will make it easy for you to upgrade to an unsecured credit card along with an excellent sign-up bonus. They also offer a rewards program including 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (up to $1000 for combined purchases) and 1% cashback on all other purchases.

OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

Issued by Capital Bank, the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card is known for its no credit check requirement during the application process. However, you must submit the deposit amount of a minimum of $200. This secured credit card is aimed at customers with a poor credit score and limited credit looking for a way to improve it. Just like other cards, you can set automated email alerts so that you don’t have to miss the payment.

Discover it® Student Cash Back Card

If you belong to the student category of over 18 years old, and have a steady source of income, then you may avail of various offers on Discover it® Student Cash Back Card. Get 5% cashback on everyday purchases in grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations. In addition, you can get unlimited 1% cashback on all other purchases.

Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is optimal for college students who wish to build credit and earn cash back in various spending categories. It includes 3% cash back on dining and entertainment, 3% cash back on grocery store purchasing, and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Tips to increase your chances for instant approval
There are various ways to apply for the easiest credit cards to get – you can visit the nearest branch or apply online. However, the real challenge lies in the approval since instant approval does not indicate guaranteed approval. Here are some steps to take to increase your chances of instant approval.

Ensure a steady source of income
While applying for the instant credit card, you need to input the details of your annual income sources, therefore, having a steady source of income will be the key to guaranteed approval.

Don’t leave the credit reports frozen or locked
If you have ever experienced any data breach, you might have frozen or locked your credit report to prevent further fraud. In such a situation, you must unlock your credit card reports once the issue is resolved so that the authority can get access to your files.

Keep an eye on credit score requirements
Depending on your credit score, there are better odds of applying for and getting approval for one card over the other. According to FICO, there are different categories of credit scores divided into exceptional, very good, good, fair, and poor. It is important to check the credit score requirements of various credit card companies before applying for one.

Avoid applying for credit too often
Every time you apply for a credit card, hard inquiries will be imprinted on the report, effectively lowering your credit score. Moreover, lenders will be notified of such multiple hard inquiries, making you appear as a “high-risk” customer. So, make sure to apply for a credit card periodically.

Pay attention to the accuracy of your credit report
Reviewing your credit report, including checking for legitimate errors and incorrect payments, will help you strengthen your credit score.

Getting instant approval for a credit card is not tedious if you are proven to be creditworthy and have all the required documents. However, once your card is approved, it is important to make repayments on time to avoid falling into a credit card debt trap.