WalletHub, Financial Company
@WalletHub
The fastest way to get a credit card is to apply online because you could be approved instantly, and you may even receive an instant card number so you can make purchases right away. You can also request expedited shipping to receive your actual card as soon as possible.
Steps to Get a Credit Card Fast
Apply online
This is the fastest way to get your application to the issuer.
Apply for cards below your range
You’re more likely to be instantly approved for cards that you’re overqualified for (e.g. apply for fair credit cards if you have good credit). You could even put a deposit on a secured credit card, which has the highest odds of approval of any card type.
Check for pre-approval
Some issuers let you check online to see whether you’re pre-approved for any of their cards. This means they’ll tell you whether you’re a good candidate to apply based on a harmless soft check of your credit. If you’re pre-approved, you’ll have around a 90% chance of success when you actually apply for an account.
Look for instant use cards
Certain issuers provide your credit card number (or a temporary one) to use right after you’re approved, instead of making you wait 7-10 business days until your card arrives in the mail. Some store credit cards also allow you to apply and use your card the same day.
Request expedited shipping
Most credit card issuers will give you an option for faster shipping, usually in exchange for a fee ranging from $6 to $25. You may even get it for free, depending on the issuer. This will allow you to get your hands on the card sooner than the normal 7-10 business days.
Call the issuer
If you don’t get approved right away and your application is pending, you can try following up with the issuer. Calling them might get your application looked at a little sooner than if you just waited. It might not, but it’s worth a try.
Regardless of whether you go for an account that gives you an instant number, your card should arrive within 7-10 business days of approval. If it doesn’t get to you within that time frame, you should definitely give customer service a call to check its status.
Popular Credit Cards That Offer Instant Approval from Our Partners
-
No Credit Check
-
Bad Credit
-
Good Credit
-
No Deposit
Anna Santos, Member
@anna_santos
Applying online is a good way to start. Also, if you apply for a credit card with requirements below your credit score, you could get approved faster.
Valerie Prine, Member
@prinev
You can just apply here. Plenty card have instant approval, and then you just have to wait for 2 weeks for the card to reach you.
People also ask
What's the best credit card to get if I need one today?
If you need a credit card today, you should apply for an American Express card, a Capital One card, a Bank of America card, or a store credit card that offers instant use. It’s very common to get approved for a credit card the same day if you apply online, but you’ll typically have to wait another 7-10 business days for your card to arrive in mail. Most credit cards don’t allow you to make purchases before the card arrives, but there...
read full answer by Maria Adams, Credit Cards ModeratorWhat are the best credit cards you can instantly use after approval?
The best credit card you can use instantly after approval is the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see details, rates & fees). When you apply online, you can get approved for this credit card in seconds, get the card number immediately after, and start using it to make purchases right away.
The Capital One Venture (see details, rates & fees) card offers 2 - 5 miles per $1 spent on purchases and an initial bonus of 75,000 miles for spending $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. The card also has a $95 annual fee (see details, rates & fees) and requires at least good credit for approval.
...
read full answer by Evelyn Boros, Credit Cards ModeratorHow do I get a credit card for the first time?
To get a credit card for the first time, you must be at least 18 years old and have enough income to afford monthly credit card payments, in addition to your other expenses. The minimum payments on a starter credit card usually are around $15 per month.
The two basic steps involved in getting a credit card for the first time are to: 1) compare credit card offers designed specifically for people with limited or no...
read full answer by Adam McCann, Financial WriterDid we answer your question?
Important Disclosures
Ad Disclosure: Certain offers that appear on this site originate from paying advertisers. For full transparency, here is a list of our current advertisers.
Advertising impacts how and where offers appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear and their prevalence). At WalletHub we try to present a wide array of offers, but our offers do not represent all financial services companies or products.
Advertising enables WalletHub to provide you proprietary tools, services, and content at no charge. Advertising does not impact WalletHub's editorial content including our best picks, reviews, ratings and opinions. Those are completely independent and not provided, commissioned, or endorsed by any company, as our editors follow a strict editorial policy.