What are the best instant approval store credit cards?

The best credit card you can use instantly is the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. You can access the card number immediately after being approved for an account online, then begin to make purchases until you receive the physical card in the mail.

Blue Cash Preferred offers up to 6% cash back in certain spending categories and a $300 statement credit for spending $3,000 in the first 6 months. It also requires a minimum of good credit for approval. Just remember that you’ll only have a short period of time to write down your card information once you’re approved for this credit card. People who miss this window of opportunity will need to wait until they get the card in the mail.… read full answer

Best Credit Cards You Can Use Instantly

Instant approval is always possible when you apply for a credit card online or in person, but credit cards that you can use instantly are uncommon. Some credit card issuers don’t offer any credit cards you can use instantly, while others have only a few.

Credit Cards You Can Use Instantly by Issuer

If you’re not able to get a credit card you can use instantly, don’t worry. Credit cards usually only take 7-10 business days to arrive after you’re approved. And many credit card companies provide expedited delivery for a small fee, or sometimes even for free.

The easiest department store credit card to get approved for is the Fingerhut Credit Account, but that’s only if you count an online retailer / mail catalog as a department store. It’s the only store card you can get with bad credit. Pretty much all other store credit cards require fair credit (640+ score) for approval. But that still means most department store credit cards are easy to get for most people. It also means you should choose your card based on where you shop the most and which offers the most rewards, since there isn’t much of a difference in their approval requirements. Let’s take a look at a few good options.… read full answer

Here are some of the easiest department store credit cards to get:

• Target Credit Card: For people with fair credit. 5% discount at Target and Target.com. Returns extended by 30 days. Free shipping. $0 annual fee.
• Walmart® Store Card: For people with fair credit. 2 - 5 points per $1 on Walmart purchases and Walmart & Murphy USA Fuel Stations. $0 annual fee.
• Kohl's Credit Card: For people with fair credit. 35% discount on your fist purchase. 5% cash back on every qualifying purchase made at Kohl. $0 annual fee.
• JCPenney Credit Card: For people with fair credit. 1 point / $1 on qualifying purchases. Discounts on select items. Annual fee: $0.
• Fingerhut Credit Account: For people with bad credit. Easiest store card to be approved for. No rewards. $0 annual fee.
• Amazon.com Store Card: For people with fair credit. 5% back in rewards cash back at Amazon.com if you have a Prime account. $10 gift card after approval. $0 annual fee.

There are plenty of other department store cards with great deals too. For example, TJX, Saks Fifth Avenue and Sears all give savings and perks that are worth looking at. Just remember that department store credit cards can only be used at the store that issued them (and sometimes affiliates), so apply for a card from somewhere you know you’ll shop on a regular basis.