What unsecured credit cards can I get with no credit check?

You cannot get an unsecured card with no credit check. You may receive offers for cards that guarantee approval, but those are predominantly for secured cards, and will require an upfront deposit. Guaranteed approval may also actually mean “pre-approved.”

The caveat is that to have a shot at receiving the card. you will still actually have to apply. And if you submit an application, you are giving the bank permission to permission to check your credit report.

Regardless of your credit profile, if you’re going to apply for an unsecured credit card, a credit check is necessary. An issuer has to have some indication of your ability to pay back the debt, and the information in your credit report will assist them in making that assessment. Even if you’re a student, or have limited credit, an issuer will need to know that before they’ll extend you any credit.

And while there is an line of unsecured credit cards available for people with bad or limited credit, approval is not guaranteed without a credit check. That might seem to defeat the purpose, providing customers an opportunity to rebuild or establish credit. But there are instances that may surface during a credit check that would prompt an issuer may reject an application.

If you have a pending bankruptcy on your credit report, you will have little chance of getting approved for an unsecured credit card, and likely most secured cards. You might still be in the running for a secured credit card with no credit check.

The Applied Bank Secured Visa Gold Preferred, OpenSky Secured Visa, and Green Dot primor Secured Visa Classic all promote no credit check. You’ll have to submit a deposit of at least $200 to set your credit limit, and some of that limit will be eaten up by annual fees.