Instant Approval Credit Cards

Just about any credit card you can apply for online may offer instant approval, but it’s never guaranteed. Instant approval usually happens when an applicant more than meets a card’s requirements. But some applications will need closer scrutiny, causing the process to take a bit longer.

To increase your chances of instant approval when applying for a credit card, check your credit score to make sure it exceeds the card’s minimum required score. In addition, it’s a good idea to check for pre-approval if the card issuer allows it. If you’re pre-approved for a card, your chances of instant approval are very high. Having a high income will also improve your odds.

Finally, it’s worth noting that you won’t be instantly approved for a credit card if the credit report(s) that the issuer tries to check are locked or frozen.

Instant credit is short for instant credit card, which is a credit card that gives instant approval to qualified applicants who apply online and can be used to make purchases immediately, before the card arrives in the mail. But instant credit can mean other things, too, as it’s a pretty general term. For example, people often use it in reference to instant approval credit cards that don’t necessarily allow instant use.

You could also make the case that you’re getting instant credit anytime you’re approved for a new credit card or a credit limit increase. Along those lines, you’re getting instant credit whenever a credit card payment goes through since it frees up some of your credit limit for spending.

But people in search of instant credit typically need it to face some sort of financial emergency. Many also have bad credit. Unfortunately, there are only two instant credit cards for bad credit, and neither is good for financing emergency expenses. 

Hopefully, you can afford to wait the 14-24 business days it usually takes to get a credit card in your hands. If not, you can check out some of your best choices below.

Here are some of the best instant credit cards:

• Instant Approval and Use: Capital One Secured Mastercard – $0 annual fee
• Instant Approval and Use: Fingerhut Credit Account – $0 annual fee 
• Instant Approval: Credit One Unsecured Visa – $0 to $99 annual fee
• Instant Approval: Discover it Secured Card – $0 annual fee
• Instant Credit Card for Good Credit: Capital One Venture – $95 annual fee (waived the first year)

Finally, it’s worth noting that some people might use instant credit in more of a credit-score sense, meaning either instant credit improvement or instantly establishing credit from scratch. Both are possible, to a certain extent, but you can’t expect overnight miracles. 

For example, you can get your first credit score within weeks of opening a starter credit card. And you can improve your score just as fast by paying down your credit card balances and any collections accounts you may have.

Just about all gas station credit cards can be gas credit cards with instant approval. When you can apply online, it’s almost always possible to receive instant approval (or denial). But issuers never guarantee an instant decision. You’re likely to receive one if you apply for one of the easiest gas cards to get. And in general, your chances for instant approval are high if you apply for a card where your credit score exceeds the minimum required.

But issuers consider many factors on an application, such as income, number of recent credit inquiries, past bankruptcies and more. So it’s always possible an issuer will need more time to come to a decision. And the approval process may take longer if the issuer cannot immediately verify the personal information on the application.

Best Gas Credit Cards for Instant Approval:

• Discover it® Secured Credit Card
• Walmart® Store Card
• Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
• Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card
• BP Credit Card
• Shell Credit Card

Again, just about any gas credit card offers instant approval. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get it. Factors that will increase your likelihood of getting instant approval for any credit card include: a high credit score, a high income, and completely correct and up-to-date information on your credit card application.

Just about all business credit cards allow instant approval, at least if you apply online. But even though an instant decision is likely, it’s not guaranteed. The credit card company may take more time to decide whether an applicant meets their requirements. Or they may have trouble verifying the information on the application right away if there’s something incorrect or outdated.

In order to get the best chances of instant approval for a business credit card, your personal credit score should exceed the minimum requirements of the card you apply for. The higher your income, the better your chances are, too. Secured business credit cards for bad credit will provide the highest odds of instant approval.

Here are the best instant approval business credit cards:

• Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card
• Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business
• Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business
• Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Getting instant approval on business credit cards is not unusual if you apply online. But you shouldn’t expect to receive it, as in some cases approval might take a few weeks. After approval, delivery of a card usually takes 7-10 business days, but many issuers allow you to expedite either for free or for a fee.

The best instant approval store cards are the following:

• Amazon.com Store Card
• Walmart® Store Card
• Target Credit Card
• Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
• Sam's Club® Credit Card
• GAP Store Card
• American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) Store Card
• Sears Store Card
• Macy's Store Card

It really depends on what store you like most, as rewards are mainly tailored for purchases made in those stores.

It's also important to mention that while these cards offer instant approval, they do not offer guaranteed approval.

The best department store credit card for bad credit with instant approval is the Fingerhut Credit Account because it’s available to people with any credit score. Fingerhut’s website even says “When you apply for a Fingerhut Credit Account issued by WebBank, you will get an answer instantly.” The Fingerhut Credit Account doesn’t offer rewards or special financing. But it does have a $0 annual fee. It can only be used at Fingerhut. Fingerhut is an online retailer that sells a wide variety of products from clothes to kitchenware to electronics.

And even if the instant decision on your Fingerhut Credit Account application is “No,” you still have a chance. Fingerhut will offer to put you into their FreshStart program. With FreshStart, you purchase something from the website as an installment loan. If you demonstrate responsibility by making all your payments on time, Fingerhut will then graduate you to a credit account instead.

Aside from Fingerhut, there aren’t really any other department store credit cards for bad credit with instant approval, unfortunately. But you can look into general secured cards, which will probably offer you better terms and which will have a good chance of instant approval if you apply online. And you can use a secured card anywhere, while you can only use store cards at one merchant.

Any store card can be an instant approval department store credit card. When you apply online, there’s always a chance you will be instantly approved (or denied). Many stores also allow customers to apply in-store and receive a decision right away. Sometimes, the retailer will even let the new cardholder use the card immediately to pay for that day’s purchase.

The cashier at your favorite retailer should be able to give you more information. Some of the best store cards include those from big-name retailers like TJX, Kohl’s and Amazon.

Best instant approval department store credit cards:

• TJX Store Card
• Kohl's Credit Card
• Fingerhut Credit Account
• Target Credit Card
• Amazon.com Store Card
• Best Buy® Store Card

There are loads more department store credit cards to check out. But while it’s common to receive an instant decision for a store card, it’s not guaranteed. Your application might take longer to process if you’re right on the edge of meeting the card’s requirements, or if you make a mistake and accidentally give incorrect information on the application.

Your best options to get a credit card today are American Express cards, Capital One cards and some store cards. While it’s pretty common to get approved for a credit card the same day if you apply online, you’ll still usually have to wait another 7-10 business days before your card comes to use it.

All American Express cards give you the potential for an instant card number after approval, which will give you access to part of your credit line until your card arrives. Capital One cards provide instant use through the Capital One app, but that’s only possible if you’re an existing Capital One cardholder. Store cards, such as the Target REDCard, may give you an instant number or code to use as a temporary version of your card.

Here are the best credit cards you can get today:

• Bad credit – Capital One Secured Mastercard: Requires a minimum security deposit of $49, $99 or $200. Your credit line will always be at least $200. No rewards. No annual fee. Must be an existing Capital One customer to see your card information through the app.
• Limited credit – Capital One QuicksilverOne: Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. $39 annual fee. Must be an existing Capital One customer to see your card information through the app.
• Fair credit – Target REDcard: 5% off at Target and Target.com. 30 extra days on returns. Free shipping. No annual fee. Gives a temporary number after approval to use until your card comes.
• Good credit (miles) – Capital One Venture: $50,000 bonus miles when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months. Unlimited 2 miles per dollar on all purchases. $95 annual fee waived the first year.
• Good credit (cash back) – Capital One Quicksilver: $150 bonus cash back when you spend $500 in the first 3 months. Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. No annual fee.
• Good credit (cash back) – Amex Blue Cash Everyday: $150 statement credit when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months. 3% cash back on the first $6,000 per year at U.S. supermarkets, 2% at U.S. department stores and U.S. gas stations and 1% on everything else. No annual fee.
• Excellent credit – Costco Anywhere Visa: 4% cash back on the first $7,000 spent on gas per year, 3% on restaurants and travel, 2% at Costco, 1% on everything else. No annual fee but must be a Costco member. Requires excellent credit. Gives a temporary code to scan at checkout until the actual card arrives.

While there’s no guarantee these options will get you a credit card today, they’ll certainly give you your best chance. Don’t forget that if you get approved for a Capital One card you’ll need to both already have another Capital One card open and have downloaded the app. Unfortunately, this option isn’t available to every Capital One customer but Capital One doesn’t disclose who is eligible for instant card information. In the same way, all Amex cards give the potential for instant numbers, but aren’t guaranteed to give you one.

And if you’re interested in a store card, make sure to ask if they offer instant use first. Lastly, when your physical card arrives by mail in 7-10 business days, be sure to activate it right away.

You can check your Bank of America credit card status online. Unfortunately, there is no Bank of America credit card status phone number. But if you have trouble checking online, you could try to call customer service at (800) 732-9194.

In order to see whether your application is approved, denied or still pending, you’ll need to give some basic personal information like your zip code and the last four digits of your Social Security number. This ensures that Bank of America can match you to your application. You can check your application status as often as you like, as it’s free and quick.

How to check your Bank of America credit card status:

1. Go to Bank of America’s application status page.
2. Enter your last name, date of birth, last four digits of your Social Security number and zip code.
3. Click “Submit.”

You’ll now be able to see any applications you’ve submitted and whether they have been approved or denied yet. If your application is still pending, don’t worry. It may take up to 30 days from when you submitted your application to receive a decision. If you are approved, you can expect your card in 7-10 business days. But if you’re denied and think you can justify why you should be approved, you can call customer service and ask for reconsideration. 

Instant credit card approval and use is rare. Instant approval is always possible when you apply for a credit card online or in person, but only American Express provides an instant credit card number with every card they offer. The instant credit card number allows you to use the account before your physical card arrives. With other issuers, you could get instant credit card approval and a card number to use right away but only for specific transactions. If a store invites you to apply for their card, they will often approve you instantly and let you use your card for purchases in their stores the same day.

Some credit card issuers don’t offer any instant use credit cards. Others have only a few. Each issuer has their own restrictions for when you can get instant use.

Instant Credit Card Approval and Use by Issuer:

• American Express: All cards have the potential for instant credit card numbers, but only if you apply online. If you are approved instantly, you will have a short amount of time to write down your account info. If you don’t, you have to wait for your card by mail.
• Bank of America: You can instantly use the Alaska Airlines Credit Card to book a flight through Alaska Airlines if you apply online and are instantly approved.
• Barclays: If you apply for the Uber Visa through the Uber app and are approved, you can immediately use the card for Uber purchases as it will be linked to the app.
• Blispay: If you are approved for the Blispay Visa, you will be able to access and use a digital version of your card right away. You can use it online or at any store that is set up to accept digital Blispay cards. You will also get a physical card by mail.
• Capital One: You can see account details for any Capital One card through its mobile app, even cards you’ve just been approved for. However, you must have an existing Capital One card account for this to work. You can’t do it for your first card. Also, this feature only appears on some accounts, not all.
• Chase: You can instantly use the Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card and United Credit Card. But this is only if you book a flight through the airline website and apply for the card during checkout. If you’re approved, you can pay for that flight only with your card before it comes.
• Citi: You can only get instant use for the Costco Anywhere Visa. If you apply in store and are approved right away, the representative will give you a temporary code to scan at checkout. It functions as your card until the card arrives.
• Discover: There are no options for instant credit cards to use right away.
• First National Bank of Omaha: You can get an instant number with an M Life Rewards Mastercard, but only if you apply in person at an MGM resort M Life Rewards Desk. You can only use it on MGM properties until you get your physical card.
• Synchrony: If you’re instantly approved for a Synchrony-issued store card, you may receive an instant number or at least be able to complete your purchase using the card.
• USAA: You can instantly use any USAA credit card, but only for purchases made through USAA. For example, you could use it for USAA auto insurance. But any purchases outside USAA have to wait until you get the card.
• U.S. Bank: There are no options for instant credit cards to use right away.
• Wells Fargo: There are no options for instant credit cards to use right away.
• Store Cards: You can also ask your favorite retailer if their store card works instantly after you’re approved. Some stores such as Target will issue a temporary store card that you can use right away.

Even if you’re not able to find a credit card that will approve you instantly and give you an instant credit card number for immediate use, don’t despair. At most, a credit card will 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.