The best credit card for bad credit with no deposit and instant approval is the OneMain Financial BrightWay Card. It comes with a credit line of at least $300 and offers 1% cash back on all purchases. You can also apply online, after checking to see if you're pre-approved. However, the OneMain Financial BrightWay Card is not available in all states. Keep in mind that while there is a possibility of instant approval with most cards you can apply for online, it's never guaranteed. Instant approval tends to happen when your credit and income are better than the card's requirements. Sometimes, issuers may take longer to review a credit card application. There are a few other credit cards for bad credit with no deposit (known as unsecured cards) with instant approval, that are worth considering. Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit with No Deposit and Instant Approval Perpay Credit Card   Minimum Credit Limit: $500 Ongoing Rewards: 2% Cash back on every payment Annual Fee: $0 Credit Score: Bad Rates & Fees OneMain Financial BrightWay Card   Minimum Credit Limit: $300 Ongoing Rewards: 1% cash back on all purchases Annual Fee: 89 Credit Score: Bad Atlas Credit Card   Minimum Credit Limit: N/A Ongoing Rewards: 5% cash back on subscriptions (such as Netflix and Hulu), and 3% cash back on gas, food delivery, coffee shops and more Annual Fee: $0 Credit Score: Bad First Digital Mastercard   Minimum Credit Limit: $300 Ongoing Rewards: 1% cash back on all purchases, after paying the card’s bill Annual Fee: 48 after Credit Score: Bad Keep in mind that unsecured credit cards for bad credit tend to be more costly and less rewarding than their secured counterparts. Make sure you keep your account in good standing by paying your balance on time and preferably in full, every month. This will allow you to improve your credit score and gain access to some of the best unsecured credit cards over time. Answer from Adrian Kaplan on wallethub.com
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Credit Karma
creditkarma.com › home › shop credit cards › learn about credit cards
5 Best Unsecured Credit Cards for Bad Credit 2025 | Intuit Credit Karma
5 days ago - If you’re unable to be approved for an unsecured card with your current credit history, don’t worry. You may be able to qualify for a secured credit card to help build your credit. By their very nature, secured credit cards require a deposit of around $200 or more as collateral to “secure” the card in case you don’t make your payments. It makes sense, then, that there’s no such thing as a secured credit card with no deposit so keep that in mind when looking into secured credit cards.
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Credit Karma
creditkarma.com › home › shop credit cards › learn about credit cards
Second-Chance Credit Cards With No Deposit | Intuit Credit Karma
1 week ago - If you have bad credit, second chance credit cards may help you improve your credit health. But as unsecured credit cards, they don’t require that you put any money down upfront to secure the line of credit. Here are our picks for the top second-chance credit cards with no security deposit.
Discussions

What are the best credit cards for bad credit with no deposit and instant approval?
The best credit card for bad credit with no deposit and instant approval is the OneMain Financial BrightWay® Card. It comes with a credit line of at least $300 and offers 1% cash back on all purchases. You can also apply online, after checking to see if you're pre-approved. However, the OneMain Financial BrightWay® Card is not available in all states. Keep in mind that while there is a possibility of instant approval with most cards you can apply for online, it's never guaranteed... More on wallethub.com
🌐 wallethub.com
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22
July 28, 2025
What’s the easiest credit card to get approved for?
Capital One let's some really bad scores through. Potentially you may need to get a secured card until your credit improves. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/povertyfinance
32
12
September 24, 2025
Best credit card w/o deposit?
I assume you mean you do not want a secured credit card. It also sounds like you're building credit. What bank do you currently use for your checking/savings account? They might have a starter level card for you. Otherwise I'll default to the Chase Freedom Rise or the Discover It Card. Maybe the Capital One Platinum, that one is pretty easy to be accepted for. Discover, Chase, and Capital One all have pretty easy to use pre-approval tools. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/CreditCards
5
2
December 22, 2024
Best credit card for a beginner with no credit history?
Try for unsecured options first (requires no deposit): the Chase Freedom Rise, Discover IT, or C1 Platinum. No to Petal and Opensky as they are predatory lenders. If unsuccessful, then try for the secured options: U.S Bank or Discover IT secured. For C1 and Discover, use the pre-approval tools to gauge your approval odds. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/CreditCards
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July 7, 2024
People also ask

Are there credit cards that don't require a deposit?

There are credit cards that do not require a security deposit to open, known as unsecured credit cards. While there are unsecured credit cards available for bad credit, the best options have higher minimum credit score requirements.

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cnbc.com
cnbc.com › cnbc select › credit cards › best unsecured credit cards for bad credit
Best Unsecured Credit Cards for Bad Credit of 2025
Can I get a credit card with a credit score under 500?

You can qualify for a credit card if your credit score is under 500; however, your options are limited. You may be eligible for secured credit cards that require an upfront refundable deposit or unsecured cards for bad credit that don't require a deposit. Keep in mind that unsecured credit cards for bad credit generally have higher fees.

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cnbc.com
cnbc.com › cnbc select › credit cards › best unsecured credit cards for bad credit
Best Unsecured Credit Cards for Bad Credit of 2025
What's the easiest card to get with bad credit?

If you have bad credit, secured cards are typically the easiest credit cards to get approved for. There are credit cards for bad credit that do not require a deposit, but they usually have lower (or no) rewards and higher fees.

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cnbc.com
cnbc.com › cnbc select › credit cards › best unsecured credit cards for bad credit
Best Unsecured Credit Cards for Bad Credit of 2025
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CNBC
cnbc.com › cnbc select › credit cards › best unsecured credit cards for bad credit
Best Unsecured Credit Cards for Bad Credit of 2025
1 week ago - You don't have to provide a security deposit to open these cards, and the best unsecured cards are exceptionally rewarding. However, you normally need a higher credit score to qualify for an unsecured card.
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OpenSky
openskycc.com
OpenSky
For example, if you deposit $100, your credit limit becomes $100. The beauty of the opensky secured credit card is that you can open an account without undergoing a traditional credit check. This is especially beneficial if you have a poor credit history or no credit history at all.
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LendingTree
lendingtree.com › credit-cards › best › unsecured-cards-for-limited-credit-histories
Best Unsecured Credit Cards for Limited Credit in 2025
3 days ago - Secured credit cards usually have lower qualification requirements since your deposit acts as your line of credit. Piggyback off of the good credit of a family member by being added as an authorized user on their account. Getting preapproved or prequalified for a credit card can help you determine if you have a good chance of being approved for a credit card. It’s rare to find an unsecured credit card for bad credit that guarantees approval.
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Capital One
capitalone.com › learn & grow › money management › instant no-deposit credit card
No-deposit credit cards with instant approval and use
October 2, 2025 - Credit card issuers that advertise no credit checks could ask for other information to evaluate applications. Instead of reviewing creditworthiness, the issuer may check employment history or ask for proof of income. These types of cards might also require security deposits. There’s no way to guarantee that you’ll receive instant approval for a credit card.
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Top answer
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The best credit card for bad credit with no deposit and instant approval is the OneMain Financial BrightWay Card. It comes with a credit line of at least $300 and offers 1% cash back on all purchases. You can also apply online, after checking to see if you're pre-approved. However, the OneMain Financial BrightWay Card is not available in all states. Keep in mind that while there is a possibility of instant approval with most cards you can apply for online, it's never guaranteed. Instant approval tends to happen when your credit and income are better than the card's requirements. Sometimes, issuers may take longer to review a credit card application. There are a few other credit cards for bad credit with no deposit (known as unsecured cards) with instant approval, that are worth considering. Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit with No Deposit and Instant Approval Perpay Credit Card   Minimum Credit Limit: $500 Ongoing Rewards: 2% Cash back on every payment Annual Fee: $0 Credit Score: Bad Rates & Fees OneMain Financial BrightWay Card   Minimum Credit Limit: $300 Ongoing Rewards: 1% cash back on all purchases Annual Fee: 89 Credit Score: Bad Atlas Credit Card   Minimum Credit Limit: N/A Ongoing Rewards: 5% cash back on subscriptions (such as Netflix and Hulu), and 3% cash back on gas, food delivery, coffee shops and more Annual Fee: $0 Credit Score: Bad First Digital Mastercard   Minimum Credit Limit: $300 Ongoing Rewards: 1% cash back on all purchases, after paying the card’s bill Annual Fee: 48 after Credit Score: Bad Keep in mind that unsecured credit cards for bad credit tend to be more costly and less rewarding than their secured counterparts. Make sure you keep your account in good standing by paying your balance on time and preferably in full, every month. This will allow you to improve your credit score and gain access to some of the best unsecured credit cards over time.
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See if you prequalify with Capital One or Discover. If you don’t, consider Credit One/OneMain.
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Navy Federal Credit Union
navyfederal.org › credit cards
See If You Prequalify for a Navy Federal Credit Card | Navy Federal Credit Union
Apply Now for the GO REWARDS® credit card. We’ll pull your name, address, date of birth and Social Security number from your member profile. You’ll just need to answer 3 questions: ... We’ll use your information to run a soft credit pull ...
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Discover
discover.com › card smarts › getting a credit card › how can i get credit cards with no deposit?
How Can I Get Credit Cards with No Deposit?
April 23, 2025 - It can feel like you’re borrowing your own money or tying up cash you could be using to pay a bill. If you have an income and a good credit score, you may get approval for an unsecured credit card with no deposit.
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WalletHub
wallethub.com › popular credit card questions
Best Credit Cards for No Credit with No Deposit in 2025
November 12, 2025 - Petal® 2 Visa is a slept-on gem for no credit. No deposit, no annual fee, and they use your bank history to approve you (not just credit). Perks: - 1 - 1.5% cashback (better than most starter cards) - No fees, period
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Discover
discover.com › card smarts › getting a credit card › instant approval credit cards for bad credit
Instant Approval Credit Cards for Bad Credit | Discover
February 21, 2025 - As long as you use a secured card responsibly, it may act as a credit builder, improving your odds of instant approval for future credit card applications. ... Secured credit cards require a refundable security deposit at account opening.
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CNBC
cnbc.com › cnbc select › credit cards › 8 easiest credit cards to get approved for in december 2025
8 easiest credit cards to get approved for in December 2025
2 weeks ago - For example, secured credit cards require an upfront deposit and business credit cards require you to have a business or side hustle. Other rules depend on the card issuer, American Express typically limits you to earning the intro bonus from a specific card once per lifetime. Some banks or cards offer pre-approval or pre-qualification. Getting pre-qualified for a credit card doesn't guarantee your approval.
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Prosper
prosper.com › home › prosper credit card | built to help you take control
Prosper Credit Card | Built to Help You Take Control
September 30, 2025 - We welcome applicants with less-than-perfect credit. Plus, checking to see whether you qualify for a Prosper® Card won’t affect your credit score. So really, you’ve got nothing to lose. No security deposit required.
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American Express
americanexpress.com › credit intel › cards
Can I Get Credit Cards With No Deposit?
March 28, 2025 - When applying for a credit card with no deposit, choose a card that aligns with your lifestyle and goals to maximize the rewards. Upon approval, some issuers may offer credit cards with instant approval.
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Netspend
netspend.com › blog › guaranteed-approval-cards-for-bad-credit
“Guaranteed Approval” Cards for Bad Credit: Things to Know
July 31, 2024 - But if you don't have the money for a security deposit, you may want to consider an unsecured card that offers guaranteed approval with bad credit instead. Guaranteed approval cardsoffer access to credit that may not have existed before, but ...
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Amazon
amazon.com › Synchrony-Bank-Amazon-com-Secured-Store › dp › B084KP3NG6
Amazon.com: Amazon Secured Card
2 weeks ago - This unique account initially requires an upfront deposit like a secured credit card, but will provide you an opportunity to convert into a traditional credit card with no deposit required, based on responsible credit usage and eligibility criteria. If approved, you’ll first be required to ...
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American Express
americanexpress.com › us › credit-cards › features-benefits › digital-wallets › instant-approval-credit-card
Instant Credit Card Number: Instant Approval and Use | Amex US
Start Using Your Amex Card with an Instant Credit Card Number for Eligible Cards. Apply, Get Your Instant Card Number, & Start Earning Rewards Today.
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Mastercard
mastercard.com › us › en › personal › find-a-card › credit-card › credit-type › no-credit.html
Credit Cards for No Credit - Mastercard
No security deposit, just instant purchasing power. See Terms. Zero Fraud Liability – Peace of mind that comes with having a Mastercard. Get the credit you deserve, even with less-than-perfect history. Show more Show less ... A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
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Bank of America
bankofamerica.com › bank of america › credit cards › bankamericard® secured credit card
BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card from Bank of America
Apply for the BankAmericard® secured credit card to start building your credit and enjoy access to your FICO® Score updated monthly for free.