Credit Cards You Can Use Instantly After Approval
Usually you have to wait for a card to arrive by mail before you can use your account. But in these cases, you can start immediately.
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With some credit cards, you don't have to wait for a piece of plastic to arrive in the mail before making your first purchase.
Many major issuers now offer ways to instantly use credit cards. And at least one — American Express — offers access to credit card numbers immediately after approval on all of its consumer credit and charge cards. Cards associated with certain brands — such as store cards, airline cards and hotel cards — also commonly offer instant access to credit.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Our pick for: Rewards on groceries
Why we like it
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers an industry-leading 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in spending per year, making it a standout option for those who often cook at home. You'll also earn 6% cash back on streaming subscriptions, such as Netflix, HBO Now and Audible; 3% on transit and gas at U.S. gas stations; and 1% on all other purchases. Terms apply. It also comes with a 0% APR offer: 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, and then the ongoing APR of 13.99% - 23.99% Variable APR. And it starts with a good welcome offer: $250 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months. Terms Apply. The annual fee is $95.
How to use it instantly
Eligible cardholders will be able to get an instant card number immediately after being approved online. The number can be used anywhere American Express is accepted where a physical card isn't required. Eligibility for an instant card number is based on AmEx's ability to instantly verify your identity. Instant card numbers are available only on online AmEx applications, not through applications processed by phone.
Amex EveryDay® Credit Card
Our pick for: 0% intro APR
Why we like it
The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card is an excellent choice if you need a good 0% intro APR period, fast. It offers an intro 0% Intro on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months, and then the ongoing APR of 14.49% - 25.49% Variable APR. While you're making big purchases, you might also be able to snag the card's welcome offer: Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you use your new Card to make $1,000 in purchases in your first 3 months. Terms Apply. The $0-annual-fee card earns 2 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. Terms apply.
How to use it instantly
Since it's an American Express card, it works the same way as the aforementioned Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. (See above.)
Nerd tip: While this card is also a top-notch balance transfer card — and one of the very few that allows you to avoid a balance transfer fee — its balance transfers aren't instant. AmEx won’t initiate a balance transfer until at least 10 days after it mails you the cardmember agreement. In total, it can take six weeks to complete.
Capital One® Walmart Rewards™ Mastercard®
Our pick for: A store card
Why we like it
The Capital One® Walmart Rewards™ Mastercard® offers solid rewards on top of Walmart's low prices, earning an unlimited 5% back on purchases at Walmart.com (including Walmart grocery pickup and delivery); 2% back on Walmart purchases in-store, at restaurants and on travel; and 1% back everywhere else. While it doesn't feature a traditional sign-up bonus, it does offer a first-year incentive: Earn 5% back on purchases in Walmart stores when you use this card in Walmart Pay for the first 12 months after approval. Walmart Pay is a digital wallet that you can use at checkout via your mobile phone. The card's annual fee is $0.
How to use it instantly
Once approved, you'll get temporary shopping pass credentials, which you can add to the Walmart Pay section of the Walmart app. (You'll need to set up an online account with Walmart if you don't already have one.) From there, you can use the app to make Walmart purchases with your card online or in-store. This temporary pass is valid for 10 days.
United℠ Explorer Card
Our pick for: An airline card
Why we like it
Want to book a flight while earning a big sign-up bonus and valuable airline benefits at the same time? The United℠ Explorer Card allows you to do just that. It comes with a large sign-up bonus: 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. And if you apply for this card before taking a United-operated flight, you could also take advantage of its other benefits during your trip, including two one-time-use passes to United Club lounges, a free checked-bag benefit, and 25% back on in-flight purchases.
You'll earn 2 miles per dollar spent on purchases from United and on restaurant purchases and hotel accommodations purchased directly with the hotel, and 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases. The card also comes with a credit that covers the application fee for Global Entry or TSA Precheck, which renews every four years and is worth up to $100. The annual fee is $0 intro for the first year, then $95.
How to use it instantly
Once approved, you'll be able to access the card from your MileagePlus account with United Airlines and use it to cover United purchases. (You'll have to wait for the physical card to show up to use it on other purchases.)
Issuer policies on instant credit
Overall, NerdWallet's survey of issuers found that many of them offer some form of instant access to credit. The main takeaways:
American Express offers the most comprehensive access to instant credit. With AmEx, all consumer credit cards and charge cards give you access to an instant card number that you can use almost anywhere, as long as the issuer can instantly verify your identity. Other issuers either didn't offer instant access to credit or made it available on a more limited basis.
Store cards and other cards associated with certain brands often feature instant access to credit, too. For example, the United℠ Explorer Card, issued by Chase, can be used for United Airlines purchases before the card arrives. Similarly, the PayPal Cashback Mastercard®, issued by Synchrony Bank, can be used for purchases processed through PayPal right away, and the Apple Card, issued by Goldman Sachs, can be used immediately through Apple Pay after approval.
The following list was independently confirmed by NerdWallet and is current as of December 2019.
Information related to the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card and The Priceline Rewards™ Visa® Card has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuers of these cards.
