Credit Cards You Can Use Instantly After Approval
Often, 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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Updated · 5 min read
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With many credit cards, you don't have to wait for a piece of plastic to arrive in the mail before making your first purchase.
Instant card numbers used to be rare, but today, most major issuers offer ways for approved cardholders to immediately tap their credit line. 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.
The list below, while not comprehensive, includes some of the top credit cards you can use immediately after being approved for them.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
There's a difference between "instant approval" credit cards and credit cards that offer "instant use upon approval." Instant approval for a card is common among major issuers, but instant access to that credit line after approval isn't always available. Top credit cards you can use instantly after approval
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Our pick for: Bank of America® customers
Why we like it
As your spending changes throughout the year, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card can adapt. Every month, you can pick from a list of six categories in which to earn 3% cash back that includes dining, online shopping and home improvement. The card also earns 2% back on groceries and wholesale clubs. (The 3% and 2% rates are capped at $2,500 in combined quarterly spending. After that, purchases earn 1%). If you’re a Bank of America® Preferred Rewards member, you can boost those rates, too.
How to use it instantly
After being approved for the card, you can access a temporary card number in the Bank of America® app. That number can be added to eligible digital wallets and used to make purchases before the physical card arrives in the mail.
Bilt Palladium Card
Our pick for: Everyday spending
Why we like it
There are two ways to earn rewards with the Bilt Palladium Card, but both options earn 2x Bilt Points on everyday spending, which Bilt defines as non-housing purchases. Those points can gain outsized value when transferred to one of Bilt’s hotel and airline travel partners. The card also offers a $400 hotel credit for bookings made through Bilt’s travel portal ($200 awarded semi-annually).
How to use it instantly
Bilt gives new cardholders a virtual card number that can be accessed via the Bilt app and used for online purchases and in digital wallets like Apple Pay. For security purposes, you can "regenerate" this number as needed.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Our pick for: Intro APR
Why we like it
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express comes with a solid 0% APR offer: 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 19.49%-28.49% Variable APR. And it starts with a good welcome offer, which the issuer describes this way: "You may be eligible for as high as $300 cash back after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Cash back is received as Reward Dollars, redeemable for statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. Terms Apply." This card carries a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. Plus, it offers an industry-leading 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in spending per year; 6% cash back on streaming subscriptions, such as Netflix, HBO and Audible; 3% on transit and gas at U.S. gas stations; and 1% on all other purchases. Terms apply (see rates and fees).
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.
Upon approval, you can add the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to your digital wallet to use when shopping in person or online, where digital wallets are accepted. Chase-issued cards are compatible with several well-known digital wallets, including Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Our pick for: Flat-rate travel rewards
Why we like it
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is designed for people who want travel rewards that are easy to earn and nearly effortless to redeem. The $95-annual-fee card earns 2 miles per $1 spent on everyday purchases (and 5 miles per $1 on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel). Miles are worth 1 cent each and can be used to book travel through Capital One, redeemed as a statement credit against travel purchases or transferred to multiple partner airline and hotel programs. New cardholders will also receive a healthy sign-up bonus: Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
How to use it instantly
Once your application is approved, a virtual card number will become accessible through the Capital One app. The virtual card number can be used instantly for online shopping, and once you receive a physical card in the mail, the virtual card number can still be used for extra security in scenarios where you don’t want to provide your physical card details to the vendor.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Our pick for: Rich travel rewards
Why we like it
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a popular card for frequent travelers seeking perks without the big price tag of ultra-premium cards. The sign-up bonus is plenty enticing: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. You’ll also earn 5 points per $1 on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®; 3 points per $1 spent on dining (including takeout and delivery), online grocery purchases and select streaming services; 2 points per $1 spent on other travel purchases; and 1 point per $1 spent on everything else. Other perks include a $50 annual credit on hotel stays purchased through Chase, travel insurance and the ability to transfer points to airline and hotel partners.
How to use it instantly
Upon approval, you can add the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to your digital wallet to use when shopping in person or online, where digital wallets are accepted. Chase-issued cards are compatible with several well-known digital wallets, including Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay.
Zable MasterCard® Credit Card
Our pick for: Building credit
Why we like it
Ideal for those looking to build or rebuild credit, the Zable MasterCard® Credit Card reports credit activity to all three credit bureaus. The card is also light on fees, and it doesn’t require a security deposit to open the account.
How to use it instantly
After being approved for the Zable MasterCard® Credit Card, you can access your virtual card number in the Zable app. This virtual card can be used to pay for subscriptions and online and in-app purchases.
Cardholders can only charge up to 50% of their credit limit with the virtual Zable card. Access to the full credit line won’t happen until the physical card is activated and then used to make an in-store purchase.
Other notable options
Many popular co-branded credit cards — whether store cards or cards that are offered in partnership with another kind of business — offer instant credit access. Here are some notable examples:
- The Apple Card can be used immediately through Apple Pay after approval.
- Once approved for the Amazon Prime Visa card, you'll be able to access it from your Amazon account and use it to make Amazon purchases. (You'll have to wait for the physical card to show up to use it at other retailers.) Note that this access comes from Amazon, not from Chase, which issues the card.
- The PayPal Cashback Mastercard®, issued by Synchrony Bank, can be used right away for purchases processed through PayPal.
- The Venmo Credit Card, also issued by Synchrony, can be used instantly upon approval. The card lives within the Venmo app and can be added to some digital wallets (with the exception of Apple Pay).
Major issuers and their policies on instant credit access
NerdWallet's survey of issuers found that while many of them offer some form of instant access to credit, American Express has by far the most comprehensive policy. With AmEx, all consumer 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. The following list is accurate as of March 2026:
American Express
Upon account approval, an instant card number can be made available on select American Express U.S. consumer credit and charge cards, including co-branded cards, according to the issuer. Applicants must meet certain criteria to receive an instant card number, but if you are eligible, you will receive an instant card number that can be used virtually anywhere AmEx is accepted, and a physical card will not be required. An instant card number is available only when you apply online for select U.S. consumer credit and charge cards through American Express via a desktop or mobile device and meet all required criteria, AmEx says. It's not available on applications made by phone.
Bank of America®
Bank of America®’s mobile application offers the ability to view and/or add credit card credentials to a digital wallet once an application is approved. This functionality allows eligible clients to enjoy immediate access to credit without waiting for physical cards to arrive in the mail.
Barclays
Some Barclays cards, such as the JetBlue Card and the RCI Elite Rewards Mastercard, offer instant credit access under certain circumstances.
Capital One
Customers who already have a Capital One account can get instant access to their card details after applying if they meet certain criteria and the issuer is able to sufficiently verify their identity, according to Capital One. Those who are eligible can only access their Capital One card information instantly through the Capital One app, the issuer notes.
Chase
Many Chase consumer cards that are on the Visa payment network can be immediately added to digital wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay upon approval, so you can shop in person or online wherever your digital wallet is accepted. This also includes a number of co-branded Chase airline and hotel cards. But it excludes any Chase cards on the Mastercard payment network, as well as some Visa cards, such as the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, Aeroplan® Credit Card, Chase Freedom Flex®, Amazon Visa, Prime Visa, Disney® Visa® Card and Disney® Premier Visa® Card. Business credit cards are also excluded.
Citi
The Citi Custom Cash® Card, Citi Rewards+® Card, Citi Simplicity® Card, Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card and the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi give you the ability to use the card immediately. For the Costco card, you'll get access to a temporary barcode linked to your account that can only be used for purchases at Costco warehouses.
There are a few more caveats to Citi’s instant credit card number policy: You get just one chance to take down your temporary account information. If you miss it, you’ll have to wait until the card arrives in the mail in order to use the card. Also, cardholders who receive instant access are restricted to $500 to $2,000 of their credit limit and must wait until they have the physical card to access the full credit line.
Discover
Discover may offer instant card numbers upon approval for its credit cards except for the Discover it® Miles and Discover it® Secured Credit Card. Instant card numbers are also unavailable for applicants who request a balance transfer or are applying for a second Discover card.
U.S. Bank
Per U.S. Bank's website, the issuer may offer instant credit card numbers for consumer cards such as the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card and U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card. But it notes "there are instances where we may limit availability to protect against fraud, such as when it’s difficult to validate the applicant’s identity quickly."
Wells Fargo
Some applicants who are approved may be granted instant access to their credit card number, allowing them to add the card to a digital wallet.
To view rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, see this page.
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