5 Things to Know About the Zolve Credit Card
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The Zolve Credit Card is one of a few options available for international students and H1-B and L-1 visa holders. Unlike with other credit cards, you can potentially qualify without a Social Security number. To do so, you'll need additional documentation to determine eligibility, such as an I-20 if you're a student, or offer letters or pay slips for workers.
There are three subscription plans for the Zolve card, each with varying terms, features and costs. But the plan or plans that you're eligible for will depend on the credit limit you're granted. More on that below.
Here’s what to know about the Zolve Credit Card.
Have a Social Security number or ITIN? You may have access to better and/or less costly options, including secured credit cards and alternative credit cards. Some of these options may also offer a path to upgrade to a traditional credit card later.
1. The card has three subscription plans ...
The Zolve Credit Card is tied to one of three subscription plans: Classic, Signature or Black. Here's a quick look at the basic details of each tier.
Classic | Signature | Black | |
|---|---|---|---|
Annual fee | $0. | $99. | $299. |
Welcome points | $15 value. | $25 value. | $50 value. |
Rewards | 1% cash back on most purchases. | 3% cash back on three brands of your choice from a list of options. 1% cash back on most purchases. | 5% cash back on five brands of your choice from a list of options. 1.5% cash back on most purchases. |
Perks and benefits | Standard Mastercard benefits and more. | World Mastercard benefits and more. | World Elite Mastercard benefits and more. |
2. ... But you won't necessarily get to choose among them all
With the Zolve Credit Card, you can get a potentially high credit limit of up to $10,000 depending on eligibility, according to Shivang Badaya, head of retention at Zolve. But whatever credit limit you're approved for, it will determine the subscription plans you can choose from.
For instance, if you get a credit limit below $1,000, you’re eligible for the Classic plan, Badaya says. Those with credit limits ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 are eligible for the Classic and Signature. With a credit limit above $4,000, you can select any option of the three.
3. When it comes to rewards, there's a lot to keep track of
As the table above notes, the Signature and Black subscriptions come with higher reward rates, but only for the specific brands listed below. You may need a cheat sheet:
You can change the categories that earn elevated reward rates for the Signature and Black every quarter, Badaya says, although changing them isn't required.
Redemption options are limited compared with those offered on other credit cards. You can choose gift cards or a statement credit, and you'll need a minimum of 1,000 points to do so.
Depending on which plan you have, an expiration date may also apply. On the Classic plan, rewards expire after 12 months if you don’t use them. With the Signature and Black plans, they don’t expire.
3. Side benefits also vary widely by plan
Perks and benefits shouldn’t be a top priority when your goal is to build credit. Still, all three subscription plans offer varying perks, which get richer the more you're willing to pay.
If you're a heavy user of, say, Instacart and Lyft, you could come out ahead with one of the higher-cost subscription tiers. But if you prefer to pick up your groceries — and drive yourself around to do it — then, such credits won't do much in terms of defraying the yearly cost of the subscription.
4. Payments are reported to major credit bureaus
The Zolve Credit Card reports payments to all three major credit bureaus: TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. This step is key to establishing credit, as these companies record the information used to calculate your credit scores.
5. The APR is high
With an APR ranging from 20.24% to 35.25% (rate accurate as of April 2024), you'll want to avoid carrying a balance on the Zolve Credit Card if possible.
If you can't pay off the balance in full each month, the cost of interest may very well exceed any value you would get from rewards.
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