Jasper Mastercard Review: An Option Better Suited for U.S. Newcomers

The Jasper Mastercard®, issued by WebBank, aims to help working professionals establish a credit history when they lack one. While it can deliver on that front, and also earn rewards in the process, it's probably best suited for new immigrants awaiting a Social Security number while they start a job in the U.S.

Most credit card issuers require a Social Security number upfront. Jasper, formerly known as CreditStacks, is one of the few exceptions; qualifying applicants may have 60 days to report a Social Security number after activation.

Candidates with a Social Security number but no credit history may do better with the incentives and well-rounded credit reporting on other alternative credit cards. But the Jasper Mastercard® still merits a close look if you want to avoid a security deposit and other common obstacles on cards for people new to credit. Jasper doesn’t rely only on traditional credit factors when evaluating applicants.

Jasper Mastercard®: Key features

Card type: Starter.

Annual fee: $0*.

Security deposit: None.

Rewards: At least 1% cash back on every eligible purchase. (It's possible to boost this rate, up to 6% back, but it requires that you refer friends to the card.)

APR: The ongoing APR is 15.49% - 24.99% Variable.

Penalty APR: None.

Credit limit: Up to $5,000.

Foreign transaction fee: None.

Other perks:

• No upfront Social Security number requirement for international professionals (though those applicants will eventually have to report one within 60 days of card activation).

• Payments reported to TransUnion and Equifax.

• Travel benefits, including a collision damage waiver for rental cars, insurance for lost or damaged luggage, travel accident insurance and trip cancellation/interruption reimbursement.

• Safety benefits and other perks, including MasterCard ID Theft Protection, extended warranty, price protection and cell phone protection.

» MORE: How to apply for a credit card without a Social Security number

Why you might want the Jasper Mastercard®

leeway with SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

Cardholders who are new to the U.S. must report their Social Security number to Jasper within 60 days of activating their card, but it's not required upfront during the application process. Instead, applicants must provide their passport, visa information and proof of income in the U.S. Applicants who have lived in the U.S. for a year or longer must provide a Social Security number with their application and undergo a credit check.

NO CREDIT SCORE REQUIRED

Applicants who lack a U.S. credit history can still receive a credit card as long as they qualify in other ways. When vetting an applicant, the company says it looks at more than 360 data points to determine creditworthiness, including debt-to-income ratio, an applicant’s online presence and whether they’ve secured a job offer from an employer.

FEWER COSTS

The Jasper Mastercard® has an annual fee of $0*, so you won't pay to hold the card. There's also no penalty APR, meaning the issuer won't raise your interest rate if you pay late or miss a payment. And unlike with secured credit cards, an option for credit newcomers that requires upfront collateral, you won't need a security deposit.

A DECENT CREDIT LIMIT

Applicants may be eligible for a credit line up to $5,000 in credit. That's fairly high for someone new to credit in the U.S., although it's possible to find even higher limits in this category. Secured credit cards, by comparison, usually offer credit limits equal to your deposit. If you wanted a $5,000 limit, you'd need to deposit $5,000 (and the maximum deposit is usually capped at less than that anyway).

ADVANCE APPROVAL

The Jasper application process allows applicants to be approved up to 60 days before starting their new job in the U.S. With other card issuers, you may have to wait until you’ve already started your job in the U.S. before applying.

REWARDS

You'll earn at least 1% back on all eligible purchases, which is a nice feature on a card like this. You can increase that rate, up to 6% back, by referring friends to the card. (The base rate remains 1%, but for each successful referral, you'll get an extra 0.5% back for a year, up to the 6% cap — which you'd hit if you were to successfully refer 10 friends to Jasper in a year.)

If you're looking for bigger baseline rewards — ones that don't hinge on referrals — then consider other secured or unsecured cards that offer rewards that you can qualify for. A solid option is the Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card, which also employs an alternative underwriting model to evaluate applicants. It considers factors like income, debt, expenses and savings. As a plus, this card offers up to 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases. Terms apply.

TRAVEL FEATURES

The Jasper Mastercard® is well-equipped for travel abroad. It doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, which can cost as much as 3% per transaction on other credit cards. As a Mastercard, it also has broad international acceptance.

» MORE: AmEx makes it easier for immigrants to access credit

Why you might want a different card

LIMITED CREDIT BUREAU REPORTING

As of May 2020, Jasper reports account information to only two of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax and TransUnion. The ideal starter card should also report to Experian. Otherwise, the activity on the account won't be reflected in credit scores or reports pulled from Experian.

American Express cards report to all three credit bureaus, and they may be an option for some immigrants and expats in the U.S. from Australia, Canada, India, Mexico or the United Kingdom. A feature launched in 2019 facilitates translating some international credit reports into U.S.-equivalent credit reports during the online application process, eliminating the need for a Social Security number.

LONGER APPROVAL PROCESS

The approval timeline for the Jasper Mastercard® is currently two to three business days from a customer’s application, although CEO Elnor Rozenrot said the company is working on speeding things up. And exceptions may exist that result in a longer process. Contrast that with an application for a secured card from a major issuer, which will typically approve or deny an application within minutes. For a more streamlined process, you can apply for a credit card with an established issuer like Discover.

The $0-annual-fee Discover it® Secured Credit Card, for example, could offer a decision faster than the Jasper Mastercard®. It earns 2% cash-back on up to $1,000 in combined spending per quarter at restaurants and gas stations, and 1% on everything else. Discover also begins reviewing your account automatically after eight months to see if you can upgrade to regular card. You'll need a Social Security number to qualify.

MOBILE-ONLY ACCOUNT ACCESS

With the Jasper Mastercard®, you can manage your account only via the Jasper app. You won't be able to access your online account on a desktop computer. Rozenrot says the company wanted to be able to communicate with customers on a regular basis via push notifications and email to teach people how to work with the U.S. credit system. If you must have access via a computer, other starter credit cards for no credit can offer that type of user experience.

Is the Jasper Mastercard® right for you?

The Jasper Mastercard® is an excellent credit-building option for people who don't have their Social Security number yet. If you already have one, other cards may have more to offer in the way of credit reporting, incentives and features.