Lyle Daly is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. He writes for The Ascent and The Motley Fool, and his work has appeared in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia.
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Fact Checked Nathan Alderman Fact checkerNathan Alderman has worked with The Motley Fool since 2005, making errors his arch-enemies in a variety of roles including a six-year stint as the dedicated fact-checker for The Motley Fool's premium newsletter services. As The Ascent's Compliance Lead, he makes sure that all the site's information is accurate and up to date, which ensures we always steer readers right and keeps various financial partners happy. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan spends his spare time volunteering for civic causes, writing and podcasting for fun, adoring his wife, and wrangling his two very large young children.
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Instant approval credit cards speed up the application process by letting you know if you are approved right away. When you submit your application, the card issuer could provide an immediate approval or denial. Note that approval isn't guaranteed, and the card issuer could also put your application under review if necessary.
While the terms are often confused, not all instant approval credit cards are instant use credit cards. With some card issuers, you can use your new card upon approval. With others, you need to wait until you receive the card in the mail.
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Robin Hartill, CFP®, is The Ascent’s Head of Product Ratings and has worked for The Motley Fool since 2020. Her work has appeared in various national publications, including Yahoo! Finance, NerdWallet, Investopedia, CNN Underscored, MSNBC, USA Today, and CNET Money. She previously wrote The Penny Hoarder’s syndicated “Dear Penny” personal finance advice column.
On American Express' Secure Website .
2024 Award WinnerGreat for: U.S. supermarkets and gas
On American Express' Secure Website .
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
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Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
On American Express' Secure Website .
Credit Score Circle with letter I in it.Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Purchases: 0%, 12 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 12 months
Rewards Circle with letter I in it.
6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations. 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more). 1% Cash Back on other purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it.
Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
This card offers market-leading cash back at U.S. supermarkets. The welcome bonus and intro APR offer sweeten the deal. Terms apply. If you spend a lot on groceries (excluding wholesale clubs and superstores like Costco and Walmart), this card is worth considering. Read Full Review
• Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. • Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. • Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. • Extended warranty, purchase protection warranty, and car rental loss & damage insurance underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
Great for: Cash back and balance transfers
On Citi's Secure Website .
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars. 4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
On Citi's Secure Website .
Credit Score Circle with letter I in it.Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Fair to Excellent (580-850)
Intro APR Circle with letter I in it.
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 months on Balance Transfers
19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Rewards Circle with letter I in it.
Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24.
Annual Fee Circle with letter I in it.
Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it.
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
This card combines a top-notch balance transfer offer for 18 months on Balance Transfers with best-in-class unlimited 2% cash back on purchases. There's no introductory APR for purchases, so you'll need to pay those off in full every month if you want to avoid interest charges. Read Full Review
On Chase's Secure Website .
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
On Chase's Secure Website .
Credit Score Circle with letter I in it.Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Intro APR Circle with letter I in it.
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Rewards Circle with letter I in it.
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases-with no limit to the amount you can earn.
Earn 3 points per $1 in select business categories
Annual Fee Circle with letter I in it.
Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it.
Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 90,000 bonus points
This business card gets you access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards ecosystem, and you'll start with 90,000 Ultimate Rewards points by qualifying for its eye-popping welcome bonus. Earning 3X points per $1 on popular business expenses means you can cover your bills and be generously rewarded in the process. Read Full Review
Great for: 0% intro APR for purchases and balance transfers
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Intro APR Circle with letter I in it.
0% on purchases and balance transfers for the first 21 billing cycles on purchases billing cycles, and after that 18.74% - 29.74% (Variable).
Purchases: 0%, 21 billing cycles on purchases
Balance Transfers: 0%, 21 billing cycles
18.74% - 29.74% (Variable)
Got a big purchase to finance over time? Consider this U.S. Bank card, as it'll give you a whopping 21 billing cycles of 0% APR on purchases. This also goes for balance transfers, making this one a great fit if you have some existing debt to pay off. It also comes without an annual fee.
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card is unavailable on The Ascent. All information was collected independently and not reviewed for accuracy or provided by the credit card issuer. Some items may be out of date.
Great for: Bonus cash back versatility
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Intro APR Circle with letter I in it.
0% on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles on purchases billing cycles, and after that 19.49% - 29.74% (Variable).
Purchases: 0%, 15 billing cycles on purchases
Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 billing cycles
19.49% - 29.74% (Variable)
Rewards Circle with letter I in it.
5% cash back back on up to $2,000 of quarterly spending in two categories of choice and for travel booked directly in U.S. Bank's Rewards Travel Center, unlimited 2% back in one "everyday" category of choice, 1% back on other purchases
Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it.
Earn a $200 bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
You get the power to choose not one, but two bonus 5% cash back categories every quarter with this U.S. Bank card. Plus, you get 5% on travel spending when you book through U.S. Bank. No annual fee, a generous welcome bonus, and 15 billing cycles of 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers round out the perks on this card.
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card is unavailable on The Ascent. All information was collected independently and not reviewed for accuracy or provided by the credit card issuer. Some items may be out of date.
How to use it instantly: Select the option to get your instant card number when your application is approved, or follow the link in your welcome email. You can also add your instant card number to digital wallets, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, PayPal, and Amazon Pay.
The instant card number feature is available with all personal and business American Express cards, except its Amazon business cards. Availability is based on American Express's ability to authenticate you.
How to use it instantly: Look for an option to get your virtual card number upon approval for the card. If it's available, you'll have one opportunity to record a temporary card number that you can use until your card arrives.
Citi provides this option on several of its cards to some, but not all approved applicants. If it's not available, or if you don't record your virtual card number, you'll need to wait for your card.
How to use it instantly: While Discover doesn't provide instant card numbers, you may be able to add a new card to digital wallets from your online Discover account. If you're getting your first Discover card, you can set up your online account once you're approved.
Discover lets you add your card to Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and your Amazon.com account. However, some cardholders need to wait until receiving their physical cards to do this.
How to use it instantly: From the "Accounts" menu in your online account, select "Manage cards," and then select the option to view your card number. You can also add your new U.S. Bank card to digital wallets from your online account, including PayPal and Amazon.
U.S. Bank offers these options to eligible cardholders when it can verify their identity. If they're not available or don't work, you'll need to wait until you receive your physical card.
How to use it instantly: Open the "Accounts" menu, choose the "Manage cards" option, and select the "Show number" by your U.S. Bank card. Alternatively, add your new card to a digital wallet.
These options may or may not be available, depending on whether you're eligible and if U.S. Bank can verify your identity. If they're not, you won't be able to use your card until it arrives in the mail.
An instant approval credit card is one where you can get an almost immediate decision on your application. Once you submit your application to the card issuer, you get one of the following responses within seconds:
Even with instant approval credit cards, there's still the possibility of needing a longer review time. An instant approval is a possibility, not a guarantee. If your application is put under review, you'll get the card issuer's decision by mail, and often also by email.
An instant use credit card is one that you can use immediately upon approval. The card issuer may provide the opportunity to get a temporary card number or add the card to a digital wallet before you receive it in the mail.
Being able to instantly use your credit card isn't guaranteed. It's a benefit available to some approved applicants, at the card issuer's discretion.
When you apply for an instant approval credit card, the card issuer runs a credit check. Based on the results, it may be able to approve you for the new card and a credit line. Having a high credit score could help with getting instantly approved.
An instant approval is often a conditional approval, which is followed by the card issuer taking a more in-depth look at your credit history. The card issuer can change its decision, turning a conditional approval into a denial, but this doesn't happen often.
Secured credit cards are the easiest type of credit card to get. You need to pay a security deposit to open this type of card, and your credit limit is usually equal to your deposit. That protects the card issuer in case cardholders don't pay their credit card bills.
Here are the best instant approval store credit cards:
When you're ready, here's how to apply for an instant approval credit card:
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
U.S. supermarkets and gas
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars. 4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Cash back and balance transfers
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars. 4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
0% intro APR for purchases and balance transfers
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars. 4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Bonus cash back versatility
• Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. • Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. • Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. • Extended warranty, purchase protection warranty, and car rental loss & damage insurance underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card is unavailable on The Ascent. All information was collected independently and not reviewed for accuracy or provided by the credit card issuer. Some items may be out of date.
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card is unavailable on The Ascent. All information was collected independently and not reviewed for accuracy or provided by the credit card issuer. Some items may be out of date.
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.
Our highest-rated credit cards have:
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.
An instant approval credit card is one that can give you an immediate decision when you apply. Once you submit the application, the card issuer can do a preliminary check on your credit and possibly approve you for the card. Despite the name, instant approval credit cards don't guarantee an instant approval. The card issuer can still deny your application or put it under review and take more time to make its decision.
To apply for an instant approval credit card, choose the card that you want online and click "Apply Now" on its web page. Fill out the application with the required information, submit it, and wait for the card issuer's decision. You'll receive one of three responses: an instant approval, a denial, or a message stating that your application is under further review. You'll typically have to apply online to get an instant approval, which is the best way to get a decision as soon as possible. Some credit cards also offer instant approvals on phone applications.
There's no required credit score for an instant approval credit card. However, you have much better odds of success with a good or excellent credit score. Your credit score will also determine which instant approval credit cards you can get. If you have a bad credit score, then you should look at secured credit cards. A higher credit score, on the other hand, can get you instantly approved for much better credit cards.
Share This PageWe're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
Wells Fargo is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. American Express is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Discover Financial Services is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Lyle Daly has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Costco Wholesale, JPMorgan Chase, Mastercard, PayPal, Target, U.S. Bancorp, Visa, and Walmart. The Motley Fool recommends Discover Financial Services and recommends the following options: long January 2025 $370 calls on Mastercard, short January 2025 $380 calls on Mastercard, and short September 2024 $62.50 calls on PayPal. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
For rates and fees for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, click here
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Visa. The Motley Fool recommends Amex.
