How to Get Approved for an Unsecured Credit Card
If you have good or fair credit and a reliable source of income, you should be able to obtain an unsecured credit card fairly easily. If you have poor credit or no credit, it will more challenging to gain approval for an unsecured card but not impossible. The steps to obtaining a credit card are the same in either circumstance.
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Instructions
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Establish a steady work record. The longer you've worked at a job, the better. If you have changed jobs recently, you may still be able to demonstrate a stable work history if you held any previous jobs for a significant amount of time with no serious gaps of unemployment.
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Establish a consistent address. Credit card companies prefer applicants who have lived at the same address for six months; a full year is better.
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Open a checking account and avoid bounced checks. A savings account is also helpful; however, a checking account is critical.
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Apply for store credit cards to build credit history. Store credit cards are often easier to obtain than major credit cards. If you obtain a store credit card, make sure it is reported to the major credit reporting agencies. Maintain a spotless payment record.
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Minimize your debts. The idea is to demonstrate that you have enough disposable income after your basic obligations to meet monthly credit card payments. Increasing your income will serve the same purpose.
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Tips & Warnings
If you cannot qualify for an unsecured credit card alone, ask a relative to co-sign for you.
Interest rates and fees for unsecured credit cards offered to customers with poor credit are very high. These card's balances should be paid off monthly and used only to qualify for credit cards with better rates later on.
