How do you start building credit if you have absolutely none?
twitchddragyn asked:
I’m 22. I don’t have any history of credit. (No credit cards, loans, etc… Nothing.)
I’m 22. I don’t have any history of credit. (No credit cards, loans, etc… Nothing.)
My friends told me that they all started building credit by opening a student credit card from Chase, the ones with a 200 dollar limit.
I tried to do that but actually got denied. They said that I have “too few accounts open to resolve credit.”
So how do you do it?
Okay, I will try citibank, thanks. 
Also, I already have a checking account open.
I do not have a cellphone or any other type of bill like that under my name, though. I mean, I don’t have a cellphone period, haha. I don’t want one.
Also, I would never use a credit card unless I could pay it off immediately, of course. That was my plan.
Viola
Tags: Cellphone, Credit Cards, Credit Loans
March 21st, 2009 at 12:44 pm
CitiBank has a great student credit card program. Go to
March 21st, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Try other credit cards.. also try and open a checking account with whatever money you have..
March 24th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
go to your bank and get a registered saving plan this builds your credit you can go for like500dollars a year
March 28th, 2009 at 6:30 am
Citi Card will definetly give you a card. Charge only what you can afford to pay back on it though and always pay over the minimum. Good luck.
March 30th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
what I did… I got a $500 loan for a car when I was 16. I had a co-signer. Once that got started, I opened I high interest credit card and tore it up once I got it in the mail. I paid $20 a year to keep the account open, and when it came time to buy my new car, I was good. If you can’t get your credit up, living in an apartment will raise it too. so will cell phone, and other credit cards, I suggest opening a loan with a federal credit union.
April 3rd, 2009 at 12:39 am
try citi cards or discover, they both have good student accounts. also, open a checking or savings account in your name. sometimes even opening a cell phone account in your own name will build up some credit for you.
April 4th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Try getting a store card, like Sears.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:28 am
Banks are pickier. The best is a direct mail MasterCard or Visa offer. The rates stink and the credit line might be low, but it will establish credit, just remember to pay it off every month so you don’t go over limit and don’t pay the huge interest. Don’t sign up for any with annual or monthly fees.
Second choice: brows the internet and apply online.
Third choice: (and probably most likely to be approved) department store card (Macy’s Kohl’s). Get one or two, buy something, pay off the card. Do this a couple of times every few months to build a track record. Wait twelve months and try for a bank card again.
April 5th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Get a cell phone under your name and info.
April 7th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
Try CapitalOne. Thay have a very good interest rate and they won’t turn your application down. They might start you at $300. Or you can get your parents to link you to one of their credit cards ( that’s if they trust you; and if they do make sure you don’t dissapoint them). Good Luck
April 9th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
I was actually in a similar situation to you when I was your age. I began by getting my name on my parents credit card as an authorized user. They sent me a card which I gave to my dad and he cut up. But with my parents using that card a lot and paying on time it built my credit as well, even though I never used the card or paid a bill.
Checking also goes on your credit rating.
And instead of paying cash for a $5000 car, I set up a loan with my bank and got a very low interest rate by having an account with their bank that had a balance that never went below the total owed on the loan.
You could also get a normal credit card but it would have a pretty hefty interest rate due to you not having a credit history. If you do this, use the card sparingly and pay off the total every month not just the minimum due.
April 12th, 2009 at 3:34 am
I’m 21 and I have excellent credit. First you need a checking account. Since you are 22 I’m assuming you have one. Typically you can get one through your bank which is usually the best bet for your first credit card.
I actually got a Chase card for my first one and the application came through the mail at my college. 1st Financial Bank is a really good one as well because as long as your a student and your balance doesn’t exceed $250, its 0% apr. I have one of these as well.
Since you were applying for a student card you proably also have student loans….unless they are not in your name. My student loans have allowed me to finance both a computer and a new car and I’m 21.
There are deffinatly ways out there and if worse comes to worse, just ask your parents to put you on their credit card account to help you to start building credit.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:32 am
I would try orchard. They approve just about anyone. This site has offers for every credit type.
April 17th, 2009 at 11:12 am
Student credit cards are a little more difficult to get than credit cards for poor / no credit. If you can’t get approved for a ‘student’ credit card, try one of these:
Although these offers tend to have higher interest rates (and additional fees) when compared to ‘standard’ credit cards, they’ll give you the opportunity to prove your credit worthiness and build your credit history over time. Eventually, with regular on-time payments– you’ll be able to qualify for better offers with lower APRs and less fees. But for now, these might be your only options…
Hope this helps. GOOD LUCK!