With an instant approval credit card, you can know whether your application was accepted or denied within seconds of clicking “apply”. This can never be guaranteed, but you have a solid chance of instant approval if your credit score is within the recommended range and your credit history is clean. Some credit card issuers also offer instant use through virtual card numbers or mobile wallets.
We’ve provided a list below of cards that offer instant approval and use to eligible cardholders. This is only a small sampling of cards that may come with this benefit.
More info on the best instant use credit cards
You can start meeting the requirements for the welcome bonus instantly with the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card. Once you’re approved for your new card, you can easily link it to Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay through the Chase mobile app. This allows you to start using your card at merchants that accept these digital wallet platforms right away and earn rewards on purchases.
▶︎ Also see: Benefits of Chase Freedom Unlimited
Capital One offers virtual credit card numbers for many of its rewards cards, including the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. You can use virtual card numbers with select digital wallets, such as Google Pay, to make payments with the Capital One mobile app.
Capital One also provides a browser extension and virtual assistant called Eno. You can use your virtual card numbers to make purchases online with the help of Eno immediately. Even after you receive your physical card, you can keep this option when shopping online to protect your account better.
Once you’re approved for the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express, you will be invited to receive an instant card number. Amex will provide you with your card number, a temporary four-digit identification number and an expiration date so you can use it anywhere American Express is accepted. In a few simple steps, you can also add your new card number to your digital wallet for in-store shopping and select online checkout services. Remember, you can only get instant card numbers through online AmEx applications and not over the phone.
If you’re approved for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express online, you can get an instant card number and start earning cashback right away. This number works wherever American Express is accepted without needing a physical card. American Express also gives you the option to add your actual card number to your digital wallet on your mobile device. Your eligibility for an instant card number depends on AmEx’s ability to quickly verify your identity.
Chase offers several cards that support instant use, including the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. You get a credit card number you can store in a digital wallet, including Google Pay, Samsung Pay or Apple Pay. You can then use your digital wallet to make payments with the card account. Chase also offers a mobile app, and you can make some purchases through that app with your instant credit card.
When you sign up with Chime you can instantly make online and digital purchases using a temporary card. Your temporary digital card number is available to view in the Chime app and includes a complete card number, expiration date, and CVV. You can use a temporary card to pay bills online, add to a digital wallet such as Apple Pay or Google Pay, or even link to apps like Venmo or Cash App. Once you receive your actual card in the mail and activate it, you will no longer be able to use your temporary card.
The secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted. Please see the back of your card for its issuing bank.
Once you’re approved for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card online, you can start using it instantly with a digital wallet. To start, you’ll need to download the Chase Mobile app to your device. Log in to your account, select your card, then select the mobile wallet you want to use (Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay are all available) and you can start shopping and using the card benefits right away.
You can get instant card numbers from Capital One upon approval, but eligibility is not guaranteed for everyone. You can check your eligibility on the Capital One mobile app by looking for your card details in the “Your Card Number” section.
Alternatively, with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, you can instantly use a virtual card number, which is a different number than your actual credit card number. Virtual card numbers can be found in the Capital One Mobile app, online banking, Google Pay™, and Capital One Eno. By signing up for Eno, Capital One’s virtual assistant, you can generate a new virtual card number whenever you’re ready to check out a purchase on your mobile device or desktop, making your online shopping experience safer and protecting you from fraud.
Instant approval vs. instant use vs. guaranteed approval credit cards
While instant use credit cards are typically instant approval cards, these are two different things, and neither means you’re guaranteed approval.
Instant approval credit cards
Instant approval refers to the practice of letting you know immediately — usually within seconds or minutes — whether you are approved for a credit card. Almost all card issuers provide instant approval today. However, not every application can be instantly approved.
In some cases, the creditor needs additional information to approve your account. You are typically notified in seconds that this is the case and provided instructions for providing that information. The creditor may need documentation regarding your income, for example. In these situations, approval can take a few days or weeks.
Instant use credit cards
Instant use credit cards are accounts you can use immediately after you are approved. You are provided with a virtual credit card number or another option, such as an app, to make purchases before your physical card arrives in the mail.
Not all credit cards come with this benefit and not all credit card accounts that are instantly approved offer instant use numbers.
Guaranteed approval cards
Guaranteed approval credit cards are cards you’re certain to be approved for. Unfortunately, these don’t exist— no credit card has 100% guaranteed approval.
Many credit card issuers offer pre-qualification or pre-approval to help you gauge your chances of approval for their cards. Sometimes these come via targeted offers through mail or e-mail. Other times, these can be initiated by you through the issuer’s website.
If you receive a pre-approval offer through the mail, you’re almost guaranteed approval for that card as they’re considered “firm offers of credit” under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The only grounds for denial would be if your credit changed drastically since the offer was made.
Some issuers offer a pre-approval screening tool through their website. This allows you to enter your personal information and the issuer may initiate a soft credit pull to determine your eligibility (this won’t affect your credit score). While you may be “pre-approved” through this tool, that still does not guarantee approval.
Which issuers offer access to instant credit card numbers after approval?
A growing number of banks and credit card issuers are providing instant credit card numbers to cardholders.
The issuers below offer at least one credit card with this benefit.
This is not an exhaustive list, and other banks and issuers offer this benefit. As previously mentioned, almost all retail co-branded credit cards or store-only credit cards can also be used instantly at the register or in the online shopping card upon approval.
How do instant use credit card numbers work?
Instant virtual credit card numbers work similarly to your regular credit card, but there are a few limitations. You won’t have a physical card you can swipe at registers, so your ability to shop in stores can be limited by each retailer’s payment policies and your own comfort with payment apps and digital wallets, for example.
The exact process for using an instant use credit card number depends on the card you get and the issuer’s policies. You can see some examples of different approaches in our list of example credit cards with this benefit above.
However, the general concept of instant approval credit card numbers works like this:
- You apply for the card and are, hopefully, approved instantly. Approval depends on your creditworthiness and other factors.
- The card issuer provides you with an instant use credit card number. Whether you receive this benefit may also depend on your credit score and other factors. Card issuers may also require a special identification process before they provide an instant credit card number for you to use.
- The instant use credit card number is either a temporary card number, your actual account number or an app-based dynamic number that is created for each purchase.
- You may need to download the credit card company’s app to access your instant use card number. In other cases, you are provided with the information via a secure email, and you can add the card number to your digital wallet or enter it manually when making online payments.
- In some cases, you don’t have access to your entire credit line via an instant use card. You may only have access to a percentage of your credit line until you get your physical card. This is a security measure some credit card issuers take to protect cardholders from potential fraud.
One important consideration when using a virtual credit card of any type — instant or otherwise — is that the card number you use may not match the card number that’s on your actual credit card. This can be an obstacle when you make purchases that require you to swipe or show your card later.
For instance, some hotels require that you present the card you used to make the booking when you check in. If the credit card numbers don’t match, there can be some confusion or hassle. The same is true when renting a car or purchasing event tickets in advance. It’s best to be aware of the requirements in these types of scenarios so you can use your physical credit card and its matching number when necessary.
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For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, please visit this page.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, please visit this page.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please visit this page.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this page.