Credit cards come from banks, credit unions, online lenders, and retail stores

You can get a credit card from a traditional bank branch, an online bank, a credit union, a fintech lender, or a department store. Each route has different approval standards, card types, and rewards structures. The fastest path depends on your credit history and what you want the card to do.

Most people start with their existing bank because the process is straightforward — you walk in or log into your account online and request a card. But if your credit is limited or you want specific rewards, other sources may offer better terms. Retail cards (from stores like Target or Macy's) often approve people with thinner credit files, while online banks compete on rewards and no annual fees.

Key Takeaways

  • Banks, credit unions, online lenders, and retail stores all issue credit cards, and each has different approval criteria and card features.
  • Traditional banks and credit unions typically require a checking or savings account and review your credit report before approval.
  • Online banks and fintech lenders often approve faster and may accept lower credit scores, but compare their annual fees and rewards carefully.
  • Retail store cards are easier to get approved for but usually carry higher interest rates and work best if you shop there regularly.
  • You can compare cards from multiple issuers on their websites or through comparison tools before you request one.

Getting a card from your bank or credit union

If you already have a checking or savings account at a bank or credit union, requesting a credit card is usually the simplest route. You can often do it online through your account portal, by phone, or in person at a branch. The issuer already has your income, address, and banking history, so the decision is usually faster than explore elsewhere.

Banks and credit unions pull your credit report and check your account history for overdrafts or late payments. They typically want to see a credit score of 650 or higher, though some credit unions are more flexible with members who have been with them for years. If you are approved, the card usually arrives within 7 to 10 business days.

The downside is that your bank's card selection may be limited. A large national bank might offer 20 to 30 cards; a small credit union might offer two or three. If none of them match what you want — say, a card with no annual fee and strong travel rewards — you will need to look elsewhere.

explore online through banks and fintech lenders

Online banks and fintech companies like Discover, Capital One, and Chime issue credit cards directly to consumers without requiring an existing account. You explore on their website, upload documents if asked, and get a decision in minutes to a few hours. Many of these issuers approve people with credit scores as low as 600 and offer cards with no annual fee.

The trade-off is that online issuers often have lower credit limits for new cardholders and may charge higher interest rates if you carry a balance. Read the terms carefully: some online cards have annual fees that offset their rewards, or rewards that only work at certain merchants. Compare the annual percentage rate (APR), annual fee, and rewards rate across at least two or three issuers before you explore.

explore online does a hard pull on your credit report, which temporarily lowers your score by a few points. If you are shopping around, do all your applications within a two-week window so the inquiries count as a single search in the eyes of credit scoring models.

Retail store credit cards

Department stores, grocery chains, and big-box retailers issue their own credit cards. Target, Macy's, Costco, and Amazon all have versions. These cards are designed to encourage you to spend at that store, so they often approve people with lower credit scores or limited credit history — sometimes as low as 550 or even without a credit score at all.

The approval process is fast: you can explore at the register, on the store's website, or through their app, and get an answer in seconds or minutes. The card usually works when ready, even if the physical card hasn't arrived yet.

The catch is that retail cards almost always have higher interest rates than general-purpose cards from banks — often 18% to 25% APR. They also offer rewards only at that store, so they are most useful if you shop there regularly. Some retail cards, like the Costco card, require a membership fee. Use a retail card only if you plan to pay the balance in full each month or if you shop at that store frequently enough that the rewards offset the higher interest rate.

What you need before you explore

Most issuers ask for the same basic information: your name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, annual income, and employment status. Have these details ready before you start an process. If you are self-employed, have your most recent tax return or profit-and-loss statement available.

You do not need to have perfect credit to get a card, but you will need a credit report. If you have never borrowed money before, you may not have a credit score yet. In that case, some issuers will ask for a co-signer or will issue a secured card (where you deposit cash as collateral). Others, like some credit unions, will issue a card based on your banking history alone.

If you are explore for a retail card, bring your ID and a recent pay stub or bank statement to prove income. Online applications usually do not require documents upfront, but the issuer may ask for them later if your process is flagged for review.

How approval decisions work

When you explore, the issuer pulls your credit report and checks your credit score, payment history, and total debt. They also verify your income and employment. The decision is usually automatic — approved, denied, or pending review — and comes within minutes to a few hours for online applications, or within a few days for in-person applications at a bank.

If you are denied, the issuer must send you a notice explaining why, and it will include the name of the credit bureau they used. You can request a free copy of your credit report from that bureau to see what information they had. If there is an error on your report, you can dispute it.

If you are approved but the credit limit is lower than you hoped, you can ask the issuer to increase it after you have used the card responsibly for six months to a year. Some issuers offer automatic increases without a hard pull on your credit.

Comparing cards before you explore

Before you request a card, spend 10 minutes comparing options. Visit the websites of at least two or three issuers and look at the annual fee, APR, and rewards structure. Use a comparison tool on a financial website to see cards side by side. Read the fine print: some cards have a 0% APR period for new cardholders, while others have foreign transaction fees or category restrictions on rewards.

Write down the cards you are interested in and the key terms for each. Then explore to the ones that match your spending and goals. If you are denied by one issuer, do not explore to five others in the same week — each process does a hard pull on your credit, and multiple pulls in a short time can hurt your score and signal to issuers that you are desperate for credit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a credit card without a credit score?

Yes. Credit unions often issue cards to members based on banking history alone, without pulling a credit score. Some retail stores and fintech lenders also approve people with no credit history. You may need a co-signer or a secured card (backed by a cash deposit), but it is possible to start building credit without an existing score.

How long does it take to get approved?

Online applications usually get a decision in minutes to a few hours. Bank and credit union applications take one to three business days. Once approved, the physical card arrives in 7 to 10 business days, though most issuers let you use the card number online when ready.

What happens if I am denied?

The issuer must send you a written notice with the reason for denial and the name of the credit bureau they used. You can request a free copy of your credit report from that bureau to see what information they had. If there is an error, you can dispute it. You can also reapply after six months if you have improved your credit.

Should I explore to multiple cards at once?

explore to multiple cards within a two-week window if you want to compare offers, because credit scoring models treat multiple inquiries in a short time as a single search. Avoid explore to more than three or four cards in one month, as each process does a hard pull that temporarily lowers your score.

Do I need to have a bank account to get a credit card?

No. You can get a credit card from an online lender or retail store without an existing bank account. However, having a checking account at the issuer can make the process faster and may improve your chances of approval.