Why Do I Keep Getting Denied for My First Credit Card? (2024)

If you keep getting denied for credit cards despite never having one, it’s likely because you're applying for the wrong cards or have submitted too many applications in a short time. Factors like limited income, debt from loans, unpaid bills, or limited credit history could also prevent you from qualifying for certain cards. Not being at least 18 years old will keep you from getting your own credit card account, too.

Reasons Why Your Application Might Be Getting Denied

• You’re applying for too many cards. Credit card applications typically require a hard inquiry on your credit report, which hurts your score a little, so you should try to avoid excessive applications. Too many applications in a short time can also signal to banks that you’re desperate for credit and may be unlikely to pay back your balance.
• There are errors on your credit report. Unfortunately, credit report errors are not all that uncommon, so it’s important to check your report to spot anything that doesn’t look right. If there are any errors, you’ll need to file a dispute in order to correct them and fix your score.
• Your credit report is frozen. If you’ve requested a credit freeze to protect your identity, you won’t be able to open new accounts until you remove the freeze by contacting each credit bureau you placed one with. If a creditor goes to check your credit report and finds it frozen, they will be unable to evaluate you for an account.
• Your income isn’t high enough. Credit card issuers need to verify that you’ll at least be able to afford the minimum payments each month, so they’ll usually ask for your annual income and may compare that to other costs, such as your housing expenses.
• You have outstanding debts. Loans and other types of debts will show up on your credit report along with any credit cards you’ve been a user on. Any unpaid bills or outstanding debts will make issuers less willing to lend you more money.
• You don’t have much credit history. It’s possible that you won’t have a credit report if you’ve never had a credit card or any type of debt. Credit card companies aren’t exactly eager to loan money to someone who hasn’t proven their ability to pay off debt, so many cards with more favorable terms require at least some credit experience.
• You’re applying for the wrong cards. Some cards are harder to qualify for than others. Make sure you’re looking at the credit score and other approval requirements for each card, and see if you can pre-qualify before you apply. There are cards designed for all kinds of credit histories, though you’ll have to build up a good-to-excellent credit score to get the best offers.
• You’re not at least 18 years old. Credit card companies can’t issue cards to anyone under 18, so if you’re still a minor you’ll need to become an authorized user on someone else’s account in order to use a credit card.

It’s alright if you haven’t built a credit history – everyone has to start out at some point. It just means you won’t be eligible for some of the more attractive credit card offers yet. But there are plenty of cards designed for people with limited or no credit.

Popular First Credit Card Options

Types of Cards to Get With Limited or Bad Credit

Depending on your circ*mstances, you may want to look into other types of cards. For instance, if you’re a college student, you can likely get a student card, and those tend to have better rewards and rates than general consumer cards for people with limited credit.

In addition, secured credit cards are another way to build credit without paying high fees. Secured cards require a refundable deposit that prevents you from spending more than you can pay back, but they otherwise work the same as other credit cards.

If you’re still unsure as to why you’re not getting approved, take a look at our guide on why credit card applications get denied.