How we compiled this: Our editorial team researched issuer terms, cardholder agreements, and third-party data across Capital One, Discover, Citi, Bank of America, OpenSky, Synchrony (Amazon), and Zolve, then cross-referenced community forums and ITIN-specific roundups to verify deposit ranges, APRs, annual fees, and graduation policies. Last verified: September 7, 2026.
If you have an ITIN and are trying to decide between a secured and an unsecured card, the generic advice you find everywhere gives you two sentences and calls it a day. This guide goes further: real issuers, real numbers, and a practical roadmap so you can choose based on your actual situation right now, not a hypothetical ideal.
At a glance: every ITIN-accessible card compared
The table below is the complete, verified picture. Use it to find your fit before reading the issuer-by-issuer details below.
Secured cards that accept an ITIN (2026)
| Issuer / Card | Min. Deposit | Max. Deposit | Annual Fee | Purchase APR (variable) | Graduation Review | Credit Check? | Rewards? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One Platinum Secured | $49, $99, or $200 | $1,000+ | $0 | 28.99% | ~6 months | Yes (soft pre-check available) | None |
| Discover it Secured | $200 | $2,500 | $0 | 27.24% | ~7 months | Yes | 2% gas/restaurants, 1% other |
| Citi Secured Mastercard | $200 | $2,500 | $0 | Varies | ~18 months (SSN req’d to graduate) | Yes | None |
| Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured | $200 | $5,000 | $0 | 27.49% | ~12 months | Yes | 1%-3% cash back |
| OpenSky Secured Visa | $200 | $3,000 | $35 | 21.14% | Not advertised | No | None |
| OpenSky Plus Secured Visa | $300 | $3,000 | $0 | 28.24% | Not advertised | No | Up to 10% select |
| Amazon Secured (Synchrony) | $100 | ~$1,000 | $0 | 10% fixed | ~12 months | Yes | Amazon/Fresh only |
Unsecured cards that accept an ITIN (2026)
| Issuer / Card | Annual Fee | Purchase APR | Deposit Required | Credit Check? | Good For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zolve Classic | $0 | 19.50%-39.50% variable | None | No | Pre-arrival applicants, newcomers with no U.S. history |
| Capital One Quicksilver Student | $0 | Variable | None | Yes (fair credit) | Students with ITIN and some history |
| Chase, Amex (select cards) | Varies | Varies | None | Yes (established file) | ITIN holders with existing U.S. credit profile |
APRs are variable and tied to the prime rate. Confirm current rates on each issuer’s official site before applying.
What is the actual difference between secured and unsecured for an ITIN holder?
A question we hear often:
For most cardholders worldwide, the secured vs. unsecured divide is a credit-quality question. For ITIN holders specifically, it is also an availability question. Issuers that accept ITINs for unsecured cards generally want to see some existing U.S. credit history or a strong income signal. That means the unsecured path is usually reserved for people who have already spent 12-24 months building a file, or who use a specialized newcomer product like Zolve.
A secured card requires a cash deposit that becomes your credit limit. That deposit is the issuer’s protection against default, which is precisely why they will approve applicants with thin or nonexistent U.S. credit files. The deposit is not a fee. It comes back to you when your account graduates or when you close it in good standing.
The average APR on a secured credit card in early 2026 is 26.13%, several percentage points above the average rewards card APR of 23.66%. This matters less than it sounds if you pay in full every month, because interest never accrues. Treat the APR on a secured card as an emergency backstop, not a number you plan to trigger.
The bottom line: if you have an ITIN and little or no U.S. credit history, start with a secured card. If you already have 12 or more months of on-time payments on your report, or you are arriving from a country whose credit history Zolve can read, an unsecured card may be within reach right now.
Which secured card should I get first with my ITIN?
Our pick for most first-time ITIN applicants is the Capital One Platinum Secured, followed closely by the Discover it Secured. Here is why each earns that ranking, plus where the others fit.
The Capital One Platinum Secured has the lowest possible starting deposit of any mainstream secured card that accepts an ITIN. The exact tier you land on ($49, $99, or $200, for a credit line of at least $200) depends on your credit profile at the time of application. Capital One reviews accounts after 6 months for a possible unsecured upgrade, accepts ITINs, and the graduation process does not require a hard pull or create a new account, so your account age stays intact.
The Discover it Secured is the strongest rewards-earning secured card open to ITIN holders. It requires a deposit of $200 to $2,500 (which becomes your credit limit), pays 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter (then 1%), and 1% on everything else. Discover also matches all cash back earned in your first year, effectively doubling your rewards. Accounts come up for graduation review at 7 months, and most qualifying holders convert within 12-18 months. Graduation is automatic: no separate application, no hard inquiry, deposit fully refunded, account converts to a standard Discover it card.
The OpenSky Secured Visa fills a different slot. It is the card for applicants who cannot pass a credit check at all. There is no credit check required to open it. You put down a deposit between $200 and $3,000, that amount becomes your credit line, and OpenSky reports to all three bureaus. The catch is a $35 annual fee and a 3% foreign transaction fee. The newer OpenSky Plus drops the annual fee but raises the minimum deposit to $300.
The Citi Secured Mastercard is worth knowing but comes with an important caveat for ITIN holders. Citi lets applicants choose a deposit between $200 and $2,500 (in $100 increments) and reports to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. The problem: graduating to an unsecured card requires a valid SSN on file. An ITIN-only holder can open the card and build credit with it, but the graduation door stays closed until they obtain an SSN. Still useful for building history, but factor that limitation into your decision.
What are my unsecured options if I have an ITIN and no U.S. credit history?
This one comes up a lot:
The honest answer is that your options are slim but real. Zolve’s main differentiator is offering an unsecured-style card with no SSN or U.S. history required. You can apply with an SSN, an ITIN, or a passport, and approval does not require a credit check. You can even get a virtual card before you arrive in the U.S., which makes it the best fit for applicants still abroad.
The trade-off is APR range. Zolve carries a variable rate of roughly 19.50%-39.50%, with your exact rate set at approval and disclosed in your cardholder agreement. That upper end is punishing if you carry a balance, so treat it the same way you would a secured card: pay in full, every month.
For ITIN holders who already have some U.S. credit history (typically 6-12 months from a secured card), major issuers including Chase, American Express, and Capital One do accept ITINs on their unsecured cards. The key is having a real credit file first. With no U.S. credit history at all, applying for a rewards card is almost certain to end in a denial. A secured card comes first.
How does the graduation process actually work, issuer by issuer?
Readers frequently ask:
“Graduation” means your secured card converts to an unsecured card at the same issuer, typically without a new application or hard inquiry. Your account history, account number, and credit limit all carry over. Your deposit comes back. Here is what each issuer actually does:
Graduation timeline comparison
| Issuer | First Review | Typical Full Graduation | Hard Pull? | Deposit Return | SSN Required to Graduate? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One | ~6 months | 12-18 months | No | Yes, upon graduation | No |
| Discover | ~7 months | 12-18 months | No | Yes, upon graduation | No |
| Bank of America | ~12 months | 12-18 months | Possible if you request | Yes, upon graduation | No |
| Citi | ~18 months | 18+ months | Unknown | Yes, upon graduation | Yes |
| OpenSky | Not advertised | Must apply for a new card | N/A | Upon account closure | N/A |
| Amazon/Synchrony | ~12 months | ~12 months | Unknown | Yes, upon graduation | Verify with issuer |
Discover and Capital One typically graduate accounts between month 7 and month 18, provided you have made all payments on time and kept utilization low. Graduating to an unsecured card at either issuer is not treated as a new account, so no hard pull is run and your credit score is not affected. Your account number and payment history stay exactly as they were; the only thing that changes is the deposit coming back.
Bank of America typically reaches its graduation review at the 12-month mark. You can also request graduation earlier by calling customer service at (800) 732-9194.
Citi does not advertise automatic graduation as prominently, but it reviews accounts after 18 months of responsible use. The SSN requirement at graduation is a real blocker for ITIN-only holders. If you expect to get an SSN eventually, Citi is still worth using in the meantime to build history. If you do not, Capital One or Discover are better long-term bets.
OpenSky has no formal graduation program. When you are ready for an unsecured card after using OpenSky, you apply separately with another issuer. By that point, you should have enough history to qualify. According to Capital Bank, OpenSky’s issuer, two-thirds of cardholders improve their credit score by 48 or more points after making three on-time payments.
Does having an ITIN affect my approval odds differently for secured vs. unsecured cards?
Yes, meaningfully. Secured cards are generally a better starting point without an SSN because the deposit reduces the issuer’s risk. Approval rates are noticeably higher compared to unsecured cards.
For unsecured cards, the issuer extends credit without collateral and leans much harder on your credit file and income. Even with an ITIN accepted, they may review your credit history, request alternative identification, require a U.S. checking or savings account, and weigh your income in their decision.
The practical upshot: if your ITIN-linked U.S. credit file is empty today, a secured card is close to a guaranteed approval (assuming you meet income requirements), while an unsecured card from a major issuer is likely a denial. After 12 months of on-time payments, your score will typically have enough history behind it to reconsider unsecured options. See our guide on how to build credit fast with an ITIN credit card for a month-by-month breakdown.
I keep hearing about the Amazon Secured Card. Is it really that different?
A question we hear often:
The Amazon Secured Card, issued by Synchrony Bank, does two things that almost no other secured card does: it carries a genuinely low APR for a secured product, and it accepts a starting deposit as low as $100.
A refundable deposit from $100 up to about $1,000 acts as your credit limit, payments report to all three major bureaus, and the fixed 10% APR is the lowest of any ITIN-accessible secured card this editorial team has verified in 2026. That is far below the secured-card average of 26.13%.
The catch is acceptance: you can only use it at Amazon.com and Amazon Fresh. That limits its usefulness for everyday spending. After 12 months of responsible use, Synchrony may move you to its store-card features and return your deposit. If you already shop on Amazon regularly, this card is an underrated first move. If you do not, Capital One or Discover will give you more flexibility.
What if I can’t fund a $200 deposit right now?
Your options are more limited but not zero. The Capital One Platinum Secured is unique among major-bank secured cards in offering a deposit as low as $49 for qualified applicants. Not everyone gets that tier. The higher your credit score, the more likely you are to land on the $49 or $99 deposit, with a credit line of at least $200 in either case.
If even $49 is a stretch, the Amazon Secured Card’s $100 minimum is the next stop. OpenSky also lets you spread your security deposit over 60 days with a layaway option, which can make the $200 or $300 minimum more manageable if you are budgeting carefully.
The Zolve unsecured card requires no deposit at all, but it requires a bank account and approval. If your income is strong enough to pass underwriting, Zolve gets you into the credit-building system without tying up any savings.
Which cards actually report to all three credit bureaus?
Bureau reporting is non-negotiable. A card that only reports to one or two bureaus leaves you with an incomplete credit file. Here is the verified picture for each card covered in this article:
| Card | Equifax | Experian | TransUnion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One Platinum Secured | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Discover it Secured | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Citi Secured Mastercard | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bank of America Secured | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| OpenSky Secured Visa | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Amazon Secured (Synchrony) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Zolve Classic | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Discover reports your payment history, credit limit, and balance to all three bureaus every month. Citi does the same. Every card on this list does, which is what makes them genuine credit-builders rather than glorified prepaid cards. For more on what gets reported and how it appears on your file, see our article on whether your ITIN credit card reports to all 3 bureaus.
What should I do once I graduate to an unsecured card?
Graduation is not the finish line. It is the starting line for real credit access. Once your secured card converts, there are a few concrete moves to make.
Keep the account open. The converted account retains all of its history. Closing it would shorten your average account age and remove a tradeline, which would likely lower your score. See our guide on having multiple credit cards with an ITIN for how to layer accounts intelligently.
Use your deposit windfall wisely. When graduation happens, your deposit is returned, typically within 2-3 business days. Putting that money toward savings or a rainy-day fund is a reasonable default.
Apply for a rewards card. After graduation with a clean payment history, your credit score is typically in the range where unsecured rewards cards become accessible. Check out our overview of rewards credit cards for ITIN holders for options that match this profile.
Request a credit limit increase. If you graduated with Capital One, the process for requesting a higher limit after graduation is documented in our credit limit increase guide for ITIN holders. The general rule: wait at least 6 months after graduation before asking, and lead with any income increases since you first applied.
8 fast answers to questions we see every week
Can I have both a secured and an unsecured card at the same time? Yes. Many ITIN holders keep their secured card open (to maintain the account age) while also holding a new unsecured card. Having both types can actually improve your credit mix, which is a factor in your score.
Do I need a U.S. bank account to open a secured card? For most traditional secured cards, yes. You fund the deposit via bank transfer, and issuers typically require a U.S. checking account. Zolve is an exception on the unsecured side.
What happens to my secured card if my ITIN expires? An expired ITIN does not automatically close your card, but it can cause issues at renewal or if the issuer runs a periodic identity check. Renew your ITIN before it expires to avoid disruption. Our dedicated article on what happens to your credit card if your ITIN expires covers this step by step.
Can I apply for a secured card online with an ITIN, or do I have to go in person? It depends on the issuer. Capital One and Discover both allow fully online ITIN applications. Citi and Bank of America may route some ITIN applicants to a branch for identity verification. See our online vs. in-branch application guide for a breakdown by issuer.
Does pre-qualifying for a card hurt my credit? No. Bank of America’s pre-qualification page runs a soft pull that does not affect your score. Capital One offers the same soft-check tool. Use it before formally applying to gauge your odds without consequences.
Will my foreign credit history help me get approved for a U.S. card faster? It can with certain issuers. If you have foreign credit from India, the UK, or Canada, Deserve via Nova Credit can get you approved for an unsecured card on arrival, with no deposit needed. Our article on using foreign credit history for a U.S. credit card with ITIN details which countries and issuers participate.
What credit score do I need to get an unsecured card after graduating from secured? There is no universal threshold, but most ITIN holders who have used a secured card responsibly for 12 months reach a score in the range where Capital One’s unsecured cards and some store cards become accessible. After 12 months of on-time payments, your score will typically be in the 680-720 range.
Is the Wells Fargo Secured Credit Card still an option? No. Wells Fargo discontinued it and it is no longer available to new applicants. Capital One Platinum Secured is the closest like-for-like replacement for ITIN holders who were considering it.
Terms, rates, and acceptance policies change. Always verify current details on each issuer’s official site before applying. This article is reviewed and updated quarterly. Last verified: September 7, 2026.