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Instant Credit Card Approval

The Basics of Instant Credit Card Approval



At one time, being able to get a credit card application approved right away was a rarity. Now, however, there are many companies that offer it.

The reason instant credit card approval is now so ubiquitous is that modern technology allows credit card issuers to immediately access the credit reports of applicants. This information is then run through the issuers’ computerized decision-making systems. If the applicant’s score falls within the range served by the issuer, the application is approved.



To apply for instant decision credit cards, people can either use a card-issuer’s website or call their application in over the phone. Often, applications that are mailed to people will include the proper phone number or web address for this purpose. There are also several offers advertised online by official bank sites and others.

Visa and MasterCard, being the biggest credit card brands, are the most likely to be available with instant approval. Banks with instant decision credit cards usually offer one or the other, or both, of these brands.

There one thing to be careful of when shopping for an instant decision credit card. The most important of these is to make sure it’s a “real” credit card, rather than a secured card. A secured card looks like a credit card, but actually only allows the account holder to spend his or her own money; in this way, they’re very similar to debit cards. Since there is no risk to the issuer of a secured card, companies offering them will usually be glad to instantly approve them. If you’re looking for a credit card that actually has a line of credit with it, be sure that is what your application will bring if approved.

Another thing to note is that there are many credit cards you can get with an instant credit card application, and practically every bank has a way to apply just by filling out their online form. These, however, may still take several days to actually approve those applications. When on sites offering instant applications, look to see if they have a way to “check the progress of your application.” If you have to check, that’s a sure sign the decision isn’t going to be as fast as it could be. Look for sites that explicitly say the approval itself is instant to be sure.

Once approved, instant-credit-approval credit card issuers will usually send an email to let applicants know of the fact. Some sites will even put the approval notice up on your computer screen if you wait at the site. If you’ve called in your application, you’ll usually get the decision after a short time on hold. In either case, a hard-copy notice will arrive through the mail a few days later, and if approved, the new credit card will arrive the same way.

For those who need a credit card right away, instant decision issuers can be a great thing. In literally just a minute, applicants can have a line of credit approved and be able to pay for the things they need right away. Compare instant approval credit cards before applying to see which are the best and whether they’re a good idea for you.

Additional topics

Financial Dictionary: Accounting, Business & International FinancePersonal Finance - Credit Cards & Credit Management