How to: Open Your First Credit Card

Opening your first credit card is an exciting step forward in your journey to financial wellness, but knowing where to start is often confusing. At USALLIANCE, we can help you build a strong credit score and history from day one, so you’ll be set up for success when it comes to reaching your financial dreams.

Choosing a Credit Card

The most common way people build credit is by opening a credit card. However, if you don’t have any credit history, you may find that your credit card applications are declined.  So where do you start?

You’ll need to build your credit history from the ground up, starting with cards that offer a very low limit and will help you establish or build your credit – like the USALLIANCE Visa Secured Card. The Secured Card works like a traditional credit card, but you secure your funds with a deposit that is placed into a Savings account until the credit card is closed.

Plus, it offers the same great features as our everyday low rate credit card, the USALLIANCE Visa Classic Card.

• No Annual Fees - You shouldn’t have to pay money to use your card. Sometime in the future, you may want to open up a high-perk card with an annual fee to match, but for now,  concentrate on building your credit score.
• No Penalty APRs - You shouldn’t be punished for small missteps. We’ll never charge you penalty APRs.
• A Low Interest Rate - For your first credit card, you likely won’t be offered a really low interest rate. USALLIANCE cards offer competitively low rate options, so you know you're not being taken for a ride.

Credit Card Dos and Don'ts

Do:

• Pay your bill on time each month.
• Check your credit score monthly.
• Review your statements for suspicious activity.
• Keep your cards in a safe place.
• Accept offers of a higher line of credit.

Don't: 

• Pay just the minimum balance due each billing cycle.
• Open new cards just before taking out a large loan, like a mortgage or auto loan.
• Use all of your available credit.
• Allow unsecured websites to save your card information.
• Share your card information with anyone.