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Instant Approval Credit Card Offers
There was a time when instant approval credit cards were in fact instant, meaning that once you submitted your application, you received a notice immediately as to your acceptance. Due to phishing scams and viruses that have eclipsed the internet, offers that were once deemed as instant credit cards in most cases now require validation that you are in fact the one applying for the card. There are a few banks that still do offer instant decisions and some require just a quick follow-up phone call. Be advised that with tightened lendding standards, additional information may still be required by underwriters to determine their assessment of your financial health. If you are in need of credit immediately, we suggest that you apply for an instant credit card and then make a follow-up phone call if you have not received either a new card or a notification via the mail within 7-10 business days.
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- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then the variable standard purchase APR of 10.99% - 20.99%*
- 5% Cashback Bonus® in categories that change like gas, restaurants, department stores and more. Limitations apply*
- Up to 20% Cashback Bonus at popular retailers when you shop online through Discover.com
- Discover is ranked #1 in customer loyalty--16 years in a row! (2012 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index report)
- 24/7 access to a U.S.-based Account Manager within 60 seconds
- $0 Fraud Liability plus mobile and email fraud alert options
- Great rewards with no annual fee, no rewards redemption fee, and no additional card fee
- *Click apply to view rates, fees, rewards, limitations and other important information
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Intro APR
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Intro APR Period
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APR
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Annual Fee
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Balance Transfer
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Minimum Credit Required
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0%*
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15 months on purchases & balance transfers*
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10.99% - 20.99% (Variable)*
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None*
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Yes*
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Excellent
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Express Approval
Tightened lending has contributed to the decline of instant credit cards. There are many cases though when consumers are instantly approved upon application submission. These consumers usually have stellar credit histories which aren't marked with any blemishes and in several instances, these people are also applying through American Express. They have a term that they used called "express approval" where an online approval response is displayed less that 60 seconds after the application's submit or apply button is clicked. Why they use the term "express" rather than instant is unknown. It could have something to do with their legal department as "instant" implies that a response is given right away. For our purposes, less than 60 seconds is instant enough.
Before applying, keep in mind that American Express cards are reserved for those with excellent credit. Every single time you appy for a credit card, a hard pull is performed on your credit report. This action does impact your credit score according to expert analysts and consumer advocates as opposed to soft pulls which do not. If you do not have a clean, strong credit history, we do not advise that you consider one of these offers. Instead, either check your credit score which you may do online for free or apply for a card geared toward those with good credit. Once you have obtained your personal information, you may then make a more informed decision.
If you need credit quickly because of an unexpected expense, you may also try another method to facilitate acquisition. We at CardBeacon.com do not condone this approach as it is an attempt to game the system but in the past we have spoken with particular consumers who have had good luck with it. If you apply for multiple instant credit cards back to back from different issuers, you have more applications in the works and you reduce the risk of the issuers seeing all of the hard pulls performed on your credit report as well. This method may or may not work, but it is worth a shot if it is vital that you obtain a short term loan. Our main objection to this is that if you don't know your credit score and you don't get approved for any of the cards the multiple pulls will almost definitely result in a negative impact on your credit score. In the short term you may look desperate to potential lenders and may do more harm than good. If you do not want to use this method or just need an alternative method of payment that bears the Visa, MasterCard, AmericanExpress, or Discover logo, you may also look into a prepaid debit card.
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