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The First Access Visa® Credit Card is designed for consumers who are working on their credit. If you have a low credit score or a limited credit history, this card is usually easy to get. It has a fast online application process, and the card issuer is lenient about approvals.
Unfortunately, it also comes with costly fees each year, making this card from First Access more of a last resort. Read our full First Access Visa® Credit Card review to find out if it's worth considering.
First Access Visa® Credit Card
New/Rebuilding Under(579)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
35.99%, variable
Rewards Cardholders will earn 1% cash back in the form of a statement credit using rewards points earned for payments made on your account. Rewards points are only redeemable for statement credits towards your account balance.
1% cash rewards points on purchases
Annual Fee
$75 first year, $48 thereafter
Welcome Offer
N/A
This card is a last resort option to help build credit, particularly since the initial program fee and ongoing annual fees are out of line with the competition.
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Learn More |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. N/A | 1% - 5% Cashback Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically. |
Intro: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months Regular: 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR |
||
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Up to $300 cash back Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. | 1.5% - 5% cash back Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases |
Intro: 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months Regular: 20.49% - 29.24% Variable |
Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®
On Chase's Secure Website. |
|
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
60,000 bonus points Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. | 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. |
Intro: N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A Regular: 21.49%-28.49% Variable |
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
This credit card is a good fit for: Consumers who have been denied for other credit cards because they have bad credit and need a card to raise their credit score.
Although the First Access Visa® Credit Card doesn't have many features, it offers a couple of minor perks.
Most applicants, regardless of their credit history, can expect to get approved for the First Access Visa® Credit Card. It's an option if you're rebuilding your credit after problems in your credit history, or if you don't yet have any credit history and want to start building credit.
It's worth noting that First Access has a good reason to be so lenient about approvals -- it charges new cardholders $170 in total fees upfront. If you're looking for the easiest credit card to get, there are other options out there that aren't so expensive.
The starting credit limit for the First Access Visa® Credit Card is typically $300. Considering this is an unsecured credit card (one that doesn't require a security deposit to open), that's not a bad starting credit limit.
LEARN MORE: Secured vs. Unsecured Credit Cards: Which Should You Get?
Cardholders will earn 1% cash rewards points on purchases. But you can only apply those rewards as a statement credit to pay down your balance -- they're not redeemable as cash.
The First Access Visa® Credit Card has some serious drawbacks -- the main one being all the fees it charges for just carrying it in your wallet.
When you're shopping for a card to build credit or rebuild credit, one of the most important things to look for is minimal fees. With this credit card, First Access tacks on several fees:
Right off the bat, you're looking at $170 in upfront costs. The program fee is due when your application is approved, and First Access takes the $75 annual fee from your card's credit line. Since the credit line is $300, you start with $225 in available credit after that $75 charge.
Considering how much this card costs, you'd be better off with a secured card. Most secured credit cards require a deposit of $200 or less, so you'd be paying practically the same amount. The difference is that you can get your security deposit back eventually, whereas you won't get any of your fees back from First Access.
After the first year, you pay both a $48 annual fee and an $8.25 monthly servicing fee, for a total annual cost of $147.
To top it off, First Access charges you if you accept a credit limit increase. This is at least a fee you can avoid, but a credit limit increase is something reputable card issuers don't charge for.
The First Access Visa® Credit Card charges a fixed purchase and cash advance APR that is far higher than credit cards for bad credit.
You can avoid credit card interest charges entirely if you pay your full balance every month and use your card only for purchases, not cash advances. It's good to follow this approach with any credit card, but it's especially important with this First Access card because of its high APR.
LEARN MORE: What Is APR and What Does It Mean for Your Credit Cards?
Some credit cards charge an extra fee, typically 3%, on foreign transactions made outside the U.S. Many of the best credit cards don't charge a foreign transaction fee at all. The First Access Visa® Credit Card is the rare card that doesn't even allow foreign purchases. It prohibits any purchase outside the U.S. or in a foreign currency.
There's no minimum credit score recommended for the First Access Visa® Credit Card. It's possible to get approved with a FICO® Score of 500 or under, which falls into the poor credit range. First Access may also approve your application even if you have no activity on your credit file yet.
LEARN MORE: Best Starter Credit Cards for No Credit
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.
No, the First Access Visa® Credit Card does not require a deposit. However, it charges some hefty one-time and recurring fees that in the long run can quickly outweigh the initial deposit.
Cardholders can apply for a credit limit increase after a minimum waiting period of one year. However, First Access will charge a one-time credit limit increase fee of 25% of the newly unlocked credit amount.
The application process is done online, with most credit decisions processed in a matter of minutes.
Our Credit Cards Experts
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Visa.