Young adults with limited credit history should consider applying for the BankAmericard Travel Rewards® for Students, especially if they are interested in travel. The card provides a solid 1.5 points per dollar, anywhere you shop. What makes this card ideal for travel lovers is the fact that you don't get charged any foreign transaction fees. You can take it all over the world, without incurring the standard 3%/5% fee most other credit cards. Cardholders can also earn a 20,000-point bonus if they make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days. We estimate that bonus to be worth roughly $200.
The BankAmericard Travel Rewards® for Students can be especially great for those who have an existing Bank of America deposit account. If you have one open right now, you can get a 10% bonus to your rewards. Depending on your level of BofA Preferred membership, you can get between a 25% and 75% bonus. If you qualify for the 75%-bump, not only will that make the BankAmericard Travel Rewards® for Students a decent starter card, it will probably be the best card for you to own for years to come.
Highlights
- No Annual Fee
- 1.5% rewards rate on all purchases
- 20,000-point bonus for all of those who spend at least $1,000 on purchases within the first 90 days of account opening
Best Starter Credit Card for Recent Graduates: BankAmericard Cash Rewards™ for Students
The BankAmericard Cash Rewards™ for Students is an excellent card for earning cash back on some of the most basic expenses that students and recent graduates face. The card offers 3% cash back on gas and 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter. The card will earn you 1% cash back everywhere else with no limits. The card’s points don’t expire, meaning that low spenders benefit from this card.
Those consumers who are carrying a balance on an existing card, or who’ll be incurring moving costs, will find this card helpful. Currently, the card features a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 statement closing dates following the opening of your account. The 0% intro APR allows you to carry a balance on the card or make purchases without being charged interest for the introductory period. This can provide breathing room for people who are just exiting school. Given that the card offers a $150 bonus and no annual fee, any recent graduate would benefit from having this card.
Highlights
- No annual fee
- $150 cash rewards bonus after making at least $500 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening
- 10% customer bonus every time you redeem your cash back into a Bank of America checking or savings account.
- BankAmericard Cash Rewards™ Credit Card Review.
Best Starter Credit Card for Immigrants: Deserve® Edu Mastercard For Students
Those who recently immigrated to the United States don't have a wealth of options when it comes to credit cards. Luckily, the Deserve® Edu Mastercard For Students is a fairly decent option. This card doesn't require you to have a Social Security credit card to apply, unlike most other U.S. based cards. Instead, you just need to have a passport, an H1B or L1 Visa, and some bank account information. You can then use the Deserve® Edu Mastercard For Students to build your credit score. That makes it the ideal starter credit card for those who are new to the United States. You can use it to build up your card report, and then eventually apply for a better rewards card.
Highlights
- 1% unlimited cash back on All purchases
- No security deposit or co-signer required (No SSN required for international students)
- Builds credit history
- Deserve® Edu Mastercard For Students Full Review
Compare Credit Cards Based On Your Spending
You can enter your general spending habits into our tool below to help determine which credit cards will provide you with the highest rewards. Since credit cards are a highly personalized financial tool, it is possible that your spending habits will make one of these other cards more valuable to you. You can use the tool below to find out which one will match your spending the best.
