I got the Discover student card when I turned 18. No problems with the application. Still have Discover (of course now its a big boy card).
@fractalmstr and others who have Discover student card, does application require any financial information at all? My daughter just finished her freshman year at college, she only has a summer job. How does Discover decide whether to approve a student application or not if there is no credit history?
List her summer earnings
I honestly don’t remember what I needed for the Discover application… it was 12 or so years ago, lol. I got an advertisement from Discover for the card in my student mailbox one day, applied, and had a card within a couple of weeks. I didn’t have any credit history at that time.
It’s not too hard to get one if you just ask. I got my first card without proof of earnings. Though I went into a physical location and asked for one. Maybe that helps, I’m not sure.
@fractalmstr what year did you get your first Discover at age 18?
@thumper1 Yes, I was 18.
Yes…and in what year were you 18? That is important in the context of this thread because credit card guidelines have changed A LOT in recent years.
So… Credit card banks are like many LACs, where you have to show interest to get admitted? :))
@thumper1 2003… You may be right in that things could be more difficult now with regards to student cards. I just don’t know.
Based on this though: https://www.discover.com/credit-cards/resources/for-students/apply-student-credit-card
It appears as if you can still get a Discover student card with limited or no credit history.
No question…the student credit card market has been tightened up a LOT since 2003. What was available then might not be available now.
My kids both had B of A student accounts, one started in 2003, and one in 2006. No fees, included a credit card, and free online banking, etc. That account is no longer available to new students.
For those asking about years, my son got his discover in 2012, daughter got her student discover in 2014. With both of them, I got a secured visa first, used it for about 6 months, then applied for the discover. I then closed the secured accounts after I had received the discover cards. They now both receive a ton of cc offer, which of course I promptly shred.
Not all mail offers are awful. I’ve gotten Capital One Quicksilver offers in the mail (1.5% cash back on everything, no annual fee) which is a legit credit card. Though I’ve also gotten some garbage no rewards $175 annual fee offers. You have to look at what it is.