Credit Card Information

A credit card provides a line of credit that can be used to make purchases, transfer a balance or get a cash advance, then pay off the debt at a later date. Using a credit card responsibly is a good way to build credit, finance larger purchases, and save money through rewards and benefits.

7 Things a Credit Card Can Do

1. Make purchases. These days, credit cards are accepted almost everywhere – particularly those...

Credit card issuers typically do not require any documents to apply for a credit card, but they will ask for information that helps verify your identity, like your Social Security number. They will also ask for permission to get a copy of your credit report from the credit bureaus.

In some cases, after you submit an application but before you’re approved, a credit card issuer might ask you to provide proof of information you included...

To fill out a credit card application, you will need to first provide some basic personal information like your name, address, date or birth and SSN. Then, you must provide financial information such as your income and employment status, authorize a hard credit pull and submit the application. The exact steps for how to fill out a credit card application differ from issuer to issuer, but the information you need to provide is mostly the...

To get a credit card, you need to be at least 18 years old and have an SSN or ITIN, a non-P.O. Box U.S. mailing address, and some form of income. If you're under 21 years old, you will need your own independent income to get a credit card, rather than shared income. Your legal name, phone number, email address and date of birth will be required, too.

Here’s What You Need to Get a Credit...

The three types of credit cards are general-consumer credit cards, student credit cards, and business credit cards. Each type of card is tailored to a specific group of people, but they all generally offer the opportunity to build credit, earn rewards, and finance purchases.

3 Types of Credit Cards

1. General-Consumer Credit Cards

General-consumer credit cards are commonly known as personal or regular credit cards, and they are available to people of all credit...

A basic credit card is a credit card with no special characteristics or benefits and no annual fee. Basic credit cards usually come with more lenient approval requirements and are better suited for people who are new to credit. A good basic credit card, for example, is the Capital One Platinum Credit Card (see Rates & Fees).

The features of a basic credit card are usually similar across issuers. Their terms, though, may vary. For example, interest rates and credit limits would depend on the...

Applying for a credit card does hurt your credit score, but your score should only drop a few points and rebound within 3-6 months if you use your credit card responsibly. The longest the hard inquiry from a credit card application can affect your score is 12 months. After that point, it will still be visible on your credit report for another year but will have no influence on your score.

Pretty much any time...

No, it is not bad to apply for credit cards every so often, as long as you apply for the right cards and manage any accounts you open responsibly. While applying for a credit card can temporarily lower your score, responsible use of the card can help build your credit history and give you financial flexibility.

Impact on Your Credit Score

When you apply for a credit card, the issuer does a hard...

WalletHub’s best tips for first-time credit card users are: 1) Get a credit card because it’s the easiest way to build credit; 2) set up automatic monthly payments from a bank account because on-time payments fuel credit score improvement; and 3) try to pay your bill in full every month because it will save you money and keep your spending under control.

In other words, it is important to get your first credit card as early...

You only need one credit card for good credit because simply having an open credit card account is the most efficient way to build and maintain a good (or even excellent) credit score. But the actual number of credit cards you have doesn’t make up a huge part of your credit score – roughly 5%-10%. The more important factors are your payment history, the total amount of your debts, and the total of your credit limits.

...

Before applying for a credit card - especially if it’s your first one - you should know that credit cards are the best way to build credit and save money on everyday purchases. But it’s also good to know that credit cards can lead to bad outcomes, such as overspending and racking up expensive debt, if used irresponsibly.

The potential for bad outcomes is why you should learn the basics of how to use...

Credit card issuers typically do not require any documents to apply for a credit card, but they will ask for information that helps verify your identity, like your Social Security number. They will also ask for permission to get a copy of your credit report from the credit bureaus.

In some cases, after you submit an application but before you’re approved, a credit card issuer might ask you to provide proof of information you included...

To get a credit card, you need to be at least 18 years old and have an SSN or ITIN, a non-P.O. Box U.S. mailing address, and some form of income. If you're under 21 years old, you will need your own independent income to get a credit card, rather than shared income. Your legal name, phone number, email address and date of birth will be required, too.

Here’s What You Need to Get a Credit...

To apply for a credit card, you will need a Social Security number (in most cases), a physical U.S. address, and a source of income. Applicants under 21 years old need proof of enough independent income to make monthly payments on the account, considering other obligations such as their monthly rent/mortgage payment. Older applicants may provide shared household income if it’s reasonably accessible to them. Some issuers may accept an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or...

The minimum salary for a credit card depends on the specific card, but you may be able to get approved for a credit card with an annual salary as low as $10,000 or so. While there is no official minimum salary requirement for a credit card, issuers are still required to ensure that applicants can afford monthly payments. As a result, your chances of approval are better with a higher income.

Credit card issuers’ minimum annual...

To choose a credit card for the first time, you should first decide what will you use it for. You should also check your credit score and weigh your current financial situation. This is to assess whether you can make monthly payments on time and in full. If you’re planning on carrying a balance, make sure you understand things such as minimum payments and interest rates.

Above all, be realistic in your expectations. Your first credit card...

The most important things to look for in a credit card are meetable approval requirements, a low annual fee and either generous rewards or a low introductory interest rate. But what exactly you’ll need to look for in a credit card depends on both your credit standing and personal preferences.

Step one is getting approved, so you’ll want to look for a card that requires a credit score equal to or lower than yours. If...

The kind of credit card that is good for beginners is either an unsecured or a secured card with annual fees as low as $0 and high approval odds. It’s worth noting that some of the best credit cards for beginners even offer rewards.

The card you’re going to pick should also report monthly to the major credit bureaus so that you can build your credit.

Best Credit Cards for Beginners in 2025

• Capital One Platinum Credit Card (see Rates & Fees): Best card Overall
• Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card:...

A starter credit card is also called a beginner credit card or a first credit card and is designed for people with limited or no credit. The best starter cards tend to be secured credit cards and student credit cards as both are easy to get with no credit history and report monthly to the credit bureaus. There are some worthwhile unsecured options for beginners who aren’t in school, too.

Below, we’ll provide some more details on each...

A credit card account number is part of your overall credit card number, beginning at the seventh digit and ending on the second-to-last digit. The length of a credit card account number depends on the card: American Express account numbers are 8 digits, for example, while many other cards have 9-digit account numbers.

Credit card account numbers are similar to checking account numbers, though most people will use their checking account number far more.

The code on the back of a credit card is a three-digit number known as a Card Security Code (CSC) or Card Verification Value (CVV), among other names. This code is on the back of credit cards because it helps to prevent fraudulent purchases from being made online or over the phone.

You’ll need to provide it whenever you make a so-called “card not present” transaction – such as a purchase from an online...

Yes, a credit card can have 15 digits. American Express credit card numbers have 15 digits, while credit cards affiliated with other major payment networks such as Visa and Mastercard have card numbers that contain 16 digits.

Each digit on a credit card has a specific meaning, whether it’s 15 or 16 digits. To learn more about what these digits stand for, refer to WalletHub’s credit card number guide.

A CVV number is a 3-digit or 4-digit security code that’s used to prevent fraudulent charges on credit cards and debit cards. You can find the CVV, or card verification value, on the back of most cards, though American Express cards have their CVV located on the front.

When You Need Your CVV Number

You will need to provide a CVV number anytime you make a “card not present” purchase. These are transactions in which you are...

Both CCV and CVV are correct, as they refer to the same security feature: a three or four-digit number printed on the card, that is required during card-not-present transactions. CVV is the term that’s more commonly used out of the two.

Regardless of the terminology used, the security code serves the same purpose across all cards, which is to add an extra layer of security. When making an online or over-the-phone transaction, the code is used to verify that the person...

A CVV is usually three digits, but it can be four digits on some cards. Visa, Mastercard, and Discover cards all use a three-digit CVV, while American Express is the exception that uses a four-digit CVV on its credit cards.

The CVV is required anytime you cannot provide a merchant with a physical card, such as an online or phone purchase. This security code is necessary because it allows the merchant to confirm that...

Credit cards starting with 4 mean they are on the Visa network. They can be used for purchases at more than 10 million merchants in the U.S. and in 200+ countries and territories. A credit card starting with 4 also gives you access to Visa’s standard benefits, including fraud liability protection. Individual card issuers may elect to provide additional Visa perks for certain types of accounts, too.

The first digit in a card number isn’t...

Mastercard credit cards start with the number 5. That means all credit cards beginning with 5 can be used at the 110+ million merchants in more than 210 countries that accept cards on the Mastercard network. A credit card starting with 5 also gets you access to certain peripheral perks such as extended warranties and fraud liability protection, though some Mastercard credit cards have better benefits than others. 

One thing that credit cards starting with 5 do not share, however,...

A credit card that starts with 7 is usually a gas credit card. Cards that start with this number don't belong to any of the major card networks.

Examples for Credit Cards That Start With 7

Known as the Major Industry Identifier (MII), the first digit of a credit card number tells you what type of company or card network a card is affiliated with. This could be:

• An airline (first digit: 1)
...

Yes, you can get a credit card with no numbers on it if you get the Apple Card. While having a credit card without any numbers on the physical card is still rare, these cards are becoming increasingly popular for security and aesthetics.

How Numberless Cards Work

Instead of displaying the card number, expiration date, and CVV on the card's surface, these details are stored digitally. You can access the card information through the...

The number under the magnetic stripe on a credit card is typically the CVV (Card Verification Value) or security code. On most cards, like Visa and Mastercard, this three-digit CVV is printed on the back of the card, under the magnetic stripe. It's used as an extra layer of security for online or over-the-phone transactions to verify that the cardholder has the physical card.

However, for American Express cards, the CVV is a four-digit code...

A Visa credit card starts with 4147, judging from the first digit of this string of numbers. Each credit card has a unique string of numbers, but the first one can help you identify the payment network. When combined with the first digit, the next 5 digits identify the credit card issuer. So, depending on the 2 digits that follow this number, the card could be issued by either Chase or Capital One, among other issuers.

4 Major Parts of...

To find your credit card number without the card, look for the card number on your monthly statement, your online banking profile or your mobile banking app (in sections called "My Account" or "My Cards"). As a last resort, you can also try calling customer service.

Your statement might contain your full credit card number, but some companies will only disclose the last 4 digits. Looking for the number in your online or mobile banking...

To tell the type of credit card by the number, simply look at the first digit of the credit card number, either on the front or back of your card. The first digit of an American Express card is 3, while it’s 4 for Visa cards, 5 for Mastercards, and 6 for Discover cards.

Most credit card numbers will contain a total of either 15 or 16 digits. American Express credit cards contain 15....

Visa credit card numbers start with the number 4. Each credit card has a unique string of numbers, but the first one or two digits can help you identify the payment network. For example, Mastercard’s first digit is the number 5 and American Express card numbers start with 3.

When combined with the first digit, the next 5 digits of a credit card number identify the card issuer for any given Visa. The subsequent 8 numbers are part of...

No, all Visa cards don’t start with the same 4 numbers. However, they do have the same first digit, which is always the number “4.” In fact, each card has a unique string of numbers, but the first digit can help you identify the payment network.

The next 5 digits indicate the bank that issued the card. The 7th digit through the second to last is the cardholder’s personal account number. The last digit of each Visa card’s number...

A Visa card number is the 16-digit number on a Visa credit card, debit card or gift card. The first digit of a Visa card number is always 4. The next 5 digits after that indicate the bank that issued the card. The 7th digit through the second to last is the cardholder’s personal account number. The last digit of each Visa card’s number is a security measure for verification purposes.

The Visa card number is typically embossed on the front of...

Your Visa card number and security code help verify the card’s authenticity. You need them, along with the card’s expiration date, to make purchases online or over the phone. Luckily, your Visa card number and security code are easy to distinguish once you know what you’re looking for.

How Visa card numbers and security codes work:

• Card number: A Visa credit card number can be 13-to-19 digits long. It’s usually printed right on the...

A credit card typically expires three to five years after it is issued, but the exact length of time depends on the issuer. The expiration date on a card will show a month and a year, and the card expires on the last day of the month.

Key Facts About Credit Card Expiration

• Security Reasons: Credit card expiration helps ensure the card’s security, allowing the issuer to regularly update the card with...

No, not all credit cards expire every 4 years. The expiration date of a credit card varies depending on the issuer, and typically falls within a 3-5 years period from the date that the card was issued. Your credit card's specific expiration date should be located on the front of the card, below the 15 or 16-digit number.

Having an expiration date on a credit card serves as a security feature because it gives payment processors one...

A credit card expires at the end of the month written on the card, not the beginning. You’ll find your credit card’s expiration date on the bottom half of your card, below your card number, in a month/year format. The date is usually about three years in the future. So if you have a card that expires in November 2020, you’ll be able to use it all the way through the last minute of the last day in...

No, you can’t use your credit card if it has expired. If you try to use it in stores or for online transactions, the card will be declined. Typically, you should receive a replacement a few weeks before your current card's expiration date. If you haven’t received the new card yet, it's possible that the card got misplaced or stolen and you need to contact your issuer.

Keep in mind that, even if your...

No, a credit card cannot expire if you won't activate it, but it will most likely be disabled. If you don't activate a credit card and thus don't use the card, your account may be closed. Card issuers typically close accounts that aren't used within a certain time period, usually over a year.

Keep in mind that your account could be closed without notice, and it could have a negative impact on your credit...

Yes, a credit card is generally safe to use online, provided that you take certain precautions. Even though credit cards come with a $0 fraud liability guarantee, you should still make sure that you shop with trusted merchants, and that you don’t share your personal information with anyone.

Tips for Safe Online Credit Card Use

• Shop From Trusted Websites: Only make purchases from reputable and well-known online retailers. Check for reviews and ratings to ensure...

No, you should not give your credit card details to anyone. When you give the details of your card to someone, they’ll be able to make purchases, or even withdraw cash. If someone else has your card details, and you believe you may become a fraud victim, there are some ways you can protect yourself before it happens.

How to Protect Yourself Against Credit Card Fraud

• Cancel your credit card: Contact your issuer...

Yes, contactless credit cards are secure because they use the same security standards for transactions as EMV chip credit cards. Whether you’re using a contactless credit card and tapping to pay or inserting your EMV chip card into a card reader, the sensitive information sent to the card reader is encrypted.

Both contactless and EMV chip credit cards create a unique, one-time-use code for the transaction instead of sending your name, billing address, CVV code, or zip code. This...

There are quite a few ways to protect your contactless card. Some include regularly checking your transactions and setting up notifications for when a payment is made. You should keep in mind though, that contactless credit cards are already quite safe to use. Still, if you’re looking to add more layers of security to your card, there are a few steps you can take.

Here’s How To Protect Your Contactless Credit Card

Buy...

A chip card is more secure than a standard magnetic stripe card because the chip is harder for fraudsters to copy. However, chip cards are not all equally secure. Chip-and-PIN credit cards are more secure than chip-and-signature credit cards because it’s harder for someone to guess your PIN than to forge a signature.

Just note that chip cards are not completely secure. Chip credit cards still have a magnetic stripe, so the info from the magnetic...

The biggest signs of fraud to watch out for are unfamiliar accounts or inquiries on your credit report, suspicious activity on your credit card accounts, phone calls and emails about financial products you don’t have, and a sudden drop in your credit score. Spotting signs of fraud early makes the issue easier to handle.

Biggest Signs of Fraud to Watch Out For

• Inaccurate information on your credit report
• New credit cards,...

You can remove your credit card from your iPhone through the Settings app. In total, it’ll only take a minute to remove your card. Just keep in mind that what you’re actually editing is the payment methods for your Apple ID, not just for your iPhone. So, if you delete a card off of your iPhone, it’ll also be gone from any other Apple devices you have.

How to Remove Your Credit Card From Your...

Yes, you can put your credit card on your phone, by using a mobile wallet like Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and Apple Pay. Mobile wallets securely store your payment information and passwords.

These applications allow you to pay when you're shopping using your device so that you don't need to carry your cards around. You just enter and store your credit card and use your device to pay for purchases.

How Mobile Wallets Work

• ...

Yes, a credit card is generally safe to use online, provided that you take certain precautions. Even though credit cards come with a $0 fraud liability guarantee, you should still make sure that you shop with trusted merchants, and that you don’t share your personal information with anyone.

Tips for Safe Online Credit Card Use

• Shop From Trusted Websites: Only make purchases from reputable and well-known online retailers. Check for reviews and ratings to ensure...

You can check your credit card details by logging in to your online account, or you can speak to a customer service representative by calling the number you see on the back of your card. There are other ways to do it, too.

How to Check Your Credit Card Details

• Online Account: Log in to your account through the card’s issuer website or mobile app. Navigate to the section dedicated to your credit card accounts. There, you...

The easiest way you can check your credit card purchases is either online or through the credit card company’s mobile app. Either of these methods will let you see the most up-to-date information about the purchases made with your credit card, even charges that are still pending. Alternatively, you can check your purchases on your monthly credit card statement.

Here’s how you can check your credit card purchases:

• Online: Just sign in...

You can check your credit card balance online, via mobile app, or over the phone. The quickest and most convenient options are online or using your card issuer’s mobile app, both of which provide real-time balance updates. Most issuers have mobile apps, so checking your balance is as simple as picking up your phone.

How to Check Your Credit Card Balance

• Online
  To check your credit card balance online, simply open a web browser...

You can access your credit card statement online. Simply log in to your online banking account, or sign in from the app, and you should be able to view your statement from the menu. For more details on how to do that, it’s best you call the number on the back of your card.

Alternatively, you should also be getting a paper statement in the mail each month. If you enrolled in paperless statements, you should...

To unlink your Citi credit card from Apple Pay, go to Wallet on your iPhone and select your card. Tap on the three dots in the top right corner and select “Card Details”. Scroll down to the bottom and tap “Remove Card”.

Here’s how to unlink your Citi credit card from Apple Pay:

• Tap the Wallet icon on your iPhone
• Select the card you want to remove
• Tap on the three dots...

A Bluetooth credit card is another name for the type of “smart” card that loads payment information from your phone using Bluetooth wireless technology when you need to make a transaction. These cards are designed with embedded technology that allows them to connect wirelessly to payment terminals, smartphones, or specialized readers, facilitating seamless and efficient payment processes.

Features of Bluetooth Credit Cards

• Wireless Transactions: The biggest advantage of Bluetooth credit cards is...

The Fuze Card is an electronic device that looks and functions like an actual credit card but is more of an accessory. You can load the card numbers, expiration dates and security codes of up to 30 credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, etc., onto it in order to free up space in your wallet. It remotely connects to your phone, so you can wipe your data if it’s stolen or you lose it. It’s...

No, virtual credit cards are not traceable in the sense that they do not reveal your personal or card account information. If a fraudster were to get hold of your virtual credit card number, they wouldn't be able to access your actual credit card details or identity, as the virtual card number is different than the original.

However, purchases made with a virtual credit card are still recorded on your account. This ensures that you can...

Yes, it is illegal to use a fake credit card for free trials or any other purpose. Using fake credit card information is considered fraud, which is a criminal offense. Fraudulently obtaining services, even if it's for a free trial, can lead to serious legal consequences, including fines, criminal charges, and potential imprisonment.

Companies offering free trials rely on legitimate credit card information to prevent abuse of their services and to have a valid payment...

Providing wrong income information on a credit card application can have various consequences, depending on the severity and intent of the misinformation. Knowingly lying on a credit card application is a federal crime and can result in expensive fines or even prison time.

Consequences of Wrong Income on a Credit Card Application

1. Application denial: If the credit card issuer discovers incorrect income information during the verification process, they may deny your application. Lying on a...