Financial products, explained honestly — starting with newcomers.
HonestInterest compares credit cards and bank accounts with one rule: the ranking reflects what's best for you, not what pays us the most. We started with the audience the big comparison sites ignore — immigrants, international students, and work-visa holders building credit from zero.
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ITIN Acceptance Table
Which issuers accept an ITIN instead of an SSN in 2026 — verified monthly.
See which issuers accept an ITIN →Best Cards for Newcomers
6–8 cards compared for people with no US credit history.
Read the Petal 2 newcomer card review →Build Credit from Zero in 12 Months
The playbook: secured card → six months → unsecured.
See the ITIN acceptance table to start →Which issuers accept an ITIN? (preview)
Currently available
| Issuer | Relevant cards | Accepts ITIN? | No SSN/ITIN at all? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petal (WebBank) | Petal 2 Visa | Yes | No | Requires SSN or ITIN + legal U.S. residency, income, age 18+, physical U.S. address. |
| OpenSky (Capital Bank N.A.) | OpenSky Secured Visa | Yes | No | Official disclosures: valid SSN or ITIN required; U.S. citizen or permanent resident. |
| Firstcard | Credit Builder Card | Yes | Conditional | Without SSN: passport + U.S. visa or ITIN + proof of U.S. address. Not document-free. |
| Chime (Stride Bank) | Chime Card (formerly Credit Builder) | Unverified | Unverified | Conflicting sources: 2026 guide says SSN required for federal banking compliance; weaker sites say SSN-or-TIN. No official ITIN confirmation found — do NOT list as ITIN-friendly. |
| American Express | Personal cards / Global Card Transfer | Yes | Conditional | Global Card Transfer asks SSN or ITIN; passport accepted per Bankrate. Nova Credit partnership appears ACTIVE as of Sept 2026 (no evidence it ended in 2025). |
| Capital One | All cards | Yes | No | All cards accept ITIN; apply online, by phone, or at a branch. |
| Bank of America | All cards | Yes | Conditional | ITIN works but must apply at a branch; passport accepted at branch instead of any TIN. |
| Wells Fargo | Secured cards | Conditional | No | Scope conflict: Bankrate limits ITIN to select secured cards; WalletHub lists plain 'SSN or ITIN'. |
| Citi | All cards | Yes | Conditional | SSN, ITIN, or passport accepted at branch. |
| U.S. Bank | Secured cards only | Conditional | No | ITIN accepted for select secured cards only. |
Discontinued or paused in 2026
| Issuer | Relevant cards | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TomoCredit | (none — card discontinued early 2026) | Discontinued | Stopped issuing cards early 2026 after defaulting on SVB credit facility; pivoted to subscription coaching; bureaus deleted tradelines. Do not recommend. |
| Discover | it Secured (new applications stopped June 2026) | Discontinued | Does not accept ITIN at all. it Secured stopped new applications June 2026 (post–Capital One acquisition); existing cardholders continue. |
| Deserve EDU | EDU Mastercard (new applications paused 2026) | Discontinued | HISTORICAL — new applications paused (2026), not currently obtainable. Historically: passport + U.S. bank account, no SSN/ITIN needed. |
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