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The Daily Insight

What is a good method for establishing credit?

Author

Emma Jordan

Published Apr 10, 2026

How to Build Credit

  • Get a secured credit card.
  • Get a credit-builder product or a secured loan.
  • Use a co-signer.
  • Become an authorized user.
  • Get credit for the bills you pay.
  • Practice good credit habits.
  • Check your credit scores and reports.

    Which type of card helps you establish credit?

    Capital One cards help build credit, as long as customers spend responsibly and pay the bill on time every month. Capital One credit cards are especially good for building credit because they can be free to use, and Capital One reports account information to the three major credit bureaus monthly.

    What is the best way to establish and start using credit?

    Here are four ways to get started.

    1. Apply for a Credit Card. Lack of credit history could make it difficult to get a traditional unsecured credit card.
    2. Become an Authorized User.
    3. Set Up a Joint Account or Get a Loan With a Co-Signer.
    4. Take Out a Credit-Builder Loan.

    How much should I say I make when applying for a credit card?

    Issuers do not state a required income to get a credit card. But a good rule of thumb, at least when it comes to entry-level credit cards, is that your monthly income should be at least $100 higher than your monthly expenses.

    What’s the best way to build credit with a credit card?

    Here’s how to build credit with a credit card:

    1. Apply for a secured credit card or a starter credit card.
    2. Set up automatic monthly bill payments from a bank account.
    3. Use less than 30% of your credit limit (ideally 1%-10%).
    4. Pay your full balance by the due date (to save on interest, too).

    Here’s a look at credit-building tools, and how to use them to earn a good credit score.

    • Get a secured card.
    • Get a credit-builder product or a secured loan.
    • Use a co-signer.
    • Become an authorized user.
    • Get credit for the bills you pay.
    • Practice good credit habits.
    • Check your credit scores and reports.

      Best credit cards for building credit

      CategoryCredit Card
      Runner-UpDiscover it® Secured Credit Card
      Best Low DepositCapital One® Secured Mastercard®
      Best for International ApplicantsDeserve Digital First Card™
      Best for StudentsDiscover it® Student Cash Back

      How Can I Establish First-Time Credit?

      1. Apply for a Credit Card. Lack of credit history could make it difficult to get a traditional unsecured credit card.
      2. Become an Authorized User.
      3. Set Up a Joint Account or Get a Loan With a Co-Signer.
      4. Take Out a Credit-Builder Loan.

      How do I establish credit without a credit card?

      8 ways to build credit without a credit card

      1. Get a credit builder loan.
      2. Apply for a personal loan.
      3. Consider a car loan.
      4. Repay an existing loan.
      5. Report alternate payments.
      6. Apply for a secured credit card.
      7. Become an authorized user.
      8. Rent payments.

      Which is the best way to build credit?

      In general, using a credit card responsibly is the easiest way to build credit. All major credit cards report information to the credit bureaus, which means on-time payments will build positive credit history.

      What’s the best way to start a credit card?

      Your objective in picking between these beginner credit cards should be to pay as little as possible in fees and interest. As long as you remember to pay your bill on time and in full every month, you will be able to build credit inexpensively with the right first-time credit card.

      Which is the easiest credit card to get approved for?

      The OpenSky® Secured Visa® card bends over backward to make approval easy. For starters, it does not subject applicants to credit checks, which means that your credit score will not be negatively impacted. Your security deposit, which can range from $200 to $3,000, is equal to your credit limit.

      How does a secured credit card help build your credit?

      Using your secured credit card helps build a credit history with the three major credit bureaus. Generally, prepaid and debit cards can’t do that. Establish your credit line with your tax return by providing a refundable security deposit of at least $200 after being approved. Bank information must be provided when submitting your deposit.