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Credit Cards

Best instant access credit cards of June 2026

These cards provide instant credit card numbers, allowing you to use them right away.

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Citi is no longer accepting applications for the Citi Custom Cash® Card product as of May 28, 2026. 

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

If you need fast access to a new credit card to finance an emergency expense or other large purchase, you can't wait 10 business days for it to arrive in the mail. Thankfully, some cards give you instant access, which allows you to complete purchases immediately after approval.

Below, CNBC Select lists credit cards that offer instant access or the option to pay with the card before you receive the physical card in the mail.

Best instant access credit cards

American Express instant access cards

Nearly all American Express cards offer the ability to receive an instant card number once your identity is validated. If you're approved for a card and are eligible for instant access, you'll receive your card number, temporary four-digit card identification number and expiration date.

American Express Gold Card

The American Express® Gold Card is an excellent option for earning travel rewards on dining and grocery expenses. It also has several useful benefits that largely offset its annual fee (see rates and fees).

You can also earn over $300 in food credits every year. You'll get up to $120 in dining credits each year (up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with your card) at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. (enrollment required).

In addition, you'll receive up to $84 in Dunkin' credits annually when you pay with the Amex Gold at U.S. Dunkin' locations (up to $7 in monthly credits; enrollment required) and up to $100 in Resy statement credits every calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card (up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually; enrollment required).

American Express® Gold Card

CNBC Select Rating
5.0

On the American Express site

CNBC Select Rating
5.0

On the American Express site

Spotlight

The Amex Gold Card offers over $400 in statement credits every year.

Credit score

Good to Excellent

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Annual fee

$325

Welcome bonus

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points

See rates and fees, terms apply. Read our American Express® Gold Card review. The American Express Gold® Card Welcome Offer: To view your personalized offer, you must first submit an application. If approved, you will: (1) receive your Welcome Offer details, (2) have the option to accept the Card with that offer, (3) be required to spend $8,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership, and (4) earn Membership Rewards® points. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. If you're approved and accept your offer, a credit check may be conducted, which could impact your credit score. Terms apply.

The American Express Gold Card is great for earning valuable Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets.

  • You can earn $400+ in dining and rideshare credits every year (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
  • Exceptionally rewarding for eligible restaurant and U.S. supermarket purchases
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Larger annual fee
  • Credits are more complicated, you earn them monthly or semi-annually

Highlights

Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.

  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted. 
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. 
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. 
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. 
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You'll know upfront exactly how much you'll pay. 
  • Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required. 
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment required. 
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. 
  • New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
  • Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
  • Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
  • Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees

Foreign transaction fee

None

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Anyone who wants to earn cash back (and lots of it) will love the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. It earns rewards on a range of categories covering popular expenses, including U.S. streaming subscriptions, transit, U.S. gas stations and U.S. supermarkets.

Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit. You're also able to earn up to $120 in Disney Bundle credits every year (up to $10 per month after making qualifying subscription purchases). Enrollment required. Subject to auto-renewal.

On the American Express site

CNBC Select Rating
4.8

On the American Express site

Credit score

Good to Excellent

Regular APR

19.49% - 28.49% Variable

Annual fee

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

Welcome bonus

You may be eligible for as high as $300 cash back

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a low-fee card with generous cash-back rewards and useful ongoing benefits, such as a monthly Disney Bundle credit. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)

  • High cash-back earnings for U.S. supermarkets and streaming services
  • Intro-APR offer for purchases and balance transfers
  • No annual fee for the first year
  • It's less rewarding after the first year because of the annual fee
  • Bonus rewards for U.S. supermarkets are capped

Highlights

Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.

  • Apply and find out your welcome offer. As High As $300 cash back* after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply, and if approved: 1. Find out your offer amount 2. Accept the Card with your offer 3. Spend $3,000 in 6 months 4. Receive the cash back. *Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
  • $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
  • Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.49%-28.49%.
  • Plan It®: Buy now, pay later with Plan It. Split purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee so you don't have the pressure of paying all at once. Simply select the purchase in your online account or the American Express® App to see your plan options. Plus, you'll still earn rewards on purchases the way you usually do.
  • Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at eligible U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) purchases and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
  • Get up to a $10 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or Stream.ESPN.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal.
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees

Balance transfer fee

Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Foreign transaction fee

2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars

Pro tip: You can pair this card with an Amex bank account

Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.

Chase instant access cards

You can use certain Chase credit cards before receiving the physical card by linking them to a mobile wallet. As long as the vendor accepts mobile wallet payments from services such as Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay, you should be able to use your Chase card immediately after approval.

The option to immediately link your card to a digital wallet isn't available for Mastercards, business credit cards or Amazon cards (though these cards can be used instantly for Amazon purchases). You may link these cards to your digital wallet after receiving the physical card in the mail.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a top beginner travel credit card and has benefits seasoned travelers can enjoy (see rates and fees). It earns flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which can easily be redeemed for cash back, gift cards and travel. The Sapphire Preferred is also generous with its travel and purchase coverages, including built-in protections such as trip delay reimbursement, primary rental car insurance, purchase protection and extended warranty coverage.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

CNBC Select Rating
5.0

On Chase's site

CNBC Select Rating
5.0

On Chase's site

Spotlight

With Points Boost, your rewards will be worth up to 1.5x on thousands of top-booked hotels and flights from select airlines through Chase TravelSM.

Credit score

Good to Excellent670–850

Regular APR

19.24% - 27.49% variable

Annual fee

$95

Welcome bonus

Earn 75,000 bonus points

See rates and fees. Terms apply. Member FDIC.

Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections and more.

  • You can transfer rewards to all of Chase's travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
  • Long list of travel and shopping protections
  • $50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit
  • Has an annual fee
  • Requires a high credit score

Highlights

Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.

  • Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
  • Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase TravelSM
  • 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
  • Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
  • Member FDIC

Balance transfer fee

Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Anyone interested in earning cash back rewards and not paying an annual fee will appreciate the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees). It earns a minimum of 1.5% cash back on all purchases, plus bonus cash back at drug stores, dining at restaurants and on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM. With a new Freedom Unlimited account, you can also take advantage of an introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

CNBC Select Rating
5.0
CNBC Select Rating
5.0

Spotlight

New cardholders receive a 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers.

Credit score

Good to Excellent670–850

Regular APR

18.24% - 27.74% variable

Annual fee

$0

Welcome bonus

Earn $200 cash back

See rates and fees. Terms apply. Member FDIC.

Read our Chase Freedom Unlimited® review.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a no-annual-fee card that earns generous cash-back on everyday purchases and a lucrative welcome bonus.

  • Users get a high rewards rate and strong welcome bonus
  • Purchases and balance transfers get long intro APR
  • No annual fee
  • Travelers face a foreign transaction fee
  • Few rewarding ongoing benefits

Highlights

Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.

  • Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
  • Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
  • No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can use points to redeem for cash through an account statement credit or an electronic deposit into an eligible Chase account located in the United States!
  • Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.24% - 27.74%.
  • No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
  • Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
  • Member FDIC

Balance transfer fee

Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, in the first 60 days. After that, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Foreign transaction fee

3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Additional Chase cards that offer the ability to spend with a digital wallet before you receive your physical card:

Pro tip: You can pair this card with a Chase bank account

Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.

Capital One instant access cards

Capital One may offer you instant access upon approval if you're eligible, and you may also need to log in to your Capital One account to access your card number.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

With the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, you'll earn at least 2X miles on every purchase. This is a great rewards rate, especially considering how useful Capital One miles are. You can use these miles to erase travel purchases at a rate of 1 cent per mile. The card also has a range of other perks, such as Hertz® Five Star status (enrollment required), up to $120 in Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credits every four years and no foreign transaction fees.

CNBC Select Rating
5.0
Credit score

Good to Excellent670–850

Regular APR

19.49% - 28.49% variable

Annual fee

$95

Welcome bonus

Earn a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a reasonable annual fee and earns flexible travel rewards, which makes it a great travel card for beginners or heavy travelers.

  • Valuable welcome offer worth at least $750 in travel
  • You can transfer miles to over 15 Capital One partners, including Emirates Skywards, Choice Privileges and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Lacks ongoing travel benefits such as statement credits or lounge access
  • Limited bonus spending category that only applies to certain Capital One Travel bookings

Highlights

Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.

  • Earn a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
  • Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
  • Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Top rated mobile app

Balance transfer fee

$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you

Foreign transaction fee

None

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Few cards can match the combination of cash back rewards you can earn with the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card for purchases related to dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery stores. Plus, this no-annual-fee card offers a low intro APR on purchases and balance transfers and an elevated rewards rate on select travel booked through Capital One Travel.

CNBC Select Rating
5.0

Spotlight

Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening

Credit score

Good to Excellent670–850

Regular APR

18.49% - 28.49% variable APR

Annual fee

$0

Welcome bonus

Earn $200 in welcome bonuses

The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is one of the most rewarding options for earning cash back in categories such as entertainment and dining without paying an annual fee.

  • One of the most rewarding cash back cards for entertainment and streaming services
  • No annual fee
  • Easy-to-earn welcome bonus
  • High APR
  • Requires a good to excellent credit score

Highlights

Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.

  • Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
  • $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
  • Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
  • Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
  • Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
  • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months; 18.74% - 28.74% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
  • Top rated mobile app

Balance transfer fee

Introductory fee of 3% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account during the first 12 months that your account is open. After that, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that we may offer you at any other time.

Wells Fargo instant access cards

There are many reports of users accessing Wells Fargo credit cards instantly through digital wallets, though some say you need a preexisting Wells Fargo account to receive instant access.

Wells Fargo Autograph® Card

The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card is a rare no-annual-fee credit card that earns transferrable travel rewards. It's also one of the most rewarding options for common purchases, such as travel, groceries, gas stations (including EV charging), phone plans and streaming services. The Autograph also features a low intro APR on purchases, and you can take advantage of a cell phone protection perk that covers damage or theft (subject to a $25 deductible).

Wells Fargo Autograph® Card

CNBC Select Rating
5

On Wells Fargo's site

CNBC Select Rating
5

On Wells Fargo's site

Credit score

Good to Excellent670–850

Regular APR

18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% Variable APR

Annual fee

$0

Welcome bonus

Earn 20,000 bonus points

See rates and fees. Terms apply.

The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card offers generous bonus spending categories and lets you transfer points to airline and hotel partners, which is rare for a credit card with no annual fee.

  • Access to all of the Wells Fargo transfer partners including Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) and Virgin Red
  • No annual fee
  • Excellent bonus spending categories
  • Intro-APR for purchases
  • No travel credits or other valuable travel perks
  • Lacks key travel protections such as trip delay reimbursement and trip cancellation/interruption coverage

Highlights

Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.

  • Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
  • Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
  • Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up - like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases.
  • $0 annual fee.
  • 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. 18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% variable APR thereafter.
  • Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
  • Redeem your rewards points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits. Or shop at millions of online stores and redeem your rewards when you check out with PayPal.
  • Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.

Balance transfer fee

3% intro for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5

Foreign transaction fee

None

Citi instant access cards

If your Citi card application is instantly approved, you may have immediate access to your card information. However, reports suggest that instant access isn't available on all Citi credit cards. It's also likely that you won't have access to your full credit line instantly.

Citi Custom Cash® Card

The Citi Custom Cash® Card is a cash back card with powerful bonus categories that adjust to your spending patterns. You'll get 5% cash back on the eligible category where you spend the most each month (up to $500 per billing cycle, then 1% cash back). The Custom Cash Card has no annual fee, and with a new account, you'll get a long intro APR on balance transfers.

Citi Custom Cash® Card

CNBC Select Rating
5.0
CNBC Select Rating
5.0

Spotlight

Receive a 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers

Credit score

Good to Excellent670–850

Regular APR

17.49% - 27.49% variable

Annual fee

$0

Welcome bonus

Earn $200 in cash back

Information about the Citi Custom Cash® Card has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

See rates and fees. Terms apply.

Read our Citi Custom Cash® Card review.

The Citi Custom Cash® Card is an especially simple and rewarding cash back card because you'll automatically earn bonus rewards where you spend the most.

  • Offers a long intro APR on balance transfers
  • Easy-to-earn welcome bonus
  • No annual fee
  • Bonus cash back categories are capped
  • Charges a foreign transaction fee

Rewards

  • Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter
  • Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases
  • Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026

Balance transfer fee

5% of each balance transfer ($5 minimum)

Foreign transaction fee

3%

Citi Strata Premier® Card

The Citi Strata Premier® Card is the best Citi travel credit card because it unlocks full access to all of Citi's travel partners, including American Airlines. It's also an excellent option for earning rewards on travel, groceries, dining and gas purchases.

Citi Strata Premier® Card

CNBC Select Rating
4.8

On Citi's site

CNBC Select Rating
4.8

On Citi's site

Credit score

Good to Excellent670–850

Regular APR

19.49% - 27.49% variable

Annual fee

$95

Welcome bonus

Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points

See rates and fees. Terms apply.

The Citi Strata Premier® Card has competitive rewards rates and unlocks access to all of the Citi ThankYou® transfer partners, which boosts the value of your points.

  • Unlocks point transfers to all of the Citi ThankYou® partners, including Emirates Skywards, Choice Privileges, Flying Blue and more
  • Generous bonus spending categories include dining, supermarkets, hotels and flights
  • Valuable welcome bonus
  • Has an annual fee
  • Car rental coverage is secondary, not primary

Highlights

Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.

  • Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
  • Earn 10 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
  • Earn 3 Points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
  • Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
  • No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases

Balance transfer fee

Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.

Instant access co-branded or store cards

If you open a co-branded credit card or store credit card at checkout (online or in-store), you can usually begin using your card right away. You'll typically receive a temporary card number or barcode on your receipt that allows you to use the card at the retailer.

Store cards can only be used at the retailer, but co-branded cards generally can be used anywhere the card is accepted. However, a temporary co-branded store card may only be accepted at that store, as reports suggest with the Prime Visa (see rates and fees) and Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi. If you applied in-store, you may have to wait to use the card elsewhere until it arrives in the mail.

Prime Visa

The Prime Visa is available to Amazon Prime members and offers 5% cash back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods. These high cash back rates make it a top card for Amazon spending and are in addition to bonus cash back at gas stations, restaurants and local transit.

It also provides a variety of built-in protections, including purchase protection, extended warranty protection, travel accident insurance and rental car collision coverage. You can access your Prime Visa through your Amazon account and use it for Amazon purchases instantly, but you'll need to receive the physical card in the mail to use it at other retailers.

Prime Visa

CNBC Select Rating
4.5
CNBC Select Rating
4.5
Credit score

Good to Excellent670–850

Regular APR

18.74% - 27.49% variable

Annual fee

$0 (but Prime membership is required)

Welcome bonus

Get a $150 Amazon Gift Card 

See rates and fees. Terms apply. Member FDIC. We may earn commissions from qualifying purchases made through Amazon links.

The Prime Visa is only available to Amazon Prime members ($139 for an annual membership and $14.99 for a monthly membership) but is very rewarding for Amazon purchases.

  • High rate of return at Amazon and Whole Foods
  • Easy-to-earn welcome bonus
  • Requires an Amazon Prime membership
  • If you choose the promo APR you won't earn rewards on those purchases

Rewards

  • Earn unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership
  • Unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare)
  • 10% back or more on a rotating selection of items and categories on Amazon.com with an eligible Prime membership
  • Unlimited 1% back on all other purchases

Balance transfer fee

Either $5 or 4% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

You'll find the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi useful if you're a Costco member and want to save on gas (and EV charging) costs. You need a Costco membership to qualify for this card, but there is no additional annual fee beyond the membership cost. It also earns bonus cash back on restaurants, eligible travel, gas and EV charging stations and Costco (and Costco.com) purchases.

On Citi's site

CNBC Select Rating
4.5

On Citi's site

Credit score

Excellent740–850

Regular APR

18.74% - 26.74% variable

Annual fee

$0, Costco membership required

Welcome bonus

No current offer

See rates and fees. Terms apply.

The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is a valuable card to pair with a Costco membership, but the rewards program is more restrictive than what you get with a typical cash-back card.

  • High rewards rates for gas/EV charging and travel
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Restrictive rewards that you can only cash out once per year
  • Requires a paid Costco membership
  • No welcome bonus

Highlights

Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.

  • Discover one of Citi's best cash back rewards cards designed exclusively for Costco members
  • Earn 5% cash back rewards on gas at Costco and earn 4% cash back on other eligible gas and electric vehicle (EV) charging purchases for the first $7,000 combined spend per year, and then 1% thereafter.
  • 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases and eligible travel, including Costco Travel.
  • 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases
  • No annual fee with your paid Costco membership and enjoy no foreign transaction fees on purchases
  • Receive an annual credit card reward certificate, which is redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses, including Puerto Rico

Balance transfer fee

5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum

Foreign transaction fee

None

Additional popular co-branded and store cards that may offer instant access:

Find the best credit card for you by reviewing offers in our credit card marketplace or get personalized offers via CardMatch™.

FAQs

While it may vary slightly based on personal factors, the Capital One Platinum Credit Card is geared toward those with Fair or better credit.

Yes, upon approval, many cards on this list will grant you instant access to a credit card via your digital wallet.

Depending on the type of credit card, yes. Many cards offer instant access to your line of credit upon approval, meaning you can use them within minutes of applying.

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Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card list is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

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For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, click here.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.

For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card® click here.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, click here.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here.

Information about the Apple Card, Bloomingdale's Credit Card, Target Cricle™ Card, Wells Fargo Attune℠ World Elite Mastercard® and the Citi Simplicity® Card has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

We may earn commissions from qualifying purchases made through Amazon links.

Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
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