- Intro offer:N/A
- Annual fee:$0
- Regular APR:20.74% – 30.24% (Variable)
- Recommended credit score:(No Credit History)
NextAdvisor’s Take
- No annual fee
- Earn rewards with select merchants
- Petal looks at more than credit score for approval decision
- Prequalification option
- No ongoing rewards categories
- High APR
- Credit limit could be as low as $500
Additional Card Details
- Get prequalified without a hard inquiry on your credit report
- Qualify for a credit line increase after six months of on-time payments and maintaining a predetermined credit score range
- Earn 2% to 10% cash back (when applicable) with select merchants through Petal Offers
- Get approved based on more than your credit score — Petal considers banking information you provide within your application
- 20.74% – 30.24% variable APR
Petal 1 ‘No Annual Fee’ Visa Card Full Review
Card Type
The Petal 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa Card is a credit-building card. Like others in this category, it doesn’t come with many added perks, but there are a few benefits for people looking to build credit without much credit history.
Annual Fee
This card has no annual fee.
Welcome Offer
Like many credit-builder credit cards, the Petal 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa doesn’t have a welcome bonus.
Rewards
The Petal 1 card has no straightforward cash-back rewards program. However, cardmembers are automatically enrolled in the Petal Perks program. After you activate your Petal 1 card, you can download the app and share your location. Petal Offers will show you where on a map of your location you can earn between 2% and 10% cash back (at participating merchants).
Fees
The Petal 1 ‘No Annual Fee’ Visa has a 20.74% – 30.24% Variable APR. There’s no foreign transaction fee in addition to no annual fee, but you may incur a late fee up to $40 and returned payment fee of $29.
Pro Tip
If you want to earn rewards while you build credit, check out the Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card issued by WebBank. You’ll get 1% to 1.5% back on eligible purchases with no annual fee.
How to Use Petal 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa Card
Once you’re approved for the Petal 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa Card, you should use it for small purchases and bills you can afford to pay off right away. Not only is this a great way to build credit over time, but you’ll also avoid this card’s high APR. Charging only what you can pay off when your statement balance is due will help you avoid taking on high-interest debts.
Also start working toward qualifying for a higher credit limit by making your payments on time each month, and monitoring your credit to ensure it stays within your given predetermined range. While you may not actually “need” a higher credit limit, having more open credit can improve your credit utilization rate and give an additional boost to your credit score.
Petal 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa Card Compared to Other Cards
Petal® 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa® Credit Card
- Intro offer:N/A
- Annual fee:$0
- Regular APR:20.74% – 30.24% (Variable)
- Recommended credit:(No Credit History)
- Apply Now At Petal’s secure site
Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card
- Intro offer:N/A
- Annual fee:$0
- Regular APR:13.74% – 27.74% (Variable)
- Recommended credit:(No Credit History)
- Apply Now At Petal’s secure site
Capital One Platinum Credit Card
- Intro offer:N/A
- Annual fee:$0
- Regular APR:26.99% (Variable)
- Recommended credit:580-740 (Fair to Good)
- Apply Now At Capital One’s secure site
Is the Petal 1 Visa Card Right for You?
The Petal 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa Card is a good option for anyone with little credit history looking for an accessible unsecured card to use toward improving their credit history.
Because of the alternative “Cash Score” approval process using your provided banking information, you may increase your chances of approval even with a low or fair credit score if you’re able to show a strong banking history with plenty of transactions.
However, choosing this card will mean giving up any rewards on your spending. This may not be an issue if you want to build credit without the temptation of rewards getting you off track, but there are plenty of secured and unsecured cards for people with little credit history that offer more rewards and benefits.
One alternative to consider is Petal’s other card option, the Petal® 2 Visa card. It offers the same alternative approval process and you can see if you qualify using the same prequalification form on Petal’s website. But this card offers more value for cardholders: you’ll earn 1% cash back on eligible purchases right away and up to 1.5% back after 12 months of on-time payments. Plus, there are fewer fees. Petal 1 charges up to $40 for late payments and $29 for returned payments, while Petal 2 has no fees whatsoever.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Petal 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa Card a real credit card?
The Petal 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa Card is a real Visa credit card. Since it’s an unsecured credit card, you can qualify for a line of credit without the need for a security deposit.
Does the Petal 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa Card have an annual fee?
The Petal 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa Card doesn’t charge an annual fee or foreign transaction fees.
What bank does Petal use?
The Petal 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa Card is issued by WebBank.
