Application Link

  • Application link: None
  • If you have a friend's refer link, both people can get $30. If someone around you still doesn't have this card, you can use my refer link so both sides get an extra $30. Do not apply directly without using a refer link, or you would be giving up $30 for no reason.
  • After entering through our link, you will see three Deserve credit cards. Just choose the one you prefer.

Who This Card Is For

  • Strongly not recommended ($39/year cost)
  • You can earn up to $500 per year through refer bonuses (for the first 10 approved refers, both the referrer and the referred person get $30 each; the 10th approved refer also gives the referrer a direct $200 bonus)

Deserve Classic Credit Card Review

Application

  • Approval difficulty: SSN required; relatively easy to get approved

Key Features

  • Has an annual fee
  • Builds credit history (about 3 months after opening the card, the new account will be reported to two major credit bureaus: Experian (EX) and TransUnion (TU). For most people applying for credit cards, many issuers do a Pull on EX, so building credit history with EX and TU is already sufficient. Many people mistakenly think you cannot build credit history without an SSN, but that is not true. Your credit history does not start from the day you receive an SSN; it starts from your first borrowing relationship (for example, applying for a credit card). When you are approved for a credit card, the credit bureaus can identify you through your name, date of birth, and address, so you can still build credit history without an SSN. Once you later get an SSN, your earlier credit history will be linked to it and will not be lost.)

Pros

  • Welcome bonus: None
  • Legitimacy: Although Deserve is not a bank, the Deserve Mastercard credit card is issued in partnership with Celtic Bank, a legitimate bank headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. So there is no need to worry about whether it is legitimate or whether the card is properly backed.
  • Deposit: No security deposit required. (This should really count as a basic feature, but this card is so underwhelming that it has to be listed here just to add something. At least it is better than those secure credit card options in this respect.)
  • No Foreign Transaction Fee (FTF)

Cons

  • An SSN is required to apply for this card
  • Low credit limit: Maximum of only $1,500
  • Annual fee: $39 per year
  • Cash back: No cash back at all

My Take

Honestly, I do not even know why this card exists... It has an annual fee and no cash back... That said, if you happen to have neither an SSN nor international student status, this card could still be worth considering to help improve your credit history. For readers interested in this family of cards, I strongly recommend applying for the edu card if you do not have an SSN, and the pro card if you do have an SSN.