AvantCard Review: You’ll Avoid a Deposit, but Not an Annual Fee
The Bottom Line
2.7
This card may be an option for those with limited credit, but it's not necessarily the best one. Similar cards allow you to avoid an annual fee and potentially earn rewards.
Rates, fees and offers
Annual fee
$39
Rewards rate
N/A
Bonus offer
None
Intro APR
N/A
Ongoing APR
Purchase APR: 35.99%, Variable
Cash Advance APR: 35.99%, Variable
Foreign transaction fee
0%
More details from Avant
- No deposit required.
- Reports to all three major credit bureaus.
- No penalty APR.
- No hidden fees.
- We may periodically review your account for credit line increases.
- Fast and easy application process.
- Cash Advance Fee: 3%, Min: $10.
- Returned Payment Fee: Up to $25
- Disclosure: If you are charged interest, the charge will be no less than $1.00.
- Avant branded credit products are issued by WebBank, member FDIC.
- Checking your eligibility does not affect your credit score.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Qualify with average credit
Reports to the three major credit bureau
No foreign transaction fees
Cons
Has annual fee
High APR
No rewards
Detailed Review
If your credit card options are slim because you have limited credit, the AvantCard Credit Card may offer an alternative route to continue establishing your credit history — unless you live in Hawaii, Iowa, Vermont, West Virginia or Wisconsin. The product isn’t available in those states.
The card is issued by WebBank, a state-chartered industrial bank based in Utah. It doesn’t require a security deposit, but it has an annual fee of $39.
That's on the affordable end, but you can still find some no-annual-fee cards for limited credit that offer more. For instance, if you can afford a security deposit upfront, you could instead opt for a secured credit card that charges no annual fee at all. If you can't afford a deposit, you can consider other alternative credit cards that offer rewards and other perks.
And if what you actually have is fair credit (typically a FICO score of at least 630) rather than limited or no credit, you may have access to even better options.
AvantCard Credit Card: Basics
The credit card is provided by Avant, an online lending platform headquartered in Chicago. When the AvantCard Credit Card was launched in November 2017, it joined a small but growing group of alternative credit cards that don’t rely solely on credit scores to determine eligibility.
Like some of its competitors, Avant's issuing bank has an underwriting model that weighs nontraditional factors — such as your bank account balance — outside of your credit score. You'll still need a Social Security number, email, phone number and address to qualify.
Cardholders can expect the following features and benefits:
Card type: Starter/alternative.
Annual fee: $39.
Sign-up bonus: None.
Rewards: None.
APR: The ongoing APR is 35.99% Variable.
Penalty APR: None, although you may incur a late fee.
Foreign transaction fee: None.
Credit limit: $300 to $2,000.
Reporting to three major credit bureaus: TransUnion, Equifax and Experian.
Compare to Other Cards
Benefits and Perks
No security deposit
The AvantCard Credit Card is an unsecured credit card, meaning that unlike a lot of other cards for those with limited credit, it doesn't require a security deposit as collateral. However, there is an annual fee of $39.
A pre-qualification process
Before applying for this card, you’re required to go through a pre-qualification process, which won’t impact your credit score. It hints at your likelihood of approval, although it’s not a hard "yes." It offers your specific terms. If you like them, you can formally submit an application that will result in a "hard pull" on your credit report.
A report to three credit bureaus
With fair or limited credit, you need a card that reports to at least one of the three major credit bureaus, which gather the information used to calculate credit scores. The AvantCard Credit Card reports to all three — TransUnion, Equifax and Experian — which will record your payment history. As long as your payments are on time, it can help you build a good credit score.
A periodic review of your account
The issuer periodically reviews your account to potentially increase your credit limit. It can work in your favor as you’re establishing credit, assuming that you don’t use too much of your limit. Your credit utilization ratio — your total debt compared with your total credit limits — is a key factor in your credit score. It’s best to keep a low credit utilization ratio, generally by using no more than 30% of your available credit.
Travel-friendly features
The AvantCard Credit Card is a Mastercard, so acceptance will be broad worldwide. It also doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees (generally 3% of the amount charged). If you travel often, the card can be a money-saver.
Drawbacks and Considerations
It has an annual fee
Many of the top secured credit cards don't charge annual fees. You can even find alternative cards for those with limited or no credit that have no annual fee and no security deposit requirement. Consider the Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card, for example, which is also issued by WebBank and touts itself as a low-cost option for those looking to build a credit history. Petal's issuer also uses its own underwriting model to evaluate creditworthiness, considering such things as income, spending and savings. The annual fee is $0.
It doesn't earn rewards
With a starter card, the goal is to establish a credit history. Rewards aren’t as important — but some starter cards do offer them. The aforementioned Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card, for example, has a rewards program. So does the Deserve® Pro Mastercard. It earns 3% cash back on travel and entertainment and 2% cash back at restaurants for purchases up to $500 per billing cycle (combined). For all other purchases, it earns 1% back.
If you have at least fair credit, you can even find rewards-earning options among major lenders. The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card offers 1.5% on spending. It has an annual fee. But it may also offer you access to a higher credit line after you make your first five monthly payments on time.
It has a permanent 'payment due' date
Unlike some other cards, the AvantCard Credit Card doesn't let you switch your "payment due" date to a more convenient time. The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card, on the other hand, lets you choose a date that works for you. It requires a security deposit that you can eventually get back with a good payment history. But for those who qualify, the card might accept a deposit as low as $49, $99 or $200. And you can pay the deposit in installments if needed. Pay your bill on time, and it also offers a potential path to a higher credit line in as little as six months.
If you have at least fair credit, the Capital One Platinum Credit Card doesn't require a security deposit.
How To Decide If It's Right For You
The AvantCard Credit Card doesn’t have a security deposit as a roadblock, but you may be better off paying one. With a secured credit card, the security deposit eventually comes back to you if you maintain a good payment history. That’s not the case with an annual fee.
If you prefer to avoid a security deposit and an annual fee, some alternative credit cards for limited credit and credit cards for fair credit can offer better features and benefits.
Looking For Something Else?
Methodology
NerdWallet reviews credit cards with an eye toward both the quantitative and qualitative features of a card. Quantitative features are those that boil down to dollars and cents, such as fees, interest rates, rewards (including earning rates and redemption values) and the cash value of benefits and perks. Qualitative factors are those that affect how easy or difficult it is for a typical cardholder to get good value from the card. They include such things as the ease of application, simplicity of the rewards structure, the likelihood of using certain features, and whether a card is well-suited to everyday use or is best reserved for specific purchases. Our star ratings serve as a general gauge of how each card compares with others in its class, but star ratings are intended to be just one consideration when a consumer is choosing a credit card. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.
Frequently asked questions
Is the AvantCard a good credit card?
The AvantCard Credit Card is a decent credit card among options for limited credit, but other cards offer more value in the form of rewards and no annual fees. If your credit card options are slim because you have limited credit, the AvantCard Credit Card may offer an alternative route to continue establishing your credit history — unless you live in Colorado, Iowa, Vermont, West Virginia or Wisconsin. The card isn’t available in those states.
Does the AvantCard do a hard credit check?
The AvantCard Credit Card does run a "hard" inquiry on your credit when you formally apply. But before you submit an official application, you go through a pre-qualification process that doesn’t affect your credit score. This process gives you an idea of your likelihood of approval and allows you to see the terms and conditions of your offer prior to applying. If you decide to go ahead with an application, that's when the hard inquiry occurs.
Does the AvantCard offer credit limit increases?
Avant may periodically review your AvantCard Credit Card account for potential opportunities to increase your credit line. You can also request a credit line increase through your self-service dashboard or the mobile app or by calling customer service. Keep in mind that requesting a credit limit increase could initiate a hard inquiry on your credit report, which could result in a temporary dip in your credit score.
What credit bureau does AvantCard use?
The AvantCard Credit Card reports payments to TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. These companies record your payment history. By paying on time, you can have a positive impact on your credit score.
Is the AvantCard a legitimate credit card?
The AvantCard Credit Card is a legitimate credit card. The card is issued by WebBank, a state-chartered industrial bank based in Utah. The startup company behind the card, Avant, facilitates a path to credit for eligible applicants with the AvantCard and personal loans.
