Deserve EDU vs. BankAmericard Secured: Best First Card With No Credit?

The short answer — and why it actually depends

If you just landed in the US on an F-1 visa and have never had a US credit card, the Deserve EDU Mastercard is probably the faster, easier path. No SSN required at application, no annual fee. But if you’re an H-1B or L-1 worker, or a new immigrant who already has a Social Security Number and just has no credit file, the BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card deserves a serious look — especially if you want a major-bank relationship from day one.

These two cards are built on completely different mechanics. One is a fintech product designed for international students. The other is a traditional secured card from one of the largest banks in the country. Picking the wrong one won’t ruin you, but picking the right one saves you time and money.

Who each card is actually designed for

The Deserve EDU Mastercard is explicitly built for students — particularly international students on F-1 visas who haven’t established any US financial footprint yet. The headline feature is that you can apply without an SSN. (Deserve may request an ITIN later in the process, so don’t assume you’ll never need one, but you won’t be blocked at the application screen.) For an F-1 student who just arrived on campus, this is often the most accessible path to a credit card in their first weeks in the country.

The BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card, by contrast, is a conventional secured card. Bank of America’s online application generally requires an SSN or ITIN, but — and this matters — you can sometimes apply in person at a Bank of America financial center using alternative ID: passport, visa documentation, and for students, an I-20 form. That in-branch path isn’t guaranteed, and experiences vary by location, but it exists. If you already have an SSN or ITIN, the online route is straightforward.

Practical rule of thumb: F-1 student with no SSN yet → start with Deserve EDU. Everyone else building from zero → weigh both, with the BankAmericard Secured as a strong contender.

The mechanics: deposit vs. no deposit

This is the biggest structural difference. The BankAmericard Secured requires a refundable security deposit between $200 and $5,000, which typically establishes your credit limit. So if you put down $500, you’ll generally have around a $500 credit limit. The money isn’t gone — it’s held as collateral — but it is tied up until you either close the account or get transitioned to an unsecured card.

Secured cards like the BankAmericard are a common starting point for people with no credit history precisely because the deposit reduces the issuer’s risk, making approval more accessible than a standard unsecured card.

Why does the deposit matter? If you’re cash-constrained (common for F-1 students living on a stipend), locking up $200–$500 can genuinely sting. On the flip side, if you have money sitting in a US bank account and want more spending room from the start, the BankAmericard Secured lets you put up to $5,000, which can help your credit utilization ratio stay low even if your spending is moderate.

Rewards and perks: honest numbers

The Deserve EDU earns 1% cash back on all purchases — no categories, no caps, no activation required. Simple. Over a year of normal student spending, say $6,000 total, that’s $60 back. Not life-changing, but it’s real money for a card with no annual fee and no credit history requirement.

The more interesting perk: if you make 12 consecutive on-time payments, Deserve reimburses you up to $59 for Amazon Prime Student. That’s essentially a full year of Prime Student for free, which — if you’re buying textbooks, household supplies, and navigating the rest of the Amazon-dependent US student experience — is legitimately worth pursuing. Make on-time payments for a year and you’ve earned $119 in concrete value ($60 cash back + $59 Prime reimbursement) off a $0-fee card.

The BankAmericard Secured earns nothing. Zero rewards, no cash back, no perks. Bank of America is upfront about this: the card exists to build credit, full stop. That’s not automatically a dealbreaker — the credit-building function is real — but if you’re comparing year-one value, Deserve EDU wins this category easily.

Credit-building mechanics: are they actually equivalent?

Using either card responsibly — paying on time, keeping utilization low — will build your credit file over time. That’s the core purpose of both products.

The BankAmericard Secured does something specific that’s worth knowing: Bank of America periodically reviews your account and may transition you to an unsecured card, at which point your deposit is returned. There’s no published timeline for this, and it’s not automatic, but the path to getting your deposit back is real.

With the Deserve EDU, there was never a deposit to return. What typically happens is that after a period of responsible use, you’ll have enough of a credit file to apply for other cards and simply keep the Deserve EDU open for the age-of-account benefit.

A concrete scenario with real numbers

Let’s say you’re an F-1 student spending roughly $500/month on a credit card — groceries, subscriptions, transportation. Here’s what each card looks like over 12 months:

Deserve EDU:

• Annual fee: $0
• Cash back earned (1% × $6,000): $60
• Amazon Prime Student reimbursement (if 12 on-time payments): $59
• Security deposit required: $0
• Total net benefit after year one: $119

BankAmericard Secured (with $300 deposit):

• Annual fee: $0
• Cash back earned: $0
• Security deposit tied up: $300 (refundable eventually)
• Total net benefit after year one: $0

The numbers favor Deserve EDU for a student pretty clearly in year one. The BankAmericard’s case rests on the credit-building function itself and the potential to eventually have your deposit returned when the account is reviewed for an unsecured transition — neither of which shows up in a simple year-one math comparison.

What neither card does well

Neither of these is a card you’d want to hold forever. The Deserve EDU’s 1% flat rate is fine for a starter card but gets outpaced quickly once you’ve built enough credit history to qualify for higher-earning cards. The BankAmericard Secured earns nothing and has a basic feature set.

Also: neither card comes with a welcome bonus. No sign-up offer, no introductory incentive. That’s normal for credit-building products, but worth saying plainly so you’re not disappointed.

The BankAmericard Secured also carries an opportunity cost that often goes unmentioned: whatever you deposit is effectively earning zero for you while it’s held as collateral. If you’d parked that same money in a high-yield savings account, it would be working harder. Small detail, but real.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for the Deserve EDU Mastercard if I’m not a student?

No — it’s specifically designed for students and targets international students in particular. If you’re an H-1B or L-1 worker building credit from scratch, you’d need to look at other options, including the BankAmericard Secured or similar secured cards from other major issuers.

Does applying for the BankAmericard Secured hurt my credit if I have no US credit history?

Bank of America will typically do a hard inquiry when you apply. If you have absolutely no US credit file yet, there may be no score to pull at all — in which case the inquiry’s practical impact is minimal. More important: the in-branch application path may be more accessible for applicants without SSNs, but call ahead and ask what documentation you’ll need before making the trip.

How long does it take to build a credit score from zero using either card?

It takes time — the credit bureaus need enough reported account activity to generate a score. Using either card consistently and paying in full every month is the fastest legitimate path. Trying to rush it by making dozens of small transactions doesn’t meaningfully speed things up.

Is the Deserve EDU Amazon Prime reimbursement automatic?

No. You need to pay for Amazon Prime Student using your Deserve EDU card, and you need to have made 12 consecutive on-time payments first. The reimbursement of up to $59 is then credited to your account. It’s a real benefit, but it requires planning — set a reminder to subscribe to Prime Student with that card, and make sure autopay is set up so you never miss a payment.

Bottom line

For F-1 students with no SSN and no US credit history, the Deserve EDU Mastercard is the cleaner starting point — no deposit, no annual fee, actual rewards, and a path to an Amazon Prime reimbursement if you stay disciplined. For everyone else building from zero — H-1B holders, new immigrants, anyone who already has an SSN or ITIN — the BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card is a solid, no-drama first card backed by one of the largest US banks. Just go in with eyes open that it earns nothing and your deposit is tied up for a while. Either way, the goal is the same: responsible use over time, then graduate to something that actually rewards your spending.