How to Earn Rewards While Building Credit From Zero

My take: earn simple cash back first, chase fancy points later

If you’re new to the U.S. credit system, the best rewards strategy is not to apply for the flashiest travel card you saw on YouTube. It’s to get approved for a card that reports properly, pay it perfectly, earn a little cash back, and use that history to climb into better cards later.

That sounds boring. It’s also the move.

For anyone starting from a thin or nonexistent U.S. credit file, the first card has two jobs. Job one is building a real U.S. credit profile. Job two is earning rewards on spending you were already going to do. If those two goals conflict, credit-building wins. A high bonus category doesn’t help much if the card doesn’t build the score you’ll need for stronger approvals later.

The good news: you don’t have to earn zero while building from scratch. Several starter and secured cards have $0 annual fees and real rewards. The trick is matching the card to your situation — no SSN yet, thin file with SSN, existing American Express history abroad, or just plain no credit history.

The best first-card order for earning rewards from zero

I’d think about your first rewards card in this order.

First, if you already have an American Express card in another country, look at the American Express Global Card Relationship program. This is the renamed version of what many people still call Global Transfer. It can let existing international Amex cardholders apply for a U.S. Amex card using their home-country credit relationship, potentially without waiting for a full U.S. credit file.

But here’s the catch I would not ignore: if you get a U.S. Amex through this path without an SSN or ITIN, the account may only report internally to American Express and not to the three major U.S. credit bureaus. In plain English, it may help you with Amex, and it may earn rewards, but it might not build a traditional U.S. credit score. That’s a huge distinction — and it means you should treat Amex Global Card Relationship as a relationship-building tool first, not a guaranteed U.S. credit-building tool.

Second, if you have an SSN or ITIN and can qualify for an unsecured beginner card, the Chase Freedom Rise℠ Credit Card is one of the more interesting starter options from a rewards angle. It has a $0 annual fee, earns 3% cash back on dining — restaurants, takeout, and eligible delivery services — on up to $6,000 spent in the first six months from account opening, plus 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. It also offers a $25 statement credit if you enroll in automatic payments within the first three months and stay enrolled for at least 90 days.

Third, if approvals are uncertain, secured cards are often the cleanest path. You put down a refundable deposit, use the card normally, and focus on on-time payments and low utilization. The rewards can still be decent. The Discover it® Secured Credit Card has a $0 annual fee, earns 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, and 1% back everywhere else. Discover also matches all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year, dollar for dollar.

The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card is another strong earner if your spending fits its categories. It has a $0 annual fee and requires a minimum $200 security deposit. It earns 6% cash back in one chosen category — options include gas/EV charging, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement/furnishings — plus 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and 1% everywhere else. The 6% and 2% rates apply on the first $2,500 in combined quarterly purchases across those bonus categories.

Then there are the Capital One secured options. The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Rewards Card has a $0 annual fee, earns unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, and requires a $200 refundable minimum deposit. The Capital One Platinum Secured Card also has a $0 annual fee, but it doesn’t earn rewards — its refundable security deposit can be $49, $99, or $200 depending on creditworthiness, for a credit line of at least $200.

That last card can still make sense if approval is the priority. But from a rewards perspective, I’d only take the no-rewards secured card if the better-earning options aren’t available to you.

A worked example: which starter card earns more?

Let’s say you’re new to the U.S., have an SSN, and spend $900 per month on a starter card: $250 dining, $150 gas, $300 groceries, and $200 everything else. That’s $2,700 per quarter.

With Discover it Secured, the gas and restaurant bonus applies to up to $1,000 in combined quarterly purchases. In this example, dining plus gas is $400 per month, or $1,200 per quarter. The first $1,000 earns 2%, which is $20. The remaining $200 earns 1%, which is $2. Groceries and other purchases total $1,500 per quarter at 1%, or $15. So you’re at $37 per quarter before the first-year match. Over four similar quarters, that’s $148 earned, then Discover’s first-year dollar-for-dollar match adds another $148. Total first-year cash back: $296.

With the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured Card, suppose you choose dining as your 6% category. Dining is $250 per month, or $750 per quarter. Groceries are $300 per month, or $900 per quarter at 2%. Combined, that’s $1,650 in quarterly purchases within the $2,500 combined cap. Dining earns $45 per quarter. Groceries earn $18. Gas and everything else earn 1%; that’s $350 per month, or $1,050 per quarter, for $10.50. Total: $73.50 per quarter, or $294 for the year.

Those two are surprisingly close: about $296 for Discover after the first-year match versus $294 for Bank of America using dining as the 6% category. But the cards behave differently. Discover is easier to understand and forgiving because the match applies to all first-year cash back. Bank of America can be better if you concentrate spend in the right 6% category — especially online shopping, dining, or gas/EV charging — but you need to watch that $2,500 quarterly combined cap on the bonus categories.

Now compare Capital One Quicksilver Secured. At $900 per month for 12 months, you’d spend $10,800. At unlimited 1.5%, that’s $162 cash back. Not as high as the optimized examples above, but dead simple. No rotating mental math, no selected category, no quarterly cap to manage.

That’s the trade-off: maximum rewards versus low-friction credit building.

Newcomer-specific paths: SSN, ITIN, or neither

If you have an SSN, life is easier. Most mainstream card applications are designed around SSNs, and your payment history can be tied cleanly to your U.S. credit reports.

If you don’t have an SSN yet but are eligible for an ITIN, some credit card paths may be possible depending on issuer rules and the exact application. Don’t assume every online form works the same way — read the current issuer application requirements before applying, because a declined application wastes time.

If you have neither an SSN nor an ITIN, American Express Global Card Relationship may be the most interesting rewards path if you already have an Amex relationship overseas. The key warning: a U.S. Amex obtained without SSN or ITIN may only report to American Express internally rather than the major U.S. credit bureaus, so don’t rely on it alone to build a U.S. credit score.

For many newcomers, the practical sequence is: get your SSN if your status allows it, apply for one beginner-friendly or secured card, use it lightly, pay on time, then add stronger rewards cards after your file has aged. Keep early applications limited — thin files generally don’t respond well to several applications in quick succession.

Which card I’d pick by situation

If you want the simplest rewards setup while building, I’d lean Capital One Quicksilver Secured over a no-rewards secured card. Unlimited 1.5% cash back is not sexy, but it’s easy to use correctly. For a beginner, easy is underrated.

If you spend heavily at restaurants and gas stations, Discover it Secured is excellent in the first year because of the dollar-for-dollar match. The quarterly $1,000 cap on the 2% category matters, though — if you’re putting substantial restaurant and gas spend on the card each month, a meaningful portion of that spend will drop to 1% before the match.

If you can use the 6% category well, Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured can be the highest earner. Online shopping is the category many people will find most flexible, but dining, gas/EV charging, drug stores, travel, and home improvement/furnishings can all work. Just remember the 6% and 2% earning is capped at $2,500 in combined quarterly purchases across the chosen category and grocery/wholesale club bonus categories.

If you’re eligible for Chase Freedom Rise, I like it as a bridge card. The $0 annual fee, 1.5% everywhere earning, and limited-time 3% dining structure are useful, and the $25 autopay statement credit is easy money if you enroll on time and stay enrolled.

If the only card you can get is Capital One Platinum Secured, don’t feel bad. Rewards are secondary at the beginning. A no-rewards card that reports and gets paid on time can be far more valuable than a rewards card you can’t get approved for.

Common mistakes that cost beginners real money

The first mistake is carrying a balance because you think interest helps your credit. It doesn’t. Pay in full. Rewards are wiped out fast once credit card interest enters the picture.

The second mistake is maxing out a tiny credit line. If your limit is $200 and you spend $190, your utilization looks high even if you pay on time. Use the card, but keep balances modest, especially around statement closing. If you need to make more purchases, pay early during the month.

The third mistake is choosing a card only for rewards while ignoring bureau reporting. This is especially relevant for newcomers using Amex Global Card Relationship without SSN or ITIN. Earning points is nice. Building a U.S. credit file is the foundation.

The fourth mistake is missing easy credits or caps. With Chase Freedom Rise, the $25 statement credit requires enrolling in automatic payments within the first three months and staying enrolled for at least 90 days. With Bank of America, the 6% and 2% categories share a $2,500 quarterly cap. With Discover, the 2% gas and restaurant category is capped at $1,000 in combined quarterly purchases.

Small details. Real money.

Frequently asked questions

Can I earn rewards before I have a U.S. credit score?

Yes, but your options are narrower. Secured rewards cards are the cleanest path for most beginners with an SSN or ITIN. If you already have an international American Express relationship, Amex Global Card Relationship may help you get a U.S. Amex, but without SSN or ITIN it may not report to the major U.S. credit bureaus.

Is a secured card bad for earning points or cash back?

No. Some secured cards earn real cash back. Discover it Secured, Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured, and Capital One Quicksilver Secured all have $0 annual fees and earn rewards. The main downside is the refundable deposit and, often, a smaller credit line.

Should I start with one card or apply for several?

Start with one. Use it well. Beginners and newcomers often have thin files, and multiple quick applications can make approvals harder. Once you have a track record of on-time payments and low utilization, you can be more selective about your second card.

Are travel points better than cash back for beginners?

Usually not at the very beginning. Cash back is simpler, easier to value, and harder to misuse. Travel points become more attractive once you qualify for stronger cards and understand transfer partners, award pricing, and annual fees.

Bottom line

If you’re building U.S. credit from zero, don’t overcomplicate rewards. Get a card that fits your approval odds, reports properly, has no annual fee, and rewards spending you already do.

My short version: use Amex Global Card Relationship if you already have Amex abroad, but don’t rely on it alone to build a U.S. credit score without SSN or ITIN. If you need a secured card, Discover it Secured and Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured can both be strong first-year earners, while Capital One Quicksilver Secured is the simplest flat-rate choice. If you can get Chase Freedom Rise, it’s a solid unsecured starter with useful dining rewards and an easy $25 autopay credit.

The goal is not to maximize every penny in month one. The goal is to build the file that lets you get better cards later — while still earning something on the way there.