You should start looking into online retail cosigner credit cards. These are cards that are issued to retailers or their employees so that they can pay suppliers, vendors and other business associates with easy credit card transactions.
These cards have different types of credit limits depending on the number of people using the card. Those who require a little more than just a basic credit limit will find these cards perfect for them.
- What Are Other Types of Retail Cards?
- How Can I Get a Retail Cosigner Credit Card?
- Can I Apply For a Credit Card With a Cosigner Online?
- What is The Easiest Retail Credit Card to Get?
- Discover Cosigner Credit Card
- U.S Bank Cosigner Credit Card
- Wells Fargo Cosigner Credit Card
- Bank of America Cosigner Credit Card
- Walmart Credit Card Cosigner
- Business Credit Card With Cosigner
- Can You Remove a Cosigner From a Credit Card?
- Does Cosigning Hurt Your Credit?
- What Kind of Credit Score do You Need to be a Cosigner?
- Does Cosigning Build Credit?
- How Much Does a Cosigner Help Mortgage?
- How Long Does a Cosigner Have to Stay on a Home Loan?
What Are Other Types of Retail Cards?
Another type of card that is common is a card that allows a cardholder to shop online and pay the bill through their card. You can get money back on purchases made through your card. Some of these cards also allow consumers to put down a deposit for future purchases. This can be a great tool for people who are trying to build up their savings account or purchasing an item on credit that has a low interest rate.
Read Also: Credit Card Tricks to Watch out for
If you need a good credit card, a cash back card may be for you. It gives you the option to buy something and get the cash back in the form of a store credit card. The percentage of credit that you earn will vary depending on the cash back program you choose. The cash back amount may not match the amount you get with a credit card. However, you do not have to spend any of the amount that you earn.
Another type of online retail cosigner credit cards is one that is issued by a financial institution. They offer a low interest rate, flexible credit limits and an online application process. They are suitable for people who need more than the minimum credit limit for another reason.
You can also obtain cards from a network of financial institutions that offer online retail cosigner credit cards. The benefits that are offered to cardholders depend on the type of online retail cosigner credit card that they use. They offer incentives to customers for signing up for certain services, such as multi-level marketing programs, web page promotions, and other kinds of marketing materials.
A bank and credit card can both be online retail cosigner credit cards. But these are usually not the best cards. You should consider the advantages and disadvantages before you decide.
How Can I Get a Retail Cosigner Credit Card?
Once you have applied for a credit card, you will receive all the necessary information to apply for a cosigner card. Some of these cards will also provide online forms for you to fill out and submit electronically. This makes filling out the online application process easier for you.
If you are interested in a card, you can find all the information you need through an online application form. This form is usually very easy to fill out. You will need to provide basic personal information such as name, address, age, sex, zip code, employment and a current payment history. You will also need to provide your social security number and the type of card you want.
Once you complete this online form, you will be given the option to select a credit card or other products and services you want to have. Many of these online stores have options to have money back options so that you can try the card before you decide if it is right for you.
Online shopping has made shopping convenient for many people. Online retail cosigner credit cards have the potential to help you do just that. Your goal will be to find a good deal that is appropriate for your needs. That is why you should check with the card companies and try to see what the annual percentage rates are, and whether there are any interest fees that you need to worry about.
Online retail cosigner credit cards can help you save money. If you do find a good card, your savings will continue to grow and you will be able to pay your bills at a low-interest rate.
Can I Apply For a Credit Card With a Cosigner Online?
Applying for a credit card with a cosigner allows you to have a credit card in your own name; however, the cosigner (typically a parent or legal guardian) will be responsible for making payments on the card if you cannot pay your bills.
In this situation, the cosigner’s credit history could be affected. Having someone cosign for a credit card offers the opportunity for you to build up your own credit history and learn to maintain it responsibly so that you can become a creditworthy borrower in the future.
If you’re applying for your first credit card or trying to rebuild bad credit, adding a co-signer to your credit card application could improve your chances of getting approved. A co-signer is someone with good credit and income who guarantees that they will pay your credit card balance if you default.
There are two big caveats when it comes to co-signers, however:
- Most major credit card issuers don’t allow for co-signers, even on student credit cards.
- When an issuer allows for co-signers, you might have trouble finding someone to agree to co-sign. Being a co-signer means taking responsibility for someone else’s debts.
If you can’t get a co-signer, you have other options with bad credit or no credit, including becoming an authorized user or applying for a secured credit card.
What is The Easiest Retail Credit Card to Get?
If you have bad credit, getting a store or retail credit card might be easier than a traditional card. Although store cards could come with low credit limits and may only be usable at a specific retailer, you can use them to build your credit and potentially become eligible for general-use credit cards in the future.
Below are some retail credit cards that are easier for your to get.
1. Target REDcard™ Credit Card
The Target REDcard™ Credit Card is a good card for everyday spending, as Target carries a little bit of almost everything.
That 5% off also applies to Starbucks stores in Targets, which is a pretty good deal for Starbucks compared to other cards. But take note that certain products and services won’t be eligible for the discount, like gift cards, prescriptions, and eye exams.
2. Walmart Rewards Mastercard
The Walmart Rewards Mastercard is a solid option for frequent Walmart shoppers.
It provides the most cash back for online Walmart purchases, only giving 2% for in-store purchases. But if you plan out your spending a bit, and take advantage of Walmart’s free shipping offers, you can get a lot of mileage from this card.
3. Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card
The best card for Amazon shopping is the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card.
With 5% back on everything you buy from the mega-retailer, plus categories for Whole Foods and some other common purchases, it’s hard to find a more rewarding offer.
You’ll need an Amazon Prime membership to use this card; otherwise you can get the Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card, which is slightly less rewarding.
4. My Best Buy® Visa®
Electronics stores don’t get a lot of love in terms of credit card bonus categories, so the My Best Buy® Visa® will be one of your best options.
We recommend going with the 5% (or 6%) reward rate, rather than taking the deferred financing offers, which can backfire if you don’t pay them off correctly. But if you really need extra time to pay for some electronics or furniture, they could be appealing; just be sure to follow the repayment terms.
5. Sam’s Club® Mastercard®
Sam’s Club shoppers should consider the Sam’s Club® Mastercard® to get more back with every trip.
You’ll only earn 1% back at Sam’s Club, but there are excellent reward rates for gas, dining, and travel. The broad appeal makes it handy for more than just wholesale clubs, giving you a card to use for other common purchases.
Discover Cosigner Credit Card
Even though Discover is trying to drop the option of a co-signer on a credit card, the company still has some solid products for people who are building credit, and it’s still looking for ways to improve those products.
The rewards on the Discover it® Secured Credit Card set it apart from other secured credit cards. Discover also reviews accounts eight months after opening to see whether a cardholder is ready to transition to an unsecured credit card and receive a security deposit refund.
The Discover it® Student Cash Back, too, remains a competitive card, even though young people will no longer be able to get a parent to co-sign on their application. It’s rare for a student credit card to offer rewards, and the card’s fees are minimal.
“The new-to-credit audience is an important segment for Discover,” Young said. “We feel that it’s our responsibility, as well as an opportunity, to help this group get off on the right financial foot.”
U.S Bank Cosigner Credit Card
Although perhaps not as well known as its ubiquitous competition, U.S. Bank has over 150 years of experience in the consumer banking industry. The issuer’s range of credit cards is broad, offering rewards cards with cash back and travel, as well as low-interest cards and U.S. Bank members-only cards.
The application will ask whether you want to include a cosigner, or you can add a cosigner after you’ve been approved by calling customer service at 800-285-8585.
1. U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
The U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card is a big-benefit card exclusive to US Bank customers. The card will likely be most valuable for frequent travelers who can take full advantage of the extra rewards and annual travel reimbursements.
Since the Altitude Reserve is a Visa Infinite card — one of only a handful in the US — cardholders will also enjoy exclusive Visa Infinite benefits, including potentially valuable airfare discounts and other traveler-centered perks.
2. U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card
The U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card gives you control over your rewards, letting you select your bonus categories, including two 5% cashback categories.
New cardholders can enjoy an extra 0.5% rewards for the first year. Plus, receive the perks of being a Visa Signature cardholder, including a bevy of special travel benefits.
3. U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Gold American Express® Card
The U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Gold American Express® Card can help you earn no matter how you travel, offering bonus points on travel-related expenses like restaurants, gas, and airline purchases.
Rewards earned with your FlexPerks card can be redeemed toward air travel, hotel stays, merchandise, gift cards, and statement credits.
Wells Fargo Cosigner Credit Card
With a vibrant history and competitive financial products, Wells Fargo is among the banking leaders in the United States and the world. This 166-year-old bank offers commercial and personal banking services alike, including a suite of credit card products sure to please. Here, we look at the cards offered on the site.
1. Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card
Realistically speaking, this is far and away the best credit card offered by Wells Fargo in terms of pure value and arguably the best travel credit card with no annual fee. While the Cash Wise offers a very respectable sign-up bonus, the Propel’s own bonus offer upstages it by a substantial margin.
Likewise for rewards, where the Propel’s 3X points per dollar in extremely attractive categories is simply in a league of its own. Unlike the other two Wells Fargo cards, the Propel charges no foreign transaction fee, making it the clear choice for travel abroad.
2. Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® card
The Cash Wise offers the added advantage of 1.8% cash rewards on qualified digital wallet purchases, such as through Apple Pay® and Google Pay™, during the first 12 months after opening your account. Another earning opportunity, cardholders will receive $150 after spending $500 in their first 3 months.
3. Wells Fargo Go Far® Rewards program
When swiping on an eligible purchase with your Wells Fargo credit card, you’ll earn Go Far® Rewards points. These come in handy when you have a big trip planned or even when making daily purchases at your local Starbucks; your rewards can be redeemed for flights, hotels, gift cards and more.
The program is unique because both Wells Fargo’s cashback and points credit cards will earn Go Far® Rewards, however, the redemption options can change from card to card.
Bank of America Cosigner Credit Card
As the pioneer of the mass-market consumer credit card, Bank of America has a long history of giving cardholders what they want — and that may include the ability to cosign credit cards.
Anecdotal reports around the web state that some users can bring a cosigner when applying, but only if they’ve previously been rejected when applying on their own, and they can’t do it online — cosigners can only be added over the phone by calling BoA’s credit card customer service at 800-732-9194.
Bank of America’s card selection includes something for just about anyone, including both Visa and Mastercard options, cashback and travel rewards options, plus co-branded options for extra customization.
Walmart Credit Card Cosigner
Walmart is world-famous for its deep discounts on everything from bath soaps to bicycles, making it one of the nation’s most popular stores for credit card users. Depending on your shopping habits, you can earn up to 5% cash back on your purchases made with a Walmart credit card.
If you’re a budget-conscious shopper, you likely frequent Walmart stores and Walmart.com for your everyday purchases. According to the company, more than 265 million customers visit Walmart stores each week, showing just how popular the retailer is with shoppers.
Do you regularly shop at Walmart or Walmart.com for your groceries and other essentials? Signing up for a Walmart credit card can be one of the great ways to earn cashback for shopping at Walmart. You’ll earn valuable rewards that you can redeem for statement credits, gift cards, or even to cover recent purchases.
Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard
The Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard is a new card just launched in September 2019. It has a $0 annual fee, and can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
With this card, you’ll earn valuable rewards:
- 5% cash back at Walmart.com, Walmart app, Walmart pickup and delivery
- 2% cash back at Walmart stores, Walmart and Murphy USA gas stations, restaurant and travel purchases
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
New cardmembers can also take advantage of a special welcome offer: Earn 5% back on purchases in Walmart stores for the first 12 months when you use this card with Walmart Pay.
al One Walmart Rewards Mastercard is best for people who have good to excellent credit and who spend a good deal of money on Walmart.com. If you do a lot of shopping online, including grocery orders, you can earn lots of cashback.
Walmart Rewards Card
If you can’t get approved for the Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard, you will automatically be considered for the Walmart Rewards Card. If your credit isn’t in the good to excellent range, you’ll likely end up with this card.
Capital One is also the credit card issuer for this card, but this card is what’s known as a store card. That means the Walmart Rewards Card can only be used at Walmart stores in the U.S., Walmart.com, Walmart-branded gas stations, Murphy USA gas stations, Sam’s Club stores, and Sam’s Club-branded gas stations. It can’t be used at other retailers or restaurants.
With this card, you’ll earn:
- 5% cash back on Walmart.com and the Walmart app
- 2% cash back at Walmart stores and at Walmart and Murphy USA gas stations
- 1% cash back on in-store purchases at Sam’s Club and Sam’s Club-branded gas stations
This card also has a similar special offer for new cardholders: Earn 5% back on purchases in Walmart stores for the first 12 months when you use this card with Walmart Pay.
The Walmart Rewards Card is best for people who do most of their shopping at Walmart, who visit Walmart-branded gas stations for fuel, and who aren’t looking for a card they can use outside of the Walmart brands. Cash back earned with this card can be redeemed for recent purchases, statement credits, and gift cards.
Business Credit Card With Cosigner
Unfortunately, building business credit can be a slow process, often taking years to fully establish. If you don’t want to wait for your business to have its own credit (or simply can’t make it happen), your personal credit comes back into the financing picture.
On the plus side, you can take steps to minimize how much influence your own credit score has on your ability to get a business credit card by applying with a qualified cosigner.
Different from an authorized user, cosigners act as security for the credit line, essentially putting their own good credit up as collateral and guaranteeing that the creditor will get its money back — one way or another. With a qualified cosigner, you may be approved for many of the best business credit cards, including our top-rated picks.
1. Capital One Spark Cash for Business
- Earn a one-time $500 cash bonus once you spend $4,500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 2% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions
- Purchase above your credit limit with no hassle and no over-limit fees
- $0 annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
- Free employee cards, which also earn unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases
- $0 Fraud Liability if your card is lost or stolen
2. Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
- Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cashback on every purchase made for your business
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
- With Fraud Protection your card transactions will be monitored for possible signs of fraudulent activity using real-time fraud monitoring.
3. Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cashback for your business on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions
- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- Save on interest with 0% intro APR on purchases for 9 months; 13.99% – 23.99% variable APR after that
- No annual fee
- Free employee cards, which also earn unlimited 1.5% cashback on all purchases
- Rewards won’t expire for the life of the account, and you can redeem your cashback for any amount
Before you ring your good-credit friends and neighbors, however, it’s important to understand the risks associated with being a credit card cosigner. Cosigners, also called guarantors, are taking on responsibility for any debt the primary cardholder accrues, and they will be liable for that debt should the cardholder be unable — or simply choose not to — repay the debt.
Cosigners who don’t pay can be subject to legal action by the creditor, the same as the cardholder. They may even end up on the annoying end of collections calls, should the debt progress that far.
There’s also the small fact that the cosigner’s personal credit will be tied to the card. This means that any late or missed payments made by the primary cardholder can negatively impact the cosigner’s credit, as well. And should the primary cardholder default on the credit, the cosigner’s credit will take on nearly as much damage as the cardholder themselves.
Can You Remove a Cosigner From a Credit Card?
You can help a family member or friend with bad credit get approved for a credit card if you co-sign the account. But you probably don’t want to remain as a co-signer indefinitely.
For example, you may want to remove yourself as a co-signer if:
- You and the primary cardholder no longer have a joint financial relationship.
- You don’t want the account associated with your credit reports and credit score.
- You no longer wish to share responsibility for the debt.
However, getting removed as the co-signer on a credit card isn’t always simple. Here’s what you need to know.
Getting released as a co-signer can be tricky. If you decide it’s best for you to be relieved of your co-signer duties, there are a few options you can try:
Ask the card issuer directly. The first option you should try is simply asking the issuer of the credit card to remove you as a co-signer. “Removing yourself as a co-signer isn’t always an easy process, particularly if the primary person on the account has not yet proven they are capable of paying on their own,” says McDermott.
However, if the card has been open for at least a couple of years and the primary account holder has been making payments on time, the card issuer might be willing to drop you as a co-signer.
Ask the cardholder to transfer the balance. If some time has passed since you first co-signed the credit card and the primary cardholder has built up good credit, that person might be able to qualify for a credit card without your help. If that’s the case, you can recommend that the cardholder look for a balance transfer offer that will allow him or her to move the debt from the current card to a new one, typically for a small fee.
Once the balance is transferred, the cardholder can close the credit card that has your name on it. Often, card issuers will offer a 0% annual percentage rate for the first 12 to 18 months on balance transfers, so this option can be a big win for you both.
Ask the cardholder to refinance the debt. Rather than transferring the balance to another card, the primary account holder might want to consider refinancing the debt with a personal loan. Refinancing is the process of taking out a new loan to pay off an existing debt. In the case of refinancing credit card debt, the primary cardholder can take out a personal loan and use the funds to pay off the card’s balance.
There are a couple of benefits to going this route: First, the interest rate may be lower, as personal loans often have lower starting interest rates than credit cards. Second, a personal loan can consolidate more than one credit card into one easy-to-manage monthly payment.
Pay off the card yourself. An August 2018 study from Finder.com found that 37% of Americans have paid off their romantic partner’s credit card debt. But even if you and your co-signee aren’t romantically involved, you might have to take matters into your own hands if none of these other options is feasible.
According to McDermott, if there is an existing balance on the card, you’ll need to pay it off before you can close it. “If the primary is unable or unwilling to do this, you may need to bite the bullet, make the payment and fight it out later before it impacts your credit score,” she says. “Once the balance is paid, the credit card can be closed and you will be absolved of future responsibility.”
Since co-signing can be risky and it’s not simple to be removed from the credit card account, weigh the decision of co-signing very carefully. Tayne says, “Before you co-sign, have a discussion with the borrower. Discuss their plans to ensure their ability to repay for the entire term of the loan.”
She says you need to put in writing what should happen if the co-signee doesn’t pay. “Know your rights,” Tayne adds. “I see so many co-signers default, and there is no recourse without something in writing.”
Does Cosigning Hurt Your Credit?
Co-signing a credit card for a friend or family member is a big leap to take and one that could hurt your credit score if the person you sign with doesn’t pay the card payments on time.
As much as you may love the person you sign with, it takes a lot of trust to be a co-signer on a credit card, because not only will your credit score be hit by missed and unpaid bills for the card, you’ll also be on the hook to pay off the balance if the person you sign with (the consignee) doesn’t.
Being a co-signer itself does not affect your credit score. Your score may, however, be negatively affected if the main account holder misses payments. Here are some common ways your credit score could be affected if you are a co-signer:
- Missed or late payments: Co-signers are required to make payments on the account if the main account holder misses payments. If the consignee makes late payments or misses them altogether, then your credit score could drop.
- Your credit score won’t increase: Although having mixed lines of credit could help you look favorable to future lenders, it only makes up for a small percentage of your credit score. This is typically only useful if you’ve proven that you can handle those mixed lines of credit for a long period of time while making on-time payments and keeping balances low.
- You will owe more debt: Your debt could also increase since the consignee’s debt will appear on your credit report. The amount of debt that you currently owe will increase and will be added to the “amounts owed” portion of your credit score.
What Kind of Credit Score do You Need to be a Cosigner?
Your cosigner will be responsible for the loan if you’re unable to pay, and having one can make you more appealing as a borrower. So, what credit score does a cosigner need? Typically, a cosigner needs a good or excellent credit score, but requirements vary by lender.
To be a cosigner, your friend or family member must meet certain requirements. Although there might not be a required credit score, a cosigner typically will need credit in the very good or exceptional range—670 or better. A credit score in that range generally qualifies someone to be a cosigner, but each lender will have its own requirement.
In addition to having a good or excellent credit score, your potential cosigner will need to show that they have enough income to pay back the loan in the event you default on it. If they lack sufficient income, they won’t be able to offset the lender’s risk and may not be able to cosign.
To determine whether a potential cosigner has enough income, the lender will likely calculate their debt-to-income ratio (DTI), which compares their total monthly debt payments with their earnings. It’s a good idea to figure out your potential cosigner’s DTI on your own before they apply to be your cosigner.
To do so, add up all of their monthly bills, including the new loan payment they’d be liable for in the event you default, and divide that amount by their monthly pretax income. If their DTI is less than 50%, they should be good to go.
Does Cosigning Build Credit?
Being a cosigner on a car loan will help you build your credit history. The primary loan holder and cosigner share equal responsibility for the debt, and the loan will appear on both your credit report and hers.
Read Also: How long does a Credit Card Balance Transfer take?
Asking a family member to cosign on a loan is great way to begin establishing credit. You may also consider opening a credit card account. Because credit cards allow the borrower the freedom to decide how much they will spend each month and how much they will repay, they are a good indicator of credit risk.
How Much Does a Cosigner Help Mortgage?
Nobody’s perfect, and sometimes we need a little help accomplishing our financial or lifestyle goals. For those with higher debt levels, sometimes it’s easier to get approved for a mortgage with a co-signer.
Having a co-signer can be very helpful if you have credit trouble in your past or a higher level of debt. At the same time, it’s very important that both occupant and co-signer know what they’re getting into.
Because a co-signer is putting their good credit on the line to help someone qualify, that means they also take an equal share of the responsibility for the loan. If the homeowner falls behind on the loan or gets foreclosed on, those things also go on the record of the co-signer.
How Long Does a Cosigner Have to Stay on a Home Loan?
Co-signing on a mortgage is a big responsibility, especially if it isn’t on your own property. The most common reason for having a co-signer on a mortgage is because the primary borrower does not qualify based on his own income. A co-signer is added, using his or her income to help the borrower qualify for the loan. Once you co-sign for the loan, it’s not always easy to get released.
Once you have co-signed for a mortgage, you remain on the loan for as long as that loan exists. If you want to remove your name from the loan, you must follow the appropriate process for doing so.
It isn’t up to the borrower to remove your name, and you cannot do it simply because you want to; you must go through a legal process to remove your name as co-signer, officially ending your obligation for the debt. The lender does not have to remove your name from the papers just because you want it removed.