For over 35 years, 1FBUSA has specialized in providing quality credit card services to college-bound and college students across the U.S., helping 1.9 million+ students who have trusted 1FBUSA to build their financial future. We strive to help students make educated financial decisions about their futures and provide them with the tools and resources needed to do so. We also hope to be their bank of choice during the transition from student to adulthood.

1FBUSA is also the proud sponsor of CollegeData^®, a free online college advisory service, for more than 25 years. During this time, over an average of 2 million students, parents, and counselors have visited CollegeData each year. CollegeData offers tools and resources to help high school students choose, prepare, apply, and pay for college and navigate their college years and beyond. Learn More. 

• Security and Convenience. Having a credit card when you’re in college and living away from home can be useful especially if you do not have a debit card, are between paychecks, or do not want to carry cash.
  
  
• Build Your Credit History. A credit card can help you build credit if you use it wisely and responsibly, including making at least the minimum payments on time every month, staying below your credit limit (ideally under 30%), and keeping old accounts open (with no fees).
  
  
• Emergencies. A credit card can be a lifesaver when you go off to college and suddenly need last minute school supplies, a doctor, new car battery, ride home late at night, or ticket home for the holidays.
  
  
• Financial Responsibility. Having a credit card can teach you financial responsibility if used wisely, including that borrowed money must be repaid, that using a credit card and making purchases on credit may have a cost especially if not paid in full (due to interest) or on time (late payment fees), and that you should spend only what you can afford to pay back.
  
  
• Recordkeeping. A credit card gives you a clear monthly record of where your money goes and may help you track your spending habits and encourage you to budget and avoid overspending.

• Make at least the minimum payment on time every month.
• Keep your spending under your credit limit (preferably below 30%).
• Use your card to buy only what you can afford to repay.

Tip: Establish a credit “footprint” as soon as possible. The length of your credit history and age of your credit accounts can impact your credit score. While not necessarily the most important scoring factor, a long history of managing credit (like credit cards) can help you build excellent credit, especially if you’ve consistently paid your bills on time.

• You must be 18 or older.

• You must be a college-bound or college student.

• You must have the ability to make the required payments on the account based on your income and/or assets and current obligations.

Not necessarily. You just need to have the ability to make the required payments on the account based on your income and/or assets and current obligations.

Income can include any current or reasonably expected income, such as salary, wages, bonus pay, tips, commissions, interest or dividends, public assistance, and income deposited regularly into an account on which you are an accountholder.

Assets are typically the amount you have in checking or savings accounts, and investments.

Most credit card issuers (including 1FBUSA) will pull a credit report before issuing a credit card to verify the applicant’s identity and assess his or her creditworthiness. While it can affect your credit score, the impact is generally small and temporary.

If you are approved for a credit card, using it responsibly – like paying on time and staying within your credit limit – can help you build your credit over time.

If you fail to pay the minimum payment due on your account by your payment due date, you will be charged a late fee the day after the missed payment. However, your account will not be reported to the consumer reporting agencies as delinquent (which could affect your credit score) unless your account is 30 or more days past due, which means that you did not make the minimum payment due on time for at least two consecutive billing cycles. Make sure to use your card responsibly and set up automatic payments to avoid missing a payment. 

Yes. Should you choose to close your account, note that it may be reported to the credit bureaus for up to 10 years after it is closed.

Tip: Wherever you are on your credit journey make sure you're informed. Check out these credit education resources from CollegeData.

Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Contact our Customer Service representatives at
1-800-733-1732. Our representatives are available by telephone, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm (Central Time) and Saturday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (Central Time) excluding Federal holidays.

For more information, visit 1fbusa.com.