The Petal® 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa® Credit Card is a popular option for people with limited credit history or a less-than-perfect credit score.
This unsecured card offers no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and a range of other benefits that make it a good choice for those who are looking to build credit while avoiding high fees.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the Petal 1 Visa card and provide an in-depth review of its features and benefits.
- 2% – 10% Cash Back at Select Merchants.
- $300 – $5,000 Credit Limits.
- Earn a Credit Limit Increase in as Little as 6 Months. (Terms and conditions apply.)
- No Annual Fee or Foreign Transaction Fees.
Welcome Bonus
The Petal 1 Visa does not offer a welcome bonus, which is quite expected in a card that’s targeted at people with bad credit or no credit history.
The main benefit of the Petal 1 Visa is that it helps you build credit so that you can eventually sign up for a better rewards card.
Earning Rewards
The Petal 1 Visa offers two percent to ten percent rewards on eligible purchases at participating retailers in the form of “cash back points.”
But the Petal 1 Visa does not offer rewards for spending at non-participating merchants, which for most people, will cover the majority of their spending.
Redeeming Rewards
Petal card members can redeem their rewards in three ways:
- Statement Credit – Have your cashback credited to your account in the form of a statement credit. The credit will typically reflect in your account within a few business days, depending on when you received the credit and when your billing cycle ends.
- Direct Deposit – Request for a direct cash deposit to your eligible U.S. bank account.
- Check – Contact Petal and request to have your cashback mailed to your house in the form of a written check.
To redeem your cashback, log in to your account via website or the mobile app and go to the Rewards section. Choose the type of reward you want and follow the instructions to complete the redemption.
Card Benefits
While the Petal 1 credit card’s main purpose is to help build or rebuild credit, it still comes with a few benefits that you may find valuable.
No Security Required
A secured credit card requires you to pay a security deposit or collateral in order to gain access to a credit line.
However, the Petal 1 credit is an unsecured card so there’s no need to pay opening fees, which is a big help for individuals with lower credit scores.
Individuals with Low Credit Scores or No Credit History Qualify for the Card
One of the main selling points of the Petal 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa Card is you can qualify for it with a poor or fair credit score, or even with no credit history at all.
If you don’t have any credit history, Petal will provide a Cash Score for you. It’s an internal scoring system that determines your creditworthiness based on the amount of money coming in to your linked bank account versus your ability to pay your bills.
If you have a poor credit score, Petal will use your Cash Score alongside your credit score to determine your creditworthiness. This method is very beneficial for individuals who made poor financial decisions in the past but are currently generating enough income and paying their bills on time.
Rewards Potential
The majority of cards targeted at people with poor credit or no credit score do not offer rewards to discourage people from taking on debt.
However, the Petal 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa Card lets you earn cash back on eligible purchases from select merchants. While these rewards are limited, the fact that Petal offers them is quite surprising.
Credit Score Reporting to the Three Major Credit Bureaus
Whenever you make transactions using your credit card, you’d want them to be reported to the three major credit bureaus to help establish and maintain your credit history.
This will help build your credit score so the next time you take a loan or apply for a new credit card, you’ll have a higher chance of getting approved.
Credit Limit Increase in 6 Months
The Petal 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa Card initially comes with a low credit limit, but you can increase your credit limit if you make on-time payments for six consecutive months.
A credit line increase will improve your credit score and will cause many lenders to present you with offers for better credit cards in the future.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
The Petal 1 does not charge foreign transaction fees for purchases made abroad which usually cost 1% to 3%. While it’s a small amount, it can slowly add up to hundreds of dollars for large purchases.
Petal Mobile App
Petal’s mobile app makes life a lot easier in a few ways. It allows you to automate payments, keep track of your spending, and move your money around.
While most credit cards come with their own apps, Petal’s app is particularly refined and easy to use.
Pros and Cons
Pros
No foreign transaction fees
No annual fee
Can qualify with poor credit or no credit history
Can get access to a higher credit limit in only six months
Cons
High APR
Limited rewards program
Petal 1 Vs Petal 2
| Features & Benefits | Petal® 1 "No Annual Fee" Visa® Credit Card | Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
|
Welcome Bonus |
❌ |
❌ |
|
Rewards |
Earn up to 10% cash back when making purchases at select merchants. |
Cardholders will earn:
|
|
Fees |
List of card fees:
|
No fees |
|
Credit Limit |
$300 - $5,000 depending on creditworthiness |
$300 to $10,000, depending on creditworthiness. |
|
Security Deposit |
❌ |
❌ |
Is The Petal 1 "No Annual Fee" Visa Card Worth It?
If you have bad credit, limited credit history, or no credit history, then the Petal 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa Card will be an excellent choice for you. It does not require a security deposit, an annual fee, or any foreign transaction fees.
However, the card incurs fees for late payments and returned payments so you should be careful. But these penalties were actually put in place for a reason because they encourage you to be more responsible with your payments.
In fact, the card’s limited rewards program and high APR are also a good thing because it also discourages you to be make unnecessary purchases for the sake of earning rewards.
Overall, the Petal 1 does its job well of helping cardholders rebuild their credit.
- 2% – 10% Cash Back at Select Merchants.
- $300 – $5,000 Credit Limits.
- Earn a Credit Limit Increase in as Little as 6 Months. (Terms and conditions apply.)
- No Annual Fee or Foreign Transaction Fees.
