Guide to instant-use credit cards

Opening a credit card means having access to a line of credit, but you can’t always use it right away. Most credit card issuers make you wait until you receive the physical credit card in the mail — which can take up to 10 business days.

However, a handful of credit card companies are making instant-use credit cards available as soon as you’re approved. These digital cards offer fantastic convenience for those who need access to credit sooner versus later. Here’s how they work and where to look for them.

What are instant-use credit cards and how do they work?

Instant-use cards are essentially a digital version of your regular credit card. 

You’ll receive a 16-digit credit card number or a virtual card number once you’re approved, allowing you to use it immediately. This number may be either your actual credit card account number or a temporary number to use until your physical card arrives, depending on the issuer. You’ll still receive a physical credit card in the mail, which generally takes around 10 business days after approval.

American Express is just one issuer that offers instant credit card numbers to select applicants upon approval. You can then use your card to shop online and use your cardholder benefits without the wait.

You can also add instant-use credit card numbers to a digital wallet like Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay, which allows you to pay with your mobile device in person.

Instant approval credit cards vs. instant-use credit cards

Instant approval credit cards are not the same as instant-use cards. Here are two of the biggest distinctions between them. 

Benefits of an instant-use credit card

Immediate access to a credit line is a major benefit of instant-use cards, but there are a couple of other advantages you may benefit from too. For starters, many retailers offer discounts you can take advantage of right away, such as 30 percent off your entire purchase or additional savings on top of store coupons when you use its co-branded card.

Accessing and accruing rewards right away is another major perk of an instant-use card. You can begin accumulating points or rewards as soon as you make your first purchase, which comes in handy when you have a large purchase — like airfare — or a lucrative rewards program you can leverage.

Instant-use cards also give you the opportunity to begin working toward a welcome bonus spending requirement right away. If you have to wait for the physical card to arrive in the mail, however, you could lose as much as 10 business days of spending, potentially making it tougher to meet the requirement to earn the bonus.

Which card issuers offer instant-use credit cards?

Some credit card issuers make it easy to use your credit card right away, while others either offer instant-use cards for specific cards or for none at all.

The bottom line

Approval for a traditional credit card often means waiting for up to 10 business days before you can receive and use a physical card. Yet many card issuers are offering a way around the wait with instant-use credit cards that allow you to use your account and take advantage of cardholder benefits right away.

American Express, Bank of America and Capital One are issuers offering instant use for all of their consumer cards, while other issuers pick and choose the cards — and even applicants — eligible for this convenience.

The Bank of America content on this page was last updated on Dec. 9, 2025.

*Information about the Apple Card has been collected independently by Bankrate. Card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.