Nowadays, unfortunately, it is increasingly difficult to have a credit card approved, even when you don't have credit restrictions but have a low score. If this is your case, see what to do here.
With the arrival and increasing popularity of fintechs, institutions that combine technology and finance, people with low scores now have greater access to credit and are able to get approval for their respective credit cards. Traditional banks, aiming not to lose this share of the public, also began to offer interesting solutions for these consumers.
But what exactly is the score?
Score: understanding the concept
The score is a financial market scoring system and it is based on the score that a customer has access to a financial product or not. In other words, the score is nothing more than the individual's payment habits in relation to the financial market and their behavior as a consumer.
Let's go a little further. The score is a score that goes up to a thousand and is determined both by the customer's payment and consumption habits in the credit and consumption market.
To check your score, the easiest way to do this is through the Serasa website. Given your score number, consider that up to three hundred we have a low score, that is, a greater risk of default on the part of the user, from three hundred to seven hundred we have medium risk, from seven hundred the risk of default is low and the score is rated high.
To measure the score, data such as debt history, timely payments, relationships with companies or institutions, and updated registration data, for example, are considered.
If your score is low, see below for alternatives that are usually more accessible in this scenario. None of them guarantee approval: card issuance, credit limit, and terms always depend on the credit analysis performed by the issuing institution, which evaluates income, relationship, and history, and not just the score.
Credit card for those with a low score
Cartão de crédito Neon
Neon is a fintech company that offers a digital account with a credit card, and the entire process is done through the app, without needing to visit a branch. Having a low credit score doesn't prevent you from applying, but it also doesn't guarantee approval: Neon performs its own analysis and, in many cases, the credit limit starts low or is tied to a certain amount deposited into the account. Check the annual fee, card network, and updated terms and conditions on the institution's official website before applying.
Cartão Next
Next is Bradesco's digital bank and offers a digital account with a linked card, also requested through the app. There is no credit score range that automatically grants eligibility for the card: the request goes through analysis, and the institution may approve, reject, or offer a lower credit limit than expected.
When applying for the card, the evaluation usually takes a few business days, and the result is displayed in the app itself. It's worth keeping an eye on the current terms and conditions on the official website, as fees and products change over time.
Cartão com limite garantido (caução)
Update: Superdigital, part of the Santander group, ceased operations on November 18, 2024, and all accounts were canceled, according to a notice published on the company's official website. Therefore, it is no longer an option for those seeking a credit card with a low credit score.
Instead, the most common option today is the card with a guaranteed limit, also called a secured card: you deposit or invest an amount, and that money becomes your credit limit. Since the risk for the bank is lower, the analysis is usually simpler, but it still depends on approval. There are also prepaid cards, which work with top-ups and are not credit cards: they help with online purchases, but they don't build a credit history in the same way.
How to increase your chances of approval.
No article can guarantee that your request will be accepted, because the decision always rests with the issuer. What usually works in your favor is keeping your registration information updated with credit bureaus, paying bills on time, reducing outstanding debts, and concentrating your relationship with one institution, starting with a digital account and a low-limit card. Be wary of any offer that guarantees immediate approval or asks for upfront payment to release credit.
How to choose between the options
- How the data is protected. Look for two-step authentication, biometric locking, and clear information about where your data is stored.
- What is truly free?. Expense tracking is usually free. Features like automatic bank synchronization and advanced reporting are usually paid.
- Who is behind the app?. Confirm the institution responsible and whether it is authorized by the Central Bank. The name appears on the developer's page in the store.
- It works without internet. Manual note-taking apps work offline; those that sync with a database do not.
What no app can do for you
This is the part that almost no list mentions, and it's precisely what separates expectation from result.
- They do not guarantee credit approval or clear your name. Negative credit reporting is only removed through payment, settlement, or prescription.
- They don't make your money grow on their own. They organize information; the decision and the outcome remain yours.
- Promises of quick money, guaranteed income, or loans without credit checks are signs of fraud, not a reliable source of funding.
- Credit scores vary between credit bureaus and are not the only criterion a bank uses — no app 'increases your score' on its own.
Common questions
Can I increase my score?
Your credit score improves with a history of on-time payments, updated registration information, and balanced credit use. No app can do this through shortcuts.
Is the premium version worth paying for?
It makes sense for those who have multiple accounts and want automatic synchronization. For simple budgeting, the free version is sufficient.
Do I need to provide my CPF (Brazilian tax identification number)?
For checking credit information, yes. For tracking expenses, it shouldn't be necessary—be suspicious if it's required.
Is the app safe to connect to my bank?
If the connection is through open finance with an authorized institution, the sharing is regulated and revocable. Never share your bank password within a third-party app.
Does it work offline?
Manual note-taking works. Consultation and synchronization require an internet connection.
How to use it in practice
- List the active subscriptions. Check your bills from the last three months. A forgotten subscription is the easiest expense to cut.
- Separate fixed from variable. Rent and subscriptions on one side, markets and leisure on the other. Only the latter group responds to quick adjustments.
- Start by logging one week. Before putting together a budget, write everything down for seven days. The diagnosis often reveals more about it than any spreadsheet can provide.
- Check your registration with the credit bureaus. The consultation is free and reveals debts you may not even remember, as well as correcting incorrect information.
What goes wrong most often?
- Entering your bank password within a third-party application — no legitimate tool asks for that.
- Accepting a loan offered within the app without comparing the total cost.
- Paying for a finance app subscription that costs more than it saves.
- Abandoning the registration in the second week; without consistency, the app is useless.
Before installing: what's already on the device
The bank's own app usually provides expense categorization, statements by category, and credit card limits all in one place—without requiring you to share your data with anyone else. For those with a primary account, this is often sufficient.
