Osprey Value

With over 14 million credit cards in circulation in Australia, paying using plastic has never been more popular. With over half of Australian households also boasting high speed broadband, it is not surprising that many banks now offer online credit card applications.

With credit searching technology now available to card providers, many of them are using electronic underwriting processes to assess credit card applications. This means that credit card companies are now able to offer ‘instant approval credit cards’.

What is an instant approval credit card?

Instant approval credit cards (also sometimes called ‘online approval credit cards’) are credit cards which are agreed instantly at the point of application. They are generally available through online applications, although occasionally you can obtain an instant approval credit card by telephone.

What’s the application process?

You can search, compare and apply for many instant approval cards .It is important that you first research the various cards on offer in order that you find the instant approval credit card best suited for your needs, whether that is a reward card, balance transfer or low rate credit card.

Once you have decided which card you wish to apply for, you can head online to do this.

When applying for an instant approval credit card, the online approval process typically takes a matter of minutes or even just a few seconds. You provide basic personal information and other details such as your employment, income, assets and liabilities and the credit card company obtains your credit report online. The card provider than makes an instant authorization, determining whether or not you are considered a suitable customer. If your credit is good enough, you can get an instant approval online.

What happens next?

Whilst the actual application and approval process only takes a few minutes, you will have to wait several days to physically receive the credit card. Your card will be sent to you by mail, normally preceded by your PIN. This generally takes between five and ten days.

In some cases, a more in-depth look at your application may be required and you won’t gain an instant approval. This may be required if there are any issues on your credit file or of the card provider requires any additional information. In these situations, you will generally be notified by mail within one to two weeks.

Convenience and speed

Getting an instant approval credit card online can significantly cut down the time it takes for you to actually receive your actual credit card. The process is also much more convenient than applying for a credit card by filling in an application form by hand and submitting it to a bank via the post. A process that used to take weeks has been cut down to days with developments in online technology that provides the platform to instantly approve credit cards.