Best beginner cards

Credit Cards

Find a first card that fits your income, spending style, and repayment discipline without drowning in fees or confusing rewards.

Updated May 2026Official source checksBeginner-first scoring

Featured pick

Secured Credit Card

Beginners with no credit history

Trust note

Rates, promos, annual fees, income requirements, transfer fees, and eligibility rules can change. Always verify with the official bank before applying. This comparison is for education and comparison only, and is not financial advice.

Featured picks

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Secured Credit Card

BDO

CardVerify

Best for

Beginners with no credit history

Annual fee

Check latest BDO secured card fees and hold-out terms

Rewards / interest

Credit-building access with collateralized approval path

Income / approval

Check official terms

+ Ideal beginner path when regular approval is hard+ Helps build credit behavior! Requires funds to be held as security

Review

Landers Cashback Everywhere

Maya Bank

Best CashbackCardModerate

Best for

Landers members

Annual fee

Maya page says no annual fee for life as long as you transact at least once a month; verify terms

Rewards / interest

Cashback and Visa perks subject to Maya/Landers terms

Income / approval

Maya lists Landers membership plus credit evaluation

+ Cashback positioning+ Modern app ecosystem! Requires Landers membership

Review

BPI Amore Cashback

BPI

Best CashbackCardModerate

Best for

Grocery cashback

Annual fee

Wise lists PHP 2,050; verify current BPI fees

Rewards / interest

Cashback card positioned for everyday spending; Wise notes up to 4% cashback

Income / approval

Subject to BPI income and credit checks

+ Simple cashback value+ Good grocery fit! Annual fee can reduce value

Review

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Secured Credit Card

BDO

CardVerify

Best for

Beginners with no credit history

Annual fee

Check latest BDO secured card fees and hold-out terms

Rewards / interest

Credit-building access with collateralized approval path

Income / approval

Check official terms

+ Ideal beginner path when regular approval is hard+ Helps build credit behavior! Requires funds to be held as security

Review

Landers Cashback Everywhere

Maya Bank

Best CashbackCardModerate

Best for

Landers members

Annual fee

Maya page says no annual fee for life as long as you transact at least once a month; verify terms

Rewards / interest

Cashback and Visa perks subject to Maya/Landers terms

Income / approval

Maya lists Landers membership plus credit evaluation

+ Cashback positioning+ Modern app ecosystem! Requires Landers membership

Review

BPI Amore Cashback

BPI

Best CashbackCardModerate

Best for

Grocery cashback

Annual fee

Wise lists PHP 2,050; verify current BPI fees

Rewards / interest

Cashback card positioned for everyday spending; Wise notes up to 4% cashback

Income / approval

Subject to BPI income and credit checks

+ Simple cashback value+ Good grocery fit! Annual fee can reduce value

Review

BPI Rewards Card

BPI

Editor's ChoiceCardModerate

Best for

Starter rewards inside a major bank ecosystem

Annual fee

Check latest BPI fees and promos

Rewards / interest

BPI points-earning credit card, as listed by BPI

Income / approval

Subject to BPI income and credit checks

+ Established branch and app ecosystem+ Points can suit mixed everyday spending! Annual fee and waivers may vary

Review

Rewards Visa

UnionBank

Most Recommended by Young ProfessionalsCardModerate

Best for

Digital-first rewards

Annual fee

Check latest UnionBank fees, promos, and card tier

Rewards / interest

Rewards points ecosystem; UnionBank lists rewards cards with points per spend

Income / approval

Eligibility varies; check with UnionBank

+ Digital-first application flow+ Strong app ecosystem! Annual fee and rewards value vary by card tier

Review

Maya Black

Maya Bank

Top PicksCardModerate

Best for

Digital-first card users

Annual fee

Maya page lists waived annual fees; verify active card rules

Rewards / interest

Visa perks and Maya credit card promos subject to Maya terms

Income / approval

Maya lists age/residency/upgraded-account requirements; credit evaluation applies

+ App-first card ecosystem+ Modern digital bank experience! Approval subject to credit evaluation

Review

Flex Visa

RCBC

CardVerify

Best for

Flexible rewards categories

Annual fee

Check latest RCBC fees and waiver promos

Rewards / interest

2x Rewards points on selected categories, as advertised by RCBC

Income / approval

Check official terms

+ Designed around lifestyle categories+ Flexible rewards redemptions! Best value requires choosing categories well

Review

Classic Mastercard

RCBC

CardModerate

Best for

Young professionals building independence

Annual fee

Wise lists PHP 1,500; verify current RCBC fees

Rewards / interest

Non-expiring rewards and travel perks mentioned by Wise; verify latest RCBC terms

Income / approval

Proof of income may be required; verify with RCBC

+ Beginner positioning in external guides+ Rewards redemption options! Annual fee applies

Review

M Free Mastercard

Metrobank

CardVerify

Best for

No annual fee ownership

Annual fee

No annual fee for life, as advertised by Metrobank

Rewards / interest

Perks, promos, installments, and balance conversion rather than a core points card

Income / approval

Check official terms

+ No annual fee for life+ Strong traditional bank acceptance! Metrobank lists a high gross annual income requirement

Review

Ze-Lo Mastercard

PNB

Best No Annual FeeCardModerate

Best for

Low-fee starter ownership

Annual fee

No annual fee positioning; verify latest PNB terms

Rewards / interest

Low-fee positioning rather than rewards-heavy earning

Income / approval

Wise lists PHP 120,000 annual income; verify with PNB

+ No annual fee positioning+ Beginner-friendly cost profile! Fewer rewards than points or cashback cards

Review

Go Rewards Credit Card

UnionBank

CardVerify

Best for

Robinsons Retail and Go Rewards users

Annual fee

Check latest UnionBank Go Rewards fees

Rewards / interest

Go Rewards points for eligible spend, as listed by UnionBank

Income / approval

Check official terms

+ Retail ecosystem fit+ Auto-credit Go Rewards mechanics on listed card types! Best value depends on partner usage

Review

Visa Classic

BDO

CardVerify

Best for

Traditional starter card path

Annual fee

Check latest BDO Visa Classic fees

Rewards / interest

Traditional card features, promos, and installment support subject to card terms

Income / approval

Check official terms

+ Backed by a very large branch and ATM footprint+ Useful for cash-heavy users! Regular approval can be harder without income or credit history

Review

BPI Edge Card

BPI

CardModerate

Best for

Lifestyle perks

Annual fee

Check latest BPI Edge fees

Rewards / interest

BPI rewards and lifestyle perks, as listed by BPI

Income / approval

Subject to BPI income and credit checks

+ Recognizable starter option+ BPI promos and app support! Rewards value depends on redemption

Review

Lazada Card

UnionBank

CardModerate

Best for

E-commerce spending

Annual fee

Check latest UnionBank Lazada card fees and promos

Rewards / interest

E-commerce and Lazada-linked rewards positioning; verify current card availability

Income / approval

Check latest UnionBank requirements

+ Good match for online shopping behavior+ Digital-first bank servicing! Can encourage overspending during sales

Review

Rewards Plus Visa

Metrobank

CardModerate

Best for

Rewards collectors

Annual fee

Check latest Metrobank Rewards Plus fees

Rewards / interest

Rewards points and promos subject to Metrobank terms

Income / approval

Check latest Metrobank requirements

+ Rewards-first positioning+ Traditional bank credibility! Annual fee can dilute value

Review

Complete Cashback Platinum Mastercard

Security Bank

CardVerify

Best for

Grocery, gas, utilities, dining, and shopping rebates

Annual fee

Check latest Security Bank fees

Rewards / interest

Up to 5% cashback across everyday categories, as advertised by Security Bank

Income / approval

Check official terms

+ Strong everyday cashback positioning+ Easy-to-understand rebate value! Platinum card may be harder for true beginners

Review

Titanium Mastercard

Metrobank

CardSelective

Best for

Dining and lifestyle rewards

Annual fee

Check latest Metrobank Titanium fees

Rewards / interest

Lifestyle rewards and promos subject to Metrobank terms

Income / approval

Check latest Metrobank requirements

+ Metrobank ecosystem+ Lifestyle rewards angle! Less beginner-friendly than no-fee cards

Review

Miles+ Credit Card

UnionBank

CardVerify

Best for

Travel rewards

Annual fee

Check latest UnionBank Miles+ fees

Rewards / interest

UnionBank lists Miles+ cards earning UB miles per spend

Income / approval

Check official terms

+ Travel-focused earning+ Works well for planned airfare and travel purchases! Less useful for non-travel users

Review

Next Mastercard

Security Bank

CardModerate

Best for

Installment-minded users

Annual fee

Check latest Security Bank Next fees

Rewards / interest

Installment support and Security Bank card ecosystem benefits

Income / approval

Check latest Security Bank requirements

+ Installment-friendly positioning+ Good for planned purchases! Installments can encourage overspending

Review

Live+ Credit Card

HSBC Philippines

CardVerify

Best for

Dining, shopping, entertainment, and fuel cashback

Annual fee

First year waived as advertised; check succeeding annual fee

Rewards / interest

Cashback on dining, shopping, entertainment, and selected fuel spend

Income / approval

Check official terms

+ Lifestyle cashback structure+ Travel and online shopping perks! HSBC lists existing local card history and income requirements

Review

Installment Card

BDO

CardVerify

Best for

Planned installment purchases

Annual fee

Check latest BDO Installment Card fees

Rewards / interest

Installment-focused features rather than rewards-first earning

Income / approval

Check official terms

+ Installment support+ Useful for planned big-ticket purchases! Installments can still create debt pressure

Review

Red Mastercard

HSBC Philippines

CardSelective

Best for

Shopping and dining rewards

Annual fee

Check latest HSBC Red fees

Rewards / interest

Rewards positioning for everyday lifestyle spend; verify latest HSBC terms

Income / approval

Check current HSBC requirements

+ Lifestyle rewards+ HSBC global brand! Eligibility can be stricter

Review

Hexagon Credit Card

RCBC

CardSelective

Best for

RCBC relationship banking

Annual fee

Check latest RCBC Hexagon terms

Rewards / interest

Relationship-linked card benefits subject to RCBC Hexagon rules

Income / approval

Relationship and deposit criteria may apply

+ Relationship banking perks+ Good for existing RCBC clients! Requires qualifying relationship

Review

Pay the full statement balance on time before chasing points or cashback.

No annual fee cards are useful when you want to build long-term credit history.

Secured cards can be a realistic path if you have no credit record yet.

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