It’s really difficult to start a credit history without credit history. Confused? In other words, you can’t get credit unless you have already had credit. Here are 5 common tips for you to get your first credit card.

1. Get a Secured Credit Card

This type of credit card requires you to make a certain amount of deposit in the credit issuers account. Of course, the credit limit is the amount you put in there. BOA and HSBC is secured credit card friendly banks. The good thing about this approach is the credit issuers are reporting your credit record to the credit bureaus. In this way, you can build your credit history in a short time, let’s say about 6 months. After about 6 months, you can request to upgrade your secured credit card to an unsecured credit card. Or you can try to apply for other credit cards which offer better cash back and rewards programs.

2. Try the Bank or Credit Union Where You Have Your Checking and Saving Account

I believe this is a really good approach to get your first credit card. You have your account in their institutions. Banks will feel “safe” to issue a credit card to you. Talk to a bank representative about opening up your first credit card. Having an existing relationship will improve your chances at getting a credit card application approved. For example, I have a friend who doesn’t have a SSN. She opened a checking account at National City Bank and then she talked to a bank representative about getting a credit card from National City Bank. Technically, if you don’t have a SSN, you can’t get a credit card. However, the bank representative called the credit department and requested to issue a credit card to my friend and it worked! A girl without SSN can get a credit card! Another example is University of Illinois Employees Credit Union issues credit cards to their students even you don’t have a solid credit history. So if you have the chance to get a credit card from your banks or credit unions, do not hesitate to get one.

3. Try a Student Card

College students are favorite for most credit card issuers. Because you’re likely to carry huge credit card balance which means you are very profitable to them. Typically, the credit card issuers will not ask about your annual income. And they know that your parents will pay your credit card bills. If you’re enrolled in college, you have a very good chance of getting approved for a student credit card.

4. Try some Cards Issued by Retailers or Department Stores

These cards generally aren’t a good deal — even with the discounts they offer on initial purchases — because the interest rates are way too high compare to other credit cards. But you can use them as long as you pay your balance full every month. So the high APR doesn’t bother you. After 6 months, you can pull the trigger for another card. Go to Target, BestBuy or other retailers and submit your application in store.

5. Get a Loan

This is the last resource you can approach. For example, you can apply for a small amount personal loan—$500. After paying for a small amount of interest and fees, typically $100, you can have a good loan record in your credit history. Yes, you are paying money to build your credit history in this way. If you fail to get a credit card after trying the above 4 methods, you can try this one.

At last, we should all be aware that “authorized user” approach is of no use today. Your credit card issuers will not report the credit record to the credit bureaus for your authorized users.