Does AU Small Finance Bank offer credit cards to first-time applicants with no credit score? Are there specific credit cards designed for individuals without a credit history, such as secured credit cards or beginner-friendly cards? What other factors (like income, employment status, or relationship with the bank) influence approval for applicants without credit history?
For people without a history of credit, AU Small Finance Bank provides a secured credit card backed by a Fixed Deposit (FD). With rewards including reward points and lounge access, the AU NOMO Credit Card has a minimum FD of ₹10,000. You must have an FD and be an Indian resident who is at least eighteen years old to apply. Credit history can be built through responsible use.
When I was building up my own credit profile from scratch, I wondered the same thing — whether having no credit history means no chance of a credit card. With AU Small Finance Bank, the situation is nuanced: it might still be possible, depending on the card type and additional factors.
What I Found from AU Small Finance Bank’s Official Info
• AU offers various credit cards like Altura, Altura Plus, Vetta, Zenith, LIT etc., through their website and app.
• The eligibility criteria listed for most cards require you to be of a certain age, a resident Indian, and to have valid identity, address & income proof.
• Importantly, they also have a secured credit card called NOMO (No Missing Out) specifically for people who may be ineligible for unsecured credit cards due to limited or no credit history, or low credit score. This makes it clear that AU has a route for people without an existing credit track record.
What It Means If You Have No Credit History
From what I’ve seen, if I were in your shoes (no credit history):
• I might not immediately qualify for the higher-tier or unsecured cards with large limits, since those often depend on credit history, income, or banking history.
• But I could be eligible for a secured credit card or a basic credit card variant (if AU allows that), or via a “pre-approved offer” if I already have some relationship with the bank (for example, if I have a savings or salary account with AU).
• My proof of income/employment, identity, address, and a good banking history (even without past credit cards or loans) would help. Also, meeting minimum income requirements, age criteria etc., is essential.
• If the unsecured credit card is declined due to no history, the secured one (like NOMO) is a good fallback. Over time, using a secured card responsibly can build up your credit history, which may allow you to migrate to better cards.
What I Would Do if I Were You
If I had no credit history and wanted a credit card from AU Bank, here’s how I’d try to make it happen:
1. Look into the NOMO secured credit card option. That seems design-made for this kind of situation.
2. Ensure I have all other eligibility bits in place – stable income, identity proof, address proof, age, etc.
3. If possible, become an AU Bank account holder (if not already) to build a relationship; sometimes banks give priority or easier approval to existing customers.
4. Apply with documents that clearly show my income & ability to pay (even if I haven’t borrowed before) to show reliability.
5. Use the secured/beginner card responsibly (pay on time, maintain low usage), so credit bureaus record positive behaviour. This helps future applications.
Official Source
Here’s the AU Small Finance Bank page where you can see details of their credit cards and the NOMO secured card which is intended for people without credit history or those who don’t qualify for regular cards: