Getting your first credit card might turn out to be more difficult than anticipated because you might not have an established credit history. Having no credit history is considered as detrimental to your credit application as a bad credit history. If you are a student you could be spared the pain since credit card issuers are very willing to give away cards to college students with no credit history and no income. Two-thirds of college students have credit cards because banks and other issuers are willing to gamble that parents will bail out their kids if they get into trouble.

However if you are among the one third that never got a card here are some steps you might take to succeed in your quest.

• You should start by getting a copy of your credit report
  Credit card and mortgage payments are regularly reported to the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Trans Union, and Experian), but most consumer payments including rent, insurance and even student loans are not, unless there’s a problem. How you will be able to proceed depends on what is shown on your credit report. If you don’t have a credit history you will have to take the following extra steps.
• Apply first at the bank or credit union where you have a checking or savings account.
  Most of us have at least a checking account. It may be easiest to get a credit card from the same bank. If you are a member of a credit union through your employer or through membership in an organization explore their credit card. Banks and Credit Unions may be more willing to give you a card if you have direct deposit of your pay check and automatic payment from your bank account to the credit card account.
• If you can’t get a card from a bank you can build a credit history over several months with a department-store or gasoline card.
  Store cards are usually easier to get than credit cards. Don’t worry too much about interest rates but plan to pay the bill in full every month. The purpose is to use the credit card to demonstrate regular timely payments and build good credit history.
• If you need, in order to build good credit history, get a small bank loan, but make sure that your payments are reported to the credit bureaus.
  If you need to use this option to help establish credit, apply for a loan with your current banks or credit unions. This may be against your principles if you like to pay with cash, but you will have to do it if you are to get a credit card.
• Don’t shop for several cards at the same time.
  Apply for only one card at a time because too many requests for credit reports from the banks where you apply can count against you.
• One of the fastest ways to get credit is to apply for a secured card
  If you can’t get a credit card using the previously cited methods, apply for a secured credit card from you bank. A secure credit card requires you to deposit money in a savings account or CD that is frozen while you have the card.  Be sure that the secured card is shown as unsecured for credit reporting purposes. If you’re getting it from your bank, this should not be a problem.

There are several low APR credit card offers available online from leading credit card issuers. Some of these cards offer a 0% introductory rate but we are more interested in the long term low APR.

Here is a list of the top offers ordered by APR:

Choosing shouldn’t be that hard but there are some things
to consider.

• Low APR credit cards are offered to people with a good or excellent
  credit score. The lower your credit score the harder it is to be
  approved for a low APR credit card. If your credit score needs
  improvement work on that first.
• If you carry a balance or 0% APR credit cards can save you money
  Some credit cards have an introductory rate of 0% on balance transfers.
  You can transfer your balance from your current higher APR credit card
  to the new 0% APR card.
• While the introductory rate on 0% APR credit cards tends to be short
  term (6 to 12 months), they are undoubtedly a great way to save money
  right away.
• If you usually don’t carry a balance you can still take advantage of
  0% APR cards.
  By setting aside the money that you would pay monthly on your balance
  and putting it in a saving account for the duration of the
  introductory rate (6 months to one year) you can gain interest on the
  sum. At the end on the introductory rate just pay off the balance and
  you will be left with the saving account interest in your pocket.
• Make sure that the 0% APR is both on balance transfers and purchases.
  Some credit card companies only offer 0% APR on all balance transfers.
  So if after making your decision between the various 0% APR credit
  cards available, you want to go and use the card on every little item
  you desire make sure that your purchases qualify for the 0% interest.
• Late Payments Can Void the Introductory Rate
  With many credit cards the introductory 0% rate automatically expires
  with that first late payment and the interest rate on your outstanding
  balance will revert back to the much higher APR.
• Don’t assume 0% APR offers can save you from debt
  These offers will not solve your inability to control your spending.
  Just remember that when transferring credit card balances to another
  card, the 0% APR will help you organize your finances temporarily but
  will not remove the debt obligation
• Look for the other benefits of a card
  And if just having a low APR credit card isn’t enough, there are a
  number of other benefits, too. The options that are best for you do
  vary with your particular situation, but some cards have several
  reward benefits options like air miles for your travel expenses or
  points on your “everyday” purchase items. Other cards will give you
  rebates or rewards based on a point system.