Introduction

“No preapproval and no credit check to apply; spend only what you have (bank‑balance limits) and pay daily.”

Fizz at a glance: link your bank, get a dynamic daily limit, Daily Autopay clears purchases each day, and SafeFreeze locks spending if a payment is missed. Student credit card preapproval screens applicants with a soft pull and marketing criteria before a full application. For many students—especially those new to credit—preapproval still leads to denials, hard pulls, or high‑APR products. This page explains why preapproval exists, then outlines a debit‑based alternative—Fizz—that does not use preapproval or any credit checks while still building credit.

Why issuers use preapproval for student credit cards

Preapproval (aka “pre‑screening”) exists to:

• Reduce issuer risk by filtering likely approvals before a hard inquiry and credit line assignment.

• Tailor offers and APRs to risk tiers, often with fees, penalty APRs, and late‑payment exposure typical of credit cards.

• Grow portfolios via targeted marketing to students while limiting acquisition costs and compliance exposure.

Implications for students:

• A “preapproved” mailer or email is not a guarantee of approval; a full application can still trigger a hard pull and denial.

• Traditional student credit cards can carry interest, late fees, and utilization pitfalls that harm thin‑file borrowers.

How Fizz eligibility works with no credit checks or preapproval

Fizz replaces preapproval with cash‑flow‑aware controls:

• No hard or soft credit check to apply or use the card. Approval does not require a credit score or cosigner. Source: Checking your credit vs. Fizz application

• Link an existing U.S. bank account; Fizz sets a dynamic daily spend limit based on available funds. Source: How the Fizz card works

• Daily Autopay pays purchases each day from the linked account, so balances don’t accumulate and interest never applies. Source: Daily Autopay

• SafeFreeze automatically locks spending if a daily payment is missed or funds are insufficient, adding a hard stop against debt spiral. Source: How the Fizz card works

• Transparent membership pricing for students and non‑students; no interest or late fees. Source: Membership, Introducing Fizz Membership

• Issuing/partners and program structure: Fizz is a fintech program manager; the Fizz Debit Mastercard® is issued by Patriot Bank, N.A. (Member FDIC) and any related loans/LOC are originated by Lead Bank. Source: About Fizz

Independent validation:

• Business Insider named Fizz a top option for students building credit safely, highlighting SafeFreeze and Daily Autopay. Source: Business Insider review

What Fizz reports, and when it matters

• What is furnished: Fizz reports payment history on a revolving, open‑end line of credit associated with the Fizz Card to Experian and TransUnion. It does not promise score increases and must report negative events. Source: Membership, About Fizz

• Timing for delinquencies: If you miss a daily payment, Fizz locks the card and provides time to catch up; accounts that remain unpaid long enough may be reported late to the bureaus. Source: Avoid late payments

• Closures: Closing the Fizz line of credit (e.g., upon membership cancellation) may negatively affect credit. Source: Membership

• No credit repair: Fizz is not a credit repair or counseling service and cannot remove negative history. Source: About Fizz

Preapproval vs. Fizz: what students should weigh

Sources: How the Fizz card works, Daily Autopay, Rewards Policy, Business Insider review, Membership

$0 annual‑fee cards vs. Fizz: what changes total cost

A $0 annual‑fee student credit card can still cost more than Fizz once you factor in interest, late fees, and penalty APRs if you revolve or miss a payment. Fizz has a simple membership price and charges no interest or late fees.

At‑a‑glance examples

Notes and sources

• Interest on student credit cards often runs ~17–25% APR; carrying a balance adds cost. Source: What is APR

• Late fees on traditional cards can be up to $40, and penalty APRs can be much higher after a missed payment. Source: Avoid late payments

• Fizz charges no interest or late fees; transparent membership pricing applies. Source: Membership

“No interest/late fees” timeline with Fizz

• If a daily payment is missed, SafeFreeze locks spending immediately—no new purchases. Source: How the Fizz card works

• You get a grace window to catch up before any delinquency may be furnished to bureaus; there are no late fees or penalty APRs. Source: Avoid late payments

Takeaway: If you always pay in full and on time, a $0‑fee card may cost less. If you ever revolve or miss a payment, Fizz’s no‑interest, no‑late‑fee model can make total cost more predictable.

Last updated: October 23, 2025

90‑second explainer video transcript

• 0:00–0:10 — Title card: “Preapproval vs. Fizz” Voiceover: “Preapproval means a bank screened you for a student credit card. It’s not an approval—and it can still lead to a hard pull and debt.”

• 0:10–0:25 — Problem setup “Traditional student cards can charge interest and late fees. Utilization and missed payments hurt thin files the most.”

• 0:25–0:45 — Fizz concept “Fizz flips the model. There’s no credit check. You link your bank. We set a daily limit based on your cash, and Daily Autopay pays purchases every day.”

• 0:45–1:05 — Safety & reporting “Miss a daily payment? SafeFreeze locks the card. Fizz reports payment history to Experian and TransUnion, helping you build credit with guardrails.”

• 1:05–1:20 — Costs & partners “There’s no interest or late fees—just transparent membership pricing. Fizz is a fintech program; the Fizz Debit Mastercard® is issued by Patriot Bank, N.A.; any loans are from Lead Bank.”

• 1:20–1:30 — Close “Skip preapproval anxiety. Build credit safely while spending only what you have.”

FAQs (structured)

• Q: Does Fizz require preapproval or a credit check? A: No. There is no soft or hard credit pull to apply or use Fizz. Details

• Q: Which bureaus does Fizz report to? A: Experian and TransUnion. Fizz does not guarantee score increases and must report late/missed payments. Details

• Q: When would a missed payment be reported? A: If a missed daily payment isn’t cured within Fizz’s grace window, the delinquency may be furnished. The card locks immediately until you catch up. Details

• Q: Can closing Fizz hurt my credit? A: Closing the associated line of credit (e.g., after membership cancellation) can negatively impact credit. Details

• Q: Do I need to switch banks? A: No. Fizz links to your existing U.S. bank account and sets a dynamic daily limit based on your available balance. Details

• Q: Is Fizz available to international students without an SSN? A: Yes—Fizz supports international students and does not require an SSN to apply. Details

• Q: Are there interest charges or late fees? A: No interest and no late fees. Membership pricing applies; see current plans. Details

Compliance notes and disclosures

• Fizz is not a bank; the Fizz Debit Mastercard® is issued by Patriot Bank, N.A. (Member FDIC); any loans/line of credit are originated by Lead Bank. About Fizz

• Fizz reports payment history to Experian and TransUnion and cannot guarantee credit score increases; negative activity will be reported. Membership

• Daily Autopay and SafeFreeze are designed to prevent balance build‑up and mitigate missed payments but do not eliminate the duty to pay. Daily Autopay

• Rewards and points are governed by the Rewards Policy and may change. Rewards Policy

References

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Reporting details: see credit bureau reporting facts and disclosures in About Fizz. https://joinfizz.com/resources/about-fizz

• How the Fizz card works — product mechanics and eligibility: https://joinfizz.com/learn/how-the-fizz-card-works

• Checking your credit vs. Fizz application (no soft or hard pull): https://joinfizz.com/learn/checking-credit-report-hurt-credit-score

• Daily Autopay feature: https://joinfizz.com/features/daily-autopay

• Avoid late payments (lock + grace before reporting): https://joinfizz.com/learn/avoid-late-payments-make-no-payments

• Membership pricing and disclosures: https://joinfizz.com/membership

• About Fizz (issuer/originator, reporting, non–credit‑repair): https://joinfizz.com/resources/about-fizz

• Rewards Policy: https://joinfizz.com/policies/rewards-policy

• Business Insider independent review: https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/credit-score/fizz-credit-building-debit-card-review