SelfScore Rebrands As Deserve – Raises $12 Million – Credit Cards For Those With No Credit History

SelfScore initially launched a credit card targeted towards international students with no credit score or SSN. They have rebranded to Deserve and have just finished raising $12 million. They now offer three credit cards:

  • Deserve Classic
  • Deserve Edu
  • Deserve Pro

The first two options are designed for people with no credit history and Deserve Pro is designed for those who do have a credit history. When comparing to their old SelfScore cards, it seems the Deserve Edu is the same as the SelfScore Achieve Rewards card and Deserve Classic is similar to the basic SelfScore card with an annual fee of $39. Deserve Pro is a completely new product. Let’s review each card in a bit more detail.

Deserve Classic Review

  • Annual fee of $39
  • Credit limit of up to $1,500
  • SSN required
  • No rewards program
  • 23.99% APR

This card is quite bad. It has an annual fee and it still requires a SSN to be eligible. This seems like a typical credit card targeted towards people with bad credit with relatively high fees and no rewards program. I don’t see why anybody would want to apply for this card when there are better options out there.

Deserve Edu Review

  • No annual fee
  • 1% cash back on all purchases
  • Amazon Prime Student membership as a sign up bonus
  • Credit limit of up to $5,000
  • No SSN required
  • Card earns 1% cash back on all purchases
  • 19.74% APR
  • Requires the following:

Honestly one of the better/best cards for international students with no credit history. Comes with a sign up bonus and earns 1% cash back on all purchases. I still think a card like Discover it Secured might be a better option if you do have an SSN though.

Deserve Pro Review

  • No annual fee
  • Credit limit of up to $10,000
  • SSN required
  • Card earns at the following rates:
    • 3% cash back on travel and entertainment
    • 2% cash back on restaurants
    • 1% cash back on all other purchases
    • Limit of $500 in spend on 2% & 3% categories
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 16.99% to 23.99% APR

Basically a standard rewards card with no sign up bonus and very average categories. Only the 3% categories would be useful as you should be earning at least 2% cash back on all purchase. Don’t think signing up for this card makes any sense at all.

Our Verdict

To recap SelfScore made one of their cards worse (by adding the annual fee), one slightly better (the Edu card now comes with Amazon Prime Student) and added a useless rewards card. Deserve would be wise to focus on their core business of providing value to wealthy international students without SSNs and credit history rather than trying to compete in other market segments.

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Kristin
Kristin (@guest_827532)
October 19, 2019 13:42

I’ve been using Deserve Edu for 2 years (no SSN used to apply — which I think is the main advantage) and got approved at 1 year for $2500 limit, then a $3500 credit limit just this month. Also, support told me that the card is automatically upgraded to Deserve Pro given some credit history.

Even though there’s no signup bonus, you can get a really small referral bonus ($30) by using a referral link. Here’s mine if you need: [removed]

Nickod777
Nickod777 (@guest_710862)
January 23, 2019 17:51

 William Charles Just gonna say that the cards have changed slightly since then, and have become slightly more beneficial. I’ll screencap and post in the perks in this imgur link: https://i.imgur.com/cb4K3x2.png

and the Deserve Classic no longer has the annual fee. However, you need to show that you need the card for rebuilding credit, by having a low credit. As support told me. They gave me 1 free pass telling me they were going to deny me without a hard inquiry.

abey
abey (@guest_713323)
January 28, 2019 18:26

yep not bad for a no af card to include phone protection,,, especially for students. maybe a new post is order  William Charles ? https://www.deserve.com/credit-cards/

Misty_nep
Misty_nep (@guest_576931)
April 3, 2018 01:45

Deserve Pro can use Discover checking to pay the bill. You can earn extra 1% cash back when you pay your Deserve credit card in your checking account.

Ben
Ben (@guest_501490)
October 26, 2017 10:26

I wouldn’t necessarily say the Deserve Classic is bad. It’s an unsecured credit card for bad credit. A $39 annual fee isn’t terrible, and there are a surprising amount of people who can’t afford a security deposit.

John
John (@guest_500849)
October 25, 2017 13:31

What tends to code as “entertainment”? Movie theaters, I assume…how about Netflix and other sVOD subscription services? Strip clubs? Casinos? Broadway theatres?

Just curious to disambiguate…might be some opportunity there.

Culinarykid92
Culinarykid92 (@guest_501264)
October 26, 2017 00:16

I emailed them and will write back if I get a reply. As I wanted to know that as well. And how broad or narrow the travel category is, especially considering the new Uber card.

Just to point this out, the $500 monthly limit might be on purchases, as that is what the FAQ on their website says. Yet the terms say $500 monthly in bonus cash. I also emailed them about that, and will let people know if they get back to me. After all, a $500 purchase cap monthly, makes the card not that interesting at $6000 Max in combined spending.

Culinarykid92
Culinarykid92 (@guest_500803)
October 25, 2017 12:39

Deserve Pro has no AF and no FTF so you can add it to that list. The 2% and 3% combined can only earn $500 monthly according to the terms, so most people will not hit that limit. Not a bad card for those who travel semi-often, but don’t want to deal with transfer partners or booking through a specific portal/airline/hotel for maximum rewards. The no signup bonus is a bit of a problem though, and the $25 min redemption.