Credit Compound
Visa
Petal 2
Personal · No AF

Petal 2 Visa

The fee-free starter card that proved cash flow underwriting works, now closed to new applicants.

7.0/10PetalpersonalCash Back
View Current OfferBest for: Existing cardholders keeping a fee-free tradeline alive

Welcome Bonus

None

No welcome offer, closed to new applications

Spend Requirement

None

Annual Fee

$0

No FTF

Credit Score

No

credit history required (cash flow underwriting)

Historical Offers Chart

Every public offer change we've tracked. Hover for details, timing your application is worth hundreds of dollars.

Sign-Up Bonus (value)Spending Requirement ($)
$0$0$0$0$0$0$0.375$0.75$1.125$1.5Sign-Up BonusSpending Requirement ($)

Last verified 2026-06-10 · spot an outdated offer? Tell us in the comments.

Earning Rates

  • 1xAll purchases
  • 1xSelect merchant offers earn 2% to 10%

Credits

No statement credits, this card wins on earn rates, not coupons.

Benefits

  • No fees of any kind: no annual, late, foreign transaction, or returned payment fees
  • Cash flow underwriting approves applicants with no credit file
  • Cash back grows to 1.5% with on-time payment history
  • Reports to all three credit bureaus

Why it earns its spot

  • +Zero fee structure was unmatched in the starter category
  • +Approval without any credit history
  • +Existing cardholders keep their accounts and reporting

Where it costs you

  • Closed to new applications after the Empower acquisition
  • New applicants are routed to the Tilt Card instead
  • Product development has stalled under the new owner

The Compound Verdict

Petal 2 was the best first card in America for people with thin files, and its closure is a real loss. Empower bought Petal in 2024 and has since shut new applications, steering applicants to its Tilt Card. If you already hold one, keep it open: the zero-fee terms are grandfathered and the aging tradeline helps your score.

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