"Rejected." That is the message you will see when you apply for your first Personal Loan or Credit Card if you have no CIBIL score. In India, "No Credit History" is almost as bad as "Bad Credit History." Whether you want to buy an iPhone on EMI, get a bike loan, or apply for a Premium Credit Card, you need a CIBIL score of 750 or higher . But how do you build a score if no bank will give you a loan? This is the classic "Chicken and Egg" problem. Fortunately, in 2025, there are 3 guaranteed ways to build a perfect score without having a job or salary slip. 1. The "FD-Backed" Credit Card (The Golden Ticket) This is the fastest way to build a score from scratch (0 to 750). How it works: You give the bank a small Fixed Deposit (e.g., ₹2,000 or ₹5,000). In return, they give you a Credit Card with a limit of 90% of your deposit. Why banks love it: Since they have your deposit, there is zero risk for them. Best Cards for this: IDFC First WOW...
"Rejected." That is the message you will see when you apply for your first Personal Loan or Credit Card if you have no CIBIL score.
In India, "No Credit History" is almost as bad as "Bad Credit History." Whether you want to buy an iPhone on EMI, get a bike loan, or apply for a Premium Credit Card, you need a CIBIL score of 750 or higher.
But how do you build a score if no bank will give you a loan? This is the classic "Chicken and Egg" problem. Fortunately, in 2025, there are 3 guaranteed ways to build a perfect score without having a job or salary slip.
1. The "FD-Backed" Credit Card (The Golden Ticket)
This is the fastest way to build a score from scratch (0 to 750).
How it works: You give the bank a small Fixed Deposit (e.g., ₹2,000 or ₹5,000). In return, they give you a Credit Card with a limit of 90% of your deposit.
Why banks love it: Since they have your deposit, there is zero risk for them.
Best Cards for this:
IDFC First WOW: Zero joining fee, backed by ₹2,000 FD.
OneCard (Metal): Very popular among students, starts with ₹2,000 FD.
Kotak 811 DreamDifferent: Excellent for students.
2. Activate "Amazon Pay Later" or "Flipkart Pay Later"
You shop on Amazon anyway, right? Use it to build your score.
The Trick: When you sign up for "Amazon Pay Later," a lending partner (like IDFC or Axio) opens a small loan account in your name.
The Strategy: Buy something small (like a book or shampoo) for ₹200 using Pay Later. Pay the bill on the 1st of next month.
Result: This counts as a "Loan Repayment" in your CIBIL report, boosting your score instantly.
3. Never Spend More Than 30%
Getting the card is Step 1. Using it correctly is Step 2.
The Rule: If your card limit is ₹10,000, never spend more than ₹3,000 in a month.
Why: If you use 90% of your limit, banks think you are "Credit Hungry" and desperate for money. This lowers your score. Keep your utilization under 30%.
4. Correct Your Name on Your PAN Card
Sometimes, your score is zero because of a typo.
Check: Ensure your Name and Date of Birth match exactly on your PAN Card and Bank Account. If there is a mismatch, CIBIL can't track your payments.
Conclusion: Start Today
A CIBIL score takes 6 months to build. If you start today, you will have a 750+ score by the time you graduate. This will help you get cheap Education Loans and Premium Credit Cards with free lounge access.
Need money to open that first Fixed Deposit?
Use my guide to earn that initial ₹2,000 here: 👉
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