Credit 101: What Every International Student Should Know

Hey there!

When you move to the U.S., there’s a long list of things to get used to: adjusting to classes, finding housing, figuring out your personal life. But, there’s one part of American life that often catches international students by surprise: credit.

In the U.S., credit isn’t just about borrowing money. Think of it as your financial reputation - a track record that shows how responsible you are when it comes to handling bills and payments. Landlords, banks, and lenders all look at it when deciding whether to rent you an apartment, approve a loan, or give you a credit card with higher limits. Having no credit history at all can make life harder, even if you’ve always been responsible with money.

That’s why it’s smart to start building credit early - and do it in a way that feels safe and manageable.

So, how does credit actually work?
Credit scores are built on habits. The most important thing is simply paying your bills on time. Even one missed payment can hurt your score, while consistent on-time payments will strengthen it. Lenders also look at how much of your available credit you’re using (called utilization), how long you’ve had accounts open, and the variety of accounts you manage, like student loans or credit cards.

You don’t need to worry about all the technical details at once. Think of it as planting a tree: the earlier you start, and the more consistently you water it, the stronger it grows.

Where international students get stuck
The tricky part is that most U.S. banks won’t give you a credit card without a Social Security Number (SSN). Since you usually don’t get an SSN until you have on-campus employment or CPT/OPT authorization, many students feel like they’re locked out of the system until then. That delay means they start building credit much later than their U.S. classmates.

But that’s where tools built specifically for students - like Fizz - can change the game.

Spotlight: Fizz - Build Credit Without the Stress

Fizz is the #1 student money app designed to help you start building credit without the need for any credit checks, security deposits, or an SSN . Unlike traditional credit cards, you can use the Fizz  debit card to purchase everyday items and pay off your balance each day with Fizz’s Daily Autopay feature. Fizz reports that repayment history to credit bureaus - which means you can build credit safely with less risk of overspending.

Here’s why it works so well for international students:

• No SSN required to apply - once you have an individual tax ID number (ITIN) you can apply as soon as you arrive.

• No hidden fees, no interest, no security deposits, and no late fees.

• Your suggested spending limit, based on your bank balance and how much you’ve already spent on your Fizz Card, helps prevent you from  overspending.

• With Daily Autopay, repayments are automatically made daily, so you never miss a due date.

• Cashback rewards and student discounts make it even sweeter.

Fizz essentially gives you all the benefits of building credit, without many of the usual risks of a traditional credit card. 

As a Roam student, you can use code ROAM to get $10 off your membership when you sign up.

Not an incoming international student? Fill out this quick survey so we can send you tailored content based on where you’re at in your international student journey.

Why this matters for your future
A year from now, you might be applying for your first apartment lease, looking into car financing, or even thinking about graduate school loans. Having a credit history already in place will make all of those things much smoother (and cheaper).

Building credit isn’t something you’ll see immediate results from, but your future self will thank you for starting early. It’s one of those quiet, behind-the-scenes things that can open doors when you least expect it.

So, don’t wait until you “need” credit - because by then, it’s often too late to build it quickly. Start now, start small, and let the good habits compound.

Best,
The Roam Growth Team 🧡