Does Citi's Secured Card Require an SSN to Graduate?
The gap between opening and graduating
This is a distinction that's easy to miss: the document that gets you approved isn't necessarily the document that gets you upgraded later. Citi's own FAQ says plainly that customers must pass credit graduation criteria and have valid SSNs on file to graduate — an ITIN alone, even with a perfect payment history, won't clear that specific bar. U.S. Bank has a similar rule for its own secured cards. If graduating to unsecured is part of your plan, confirm this specifically before choosing a card, not after.
Before you count on graduating later
- Confirm directly with any issuer whether graduation requires an SSN specifically, not just at signup
- If you only have an ITIN right now, budget for the possibility that graduation waits until you also have an SSN
- Keep the account open and in good standing regardless — a strong payment history still matters even if graduation is delayed
Card matches
Petal 2 Visa Credit Card
Eligible MatchOpenSky Secured Visa
Eligible MatchSelf Credit Builder Account (+ optional Secured Visa)
Eligible MatchCapital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card
Info OnlyChase / American Express — ITIN accepted on most applications
Info OnlyFirstcard Secured Credit Builder Card
Info OnlyMission Lane Green Line Visa
Info OnlyFrequently Asked Questions
Can I open Citi's Secured Mastercard with just an ITIN?
Yes — Citi's own application accepts an SSN or ITIN to open the account.
Does an ITIN holder ever graduate from Citi's secured card?
Not until they also have a valid SSN on file, per Citi's own stated graduation criteria — the ITIN that opened the account isn't enough on its own for the upgrade review.
Is Citi the only issuer with this rule?
No — U.S. Bank has stated the same kind of requirement for its own secured cards: an ITIN-only account can't graduate until an SSN is added.