A method for pre-authorizing a credit transaction may include receiving a pre-authorization request including a request identifier, a user identifier, a pre-authorization amount, a time duration identifier, and a vendor identifier, transmitting the pre-authorization request to a server remote from the user device, receiving a pre-authorization confirmation including the request identifier, a confirmation identifier, and a time duration identifier, and displaying a confirmation message that the pre-authorization request has been approved. A user device configured to pre-authorize a credit transaction may include a processor, a display in communication with the processor, a wireless transceiver in communication with the processor and a non-transitory memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform processing including receiving a pre-authorization request, transmitting the pre-authorization request to a server remote from the user device, receiving a pre-authorization confirmation, and displaying a confirmation message that the pre-authorization request has been approved.