Secured Credit Cards |
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Narrow your search for a Secured Credit Card
Secured Credit Cards are credit cards for people with bad credit or no credit. Compare the options listed below and find the best secured credit cards to rebuild credit or start your credit history while minimizing the fees that you will have to pay. Only secured credit cards that report to the credit bureau are included below. Prior to getting a secured credit card, you need to place a fully refundable security deposit of at least $200. In most cases, you can do so online, over the phone or by mailing a check or money order. This deposit becomes the amount of your credit line and it is returned to you when you close, in good standing, your secured credit card. An important benefit of the security deposit is that it allows most secured credit cards for bad credit to offer you guaranteed approval regardless of your credit history or income. You can build or rebuild your credit history by making your payments on time to all of your creditors and by maintaining your balances under the credit limits.
Capital One® Secured Mastercard®
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First Progress Platinum Elite MasterCard® Secured Credit Card
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First Progress Platinum Prestige MasterCard® Secured Credit Card
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First Progress Platinum Select MasterCard® Secured Credit Card
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Harley-Davidson® Secured Credit Card
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Merrick Bank Secured Credit Card
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Open SkySM Secured Visa® Credit Card
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Wells Fargo® Secured Credit Card
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We work hard to present you with the most accurate credit card information, however, this information does not originate from us and thus, we do not guarantee the accuracy of the information. Certain offers originate from paying advertisers, and this will be noted on a card’s details page, when applicable.
Before you apply for a credit card we recommend that you review and verify the credit card terms and conditions on the credit card company's web site. Please let us know if you find any differences related to the Secured Credit Cards shown on this page.
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What is a secured credit card? As mentioned above, a secured credit card is exactly like any other credit card, with the sole exception being that you place a security deposit in opening it and, upon closing it in good standing, get that security deposit back. Other than that, there is literally no difference.
Why use a secured credit card? There are three main reasons to open a secured credit card: to build credit no matter how bad your credit standing may be, to ensure you do not spend more than you can afford and to make certain purchases that require use of a credit card.
First, if you have damaged or limited credit, a secured credit card offers the ability to build credit cheaply. With that being said, whether or not you actually use a secured card to make purchases is a matter of personal preference. Your credit score will benefit regardless based on the fact that you’ll be reported monthly to the major credit bureaus as having a certain amount of available credit in good standing. Making everyday purchases and paying for them in full will provide slightly higher gains in terms of your credit score, but if you’ve had problems with credit in the past, you may feel more comfortable simply locking your secured credit card away in a drawer.
Second, if you are concerned that you cannot spend responsibly, a secure card will help you avoid getting in over your head thanks to a security deposit that acts as your spending limit.
Third, secured credit cards provide a means of making purchases that cannot be completed with cash—car rentals, hotel bookings and online shopping, for example—while also giving you $0 fraud liability.
Why have a security deposit? A security deposit allows credit card companies to offer essentially guaranteed approval and relatively low fees, given that it protects them from consumers who default on their credit cards. While the security deposit required to open a secured credit card often scares off consumers, it’s actually a benefit. First of all, because your monthly spending cannot surpass the amount of your security deposit, you’re far less likely to spend beyond your means with a secured credit card than a traditional unsecured credit card. Second, it’s only because of the security deposit that many consumers are afforded a second chance at credit card use. Finally, don’t forget that the deposit is refundable, so even though you’ll be slightly less liquid after opening a secured card to rebuild credit, you won’t ultimately be out any money as long as you do not have an unpaid balance upon closing the card.
Are secured credit cards reported to the major credit bureaus? Yes. The activity on secured cards is reported to the major credit bureaus in the same way the activity on all other credit cards is reported. In fact, when a lender reviews your credit report they can not tell whether you have a secured credit card or an unsecured credit card.
Do secured cards offer guaranteed approval? The short answer to this question is “yes.” However, if you have recently gone through bankruptcy, there are some banks that may not be willing to approve you for a secured card until your debts have been discharged for at least a year. In the unlikely event that you do not get approved for a secure card, just apply for another bank’s secured credit card because your key priority should be getting a credit card as soon as possible in order to lessen the weight of negative information on your credit reports.
What’s a good deposit amount for a new secured credit card? A minimum security deposit between $200 and $500 is generally required to open a secured credit card. As your credit line will most likely mirror the amount of your deposit, the higher the security deposit, the more available credit you will have. Similarly, the more available credit you have, the more favorably you will be viewed by credit scoring agencies, such as FICO. As you can imagine, using only a portion of your credit gets easier with higher credit lines. As a result, we recommend placing the highest deposit possible when you apply for a secured credit card and adding to it over time. Just keep in mind that most secured credit card issuers won’t allow your total deposit to exceed $5,000.
How should I use my secured credit card in order to improve my credit? First and foremost, make sure you don’t miss a single minimum payment. Second, add to your deposit over time, since higher credit limits look better on your credit report. Finally, make sure to only spend up to 50% of your limit each month, as lenders like to see a low utilization ratio (this is the balance on your secure card at the end of the month in relation to your credit line).
How can I move from a secured credit card to an unsecured card? In general, issuers will approve you for an unsecured card after about a year of responsible secured card use (i.e. making on-time payments to all credit cards and loans.) Switching from a secured card to an unsecured credit card typically occurs in one of the following ways:
- You close your secured card after getting approved for an unsecured card – As long as your balance in paid in full, your secured card issuer will send you a check for the amount of your security deposit.
- Your issuer offers you a credit limit increase – If the bank that issued your secured credit card reviews your account and concludes that you have proven yourself a responsible credit user, it might offer you a credit limit increase. This would convert your secured credit card to a partially unsecured card, and your deposit will not be returned until you close this account.
- Your issuer converts your account to an unsecured credit card account – In this scenario, your existing account will remain open but your deposit will be returned to you via check or as a statement credit.
