Applied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Preferred® Credit Card

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Applied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Preferred® Credit Card
  • Minimum Credit Required: Bad
  • Network: VISA
  • Online Response:No
  • Secured Credit Card:Min Deposit of $200
 
 
 
Details
  • This card does not have a grace period, which means that interest will begin getting assessed as soon as you make a purchase.
  • Guaranteed Approval Regardless of Your Past Credit History. No Credit Checks.
  • Monthly Credit Bureau Reporting.
  • 9.99% Low Fixed APR - Your Rate Won't Change Even if You Are Late.
  • Choose Your Credit Limit - From $200 to $5,000.
 
 
Fees
Annual Fee $50 Monthly Fee None One-time Fees None
 
 
Purchases & Cash Advances:
Purchase Rate 9.99% Fixed Grace Period 0 days
Cash Advance Rate 9.99% Fixed Cash Advance Fee 5% (min $5)
 
 
 
Rewards: No 
 
 
Penalties:
Max Late Fee Up to $35 Max Overlimit Fee None Max Penalty APR None
 
 
Your Recommendation
2.2
Your Rating: 1 2 3 4 5  
Overall Rating: 2.2 / 5 from 601 users

If you currently have the Applied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Preferred® Credit Card and are satisfied or you like the terms of this credit card offer please let your friends know.

 
 
 
 
 
 
back to top Reviews & Discussion

Share your experiences, thoughts or just ask a question:

  • Alicia Frisone:
    I had originally got this card to rebuild my credit after some financial distress. The application process was fast, but I didn't receive my card for almost 2 months. When I called Applied Bank, they kept giving me round about answers! The first time I called, they said it was in the mail. After a week, I called back and they told me they were missing some information and had to reprocess. After another two weeks, I called and they said it was in the mail again. This went on until I finally received my card (I applied in January, received in March). Once I got my card in the mail, I found out that they only report to 2 credit bureaus (they do not report to Experian) so it didn't fulfill my goal of increasing all my credit scores.
    May 6, 2013 at 01:46pm
  • Joaquin De Torres:
    Applied Bank took my money back in March and I've been waiting for my card. When I went to the website to check the status, I put in my name and SSN and got: "We received your application on....... but we were unable to approve it...." So, my most important question is: WHEN DO THEY REFUND ME MY DEPOSIT? Should I call them about it?
    April 27, 2013 at 03:14pm
  • Stacey Rucker:
    I got this card just about 4 months ago I needed a card to rebuild my credit. The 50.00 annual charge was not that pleasing to me but I did not want to go through some of the hard up credit card companies. I went ahead and put 300.00 on this card I only use it for emergencies but I do like having as it shows. That I make my payments on time and am capable of managing my money and credit card bill.The only issue with this card is the high interest if you go and do not pay your bill they charge you a high interest rate its crazy. They have excellent customer service and friendly.
    March 14, 2013 at 04:08pm
  • Will Button:
    Although I've had bad experiences with many credit cards in the past, this one has been the 'lesser of the evils'. The annual charge of $50 did kind of seem weird, but at the time of opening it, I had plenty of funds so it wasn't an issue. I kept the balance somewhat low for the first few months and didn't really pay attention to the high interest. It wasn't until I put a decent amount of money on it one month and didn't pay it off that I noticed the interest was quite high. I try not to put too many purchases on this card, but I know it's there just in case of an emergency. Overall, this card is great for smaller purchases. Now that I"m reading about making advance payments online without a penalty, I'm going to look into that.
    March 6, 2013 at 02:48pm
  • Anjelica Latora:
    Unfortunately this card is not all it's cracked up to be. They tell you all the perks up front to get you to apply and then fail to deliver everything they spoke of all while concealing the less appealing parts of the card like the extremely high interest rate. Having limited experience with credit cards before this one, I was expecting it to be the best so far considering its title and rank. This was a pretty terrible introduction to "gold" ranked credit cards. Maybe the card would be better suited for others, but I was disappointed and remain unsatisfied by my experiences with it.
    March 1, 2013 at 08:17pm
  • Sher-yce Reese:
    I have had a few credit cards in my life, and this is one of my least favorites. I feel as if they say a lot of things to get you to apply and get the card, but soon after, a lot of their promises are not met. I was not aware that the interest would be as high as it was, because when I applied, the customer service rep told me a completely different number. I was told that since I had such bad credit, the the interest rate would have to be increased. I am not at all bashing this card, but just writing about my experiences. I would only recommend this card to someone with decent credit, and not horrible credit like mine. They do have very polite customer service if you ever have an issue and need to call. Overall, the card was just not the right one for me, and it has since been paid off and cancelled.
    February 8, 2013 at 07:05pm
  • Veronica Ruggiero:
    Last year when I was trying to rebuild my credit, I signed up for the Applied Bank secured card. I figured this would be a great way to build my credit. I was not surprised by the $50 annual fee since that is stated up front, but I was pretty surprised at the interest rates I was being charged monthly. I was told my rate would be much lower when I applied, which is the main reason I applied. When I was hit with this ridiculous fee, I tried calling the customer service line and wasn't able to speak to anyone live for a half hour. This isn't very good customer service if you ask me! I ended up just paying everything off and closing out the card. I really would not recommend this one.
    December 26, 2012 at 07:35pm
  • Chad Mikel:
    My credit history is not so great. I’ve recently got a lot of old bills paid off. My credit score is still quite low. I needed a credit card for two reasons. The first reason being that I travel quite often and most hotels require a credit card at check-in. You can use a debit card but the hold that they often place is outrageous and it can take up to a week for that hold to fall off. I also needed something concrete on my credit history to show the major credit bureaus that I was actually capable of paying my bills on time and worthy of being a reliable credit card owner. After reading some of the reviews, I must say that I wasn’t shocked to see credit card’s being offered through banks that I’ve never even heard of. I decided to go with the Applied Bank Secured Visa Gold Credit Card. I loathe MasterCard and I refused to get a card with that logo. That was one of the deciding factors for the Applied Bank Card as well as the credit limit(s) offered. I felt like with the credit limit that I was offered, I was able to enjoy the perks of a credit card without getting in over my head. I’m able to go “splurge” shopping every now and then and still able to make my payment. Paying at check-in at a hotel with a credit card has probably been my favorite feature! You have no idea how much hassle this saves. Applied Bank Secured Visa Gold Credit Card has excellent service reps, they’re more than willing to help you answer all your questions or any problems that you may have. I never feel like I’m anything but a loyal customer who has been with them for ages despite being with them for less than a year. The rates and interests are competitive but fair. I would suggest anyone with a shaky credit history and looking for a credit card, to check out Applied Bank Secured Visa Gold Credit Card.
    December 26, 2012 at 02:59pm
  • Patrick Olexa:
    The want you to pay 100.00 for a 300.00 credit limit raise. How insane is this?
    December 3, 2012 at 04:33pm
  • Adrian Półtorzycki:
    Applied Bank Secured Visa Gold Credit Card has majorly disappointed my standards in credit cards. When I first got this card I was convinced that a gold card would have “gold” standards if you know what I mean, but alas that was not the case. Not only is the credit limit really low the APR is also way too high in my opinion. When I was talking to customer service about this card I was also really disappointed at how darn rude those people were. I would not recommend this card for anyone except maybe for some people who I really dislike but even they should not deserve this kind of punishment.
    October 11, 2012 at 03:38pm
  • Ashley Gordon:
    How do a 200 dollar limit get u
    October 8, 2012 at 05:56am
  • Anonymous User:
    I got this card in July (2 and a half months ago). This was one of the few credit cards I could choose from because of my low beginner credit score. I've been using it mostly for grocery shopping, and never spend more than 30% of the limit at a time, because I was told that's how you raise your score the fastest. When I first received it I had no idea how everything works so I called them and a representative walked me through all aspects of the card. He explained to me when and how to pay it off, and even how to contact the 3 credit bureaus to make sure the info they have about me is correct. I pay it now online straight through my bank's checking account.I am pretty satisfied with it, because my main concern right now is raising my credit score as oppose to actually using a lot of credit, so I'm content even with a low limit for now. And I also understand that later I can 'upgrade' this card to a regular one with higher limit so it's perfect for me. If you are debating regarding this card - go for it! can't think of anything negative to say about it, I am satisfied.
    September 14, 2012 at 04:02pm
  • JoeyandAmanda Williams:
    Throughout my life I have never been a fan of credit cards. However, I saw that I needed one for many reasons, so I chose the Applied Bank Gold Card. I did not have bad credit, I just did not have any credit at all. Now, after using this card for almost three years, I have what is referred to as excellent credit. The customer service when setting up my account was wonderful. Over the years, this card has given me no problems what so ever. It was truly a dream come true. Although I started out weary of credit cards, I now am in extreme favor, especially for the Applied Bank Gold Card. It has truly been a lifesaver. I would definitely recommend this card to anyone.
    September 14, 2012 at 03:27pm
  • Dara Mirzaie:
    I got this card months ago. I had horrible credit and had no way of knowing if I would ever get a card again. Luckily, this card helped me build back my credit. This is perfect if you are someone like me, just out of college, made a few mistakes, but looking to get your life back on track. This offered me a way to build up my credit so that later on I could get a loan for my car. Even if you have made mistakes in the past it is never too late to get on the right track, and this is the best way to do so. Customer Service was always excellent as as well.
    September 5, 2012 at 07:32pm
  • Anonymous User:
    Years and years ago back when I was first trying to establish my credit, being late to the game I had to jump through many hoops to find the right card for me. I tried many different secured cards, and the Applied bank secured gold visa credit card was one of them. How is the card? It's fair. Pretty average I would aay. It's not horrible, but it's not the best either. The APR is lower than most secured cards but the annual fee is also higher as well. The required initial deposit is higher than a few other secured cards as well. The customer service was alright. Average at best. That's the best way to describe this card. It gets the job done if you need a secured card, but really I would go with another card myself.
    September 5, 2012 at 07:01pm
  • Sylvester Lionel Jr.:
    I know this card reports to the credit bureaus, my question is does it report it as a "secured card" report? I know that sometimes will deter the rebuilding of credit (which is my whole reason as to why I want one).
    September 1, 2012 at 09:49pm
  • Brandon Dodd:
    After having a hard time finding a credit card to suit my needs, I was extremely happy to come across the Applied Bank Secured Visa Gold Credit Card. This credit card has helped me build my credit up from rock bottom. There are no hidden fees and no pressure to do things because you're obligated by the company. I can honestly say that this is the most useful card in my wallet. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a dependable card that can help you build your credit rating up and still provide high-functionality and usefulness.
    August 30, 2012 at 02:59pm
  • Dennis Keith Webb:
    This card was simple and easy to get. One of the reasons that I chose this card was that there was no credit check at the time in order to be approved. After filling out some basic personal information, my application was approved and all I needed to do was submit my security deposit in the amount that I desired my credit limit to be. I opened this account with a $300 deposit as to keep my payments affordable. After using this card for a while, I switched to another sub prime card that has a grace period and lower annual membership fees. Otherwise, I had no adverse experience while using this card as my primary credit card.
    August 18, 2012 at 02:45am
  • Clarence Baldwin Jr:
    I'm going to say this: If your credit sucked like mine did, then a secured card does wonders when you need credit for practical reasons (i.e. car rentals, hotel stays, etc). But in my three years of having this card, there are real hassles with them. For one, you can't get through to a live person after 3pm Pacific time Monday through Friday and they are completely unavailable on the weekends, which can be a problem if something happens and you HAPPEN to be out of town or something on the weekend! Another problem I have is the length of time it takes for any transaction that is pending to post. I have had to wait as long as 16 days to have credit returned to my account. That is unacceptable. So ultimately, this card is exactly what it is meant to be...something for people who are desperate and otherwise unable to attain an unsecured line of credit from a more reputable bank/credit company.
    August 6, 2012 at 08:09pm
  • John Updegraff:
    I chose this card to help me establish a better credit rating. I have always had trouble qualifying for a credit card base on my credit from a home foreclosure. I found Applied Banks Secured V and loved the low annual fee and rate of 9.9%. I appreciate that it does not go up if I am late on occasion. It is nice that there are no monthly fees, just the $50 annual fee. There are also very limited other random fees that show up on a lot of other credit cards that I have had in the past. Applied Bank has a very good customer service when you have to call with a question. They do not waste your time on the phone or try to sell you more services or lines of credit. Overall a worthy card and company.
    July 25, 2012 at 03:46pm
  • Anonymous User:
    This actually has been a very useful card to me in trying to re-establish my credit rating. One of the first things that caught my eye was the very fair interest rate, which you do not normally see on a secured card like this. Another amazing thing that you rarely see on a secured type card is that this card will not even increase a card holders interest rate if they fail to make timely payments. Although I was never late on a payment. With one low yearly fee and no monthly, this is really a great credit card. Customer service is friendly and easy to work with every time I call. I've shared this great card with friends looking to do the same thing I'm doing - rebuild credit.
    July 25, 2012 at 03:27pm
  • Nicki Hall:
    I chose this card as a way to rebuild my credit. After going through a messy divorce, I had some troubles qualifying for a traditional credit card. That's when I found Applied Banks secured visa. After researching secured credit cards, Applied Banks seemed the best match for me. There is a low interest rate of 9.9%, and it doesn't go up if you are late on a payment. Another great feature is that it reports your payments to the credit bureau monthly, which is wonderful for helping to rebuild your credit score. It is nice that there are no monthly fees, just the $50 annual fee. There are also very limited other random fees that show up on a lot of other credit cards that I have had in the past. Applied Bank has a very good customer service when you have to call with a question. They understood me and were able to communicate back very well. They solved my problem in one phone call! I would recommend the Applied Bank Secured Visa to others who are trying to rebuild their credit.
    July 25, 2012 at 02:04pm
  • Jordan Biscardo:
    I chose this card because of the low interest rates and because it is geared toward students just like myself. Personally, I have never had any problems with customer service or the actual functionality of the card at all. It's very easy to use, and the best part is that there is no sneaky billing done by the head bank, Applied Bank. Whenever I've called with any questions, Applied Bank's customer service representatives have been very courteous and respectful. I have yet to have a single negative experience using this card and/or Applied Bank, and I don't expect any in the future!
    July 25, 2012 at 01:21pm
  • Heather Novak Hardy:
    I chose this credit card to begin rebuilding my credit. I have pretty bad credit from a few years ago, and am now trying to rebuild it. My score is too low to get an unsecured card, so I chose this secured card. I enjoy that they report to the credit agencies, not all secured cards do. Also, I like that there are not too many fees associated with the card, as long as you pay on time and at least the minimum amount. I receive friendly reminders in my E-mail reminding me to pay my bill as well, which helps with the promptness, which is important when trying to rebuild a good credit score.
    July 18, 2012 at 05:01pm
  • Naomi Kovar:
    I used the Applied Bank Secured Visa Gold credit card because I wanted to avoid accumulating too much credit card debt. My credit also wasn't good enough for me to qualify for the unsecured credit cards I wanted. Using the Applied Bank Secured Visa credit card improved my credit rating. After I had had the account open for about a year, Applied Bank offered me additional unsecured credit. By using a secured credit card, I was always able to pay my balance when it was due each month, so I never had to pay late fees or finance charges. It worked well for me because I wasn't tempted to spend more than I could afford.
    July 3, 2012 at 05:29pm
  • Anonymous User:
    How do I increase my limit?
    June 30, 2012 at 07:31pm
  • Jonella Bella:
    I signed up for this card and gave them my banking information. They withdrew the funds from my account and then hit my account another 2 times citing their fine print and claiming that my account came back as insufficient funds. My account was not NSF and the monies were in fact debited on 3 separate occasions. Once I actually got in contact with a representative at their company, I was told that I would need to go down to my bank and verify that I was who I said I was. When I told them that I was at work and would not be able to get there during my break they told me that they would no longer speak to me and disconnected the phone call. Next day I went down to the bank after taking a full extra hour out of my work schedule, and once I got through to the manager on the phone she told us that I was not even in their system. Eventually my bank had to make a police report and fax it to them. This card has inconvenienced my life and cost me over $600. I would not apply for this card if you are able to avoid it and choose a different company.
    May 31, 2012 at 05:17pm
  • Colin A. Mattis:
    Took my money and than told me I was not yet approved. Their argument that I had to verify the bank account was BS as they already had withdrawn my money. It is just another way of slowing down the consumers ability to access their funds while Applied has full use of your money.
    May 16, 2012 at 08:06pm
  • Margie Cole:
    Should you apply for the Applied Bank Secured Credit Card? That is indeed the question. But how do you answer it? When I look at a new credit card offer I like to work backwards from my needs. Given your obvious interest in secured cards, it’s likely that you need a card that A) you can qualify for b) that helps you build, rebuild or maintain your credit standing and C) that minimizes the cost of doing so. You’re certainly on the right track because secured credit cards offer the closest you’ll find to guarantee approval and they report to the major credit bureaus, which means you can improve your credit standing by adding positive information to your credit reports on a monthly basis via either on time bill payment or simply locking your card away unused. Whether or not the Applied Bank Secured Card is the right choice for the job is another story entirely. Pros - The Applied Bank Secured Visa Gold Credit Card offers pretty much assured approval, but all secured cards do so. - It also requires a $200 minimum deposit, the lowest you’ll find, but still not a differentiating factor between this and other cards. - 9.99% fixed APR: This is pretty low, but you should always pay your secured card bills in full because it’s a good habit to get into for later credit card use. Cons - $50 annual fee: This is the biggest downside to the Applied Bank Secured Visa, as it’s a rather steep fixed cost for a card that naturally protects the issuer with a refundable security deposit. Ultimately, the one con outweighs the three pros and the Applied Bank Secured Gold Visa Card isn’t the best choice for secured card users. The Orchard Bank Secured Card does not charge any membership fees in the first year ($35 after that), and one year of proper secured card use is enough to build the credit standing necessary to qualify for an unsecured card. So to return to your original question, no you should not apply for the Applied Bank Secured Card. What does everyone else think?
    April 11, 2012 at 05:04pm
  • Joe Weider:
    Credit card companies sure do love using the word “gold” in the names of their products. Unfortunately, the Applied Bank Secured Visa Gold Credit Card isn’t like a “pot of gold” or a “gold mine” or anything like that. Rather, when you compared to other secured credit cards, using the Applied Bank Secured Visa Gold Card is like giving up gold. In other words, it costs a lot more. The main thing to look out for when evaluating a secured credit card is fixed costs. The reason why is that you can build credit whether you actually make purchases with your credit card or not. You can either make purchases and pay for them on time or you can just lock your card away in good standing. Either way, positive information will be relayed to your major credit reports on a monthly basis, and having a card with low or no fixed costs lets you preserve the choice of using it or not. With that being said, the Applied Bank Secured Visa charges a $50 annual fee, making it more expensive than most of its competition. It doesn’t really matter what the card’s rates are because you should always pay your bills in full when building or rebuilding credit, primarily so you can keep costs down but also so you can get in good habits. Other secured cards have lower APRs than the Applied Bank Secured Visas anyway. Ok, so the Applied Bank Secured Visa Gold Credit Card obviously isn’t up to snuff and you clearly need alternatives. Without a doubt, the best card to go for is the Orchard Bank Secured MasterCard, since it has no fixed costs in the first year ($35 annual fee beginning in the second year). It’s the most cost-effective credit building tool, which is what you’re looking for from a secured credit card.
    January 24, 2012 at 05:06pm
 

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The card information shown on this page was last updated: May 2nd, 2013 at 11:37 EDT


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