The Reflex Card is an expensive starter credit card for people with limited or no credit history, as well as those with bad credit looking to start over. It belongs to the
Mastercard credit card network but is issued by Celtic Bank and managed by Continental Finance Company.
The Reflex Credit Card’s APR, at
35.90% (Fixed), is among the highest offered to newcomers right now. And, even more importantly, the Reflex Card’s combination of annual and monthly fees. That should be a deal-breaker for most would-be applicants, especially considering how many no annual fee credit cards are currently available to people with no credit and even bad credit.
If you pass the prequalification check, which won’t affect your credit score, it’s possible to get instantly approved for an account if you officially apply for the Reflex Mastercard online. But it’s probably best not to see for yourself. Below, you can learn more about why most people should take a pass on submitting a Reflex Credit Card application.
Reflex Mastercard Review Highlights
Built for building credit
The Reflex Mastercard is available to applicants with limited or bad credit history. It also reports account information to the three major credit bureaus each month. That means on-time payments and reasonable credit utilization will lead to credit-score gains.
Annual fees are much higher than average
The Reflex Card’s annual fee is
$75 - $125 the first year your account is open. From the second year on it can be joined by a $12.50 monthly fee. That brings the maintenance-fee total to $225 - $275 in the second and subsequent years.
The average credit card annual fee is
about $22.29 right now. So you definitely don’t want to pay to own the Reflex Mastercard for any longer than necessary.
Regular APR is higher than the average penalty APR
If you carry a balance from month to month with the Reflex Card, it will quickly grow in cost, thanks to the card’s
35.90% (Fixed) regular APR. To put that figure into context, the average regular APR on a credit card is
22.89%, and the average penalty APR is roughly
27.35%. As a result, Reflex Card users should be especially careful to always pay their bill in full by the monthly due date.
Instant approval is possible
If you apply online and Celtic Bank (the card’s issuer) is immediately able to verify your identity and ability to pay, you could be approved for an account right away. Otherwise, it may take a few business days to receive a decision. After approval, it usually takes 3 business days to get a physical card in the mail.
Watch out for foreign fees and late fees
In addition to its pricey annual and monthly fees, the Reflex Credit Card adds a surcharge of
3% to every transaction processed abroad. And if you miss due dates, you could have to pay hefty late fees.
Applicants need a checking account to get approved
Most credit cards require cardholders to have a bank account with which to make monthly payments. But it’s still important to point out, especially if you’re new to credit.
Key Reflex Card Info
- Annual Fee: $75 - $125
- Monthly Fee: $0 1st year, up to $12.50 after. Waived for those with a $750 or $1,000 credit limit
- Regular APR: 35.90% (Fixed)
- Rewards: None
- Min. Credit Score: Bad
- Card Network: Mastercard
- Card Issuer: Celtic Bank
- Customer Service Number: 866-449-4514
- How to Apply: Online, after prequalification
Note: This review is not provided, commissioned or endorsed by any issuer. Opinions and ratings are our own.