Which Is The Best Secured Credit Card

Why You Might Want The Opensky Secured Visa Credit Card

NO CREDIT CHECK REQUIRED

Bad credit can make it hard to qualify for credit cards even secured credit cards, in some cases. It won’t stop you from qualifying for the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card, though, which doesn’t run a credit check when you apply.

To be sure, approval isnt guaranteed. To qualify, you’ll still need to meet certain requirements. For example, youll need to:

• Provide a Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number.

• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

• Have a monthly income greater than your monthly expenses.

• Pay a security deposit, which will be refunded if the account is closed in good standing.

Overall, though, it’s relatively easy to get approved for this card. And if you’ve racked up rejections already, the lack of a credit check might make this card a compelling choice.

NO BANK ACCOUNT REQUIRED

Most cards require you to have a bank account, putting them out of reach for the unbanked. The OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card doesn’t. You can pay the security deposit with a money order or a Western Union payment. Credit card bills can also be paid by money order. However, if you already use these services, you know that they cost money, which adds up over time.

ACTIVITY REPORTED TO all three CREDIT BUREAUS

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Secured Credit Cards

As with all financial products, secured credit cards have their own set of pros and cons. Lets explore them in depth below.

Advantages

• Build or repair credit: If you have poor or no credit history, a secured credit card can help you build or repair your credit. This is a necessary step for individuals with big financial goals, such as to purchase a car or home.
• Opportunity to obtain a regular credit card: Some secured credit card issuers offer their customers a regular credit card after a certain period of responsible credit management. If your goal is to get a regular credit card, this is a great way to segway.
• Approval not an issue: Unlike with regular credit cards, there are no approval requirements aside from having a security deposit available.

Disadvantages

• Higher interest rates: Secured credit cards have higher interest rates than regular credit cards. Typically, the rate is higher than 20%.
• Security deposit unaccessible: Once youve paid the security deposit, you cannot access the funds unless you hand in the secured card.
• Setup fees: Some lenders require a setup fee when you first obtain the card. The fee is usually a small percentage of the credit limit, but nonetheless, it’s another cost to consider.

Bank Of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card

Great for: High cash back rewards

The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card is a no annual fee card with the ability to earn higher rewards than most secured cards. It does have a minimum deposit fee of $300, but card users can earn 3% cash back with additional earnings of 2% and 1% cash back depending on the category. The bonus cash back is capped at $2,500 of bonus-category spending each quarter.

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Opensky Secured Credit Visa Card

18.89% variable APRAnnual Fee: $35Security Deposit: $200

One of the biggest benefits of the OpenSky Secured Credit Visa Card is that theres no credit check required to open the account. Instead, youll apply and make a one-time refundable deposit of $200.

This makes the OpenSky secured card a great option for individuals with poor credit or limited credit history. And youll receive resources and information on building credit on the companys website.

How We Chose The Best Secured Credit Cards

In choosing the best secured credit cards for this guide, we prioritized cards that dont charge an annual fee and report credit activity to the three main credit bureaus. Reporting activity to credit bureaus is important, since youll want your activity on the card to help improve your credit score. We also included some cards with modest annual fees that have unique perks or aspects that may make them the best option for some consumers.

We didnt put much weight on the , as youll want to ensure you can pay off your balance each month to work on building or repairing your credit. And, although this article is on The Points Guy, you shouldnt put too much weight on the rewards earning rate, since youll generally only keep your secured card until youve built or repaired your credit enough to move to a rewards credit card.

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The Ascent’s Best Secured Credit Cards:

Balance Transfers: 10.99%, 6 months

Regular APR

• Can graduate to an unsecured card

• Minimum deposit amount

On Capital One’s Secure Website.

On Capital One’s Secure Website.

Intro APR

• No rewards

U.S. Bank Secured Visa® Card

Best For Credit Building: Self Visa

• Why We Chose This Card:
• Pros & Cons:

The Self Visa is our top card for credit building because it offers an unusual feature to help build a positive credit history: It does so through the creation of both an installment loan and a credit card account. If youre able to meet the Self Visas eligibility requirements, youre granted a CD secured loan. Once youve made three on-time loan payments that unlock at least $100 of value in your CD, you can open a secured card using the repaid funds as the security deposit.

• Builds credit and helps you establish savings

Read the full Self Visa® credit card review

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Assess Your Credit Limit

In the vast majority of cases, your credit limit will be like-for-like with your security deposit. As such, a $400 deposit would get you a $400 credit limit. However, some providers will give you a percentage of the amount that you put up. For example, if your security deposit amounts to $500, and the provider in question permits a deposit-to-limit ratio of 90%, then your credit limit will be $450.

How Secured Credit Cards Help Build Credit

Your payments are reported to the credit bureaus with most secured cards although you should verify that this is the case with your card issuer. Depending on your overall credit and financial situation, you could build a payment history sufficient to qualify for additional credit within a six- to 12-month period using your secured card and making on-time payments.

Your goal should be to convert to an unsecured card as quickly as possible, so its essential to manage your use of a secured credit card just as you should with an unsecured card. That means making on-time payments and keeping your credit utilization ratio below 30% of your credit limit at most. Its even better to pay your balance in full each month.

> > Read More: How to Build Credit With a Credit Card

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Pay Your Security Deposit

Once you receive your secured credit card, you will then need to pay a security deposit. Until you do this you wont be able to use the card. In most cases, you will be able to do this online through your account portal, or over the telephone. Moreover, you can make the payment with a debit card or bank account transfer.

Unity Visa Secured Credit Card:

The UNITY® Visa Secured Credit Card makes approval easy regardless of your creditworthiness and can even help you consolidate high-interest debt at a lower interest rate months before the rate returns to the regular fixed APR. There is a transfer fee of $ 0 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater .

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Are Secured Credit Cards The Same As Prepaid Cards

Prepaid cards are very different from secured credit cards. For one, prepaid cards dont have credit limits. Instead, you load your card with cash. Because it doesnt operate with credit, prepaid cards will not help your score.

Secured credit cards, on the other hand, have credit limits and revolving lines of credit. As you repay what you borrow, you slowly improve your credit score, so long as you dont miss a payment.

Best Philippine Banks With Secured Credit Cards In 2021

If you are someone like me who has no luck in getting regular credit cards, then one of the best alternatives for you is to get a secured credit card.

In this article, learn what banks in the Philippines offer secured credit cards with the information about their required minimum deposit and how much they offer as credit limits.

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Wells Fargo Secured Credit Card:

The Wells Fargo Secured Credit Card accepts a wide variety of applicants, including those with limited or no credit history. You must make a minimum deposit of $ 300 to open an account if it is approved. The card can be used anywhere that Visa credit cards are accepted.

No debit or prepaid card Make a minimum deposit of $300 Pay an annual fee of $25 Cardholders who pay their credit card statements on time each month may be eligible for an automatic upgrade to an unsecured card and a refund of their deposit.

Things To Consider Before You Apply For A Secured Card

• Your application will require some basic details, including your name and Social Security Number. Have your information ready.
• Check your credit score. You can check your credit score for free online, and knowing where you stand is essential before you get started. Also, errors arent unheard of on credit reports, so its worthwhile to make sure there hasnt been a mistake.
• Look for prequalified offers. Many cards and issuers will let you know ahead of time whether youd be approved, so you dont have to go through the full process or take a hit to your credit. The CardMatch feature is an easy way to find a selection of cards you may be prequalified for.
• Make sure you have enough money for the deposit. It could be as low as $49 or as high as a few thousand dollars, depending on the card and the issuer.
• Some cards require you to have a bank account to pay for the deposit, while others allow payment by check or money order.
• Look for a secured card that reports to at least one of the major , such as Equifax, Experian or TransUnion. Reports of good payment behavior to the credit bureaus are essential for building or repairing credit.

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How To Upgrade To An Unsecured Credit Card

You probably dont want to keep a secured card forever for most people, secured credit cards are a bridge to bigger and better things. When you are able to upgrade, your next credit card should be a rewards card. If you have good credit and are able to pay your bill in full each month, passing up on a rewards card is like passing up on extra money, essentially. In addition to higher credit limits, youll have the luxury of earning cash back or travel points and access to exclusive perks like sign-up bonuses and 0% intro APR offers.

So how does upgrading your secured credit card work? Heres what a typical timeline looks like:

Secured Credit Cards Have Become Popular

Secured credit cards have come a long way since the early days when they were a costly option only for people without credit. You might be surprised to know secured credit cards have gone mainstream, and a study conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia shows their popularity is on the rise.

An increasing number of people are using secured cards out of practicality and in pursuit of frugality, which has become fashionable in recent years. Secured credit cards have become a go-to for households and businesses that want more structure in their budget and who want to manage their cash flow more effectively. Secured cards can also be a good option for families who wish to use them as a starter credit card for their teenage children to help them learn good credit habits although a student credit card might be a better option for this purpose.

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Good For: Rebuilding And Monitoring Credit

Our Rating:

On Refresh Financials secure website.

Top Perks

• Can help you build or rebuild your credit rating
• Access to BLACK Tier for additional credit building and monitoring tools
• Monitoring to ensure you keep credit utilization below 30%

$12.95 + $3 monthly maintenance fee

Eligibility:

Must pay a security deposit

This card is owned and issued by Digital Commerce Bank pursuant to license by Visa International. Use of the card is governed by the agreement under which it is issued. The Visa Brand is a registered trademark of Visa International. All credit and approvals are provided by Refresh Card Solutions Inc. Digital Commerce Bank provides no credit or loans. All funding and lending for this program is provided by Refresh Card Solutions Inc.

Is A Secured Credit Card Revolving Credit

Both secured and unsecured credit cards are considered revolving credit since they offer a line of credit you can borrow against and pay off over and over. An installment loan, on the other hand, lets you borrow a fixed amount of money and pay a fixed payment over a fixed period of time.

The information related to OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card, Discover it® Secured Credit Card, U.S. Bank Secured Visa Card, Savings Secured Visa Platinum Card, Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card, DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card and Navy Federal nRewards® Secured Credit Card has been independently collected by ValuePenguin and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuers of these cards prior to publication.

These responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

Advertiser Disclosure: The products that appear on this site may be from companies from which ValuePenguin receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site . ValuePenguin does not include all financial institutions or all products offered available in the marketplace.

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Best For High Credit Limit

Who’s this for? If you want a secured card with a high credit limit, consider the First Tech® Federal Credit Union Platinum Secured Mastercard®. This card has no annual fee and offers credit limits as high as $25,000, but you’ll need to make a deposit equivalent to the line of credit you want.

Cardholders also earn 1 point per $1 spent on all purchases made with the Platinum Secured Mastercard®. This is a nice perk since secured cards often lack rewards programs. You can redeem your points for merchandise, travel and charity, according to the First Tech® Federal Credit Union.

This card also comes with an array of added benefits: travel assistance services, travel accident insurance, baggage delay insurance, trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage, roadside assistance, auto rental collision damage waiver, extended warranty protection and purchase protection.

First Tech® is a credit union, so you need to be a member to open this card. Anyone can join through affiliation with select organizations or employers a relationship with a current member work for the state of Oregon live or work in Lane County, Oregon attend Cogswell Poly Technical College or join the Community History Museum or Financial Fitness Association .

Best For Travel: Skypass Visa Secured

• Why We Chose This Card:
• Pros & Cons:

The SKYPASS Visa Secured Card is an unusual offering in the secured card market, as it provides the ability to earn airline miles and even has a bonus offer with the first purchase. The caveat is that the miles are with Korean Air, so it may be best for those who have loyalty to that carrier or can get value from redeeming SKYPASS miles with partner airlines. SKYPASS Visa Secured also offers an anniversary bonus of 1,000 SKYPASS Miles.

• Builds credit while earning miles

• Opportunity to move to an unsecured card after 12 months

• Easy-to-earn bonus

• Not great for foreign travel

• Your credit limit must be secured

Read the full SKYPASS Visa® Secured credit card review

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