It’s the old Catch-22 of low credit: Once your credit score falls below a certain level, it becomes much harder to qualify for a line of credit. The only way to build that score back up is to responsibly use some form of credit. See the contradiction?
Thankfully, most credit card issuers have products aimed at people in this exact situation. Secured cards have lower qualifying standards – and lower credit limits – and require a deposit to open, usually equal to the credit limit. Once you’ve used the card long enough to build your score up, most issuers will upgrade you to a traditional card.
Like with most types of credit cards, the quality of these products varies. Here are some of the best options for consumers with bad credit in 2019.
Recommended credit cards for poor credit
Discover it® Secured
Capital One® Secured Mastercard®
BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card
U.S. Bank Secured Visa® Card
Wells Fargo Secured Card
Discover it® Secured
This card is popular because it’s one of the only secured cards offering cash-back rewards. Consumers earn 2% cash-back on gas stations and restaurants, up to $1,000 in purchases per quarter, and 1% cash-back on all other purchases. Discover will also match any cash-back earned after the first year.
Cash-back rewards can be redeemed at Amazon.com or on your statement. There’s no minimum redemption amount and rewards never expire.
Discover requires a security deposit equal to the credit limit, up to $2,500. If you put down $600, for instance, you’ll get a $600 credit limit. After eight months, Discover will review your account to see if you qualify for a regular credit card.
Your account activity is reported to all three credit bureaus. Discover also shows the cardholder’s FICO credit score, helpful for those looking to track their credit progress. Cardholders will also be notified if their Social Security number is found on any suspicious websites or the dark web.
There’s no annual fee, Discover waives the fee on your first late payment and doesn’t charge a penalty APR on late payments.
Secured Mastercard® from Capital One®
The Secured Mastercard® from Capital One is the only secured card that allows customers to put down less than the credit line. Eligible users can put down $49 or $99 to receive a $200 credit limit. They may also put down more to receive a higher credit limit, up to $1,000.
Capital One may also increase the credit limit with no extra security deposit if you make the first five payments on time. It’s not clear whether or not Capital One eventually promotes responsible customers to a traditional credit card.
Cardholders can get free access to their credit score with CreditWise, which also notifies users if their information may be compromised. Cardholders may add authorized users to this card.
Other card perks include travel accident insurance, no foreign transaction fees, extended warranties on certain items and 24-hour travel assistance services. There is no annual fee.
BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card
Deposit limits for the BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card start at $300, slightly higher than other cards on this list. The maximum credit limit is one of the largest at $4,900.
Bank of America provides free access to your FICO credit score, perfect for customers who want to monitor their credit. The score is updated once a month.
The bank reviews accounts regularly to decide if customers are ready to have their security deposit refunded. It’s not clear how often Bank of America updates these accounts, however.
There is a 3% foreign transaction fee and no annual fee.
U.S. Bank Secured Visa® Card
The U.S. Bank Secured Visa® Card has a security deposit range between $300 and $5,000. U.S. Bank is one of the only credit card companies to put the security deposit in an interest-bearing account. When it’s time to close an account, cardholders will receive the original deposit plus any interest.
Customers receive updates to their VantageScore from TransUnion credit score, and are notified of any major changes to that score.
There is a $29 annual fee and a 3% foreign transaction fee. Users can also choose their own due date, making on-time payments a little easier.
Wells Fargo Secured Card
The Wells Fargo Secured Card has a minimum security deposit of $300. The card reports activity to all three credit bureaus, allowing users to build and improve their credit history over time.
Wells Fargo eventually assesses customers to determine if they’re eligible for the Platinum Visa Credit Card, an unsecured card. There is no set time frame on when accounts are reviewed.
Cardholders get access to basic financial tools, allowing them to create a budget and categorize their expenses. Other benefits include roadside dispatch service, emergency card replacement, travel and emergency assistance, and cell phone protection if your phone is stolen or damaged.
There is a $25 annual fee.
