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Secured Credit Cards
Advertiser Disclosure
A secured credit card is geared for building or rebuilding credit. In most cases, you get a credit line equal to your deposit. Use it to demonstrate your creditworthiness to banks and credit bureaus: always pay on time and in full. We have selected the best low deposit, no annual fee and no credit check offers for our database. Please compare cards available to you, pick the right one and apply on the spot.
12 cards found
Secured MasterCard® from Capital One®
This card has no penalty APR
Upgrade to unsecured
Annual Fee
Regular APR
Minimum deposit
No
$0
24.99%
Variable
$49
for min limit of $49
- Card Details
- Make the minimum required security deposit of $49 and you'll get an initial credit line of $200. Plus, deposit more money before your account opens to get a higher credit line, up to $3,000.
- Get access to a higher credit line after making your first 5 monthly payments on time with no additional deposit needed.
- Enjoy unlimited access to your credit score and tools to help you monitor your credit profile with CreditWise.
- You're covered by $0 Fraud Liability if your card is ever lost or stolen.
- Pick your own monthly due date and payment method—check, online, or at a local branch.
- Get access to a higher credit line after making your first 5 monthly payments on time.
- Pros
- Low qualification requirements
- Credit line may exceed your deposit
- No annual fee
- Cons
- No rewards
- No upgrade to unsecured card option
Our Take
This semi-secured credit card is the ideal low-cost solution for any credit novice. You may start using it with a low deposit of just $49, and there is no annual fee. What’s more, nobody will ever know that your card is secured since it is reported as unsecured.
Discover it® Secured
This card has no penalty APR
Upgrade to unsecured
Annual Fee
Regular APR
Minimum deposit
7 months
min to apply for upgrade
$0
24.99%
Variable
$200
for $200 credit limit
- Card Details
- It's a real credit card, not a prepaid or debit card. You can build a credit history with the three major credit bureaus.
- 1% cash back on every purchase. 2% cash back at restaurants or gas stations on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter.
- Your secured card requires a refundable security deposit. You choose your deposit amount (minimum $200) when you apply.
- Discover will review your credit card account monthly starting at seven months, to see if it's possible to return your security.
- Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year on your credit card— only for new cardmembers.
- No annual fee.
- 24.99% standard variable purchase APR.
- Get your FICO ® Credit Score for free on monthly statements, on Discover mobile app or when you log in to your online account.
- Paying late won't raise your APR.
- Pros
- Leading rewards rate for secured cards
- 2% cash back
- No annual fee
- Free credit score
- Paying late won't raise your APR
- Cons
- Need credit check
- No signup bonus
Our Take
The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is one of the most appealing offering on the secured credit card market. Its rewards program may give you the taste of a traditional unsecured credit card. The possibility to upgrade together with zero annual fee allows you to keep this card as long as you need.
First Progress Platinum Prestige MasterCard® Secured Credit Card
Upgrade to unsecured
Annual Fee
Regular APR
Minimum deposit
No
$49
10.49%
Variable
$200
for $200 credit limit
- Card Details
- The First Progress MasterCard® is a full-featured credit-card with a credit line based on a refundable security deposit instead of your credit score.
- The card reports to all three credit bureaus every month to help establish or re-establish new credit history.
- No Credit History or Minimum Credit Score Required for Approval.
- 10.49% Variable APR for Purchases
- The maximum Credit Limit you can obtain over time is $5,000.
- Pros
- Really low qualification criteria
- No credit check for pre-qualificaion
- Low APR
- Cons
- High annual fee
First Progress Platinum Select MasterCard® Secured Credit Card
Upgrade to unsecured
Annual Fee
Regular APR
Minimum deposit
No
$39
14.49%
Variable
$200
for $200 credit limit
- Card Details
- Fund your new MasterCard® secured credit card with your tax refund today.
- No processing or application fees required.
- Reports monthly to all three major bureaus and approval is based upon a fully-refundable security deposit.
- No minimum credit score.
- No credit history required.
- The maximum Credit Limit you can obtain over time is $5,000. Terms apply.
- Pros
- Works for people new to credit
- Reports monthly to all three major bureaus
- Cons
- Can take some time to get card
- No instant approval
First Progress Platinum Elite MasterCard® Secured Credit Card
Upgrade to unsecured
Annual Fee
Regular APR
Minimum deposit
No
$39
20.49%
Variable
$200
for $200 credit limit
- Card Details
- No credit history or minimum credit score required for approval.
- Monthly reported to all 3 major credit bureaus to establish good credit.
- Your credit limit is equal to your security deposit ($200 - $5 000).
- Accepted Nationwide.
- Pros
- No credit history required
- No credit check for pre-qualificaion.
- Maximum credit limit of $5000
- Cons
- Can take some time to get card
- Relatively high APR
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
This card has no penalty APR
Upgrade to unsecured
Annual Fee
Regular APR
Minimum deposit
No
$35
19.14%
Variable
$200
for $200 credit limit
- Card Details
- Reports monthly to all 3 major credit bureaus— builds your credit quickly through responsible use.
- No credit history required to apply
- No credit check and no checking account necessary
- Credit line as low as $200 up to $3000, linked to your fully refundable security deposit.
- No fees for application and processing
- Pros
- No credit check
- No credit history required
- Visa network - accepted worldwide
- Cons
- High cash advance fee
- Credit limit increase fee
Our Take
This card is a great solution for someone in trouble but willing to put them behind. No credit check allows even people with very bad credit to take immediate actions towards a higher credit score. Nevertheless, this card has an annual fee for card usage and monthly inactivity fee. So use this secured card according to its purpose, and once you’ve boosted your credit score, just close the account.
Merrick Bank Secured Visa® Card
This card has no penalty APR
Upgrade to unsecured
Annual Fee
Regular APR
Minimum deposit
No
$36
19.2%
Variable
$200
for $200 credit limit
- Card Details
- Upon approval, you’ll have an initial credit line based on your $200 -$3,000 deposit - It’s up to you!
- Your account information is reported to the three major credit bureaus. You can reestablish and build your credit with your performance.
- $0 fraud liability for unauthorized charges.
- Your security deposit funds are FDIC Insured!
- Based on an initial credit limit of $200, the initial available credit will be about $164 (based on a $36 annual fee).
- Worldwide acceptance – Use it anywhere Visa is accepted.
- Pros
- Report to the three major credit bureaus monthly
- Credit limit increase option with no additional funds
- Cons
- No rewards available
Our Take
The Merrick Bank Secured Visa® Card provides all the opportunities for successful credit rebuilding. Even if you have a recent bankruptcy, you may qualify for this card and start working towards a better credit score right away. All you need is to deposit at least $200 and make your payments on time.
Citi® Secured Mastercard®
Upgrade to unsecured
Annual Fee
Regular APR
Minimum deposit
No
$0
24.49%
Variable
$200
for $200 credit limit
- Card Details
- No Annual Fee.
- A security deposit is required for this product (minimum $200).
- Citi® Identity Theft Solutions.
- Travel & Purchase protection.
- Use your new secured card everywhere Mastercard is accepted, for everyday things you are already buying.
- Pay your bill on time every month. Citi can help keep you on track with AutoPay, Online Bill Pay and alerts.
- Pros
- No Annual Fee
- Cons
- No rewards
- High APR for purchases and balance transfers
USAA Secured Card Visa Platinum®
This card has no penalty APR
Upgrade to unsecured
Annual Fee
Regular APR
Minimum deposit
No
$35
11.65-21.65%
Variable
$250
for $250 credit limit
- Card Details
- A credit card — not a debit or prepaid card.
- Determine your own credit limit. When you apply, you'll open a two-year certificate of deposit (CD) with $250 to $5,000. The balance of your CD is your credit limit.
- Earn variable interest on the balance of the CD (currently 0.54% Annual Percentage Yield).
- Enjoy no foreign transaction fees when you travel outside of the United States.
- Special Benefits for Military.
- Security and Convenience.
- Retail and Travel Benefits.
- Pros
- Qualify with fair / no credit
- No Foreign transaction fees
- Cons
- Has annual fee
- No rewards
USAA Secured Card American Express®
This card has no penalty APR
Upgrade to unsecured
Annual Fee
Regular APR
Minimum deposit
No
$35
11.65-21.65%
Variable
$250
for $250 credit limit
- Card Details
- A credit card - not a prepaid or debit card, that helps you build or improve your credit score.
- When you apply - you'll also open a USAA Bank 2-year Certificate of Deposit (CD), an interest-earning deposit account with a $250-minimum initial deposit.
- CD is a security deposit - the money you put in upfront, from $250 to $5,000, is the card's credit limit.
- Earn interest on CD - deposit is guaranteed to grow. Plus the money is yours to keep as long as you don't default on your payments.
- As you use your card you could improve your credit when you avoid going over your limit and make payments on time.
- Your CD will earn interest at a variable rate (currently 0.54% Annual Percentage Yield) which will change periodically throughout your two-year term.
- Enjoy no foreign transaction fees when you travel outside of the United States.
- Special Benefits for Military.
- Security, Travel and Retail Benefits.
- Pros
- Qualify with fair / no credit
- No Foreign transaction fees
- Cons
- Has annual fee
- No rewards option
U.S. Bank Secured Visa® Card
This card has no penalty APR
Upgrade to unsecured
Annual Fee
Regular APR
Minimum deposit
12 months
min to apply for upgrade
$29
20.99%
Variable
$300
for $300 credit limit
- Card Details
- Get worldwide purchasing power and flexibility as you work to build or re-establish your credit history.
- Zero Fraud Liability - You are not responsible for unauthorized transactions if your U.S. Bank Secured Visa card is ever lost or stolen.
- Fraud Protection – detects and notifies you of any unusual card activity to help prevent fraud.
- Auto Rental Insurance - It's yours automatically - at no extra cost - when you charge your entire car rental on your Card and decline the rental company's collision damage waiver option. Coverage on a 24-hour basis for damage due to collision or theft.
- Online Banking – The easiest way to bank online! With this service you can view current statements, download account history, check your balance, make a payment from your U.S. Bank Checking or Savings account, get a cash advance and much more.
- Automatic Bill Pay - Take advantage of this easy way to pay bills online.
- FlexControl™ - U.S. Bank offers this online tool that can help you avoid interest and late fees with automatic payments that put you in control. It can also help you pay down a balance faster.
- Pros
- No penalty APR
- Extended grace period
- Cons
- No sign-up bonus
- No rewards
Our Take
If you are looking for a decent credit card to rebuild your credit history or to establish one from scratch, the U.S. Bank Secured Visa® Credit Card is a good option to pay attention to. Although in general this card is very similar to most secured cards, it has few exceptional features that will help you avoid dangerous misuses of your credit line which might be toxic for your credit history.
BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card
This card has no penalty APR
Upgrade to unsecured
Annual Fee
Regular APR
Minimum deposit
12 months
min to apply for upgrade
$39
22.24%
Variable
$300
- Card Details
- After 12 months, you may qualify to have your security deposit returned while you continue to use your card. Terms Apply.
- No Penalty APR.
- Free monthly access to FICO® Score.
- Enjoy Security & Benefits: Online Shopping Security, Overdraft Protection, Digital Wallet Technology and more.
- Annual fee of $39.
- No rewards offered.
- Pros
- No Penalty APR
- Security & Benefits
- Free monthly access to FICO® Score
- Cons
- Has annual fee