Diane Langstrom, Member
@diane_langstrom
The best secured credit card for bad credit is Discover it® Secured Credit Card because it has a $0 annual fee, rewards you with 1 - 2% cash back on purchases, doubles the rewards you’ve earned after the first year, and accepts people with bad credit. The Discover it Secured Credit Card’s main approval requirements are being 18+ years old and having enough income to afford monthly bill payments, plus a refundable security deposit of $200 or more.
Most secured credit cards are open to applicants with bad credit. The more lenient approval requirements are due to the fact that your security deposit will act as collateral for your credit limit. There are several secured credit cards that people with bad credit might want to consider.
Best Secured Credit Cards for Bad Credit:
- Best Overall: Discover it® Secured Credit Card$0 annual fee. Earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (up to $1,000 spent each quarter combined), and 1% back on all other purchases. Minimum deposit of $200.
- No Credit Check: OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card$35 annual fee. Minimum deposit of $200.
- Low Deposit: Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card$0 annual fee. Minimum deposit of $49, $99 or $200 (depending on factors such as income, debt, and creditworthiness) in exchange for a starting credit line of $200.
- Cash Back: U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Secured Card$0 annual fee. Earn 5% cash back on two categories of your choice (up to $2,000 each quarter), 5% back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked in the Rewards Travel Center, 2% back on your choice of one everyday category (like gas stations, EV charging stations, grocery stores or restaurants) and 1% back on all other purchases. Minimum deposit of $300.
In general, secured credit cards are the best type of credit card for people with bad credit. Secured cards offer the highest approval odds of any credit cards, and they tend to be a lot cheaper in the long run than unsecured cards for bad credit.
You just have to make sure to pay your bill on time and preferably in full, every month. If you do that, your credit should steadily improve. And that should help you qualify for a credit card upgrade sooner than you might think.
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