What should I do if my application for a Citi Secured Credit Card was denied?

If your application for a Citi® Secured Mastercard® was denied, you have several options. You can call for reconsideration, apply elsewhere, seek a co-signer, or become an authorized user on someone else’s account.  

If you were denied for the Citi Secured, there are a few possible explanations. Citi has a rule against accepting applicants with a bankruptcy in the last two years, for one thing. And like other issuers of secured cards, they will turn down people who don’t have enough income to make payments, or who have too much debt relative to their income. You must also be at least 18 years old and have both a U.S. mailing address and an SSN.

Here’s what you can do if your application for the Citi Secured was denied:

• Call the Citi reconsideration line at (800) 695-5171. Reconsideration is a good option if you think something about your application needs explaining, or if your situation has changed. If you can demonstrate that your finances are in better shape than they appeared, Citi may reverse your denial. But it’s a longshot.
• Apply for a different secured card. Citi isn’t the only secured credit card issuer. There are plenty of other options to consider, including a handful of secured cards with no credit check.
• Get a co-signer: A co-signer is someone who backs your application for a card by assuming responsibility for any balance you can’t pay. Citi doesn’t allow them, unfortunately, but other card issuers do. And if your co-signer has excellent credit, you should be able to get one of the best credit cards on the market.
• Become an authorized user: You can ask a friend or family member to add you to their card as an authorized user. As long as that person pays the bill on time, your credit score will improve over time.
• Wait it out. If your financial circumstances might change in the near future, or if you have a bankruptcy on your record that will soon age enough for you to get the Citi Secured, waiting is an option. But it’s far from your best one. You need to start rebuilding your credit as soon as possible, and there are other secured cards that you can get right now.

If your application for the Citi Secured was denied, don’t get discouraged. There are other secured credit cards out there, and you’ll be able to start rebuilding your credit in no time.

That's really odd, as secured cards very rarely deny people. While you could try to call them, ask for a reconsideration, it's best to try and fix the things they mentioned in their rejection letter first.

You could run into a discrepancy if you have PO Box and Street address.  The Reconsideration line worked for me after an endless loop of VRU frustration!  Thanks immensely!