Credit One Credit Cards

Yes, Credit One Bank is a legit bank that has been issuing unsecured credit cards for people with limited credit and bad credit since 1984. Credit One Bank has a B+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and is considered to be a major credit card company by the market research firm J.D. Power.

Some people question whether Credit One is real because it has no physical branch locations, operating online only. Another major reason people might think Credit One Bank might not be a legitimate company is that its name and logo are quite similar to Capital One's. Both companies are real (and they're not related). Capital One is just bigger, more well-known and has more credit cards to choose from. And Credit One does not offer financial products aside from credit cards.

Here's why Credit One Bank is legit:

• Credit One Bank is a legitimate company, founded in 1984.
• About 10 million people have a Credit One Bank credit card.
• Credit One Bank has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) since 2011.
• Credit One has a B+ BBB rating. The BBB notes a pattern of customer complaints about billing and credit-reporting issues made against the company.
• Credit One Bank has paid more than $128 million in cash back rewards to cardholders to date. The company also gave $2.5 million to charity in 2021.
• Credit One Bank is among the major credit card issuers included in J.D. Power's annual U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Survey. Credit One does rank at the bottom among national issuers, though.
• Credit One is a completely separate company from Capital One, even though their logos look similar. And Credit One actually had its logo first.
• You can learn about Credit One on their official, secure website.

Credit One is legit. Whether a Credit One credit card is the best option for you depends on your unique financial needs. For example, the Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit is considered one of the best unsecured credit cards for bad credit on the market.

Here are some of the best Credit One credit cards:

You can also check our editors' latest picks for the best Credit One credit cards on the market to weigh your options.

The minimum credit score requirement for a Credit One credit card is 300-640, depending on the card. Credit One credit cards are available to applicants with credit scores ranging from bad to fair credit, or better, so it's possible to be approved despite damaged credit or limited credit history. And if your credit score is below the threshold needed for a credit card from Credit One, it's best to wait to apply until you meet the credit score requirement.

You can check your credit score for free on WalletHub.

Credit One Credit Score Requirements by Card

• Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit: 300 (Bad credit)
• Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa®: 640 (Fair credit)
• Credit One Bank® Platinum X5 Visa®: 640 (Fair credit)

You should note that while your credit score is an important factor, there are plenty of other things that will impact your chances of being approved for a Credit One credit card, too. Some other key criteria include your income, existing debt load, number of open accounts, recent credit inquiries, employment status and housing status.

The maximum credit line for a Credit One credit card is not publicly disclosed by the issuer. If approved for a Credit One card, applicants can expect a minimum credit line of $300 to $500 initially, depending on the card and their credit standing.

Credit One cards are designed primarily for people with bad credit (score of 639 or less) or no credit. The lower your credit score is, the lower your Credit One account's maximum spending amount is likely to be. Credit One may periodically review your account for an automatic credit line increase. This usually occurs after you've had the card for at least 6 months. Credit One doesn't release specific criteria for granting automatic increases.

It's important to know that if you're approved, the amount of your credit line that's available for spending may be reduced before you even use the card. Credit One charges an annual fee of $0 - $95 for the first year (up to $99 after). If there is an annual fee, it will be automatically applied against your credit line. So, if your initial credit line is $300, you could start out with as little as $205.

If Credit One's maximum credit lines aren't enough to meet your needs, focus on rebuilding your credit to the point where you can apply for a card with the potential for a higher credit line and lower fees.

No, Capital One does not own Credit one, nor are they affiliated in any other way. While Capital One and Credit One Bank have similar names and branding, they are two separate credit card issuers and financial entities.

Founded in 1984, Credit One Bank is a subsidiary of Credit One Financial, a financial services corporation headquartered in Las Vegas. Capital One was founded a decade later, in 1994, and is currently headquartered in McLean, Virginia.

In terms of credit card offers, Credit One mainly serves people with below-average credit. Capital One has a wider selection of credit cards, catering to consumers across the entire credit score spectrum.

Popular Credit One and Capital One Credit Cards Comparison

	Sponsored Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit	Sponsored Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa®	Sponsored Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card	Sponsored Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Annual Fee	$75 intro 1st yr, $99 after	$39	$0	$95
Bonus Offer	N/A	N/A	N/A	75,000 miles
Rewards Rate	0 - 1% Cash Back	0 - 1% Cash Back	1.5 - 5% Cash Back	2 - 5 miles / $1
Purchase Intro APR	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Transfer Intro APR	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Regular APR	25.49% (V)	25.49% (V)	26.99% (V)	17.49% - 25.49% (V)
Editors' Rating	3	2.8	5	5
Details, Rates & Fees	Learn More	Learn More	Learn More	Learn More

For more options, you can compare the rest of the credit card offers from Credit One and Capital One on WalletHub.

The minimum credit line for Credit One is $300 or $500, depending on the credit card. The credit lines for most Credit One cards start at $300, though cards such as the Platinum Rewards Visa card and the Credit One Bank Wander card have a minimum credit limit of $500.

Minimum Credit Lines for Credit One Cards

• Credit One Platinum Rewards Visa: $500 minimum credit line
• Credit One Bank Wander Card: $500 minimum credit line
• Credit One Bank American Express Card: $300 minimum credit line
• Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit: $300 minimum credit line
• Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa®: $300 minimum credit line

Credit One lists the minimum credit limit for each credit card on their website. So, you can find the minimum credit line you can expect from any Credit One card by reading through the credit card terms before you apply.

Keep in mind that applicants with high incomes and good credit may be approved for more than the minimum credit limit. And you can always request a credit line increase by calling Credit One customer service at 1-877-825-3242. Credit One will also review your account periodically to see if you qualify for a higher credit limit.