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 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 for people of various credit levels, from bad to good credit or better. 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.

How Annual Fees Affect Your Credit One Credit Card Limit

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. Most Credit One credit cards charge an annual fee. If your card has an annual fee, it will be automatically applied against your credit line.    

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.

Credit One might automatically increase your credit limit after six months, or you can request a Credit One credit limit increase online or by calling (877) 825-3242. For the best odds, pay your bill on time for at least six straight months, reduce your outstanding debt, and update the income Credit One has on file.

How to Get a Credit One Credit Limit Increase Online

1. Log in to your online account.
2. Choose the Credit One card for which you're requesting the increase (if you have more than one card).
3. Click "Settings," and then "Credit Line Increase."
4. Enter your required information and click "Continue".
5. Confirm the information and click "Submit" to complete the request.
6. You should receive a decision in just a few seconds. If you're approved for a Credit One credit limit increase, the new limit will be effective immediately.

Impact of a Credit One Credit Limit Increase on Your Credit Score

When you request or get an automatic Credit One credit limit increase, Credit One will conduct a soft pull of your credit report, which does not affect your credit score.

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.

No, Credit One is not a good credit card company because Credit One credit cards have high foreign transaction fees and above-average annual fees. Credit One credit cards also have an average user rating of 3.4/5 on WalletHub, based on more than 13,000 reviews, only about 25% of which are 5 stars.

All card issuers have strengths and weaknesses, however, and people's experiences with credit card companies can vary widely. If you find that the best credit card for your needs is issued by Credit One, you may still want to apply. After all, Credit One does offer cards such as the Credit One Bank American Express® Card, which has features like purchase protection and travel accident insurance that certainly aren't bad.