Second Chance Credit Cards
WalletHub makes it easy to find the best second chance credit card for you.
Second chance credit cards are designed for people with bad credit, which means you should be able to get approved for one even if you’ve made mistakes with money in the past. But second chance cr… show more
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Showing 1 – 10 of 23
Secured Card
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Min Deposit of $49, $99 or $200
One-Time Fees
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None
Regular APR
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26.99% (V)
Additional Info
- No annual fee
- Unlike a prepaid card, there is regular reporting to the 3 major credit bureaus
- Accepted at millions of locations worldwide
- Make the minimum required security deposit and you'll get an initial credit line of $200. Plus, deposit more money before your account opens to get a higher credit line
- Access to an authorized bank account is required to make your $49, $99 or $200 refundable security deposit
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months with no additional deposit needed
- Easily manage your account 24/7 with online access, by phone or using our mobile app
- See More Details & Reviews About TheCapital One® Secured Mastercard®
Secured Card
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Min Deposit of $200
One-Time Fees
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None
Regular APR
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17.39% (V)
Additional Info
- No credit check necessary to apply. OpenSky believes in giving an opportunity to everyone.
- The refundable* deposit you provide becomes your credit line limit on your Visa card. Choose it yourself, from as low as $200.
- Build credit quickly. OpenSky reports to all 3 major credit bureaus.
- 99% of our customers who started without a credit score earned a credit score record with the credit bureaus in as little as 6 months.
- We have a Facebook community of people just like you; there is a forum for shared experiences, and insights from others on our Facebook Fan page. (Search “OpenSky Card” in Facebook.)
- *View our Cardholder Agreement located at the bottom of the application page for details of the card
- See More Details & Reviews About TheOpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
One-Time Fees
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None
Regular APR
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24.9%
Additional Info
- Pre-qualify for a card today and it will not impact your credit score
- Less than perfect credit is okay
- Mobile account access at any time
- Fraud protection for stolen or lost cards
- Account history is reported to the three major credit bureaus in the U.S.
- See More Details & Reviews About TheIndigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit
One-Time Fees
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None
Regular APR
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19.99% - 29.49% (V)
Additional Info
- $0 Annual Fee
- Up to 10% cash back from select merchants
- $500 - $5,000 credit limits
- Variable APRs 19.99 - 29.49% APR
- No annual or international transaction fees. Late and returned payment fees may apply
- Build credit alongside tens of thousands of Petal Card members
- Cash flow technology may help applicants without credit history get approved
- Petal's mobile app makes it easy to manage your money, track your spending, and automate payments
- See if you're pre-approved within minutes without impacting your credit score
- Petal reports to all 3 major credit bureaus
- No deposits required
- Card issued by WebBank, Member FDIC
- See More Details & Reviews About ThePetal 1 Visa® Credit Card
One-Time Fees
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None
Regular APR
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25.9% - 29.99% (V)
Annual Fee
$75 - $99
Monthly Fee
None 1st yr, up to $10 after
Minimum Credit
Bad Credit
Additional Info
- See if you’re Pre-Qualified with no impact to your credit score
- All credit types welcome to apply
- Free access to your Vantage 3.0 score from TransUnion* (When you sign up for e-statements)
- Monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus
- Fast and easy application process; results in seconds
- Use your card at locations everywhere Mastercard® is accepted
- Checking Account Required
- $0 monthly fee for the first 12 months. $10.00 per month starting the second year, waived for those with a $750 credit limit
- See More Details & Reviews About TheSurge Mastercard® Credit Card
One-Time Fees
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None
Regular APR
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24.9%
Additional Info
- Prequalify for a card today and it will not impact your credit score
- Less than perfect credit is okay
- Mobile account access at any time
- Protection from fraud if your card is stolen
- Account history is reported to the three major credit bureaus in the U.S.
- Disclaimers: *Dependent on credit worthiness
- See More Details & Reviews About TheMilestone® Mastercard® - Less Than Perfect Credit Considered
Secured Card
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Min Deposit of $200
One-Time Fees
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None
Regular APR
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9.99%
Additional Info
- Better than Prepaid...Go with a Secured Card! Load One Time - Keep On Using
- Absolutely No Credit Check or Minimum Credit Score Required
- Automatic Reporting to All Three National Credit Bureaus
- 9.99% Low Fixed APR - Your Rate Won’t Go Up Even if You Are Late
- Activate Today with a $200 Minimum Deposit - Maximum $1,000. Increase Your Credit Limit up to $5,000 by Adding Additional Deposits Anytime
- See More Details & Reviews About TheApplied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Preferred® Credit Card
One-Time Fees
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$89
Regular APR
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29.99%
Annual Fee
$75 1st yr, $45 after
Monthly Fee
$0 1st year, $6.25 after
Minimum Credit
Bad Credit
Additional Info
- Fast and Easy Application and Approval Process! Click “Apply Now” to apply online
- Reports to All Three Major Credit Bureaus
- Access Additional Credit with On-Time Payments and Responsible Usage
- Fixed APR and Manageable Monthly Payments
- A true Unsecured EMV enabled (chip) Visa Credit card that does not require perfect credit for approval.
- See More Details & Reviews About TheApplied Bank® Unsecured Classic Visa® Card
One-Time Fees
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None
Regular APR
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17.99% - 23.99% (V)
Annual Fee
$0 - $99
Monthly Fee
None
Rewards Rate
0 - 1% Cash Back
Minimum Credit
Bad Credit
Rewards Details
- Receive 1% cash back rewards on eligible purchases, terms apply
Additional Info
- See if you Pre-Qualify without harming your credit score
- Track your progress with free online access to your Experian credit score, terms apply
- Looking to rebuild credit? We report to the major credit bureaus monthly
- Accounts are automatically reviewed for credit line increase opportunities
- Make paying your bill easier with the ability to choose your payment due date, terms apply
- Stay in-the-know with customizable account alerts via email and text
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability
- See More Details & Reviews About TheCredit One Bank® Visa® Credit Card
Secured Card
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Min Deposit of $200
One-Time Fees
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None
Regular APR
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9.99% (V)
Additional Info
- Receive Your Card More Quickly with New Expedited Processing Option
- No Credit History or Minimum Credit Score Required for Approval
- Quick and Complete Online Application
- Full-Feature Platinum Mastercard® Secured Credit Card
- Good for Car Rental, Hotels; Anywhere Credit Cards Are Accepted!
- Monthly Reporting to all 3 Major Credit Bureaus to Establish Credit History
- Credit Line Secured by Your Fully-Refundable Deposit of $200 -- $2,000 Submitted with Application
- Just Pay Off Your Balance and Receive Your Deposit Back at Any Time
- 24/7 Online Access to Your Account
- Nationwide Program though not yet available in NY, IA, AR, or WI *See Card Terms.
- Apply in just a few moments with no negative impact to your credit score; no credit inquiry will be recorded in your credit bureau file
- See More Details & Reviews About TheFirst Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card
NO FOREIGN FEE
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What are the best second chance credit cards?
The best second chance credit card is the cheapest offer that you can get approved for with damaged credit. After all, your top priority at this point in your credit career should be to open a credit card and make on-time payments in order to add positive information to your credit reports every month. Beyond that, you should try to save as much money as possible.With those criteria in mind, our editors compared 1,000+ credit cards in search of the best second chance offers available. You can find their favorites below.
2020’s Best Second Chance Credit Cards
| Best For… | Card Name | Editors’ Rating | One-Time Fee | Annual Fee | Minimum Deposit |
| No Credit Check | OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card | 4.0 / 5 | None | $35 | $200 |
| International Travel | Capital One® Secured Mastercard® | 5.0 / 5 | None | $0 | $49, $99 or $200 |
| No Security Deposit | Credit One Bank® Visa® Credit Card | 3.0 / 5 | None | $0 - $99 | N/A |
| Rewards | Discover it® Secured | 5.0 / 5 | None | $0 | $200 |
Unless you absolutely need an emergency loan, placing a refundable security deposit to open a secured credit card account is the best way to make the most of your second chance. The deposit makes it a lot easier to get approved, and you’ll get it back when you close your account in good standing. An unsecured credit card for bad credit, on the other hand, is likely to have high, non-refundable fees and provide only a very small credit line.
We also recommend signing up for a free WalletHub account to get free credit scores (updated daily) as well as personalized credit-improvement advice.
Questions & Answers
Comparing second chance credit cards can be tough. But you’ve got the knowledgeable WalletHub community on your side. We encourage everyone to share their knowledge while respecting our content guidelines. Please keep in mind that editorial and user-generated content on this page is not reviewed or otherwise endorsed by any financial institution. In addition, it is not the financial institution’s responsibility to ensure all posts and questions are answered....show moreshow less
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Featured Credit Cards
Ask the Experts
- What incentive does a bank or credit union have to offer second chance credit cards?
- Is it worth giving credit cards a second chance if you've had bad experiences with them in the past?
- What advice do you have for someone who is looking for a second chance credit card?
- Will it be easier or harder to get a second chance credit card 12 months from now?
- Which credit card companies are most and least likely to give a second chance to consumers with negative items on their credit reports?
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Mauricio Rodriguez
Professor and Chair of the Finance Department in the Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian University
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Lawrence J. White
Robert Kavesh Professor of Economics in the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University
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Richard Kish
Allen C. DuBois Distinguished Professor of Finance at Lehigh University
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Robert H. Scott III
Associate Professor of Economics and Finance at Monmouth University
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Sarah Jane Hughes
University Scholar and Fellow in Commercial Law in the Maurer School of Law at Indiana University
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We work hard to show you up-to-date product terms, however, this information does not originate from us and thus, we do not guarantee its accuracy. Actual terms may vary. Before submitting an application, always verify all terms and conditions with the offering institution. Please let us know if you notice any differences.
† Approval Odds are WalletHub estimates intended to gauge your likelihood of approval for a particular product. Approval Odds are based on WalletHub data and are not provided or endorsed by the lender. Approval Odds are not meant to imply or guarantee that you will be approved by the lender or that credit will be extended.
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Editorial and user-generated content on this page is not provided, commissioned, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any issuer.
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