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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Aspire® Credit Card Aspire® Credit Card
One-Time Fees
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None
Regular APR
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29.99% (V)
Annual Fee
$85-$175 1st yr, $29-$49 after
Monthly Fee
$0 1st yr, $7.25-$12.50 after
Rewards Rate
1 - 3% Cash Back
Minimum Credit
Bad Credit
Rewards Details
- Earn 3% cash back reward on eligible gas, grocery, and utility purchases or payments.
- Earn 1% cash back reward on all other eligible purchases.
Additional Info
- See if you are Pre-Qualified with no impact to your credit score.
- Free access to your VantageScore 3.0 credit score from Equifax.
- Fast and easy application process; get the result in seconds.
- Add your card to Apple Pay®, Google Pay™ or Samsung Pay®, for easy contactless payments.
- Periodic credit limit increase reviews.
- See More Details & Reviews About TheAspire® Credit Card
Secured Mastercard® from Capital One Secured Mastercard® from Capital One
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
- We will monitor your account, and as you use it responsibly by doing things like making on-time payments, you may be able to earn back your deposit as a statement credit
- Easily manage your account 24/7 with online access, by phone or using our mobile app
- See More Details & Reviews About TheSecured Mastercard® from Capital One
Discover it® Secured Credit Card Discover it® Secured 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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22.99% Variable
Annual Fee
$0
Monthly Fee
None
Rewards Rate
1 - 2% Cash Back
Minimum Credit
Bad Credit
Rewards Details
- Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
Additional Info
- No Annual Fee, earn cash back, and build your credit with responsible use.
- Using your secured credit card helps build a credit history with the three major credit bureaus. Generally, prepaid and debit cards can’t do that.
- Establish your credit line with your tax return by providing a refundable security deposit of at least $200 after being approved. Bank information must be provided when submitting your deposit.
- Automatic reviews starting at 8 months to see if we can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.
- Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
- Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards.
- Get 100% U.S. based customer service & get your free Credit Scorecard with your FICO® Credit Score
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
- Get an alert if we find your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites.* Activate for free.
- See More Details & Reviews About TheDiscover it® Secured Credit Card
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card OpenSky® Secured 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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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
Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit
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
Applied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Preferred® Credit Card Applied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Preferred® 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%
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
Applied Bank® Unsecured Classic Visa® Card Applied Bank® Unsecured Classic Visa® 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
Surge Mastercard® Credit Card Surge Mastercard® Credit Card
One-Time Fees
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None
Regular APR
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25.9% - 29.99% (Variable)
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
First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured 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
OakStone Gold Secured Mastercard® OakStone Gold 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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13.99% (V)
Additional Info
- Credit lines available from $200 to $5,000! Low 13.99% variable interest rate on purchases - with no penalty rate!
- No minimum credit score requirements! We invite all credit types to apply! No processing or application fees!
- Helps strengthen your credit with responsible card use. Reports to three national bureaus
- Fast, easy application process. Choose your credit line and open your Personal Savings Deposit Account to secure your line.
- Nationwide Program though not yet available in NY, IA, AR, or WI
- See website for additional OakStone Gold Secured Mastercard® details
- See More Details & Reviews About TheOakStone Gold Secured Mastercard®
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.
2021’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 | Secured Mastercard® from Capital One | 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 Credit Card | 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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Is Self Lender better than a second chance credit card? Reply
Kendall Morris, Credit Cards Moderator
@kendallmorris
Self Lender (now known as Self) is not necessarily better than a second-chance credit card. Self offers credit-builder loans that help people with low scores improve their credit standing. Borrowers pay money into a CD every month, and then get access to that money at the end, but they're charged fees and interest.
With a second-chance credit card, you may have the opportunity to get a card with a $0 annual fee and can avoid interest if you always pay in full. Plus, a credit card helps you build credit indefinitely, while a credit-builder loan from Self is temporary.
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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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Sarah Jane Hughes
University Scholar and Fellow in Commercial Law in the Maurer School of Law at Indiana University
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Robert H. Scott III
Associate Professor of Economics and Finance at Monmouth University
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Richard Kish
Allen C. DuBois Distinguished Professor of Finance at Lehigh 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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Mauricio Rodriguez
Professor and Chair of the Finance Department in the Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian 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. WalletHub may share your information with third-parties in order to show personalized offers, as well as enable you to interact more easily with pre-fill forms or applications. You can opt-out of sharing your personal info here.
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