Secured credit cards
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CK Editors’ Tips††: Not everyone is willing to pay a security deposit just for access to credit, but that doesn’t mean secured cards are less desirable than unsecured cards when you need to build credit. If you can afford to put down the deposit, these cards can help you work your way up to cards with more features.Read more
What to consider when choosing a secured credit card
Secured cards come with drawbacks, but they can also provide valuable features that you might not be able to find from unsecured credit cards for bad credit. When searching for a secured card, first try to focus on options with a minimum security deposit you can afford. We also recommend you look for cards that offer benefits for on-time payments, like the opportunity to raise your credit or to graduate to an unsecured card. The key is to turn your security deposit into an opportunity, not just a requirement for access to credit.
Secured cards come with drawbacks, but they can also provide valuable features that you might not be able to find from unsecured credit cards for bad credit. When searching for a secured card, first try to focus on options with a minimum security deposit you can afford. We also recommend you look for cards that offer benefits for on-time payments, like the opportunity to raise your credit or to graduate to an unsecured card. The key is to turn your security deposit into an opportunity, not just a requirement for access to credit.
How we picked the best secured credit cards
We chose the best secured credit cards with an eye toward both attainability and usefulness. Because these cards require you to put down a meaningful security deposit, we focused on options that either offered a low minimum deposit (to make it easier to open the card) or a high maximum deposit (to allow you to build credit faster). We also selected cards that feature some sort of bonus in addition to just access to credit. Read more about our methodology for picking the best credit cards.
Jump to editors’ picksWe chose the best secured credit cards with an eye toward both attainability and usefulness. Because these cards require you to put down a meaningful security deposit, we focused on options that either offered a low minimum deposit (to make it easier to open the card) or a high maximum deposit (to allow you to build credit faster). We also selected cards that feature some sort of bonus in addition to just access to credit. Read more about our methodology for picking the best credit cards.
Great for a low purchase APR††
Great for a low purchase APR††
First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card
Min. deposit
$200RefundableRegular purchase APR
18.49%* VariableAnnual fee
$39Rewards rate
1%Cash back
Min. deposit
$200 Refundable
Regular purchase APR
18.49%* Variable
Annual fee
$39
Rewards rate
1% Cash back
- Choose the First Progress Select Card for a lower annual fee!
- Get a First Progress Select Card and Earn 1% Cash Back Rewards!
Great for no credit check††
Great for no credit check††
OpenSky® Secured Credit Visa® Card
Min. deposit
$200RefundableRegular purchase APR
24.89%* VariableAnnual fee
$35Rewards rate
10%Cash back
Min. deposit
$200 Refundable
Regular purchase APR
24.89%* Variable
Annual fee
$35
Rewards rate
10% Cash back
- New feature! Earn up to 10% cash back on everyday purchases
- No credit check to apply. Zero credit risk to apply!
Great for a lower security deposit††
Great for a lower security deposit††
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
Min. deposit
$49, $99 or $200RefundableRegular purchase APR
29.99% (Variable)Annual fee
$0
Min. deposit
$49, $99 or $200 Refundable
Regular purchase APR
29.99% (Variable)
Annual fee
$0
- No credit score required to apply, but may be used if available
- No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
Great for a low purchase APR††
Great for a low purchase APR††
First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card
Min. deposit
$200RefundableRegular purchase APR
14.49%* VariableAnnual fee
$49Rewards rate
1%Cash back
Min. deposit
$200 Refundable
Regular purchase APR
14.49%* Variable
Annual fee
$49
Rewards rate
1% Cash back
- You Aren't Stuck with Bad Credit. Start Rebuilding with a First Progress Prestige Credit Card!¹
- Earn 1% Cash Back Rewards with First Progress Prestige!
Great for access to credit††
Great for access to credit††
Merrick Bank Secured Credit Card
Min. deposit
$200RefundableRegular purchase APR
22.95%* VariableAnnual fee
$36 the first year. Billed $3 per month thereafter
Min. deposit
$200 Refundable
Regular purchase APR
22.95%* Variable
Annual fee
$36 the first year. Billed $3 per month thereafter
- Choose your own credit line based on how much money you want to put down as a security deposit.
- Initial deposits can be from $200 to $3,000. You can increase your credit line at any time by adding additional money to your security deposit, up to $3,000.
OpenSky® Launch Secured Visa® Credit Card
Min. deposit
$100RefundableRegular purchase APR
29.24%* VariableAnnual fee
$24 for the first year, then $36 thereafterRewards rate
0%Cash back
Min. deposit
$100 Refundable
Regular purchase APR
29.24%* Variable
Annual fee
$24 for the first year, then $36 thereafter
Rewards rate
0% Cash back
- Excellent option for a low fully refundable security deposit, get started with just $100
- Earn up to 10% cash back on everyday purchases
Great for a low security deposit††
Great for a low security deposit††
First Latitude Elite Mastercard® Secured Credit Card
Min. deposit
$200RefundableRegular purchase APR
24.49%* VariableAnnual fee
$29Rewards rate
1%Cash back
Min. deposit
$200 Refundable
Regular purchase APR
24.49%* Variable
Annual fee
$29
Rewards rate
1% Cash back
- Choose our First Latitude Elite Card for a lower annual APR!
- Build, Strengthen, Or Rebuild Your Credit Starting with a $200 Deposit.¹
Great for building credit††
Great for building credit††
First Latitude Assent Mastercard® Secured Credit Card
Min. deposit
$200RefundableRegular purchase APR
28.49%* VariableAnnual fee
$0Rewards rate
1%Cash back
Min. deposit
$200 Refundable
Regular purchase APR
28.49%* Variable
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1% Cash back
- Choose the First Latitude Assent Card and enjoy $0 Annual Fee!
- Secure your credit line with your refundable security deposit – choose from $200- $2,000. With the ability to increase up to $5,000 over time!
Great for no credit check††
Great for no credit check††
OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa® Credit Card
Min. deposit
$300RefundableRegular purchase APR
29.24%* VariableAnnual fee
$0Rewards rate
10%Cash back
Min. deposit
$300 Refundable
Regular purchase APR
29.24%* Variable
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
10% Cash back
- New feature! Earn up to 10% cash back on everyday purchases
- No annual fee
Great for graduating to unsecured credit††
Great for graduating to unsecured credit††
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
Min. deposit
$200RefundableRegular purchase APR
27.49% Variable APR * Rates as of December 12, 2024.Annual fee
$0Rewards rate
1% - 2%Cash back
Min. deposit
$200 Refundable
Regular purchase APR
27.49% Variable APR * Rates as of December 12, 2024.
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1% - 2% Cash back
- No credit score required to apply. No Annual Fee.
- Your secured credit card requires a refundable security deposit, and your credit line will equal your deposit amount, starting at $200. Bank information must be provided when submitting your deposit.
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†† The opinions you read here come from our editorial team. Intuit Credit Karma receives compensation from third-party advertisers, but that doesn’t affect our editors' opinions. Our marketing partners don’t review, approve or endorse our editorial content. It’s accurate to the best of our knowledge when it’s posted.