Below is a comprehensive list of secured credit cards. Use our filters to narrow down the features you are looking for to find the right card for yourself. For example, you could filter cards by no annual fee, no credit checks, whether it graduates to an unsecured credit card etc.
Secured credit cards require that you fund a refundable deposit (normally between $200 and $5,000) and that deposit becomes your credit limit. Otherwise, a secured card is just like any other credit card. Your activity will be reported to the three major credit bureaus so if you use the card wisely (ie pay your bills on time and in full, do not use all your credit limit), you will build or rebuild your credit over time.
SDFCU EMV Savings Secured Platinum Visa
Below is our curated list of the best credit cards which we think are the creme of the crop (so to speak).
| Card | Annual Fee | Security Deposit | Reports As | Graduates to Unsecured | Interest On Deposit | Good For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discover It Secured | $0 | $200-$2,500 | secured | Yes | No | Rewards and Early Graduation |
| Capital One Secured Mastercard | $0 | $200-$2,500 | unsecured | Yes | No | Credit limit increases and graduation |
| Citi Secured Mastercard | $0 | $200-$2,500 | secured | Yes | No | No Credit and Graduation |
| Opensky Secured Visa | $35 | $200-$3,000 | unsecured | No | No | Bad credit and guaranteed approval |
| First Progress | $39 | $200-$2,000 | secured | No | No | Bad credit and no credit checks |
| Self Secured Visa | $0 | $200-$5,000 | secured | No | No | Low Deposit and No Credit Checks |
Reason: No Credit Check. Start With Credit Builder Account
The Self Secured Visa is a unique secured card in that you first start off with a credit builder loan account. This is ideal for folks who want to get a secured credit card but do not have sufficient cash in their checking account. This method of getting a credit builder loan first allows you to build your credit as you save up money. There is also no credit checks so you will definitely be approved for this card.
Secured credit cards from US Bank are the most underrated. They have great rewards and graduate though it takes a longer time than Discover's automatic 7 month graduation. But you get a much better card after graduation than Discover, where you are stuck with the Chrome card with 2% on restaurant and gas stations up to $1,000 a quarter and no product change opportunities.
If you were going to do a secured card, I would go for Opensky. It doesnt do a credit pull. So no hard inquiry and the few points dinged.It reported on my report within a week or two of approval.
First Progress Platinum Elite Mastercard® Secured Credit Card
Green Dot primor® Secured Visa® Gold Card
I have the Self secured credit card for about 6 months now. For the most part is very good and I have had no problems at all. One issue I have is that when I pay my balance it takes up 5 business days for it to post. But this is quite common in this space.
BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card
Citi® Secured Mastercard
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
U.S. Bank Secured Visa® Car
Discover it secured by a mile.
US Bank Altitude Go Secured is the best secured credit card. No contest.
I have the Opensky for more than a year and never had any problems. Got the card to me within a week after I put down the $300 deposit. The one tiny complaint I have is that the app does not showing pending charges.
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card
Navy Federal nRewards® Secured Credit Card
Wells Fargo Secured Credit Card
I went with Capital One. But if you go with the Cap One route, then shoot for the Quicksilver secured because you get to earn 1.5% cash back whereas the regular Cap One Platinum secured has no rewards.
If you’re military person, go with Navy Federal and get their nRewards secured card. It graduates into the cashRewards which earns 1.75% cashback as a catch all with direct deposit.
Don't get the Cap One secured card. No rewards and they also take a long time to return your deposit.
While Discover graduates quickly, you get the Chrome with 2% on restaurants and gas with $1,000 limit every quarter. It is really just a MEH card.
I really liked the BoA Custom Cash Secured card with 3% for various categories and 2% grocery and wholesale clubs. It is really a good starter card.
I used and would recommend the Chime credit builder visa. It is like a secured card in that you have to put a deposit. But it is like a prepaid card because you can use the deposit to pay your bills. You simply top up your card account from your Chime bank account. You do however need a Chime bank account to get their card. But it has no fee, no hard inquiries and they report very quickly to all three major credit bureaus.
If you credit is not trashed with lots of negatives and derog, then I say go with the mainstream banks like Discover, Cap One, BOA, US Bank. All their cards graduate and have no annual fees. But if your credit is so bad that you get denied these cards, then go with those with no hard inquiries like Opensky, Chime and Self.
Self is a great secured card. My score was in the mid 500s and I got a capital one, self and Mission Lane card. 22 months later my score was 770. Be sure to keep your credit utilization very low.
Every one is always suggesting checking out the Discover and Cap One pre-approval page first. But I think US Bank and BOA have better secured credit card than both Discover and Cap One.
I used the Opensky 8 years ago to rebuild my credit. Had it for 3 years and closed it. It served it's purpose and I would recommend the card.
I have been with Self for 2 years - have both the credit builder and secured card and both a great and have helped my credit.
Discover by far is the best secured card to get. Most will graduate in 7 months. Once you graduate, you may find that there are better cards than Chrome. But you can always apply for another card after that.
I have the Opensky years ago. But they now have the no annual fee version and I think most people should check it out.
What is a secured credit card and how does it work?
Pros and Cons of Secured credit cards
How does deposits on secured credit cards work?
What should a typical deposit be on a secured credit card?
How to use secured credit cards wisely?
How fast can secured credit cards build credit?
How many secured credit cards do you need to build credit?
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