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Having bad credit or a very limited credit history makes getting a credit card tough. But secured credit cards
are generally easier to get, and in some cases, they can help
you improve your FICO score enough to qualify for an unsecured card.
With a secured card, you make a cash deposit, which the issuer holds as
collateral in case you don’t pay your bill. The deposit reduces the
issuer’s risk, which is why secured cards can be an option for those
with bad credit.
NerdWallet’s best credit cards for bad credit:
| Best for … | Card |
|---|---|
| Low deposit | Capital One® Secured MasterCard® |
| Members of the military | Navy Federal nRewards Secured |
| Upgrading | US Bank Secured Card |
| No annual fee | Digital Federal Credit Union Visa Platinum Secured Credit Card |
Best for low deposit
|
Capital One® Secured MasterCard® |
on Capital One's secure website
|
Pros
- Qualify with limited / bad credit
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fee
Cons
- No rewards
- High APR
Bonus Offer
None
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR Promotions
N/A
APR
- APR: 24.99% (Variable)
- Cash Advance APR: 24.99%, Variable
Card Details
- No annual fee, and all the credit building benefits with responsible card use
- Unlike a prepaid card, it builds credit when used responsibly, with regular reporting to the 3 major credit bureaus
- You will get an initial $200 credit line after making a security deposit of $49, $99 or $200, determined based on your creditworthiness
- Get access to a higher credit line after making your first 5 monthly payments on time with no additional deposit needed
- Easily manage your account 24/7 with online access, by phone or using our mobile app
- It’s a credit card accepted at millions of locations worldwide
Minimum deposit of $49, $99 or $200,
depending on your credit. You can pay the deposit over time. Reports to
the major credit bureaus. Annual fee is $0.
Benefits of the Capital One® Secured MasterCard®:
- You don’t have to make your collateral deposit all at once. You can pay in installments, as long as the deposit requirement is met within 80 days of account opening.
- You may be able to get a credit line of $200 with a deposit of only $49 or $99, depending on your credit. Most secured cards set your credit line equal to your deposit.
- Over time, you may qualify for a higher credit line without putting down an additional deposit, a rare opportunity among secured cards.
- The card’s $0 annual fee is low compared with other secured cards.
Drawbacks of the Capital One® Secured MasterCard®:
- This card has a high interest rate: The ongoing APR is 24.99% (Variable).
- The Capital One® Secured MasterCard® card doesn’t offer a rewards program. This is common for secured cards, but it’s possible to find those perks elsewhere.
The bottom line:
The Capital One® Secured MasterCard® is an excellent choice for
people who are short on cash but want to work on building or rebuilding
their credit. It offers flexibility when it comes to making a collateral
deposit, and responsible use of the card could score you a higher
credit limit without having to cough up additional funds. Also, because the card is issued by a major bank, it may be easier to upgrade to one of the bank’s unsecured cards later.
Best for military
|
Navy Federal nRewards Secured |
on Navy Federal Credit Union's secure website
|
Pros
- Qualify with limited / bad credit
- No annual fee
- 2.99% for 12 mos on transfers
- No foreign transaction fee
Bonus Offer
None
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR Promotions
Purchase: None
Transfer: 2.99% for 12 mos
APR
- Min APR: 9.24%, Variable
- Max APR: 18.00%, Variable
- Penalty APR: Up to 18.00%, Variable
Card Details
- Earn 1 point per $1 spent on purchases
- N/A
Earn 1 point for every $1 you spend;
points are worth as much as 1 cent each. Reports to the major credit
bureaus. The annual fee is $0.
Benefits of the Navy Federal nRewards Secured:
- The Navy Federal nRewards Secured earns rewards, which is very rare among secured credit cards.
- The card’s annual fee is $0 — another unusual benefit for a secured credit card.
- This card charges a comparatively low interest rate. 2.99% for 12 months on balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 9.24% - 18% Variable
Drawbacks of the Navy Federal nRewards Secured:
- Only members of Navy Federal Credit Union can get the Navy Federal nRewards Secured. You must be a Department of Defense employee (including military members) or the family member of a Department of Defense employee to join.
- The card’s minimum deposit is $500, which is high compared with other cards.
The bottom line:
The Navy Federal nRewards Secured is undoubtedly the Nerds’ secured credit card of choice — if you meet the eligibility criteria for Navy Federal Credit Union membership. It has a low cost, offers rewards, and reports activity to the major credit bureaus. This is a rare trifecta of benefits.
Best for upgrading
|
US Bank Secured Card |
on US Bank's secure website
|
Pros
- Qualify with limited / bad credit
Cons
- Has annual fee
- No rewards
- High APR
Bonus Offer
None
Annual Fee
$29
Intro APR Promotions
N/A
APR
- Purchase: 19.24%
- Cash Advance APR: 24.49%
Card Details
- N/A
Reports to major credit bureaus.
Provides access to a credit limit of up to $5,000, based on your
deposit. You may be eligible for an upgrade to an unsecured card in as
little as 12 months.
Benefits of the US Bank Secured Card:
- The US Bank Secured Card allows a credit limit of up to $5,000, if you’re able to provide that amount for a deposit.
- U.S. Bank will evaluate your account after 12 months. If you’ve been responsible with your card, you may be eligible to upgrade to an unsecured card. This is a faster opportunity to transition to unsecured credit than many other cards provide.
- The card’s annual fee is $29, which is low compared with many secured credit cards.
Drawbacks of the US Bank Secured Card:
- As of December 2015, U.S. Bank doesn’t offer free FICO score access to secured credit card holders. This could make it hard to track your credit progress over time. (The bank does offer lesser-used TransUnion scores for free.)
- The ongoing APR is 19.24% — a pretty steep interest rate compared with some other options.
The bottom line:
This card is a first-rate choice if your main goal is to switch from a
secured card to an unsecured card as quickly as possible. Since
many secured cards force you to wait 18 months or more to transition,
the US Bank Secured Card’s evaluation at 12 months could be a great
opportunity for responsible cardholders.
Best for no annual fee
|
Digital Federal Credit Union Visa Platinum Secured Credit Card |
on Digital Federal Credit Union's secure website
|
Pros
- Qualify with limited / bad credit
- No annual fee
Cons
- No rewards
Bonus Offer
None
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR Promotions
N/A
APR
- Purchase: 11.75%
- Penalty APR: Up to 18.00%
- Cash Advance APR: 11.75%
Card Details
- N/A
The annual fee is $0. Comparatively
low interest rate. Reports to major credit bureaus. Digital Federal
Credit Union membership is required, but you can join with a one-time
donation to an eligible charity.
Benefits of the Digital Federal Credit Union Visa Platinum Secured Credit Card:
- The card’s annual fee is $0. This is hard to find in secured credit cards. This credit union’s membership requirements are relaxed, which means nearly anyone can apply for the card.
- The Digital Federal Credit Union Visa Platinum Secured Credit Card charges a comparatively low interest rate: The ongoing APR is 11.75%.
Drawbacks of the Digital Federal Credit Union Visa Platinum Secured Credit Card:
- This card doesn’t offer a rewards program.
The bottom line:
The Digital Federal Credit Union Visa Platinum Secured Credit Card is
a primo choice if you don’t want to pay an annual fee but also don’t
qualify for membership in Navy Federal Credit Union. It’s very
cost-effective and will help you pump up your credit score because it
reports to all three major credit bureaus.
Methodology
NerdWallet’s credit cards team
selects cards in each category based on overall consumer value. Factors
in our evaluation include fees, promotional and ongoing APRs, and
sign-up bonuses; for rewards cards, we consider earning and redemption
rates, redemption options and redemption difficulty. A single card is
eligible to win in multiple categories.
Last updated January 14, 2016.
Kevin Cash is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: kcash@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @kevin_cash.
