Best secured credit cards of July 2024

Ariana Arghandewal

BLUEPRINT

Updated 5:13 a.m. UTC July 1, 2024

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Having good credit can open up a world of lending and even job opportunities. Unfortunately, building credit can be a bit of a Catch-22, since you need credit to get credit and you can’t get it unless you’ve established it.

The best secured credit cards stand out from the rest with features such as low or no annual fees, higher credit line consideration, a path to upgrade to an unsecured card and lower opening deposit potential.

We analyzed a broad swath of credit cards in this category, from various issuers, to curate a list of the very best. Here are our selections.

Editor’s Note: This article contains updated information from a previously published story.

Best secured credit cards

our partner

Secured Chime® Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card

Apply Now

On Chime’s secure website

Editor’s take

Pros

No interest.¹
No credit history needed.
No minimum deposit requirement.²

Cons

No rewards.
Must have a Chime® Checking Account.
Must make a qualifying direct deposit of $200³ or more to your Chime checking account.

The Chime Credit Builder Visa Secured Card can help you build or establish credit for the first time. With no annual fee or interest charges you can learn the ropes of credit without paying an arm and a leg.

Card details

Annual fee: $0.
Rewards: None.
Welcome bonus: None.
APR: None.
Perks and benefits: Build your credit without paying interest or an annual fee, or undergoing a credit check. The money you move into Credit Builder’s secured account is the amount you can spend on the card and that money can be used to pay off your monthly balances.

Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit card provided by The Bancorp Bank N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC. The secured Credit Builder card issued by Stride Bank, N.A.

¹Out of network ATM withdrawal and over the counter advance fees may apply. See here for details.

²Money added to Credit Builder will be held in a secured account as collateral for your Credit Builder Visa card, which means you can spend up to this amount on your card. This is money you can use to pay off your charges at the end of every month.

³To apply for Credit Builder, you must have received a single qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more to your Chime Checking Account. The qualifying direct deposit must be from your employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, or benefits payer by Automated Clearing House (ACH) deposit OR Original Credit Transaction (OCT). Bank ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, verification or trial deposits from financial institutions, peer to peer transfers from services such as PayPal, Cash App, or Venmo, mobile check deposits, cash loads or deposits, one-time direct deposits, such as tax refunds and other similar transactions, and any deposit to which Chime deems to not be a qualifying direct deposit are not qualifying direct deposits.

Secured Chime® Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card: Best for building credit.
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card*: Best secured credit card.
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card*: Best for flat-rate earnings.
Navy FCU nRewards® Secured Credit Card: Best for credit union secured card.
U.S. Bank Cash+® Secured Visa® Card*: Best for category bonuses.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured credit card*: Best for customizable rewards.
Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card*: Best for free monthly credit score.
Discover it® Secured Credit Card: Best for first-year rewards potential.
BankAmericard® Secured credit card*: Best for upgrade potential.
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card*: Best for no credit check.

Why trust our credit card experts

Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of credit cards and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best card for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.

20+ cards analyzed.
6 data points considered.
5-step fact-checking process.

Best for building credit

Secured Chime® Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card

BLUEPRINT RATING

Apply Now

On Chime’s secure website

BLUEPRINT RATING

Editor’s take

Pros

No interest.¹
No credit history needed.
No minimum deposit requirement.²

Cons

No rewards.
Must have a Chime® Checking Account.
Must make a qualifying direct deposit of $200³ or more to your Chime checking account.

Card details

Annual fee: $0.
Rewards: None.
Welcome bonus: None.
APR: None.
Perks and benefits: Build your credit without paying interest or an annual fee, or undergoing a credit check. The money you move into Credit Builder’s secured account is the amount you can spend on the card and that money can be used to pay off your monthly balances.

¹Out of network ATM withdrawal and over the counter advance fees may apply. See here for details.

Best secured credit card

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

BLUEPRINT RATING

Editor’s take

Pros

Possibility of low opening deposit relative to credit line.
No annual fee.
Get preapproved with no negative impact to your credit score.

Cons

No rewards.
No welcome bonus.
High APR.

What makes the Capital One Platinum Secured Card unique among secured credit cards is the potential to get a $200 credit line with a $49, $99 or $200 minimum refundable deposit (which the issuer determines when you apply), plus the ability to pay your opening deposit all at once or with installments over the next 35 days.

Best for flat-rate earnings

Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

BLUEPRINT RATING

Editor’s take

Pros

No annual fees.
No foreign transaction fees.
Easy-to-redeem cash back rewards.

Cons

$200 minimum refundable deposit required.
High standard APR.
Few additional benefits.

The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Rewards credit card is one of just a handful of secured cards offering rewards. There’s no annual fee and the card earns rewards on all spending. However, like all secured cards, there’s an upfront security deposit requirement.

Card details

Annual fee: $0.
Rewards: 1.5% cash back on purchases and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Welcome bonus: None.
Regular APR: 29.99% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers.
Foreign transaction fees: None.
Perks and benefits: Automatic credit line reviews, rewards don’t expire, redeem for a check, a statement credit or use rewards on purchases or gift cards, $0 fraud liability, access to Capital One Travel.

Best for credit union secured card

Navy FCU nRewards® Secured Credit Card

BLUEPRINT RATING

Earn 1X points per dollar spent

Editor’s take

Pros

No annual, balance transfer or foreign transaction fees.
Account reviewed starting at six months to potentially convert to an unsecured card.
Low APR for a card of this type.

Cons

Credit union membership is required to apply for the card.
As a secured card, an opening deposit is required.
There are other secured cards that earn better rewards.

Secured credit cards can help you build credit, even if you have bad credit, and the Navy Federal nRewards Secured Card can help get you started on a better credit journey. After just three months, you could be eligible for an upgrade that provides you additional credit without an additional security deposit. The card also earns rewards, too – a nice perk for a secured card.

Card details

Annual fee: $0.
Secured or unsecured: Secured.
Rewards: 1 point per $1 on eligible purchases.
Welcome bonus: None.
APR: 18.00% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. There is no balance transfer fee.
Perks and benefits: After just three months, you could be eligible for an upgrade that provides you additional credit without an additional security deposit and after six months your account could be eligible to convert to an unsecured account. Plus, rental car coverage, no foreign transaction fees and free FICO Score.

Best for category bonuses

U.S. Bank Cash+® Secured Visa® Card

BLUEPRINT RATING

5% cash back on on the first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter in two categories of choice, 2% cash back on eligible purchases in choice of one everyday category (like gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants) and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases

Editor’s take

Pros

Strong cash-back rewards program.
Ability to choose your bonus categories.
No annual fee.

Cons

Quarterly spending cap in 5% rewards category.
No welcome bonus or intro APR.
Requires a security deposit.

Who says you need good credit to earn rewards? This card makes rewards accessible to those with limited credit with its impressive cash-back rates without requiring a security deposit.

Card details

Annual fee: $0.
Rewards: 5% cash back on on the first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter in two categories of choice, 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center, 2% cash back on eligible purchases in choice of one everyday category (like gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants) and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Welcome bonus: None.
APR: 29.99% variable APR on purchases and balance transfer. A balance transfer fee of either 3% of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater, applies.
Perks and benefits: Zero fraud liability, flexible payment due dates, ID Navigator Powered by NortonLifeLock.

Best for customizable rewards

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured credit card

BLUEPRINT RATING

Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice: gas (including electric vehicle charging (EVC) stations), online shopping (including cable, streaming, internet and phone services), dining, travel, drug stores or home improvement and furnishings; Earn 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs; Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. You’ll earn 3% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter, then earn 1%.

Editor’s take

Pros

No annual fee.
Doesn’t require a high credit score.
Path to graduate to an unsecured version.

Cons

Higher APR.
Balance transfer fee.
Requires a security deposit.

The Bank of America Customized Cash Back Secured offers customizable rewards allowing customers to choose the rewards that best fit their spending habits. Earning rewards on a secured card at all is unusual and the ability to choose your own categories even more so.

Card details

Annual fee: $0.
Rewards: 3% cash back in a category of choice: gas (including electric vehicle charging (EVC) stations), online shopping (including cable, streaming, internet and phone services), dining, travel, drug stores or home improvement/furnishings; 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (on up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter; then 1%), and 1% cash back on other purchases.
Welcome bonus: None.
Minimum security deposit: $200.
APR: 29.24% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of 4% of each transaction applies.
Perks and benefits: Monthly access to your FICO Score when you opt in.

Best for free monthly credit score

Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card

BLUEPRINT RATING

Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases

Editor’s take

Pros

Flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
Accepts balance transfers (a balance transfer fee of 4% of the amount of each transaction applies).
Path to upgrade to an unsecured card.

Cons

Minimum security deposit of $200.
No meaningful perks.

With the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured card, you can establish or rebuild your credit and still earn a solid flat cash-back rate on all eligible purchases. The card reports to all three credit bureaus and offers a path to upgrade to an unsecured card.

Best for first-year rewards potential

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

BLUEPRINT RATING

Rates & fees / Terms apply

Apply Now

On Discover’s secure website

BLUEPRINT RATING

Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Editor’s take

Pros

No credit score required to apply.
Earns elevated cash back at gas stations and restaurants.
No annual fee.

Cons

$1,000 quarterly spending cap on elevated cash-back rate.
Only earns 1% back on other purchases.

The Discover it® Secured Credit Card doesn’t require a credit score to apply, so it’s a solid option for consumers looking to rebuild or establish credit. There’s no annual fee rewards, to boot.

Card details

No credit score required to apply.
No Annual Fee, earn cash back, and build your credit history.
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.
Automatic reviews starting at 7 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, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
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Terms and conditions apply.

Best for upgrade potential

BankAmericard® Secured credit card

BLUEPRINT RATING

The BankAmericard® Secured credit card does not earn rewards.

Editor’s take

Pros

Ability to upgrade to an unsecured Bank of America card.
Monthly FICO Score.

Cons

No welcome bonus.
Doesn’t earn rewards on spending.
High APR.

The BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card has a relatively low opening deposit requirement of $200 and periodically offers the opportunity to upgrade to an unsecured card in exchange for responsible use. Plus, it charges no annual fee and reports to all three credit bureaus—attributes that turn a good secured card into a great one.

Best for no credit check

OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

BLUEPRINT RATING

Up to 10% cash back rewards on purchases at over 40,000 retailers. Cash back earned varies across retailers.

Editor’s take

Pros

No credit check required to apply.
Refundable security deposits starting at $200.
Reports to all three credit bureaus.

Cons

Annual fee.
No rewards program.
Deposit required.

The OpenSky Secured Visa Card makes it easy to build credit even if you’re starting with limited or no credit history. You don’t need a credit check or bank account to qualify for this card, and you can get your security deposit back when you close your account. Terms apply.

Compare the best secured credit cards

Credit Card

Credit score

Best For

Annual Fee

Welcome Bonus

Secured Chime® Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card

Poor, Average (0 – 649)

Best for building credit

N/A

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

Limited, Bad

Best secured credit card

N/A

Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

Limited, Bad

Best for flat-rate earnings

N/A

Navy FCU nRewards® Secured Credit Card

Bad, Poor (0 – 649)

Best for credit union secured card

N/A

U.S. Bank Cash+® Secured Visa® Card

Bad, Poor (0 – 649)

Best for category bonuses

N/A

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured credit card

New to Credit

Best for customizable rewards

N/A

Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card

Bad, Poor (0 – 649)

Best for free monthly credit score

N/A

Rates & Fees

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

New, Rebuilding Credit

Best for first-year rewards potential

Cashback Match

BankAmericard® Secured credit card

Bad, Poor (0 – 649)

Best for upgrade potential

N/A

OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

No Credit Check

Best for no credit check

$35

N/A

Best secured credit cards of July 2024

Best for building credit: Secured Chime® Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card

Why this card made the list

The Secured Chime® Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card helps customers build their credit history and avoid some of the pitfalls that commonly accompany credit cards. For example, Chime’s Safer Credit Building⁴ feature helps make sure you don’t miss a payment. But note that you have to move funds to the secured account—so it functions a little differently than an actual line of credit.

Chime requires no credit check and charges no foreign transaction fees. It also reports to all three major consumer credit bureaus. However, this card does not earn rewards.

Annual fee: $0.
Minimum security deposit: None.
Rewards: None.
Welcome bonus: None.
Foreign transaction fees: None.
Other benefits and drawbacks: No credit check. The drawback is that the card doesn’t offer rewards of any kind.

Best secured credit card: Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

Why this card made the list

The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card * The information for the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. checks four boxes that make it our top overall pick: higher credit line consideration, a path to upgrade to an unsecured card, lower opening deposit potential and reporting to all three credit bureaus. It charges no annual fee and requires a refundable security deposit—what sets it apart from other secured cards is that you may be able to get a $200 credit line for a deposit of just $49 or $99.

You should know a low deposit isn’t guaranteed, however. If you’re approved for the card, Capital One will let you know if your minimum deposit amount is $49, $99 or $200.

Cardholders can be considered a higher credit line in as little as six months. Plus, you’ll get access to helpful online tools and resources to improve your credit score over time.

This card doesn’t offer rewards or a welcome bonus, but with responsible behavior, you might graduate to an unsecured card and get your security deposit back. If that happens, then after further demonstrating good habits, you can request a product change to a rewards card.

Annual fee: $0.
Minimum security deposit: $49, $99 or $200.
Rewards: None.
Welcome bonus: None.
Foreign transaction fees: None.
Other benefits and drawbacks: Cardholders get automatic credit line reviews starting six months after account opening. Long term, the opportunity to upgrade to an unsecured Capital One Platinum Credit Card * The information for the Capital One Platinum Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. is useful.

Best for flat-rate earnings: Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

Why this card made the list

The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card * The information for the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. is an excellent secured card for those interested in earning rewards at a flat rate. The card earns 1.5% cash back on purchases and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. And, with no annual fee, this card offers a great way to establish credit history and improve your credit score. The card also has no foreign transaction fees, meaning you can take it with you on trips abroad without worrying about an extra 3% or so being tacked on to your spending.

Annual fee: $0.
Minimum security deposit: $200.
Rewards: 1.5% cash back on purchases and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Welcome bonus: None.
Foreign transaction fees: None.
Other benefits and drawbacks: The Quicksilver Secured Card qualifies for an automatic credit line review starting six months after account opening. And, cardholders may be able to upgrade to an unsecured card over time if their account remains in good standing.

Best for credit union secured card: Navy FCU nRewards® Secured Credit Card

Why this card made the list

The Navy Federal nRewards Card carries no annual fee and offers a relatively low 18.00% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. There is no balance transfer fee. This makes it an affordable way to build credit. It’s also great if you want to avoid fees on balance transfers, foreign transactions and cash advances (though we would almost never recommend taking out a cash advance on a credit card because interest starts accruing immediately).

The card earns points on everyday purchases that can be redeemed for cash back, merchandise, or travel rewards. Additionally, cardholders enjoy discounts on shopping, dining and entertainment as well as access to exclusive military-related benefits. A really unique perk for a secured card is the secondary auto rental collision coverage, which applies after your own insurance (and you have to reject the coverage offered by the rental car company).

Annual fee: $0.
Minimum security deposit: $200.
Rewards: 1 point per $1 on eligible purchases.
Welcome bonus: None.
Foreign transaction fees: None.
Other benefits and drawbacks: Cardholders may be eligible for a credit line increase just three months after account opening. Upgrades to an unsecured card, accompanied by a deposit refund, start as early as six months after account opening. The Navy Federal nRewards Card also provides secondary rental car coverage. Unfortunately, it does not offer a welcome bonus.

Best for category bonuses: U.S. Bank Cash+® Secured Visa® Card

Why this card made the list

The U.S. Bank Cash+® Secured Visa® Card * The information for the U.S. Bank Cash+® Secured Visa® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. offers a generous cash-back program and charges no annual fee, making it one of the best secured cards for earning cash back. Cardholders earn 5% cash back on on the first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter in two categories of choice, 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center, 2% cash back on eligible purchases in choice of one everyday category (like gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants) and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Additionally, the U.S. Bank Cash+ Secured Card provides access to your VantageScore credit score, giving cardholders a tool to track their progress as they build their credit.

Annual fee: $0.
Minimum security deposit: $300.
Rewards: 5% cash back on on the first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter in two categories of choice, 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center, 2% cash back on eligible purchases in choice of one everyday category (like gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants) and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Welcome bonus: None.
Foreign transaction fees: 3% of each foreign transaction
Other benefits and drawbacks: The card offers free ID Navigator Powered by NortonLifeLock.

Best for customizable rewards: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured credit card

Why this card made the list

The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured credit card * The information for the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured credit card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. offers competitive rewards rates on everyday purchases, making it a great choice for those looking to maximize their cash back. Cardholders earn 3% cash back in a category of choice: gas (including electric vehicle charging (EVC) stations), online shopping (including cable, streaming, internet and phone services), dining, travel, drug stores or home improvement/furnishings; 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (on up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter; then 1%), and 1% cash back on other purchases.

The card also has no annual fee and a low minimum deposit requirement, making it an affordable option for those who may not have the best credit history.

Annual fee: $0.
Minimum security deposit: $200.
Rewards: 3% cash back in a category of choice: gas (including electric vehicle charging (EVC) stations), online shopping (including cable, streaming, internet and phone services), dining, travel, drug stores or home improvement/furnishings; 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (on up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter; then 1%), and 1% cash back on other purchases.
Welcome bonus: None.
Foreign transaction fees: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each transaction.
Other benefits and drawbacks: Cardholders get monthly access to their FICO Score after opting in.

Best for free monthly credit score: Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card

Why this card made the list

The Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card * The information for the Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with no annual fee and free access to your FICO Score (updated monthly). This can help cardholders track the progress they’re making on their credit-building journey.

The card charges a foreign transaction fee of 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each transaction, so it’s not a good choice if traveling abroad.

Annual fee: $0
Minimum security deposit: $200.
Rewards: 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
Welcome bonus: None.
Foreign transaction fees: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each transaction.
Other benefits and drawbacks: The card provides a free monthly FICO Score (when you opt in) and periodic reviews for security deposit return. Drawbacks include a foreign transaction fee and high 29.24% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of 4% of each transaction applies.

Best for first-year rewards potential: Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Why this card made the list

The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is an excellent choice for building credit while earning cash back because it offers 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter and 1% cash back on all other purchases. These rewards are even more lucrative when you consider that all cash back is matched during the first year.

This means that cardholders can effectively earn up to 4% cash back on qualifying purchases during their first year. Additionally, Discover will automatically review your account on a monthly basis (starting after seven months) and potentially upgrade you to an unsecured card.

Annual fee: $0.
Minimum security deposit: $200.
Rewards: 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Welcome bonus: Discover will automatically match all the cash back earned at the end of the first cardmember year.
Foreign transaction fees: None.
Other benefits and drawbacks: All cash back earned in the first year is matched. Some may find the ongoing rewards categories somewhat limiting—however, note that with a secured card, the main goal is not to rack up a lot of rewards but rather to show responsible behavior and build credit history.

Best for upgrade potential: BankAmericard® Secured credit card

Why this card made the list

The BankAmericard® Secured credit card * The information for the BankAmericard® Secured credit card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. allows you to build or rebuild your credit without an annual fee. Bank of America conducts periodic reviews, providing ample opportunity to upgrade to an unsecured credit card. Cardholders also get free monthly access to their FICO Score so they can track their credit-building progress.

Unfortunately, the card offers no rewards or welcome bonus and charges a 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each transaction. But hopefully, with those periodic account reviews in place, you’ll get to upgrade to an unsecured Bank of America credit card—and from there, you’re well on your way to building a better credit profile for yourself.

Annual fee: $0.
Minimum security deposit: $200.
Rewards: None.
Welcome bonus: None.
Foreign transaction fees: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each transaction.
Other benefits and drawbacks: The BankAmericard® Secured credit card * The information for the BankAmericard® Secured credit card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. provides a free monthly FICO Score and conducts periodic reviews to see if you’re eligible to get your deposit back.

Best for no credit check: OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

Why this card made the list

If your credit is so bad you fear you might be denied for the other secured cards on this list, don’t despair. The OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card * The information for the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. lets you apply with no credit check, though you’ll still have to provide other financial information—such as yearly income and monthly housing payment. Approval is never guaranteed for any credit card, but the OpenSky Secured Visa offers a chance to rebuild your credit despite past mistakes, and charges a reasonable $35 annual fee.

Annual fee: $35.
Minimum security deposit: $200.
Rewards: up to 10% cash back rewards on everyday purchases from participating retailers (cash back varies across retailers).
Welcome bonus: None.
Foreign transaction fees: 3% of each Transaction in U.S. dollars.
Other benefits and drawbacks: No credit check to apply, no checking account required, ability to change your payment due date once per year. Unfortunately, there’s no path to upgrade to an unsecured credit card with the OpenSky Secured Visa, so once your credit improves, you may wish to apply for a different card.

Methodology

Our credit cards team has spent hours analyzing hundreds of credit cards. We took a deep dive into the details of each product and that analysis, combined with our years of experience covering credit cards, informed us as we developed these credit card rankings. Our methodology was based on factors including annual fees, any other account-related fees, if the card reported to the three major credit bureaus, if a card offered rewards and/or other benefits and if the card offered a path to upgrade to an unsecured version.

Should you get a secured credit card?

“For consumers with no credit history or who need to rebuild credit, secured cards are a great way to show lenders, like banks, mortgage companies, etc., you can use credit responsibly”, said Allison Tackette, credit and travel expert from Award Travel Vacations.

Getting a secured credit card can be a great way to build your credit if you can’t qualify for a regular, aka unsecured, credit card. Some secured cards even offer rewards on daily spending, which can help offset your regular expenses a small amount. The U.S. Bank Cash+ Secured Card, for example, is a great option, offering 5% cash back on on the first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter in two categories of choice, 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center, 2% cash back on eligible purchases in choice of one everyday category (like gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants) and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Just remember, if you’re applying for a credit card, your main goal should be to establish credit history or rebuild your credit after past mistakes. Rewards are nice to have, but should not be your main focus — and you should never spend more than normal just to chase rewards. By treating a credit card like cash, you can build good credit and avoid letting debt pile up.

Guide to secured credit cards

A secured credit card is a type of credit card that requires a cash deposit as collateral. This deposit serves as a security measure and provides the issuer with an assurance that you will pay your bill on time — or they can confiscate your deposit. Secured cards are typically used by people who have damaged, limited or no credit history.

The primary advantage of secured credit cards is that they’re easier to obtain than traditional unsecured cards because they require little to no credit history. Since your credit limit is tied to the security deposit you provide, banks see these cards as less risky for borrowers whose credit scores fall into what’s considered “subprime” territory. Using a secured card responsibly can help build your credit score over time, which can lead to better credit card offers in the future, as well as access to better rates on financial products such as auto loans.

The primary disadvantage of secured credit cards is that they require a cash security deposit that will set your credit limit. Many of the best secured cards offer to refund your security deposit back after a periodic review, but that might be a while. This could be a struggle for folks who don’t have a lot of cash to part with.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Yes, secured cards can help build credit, as long as the issuer reports your activity to the three major consumer credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Secured cards are designed for people who have bad or limited credit history and need to establish or rebuild their credit. By making regular, on-time payments and keeping the balance low, you can improve your credit score over time.

To open a credit card, you must be at least 18 years old and have an income. Other than that, issuers have their own criteria for who they’ll approve or deny.

The good news about secured credit cards is they’re generally more accepting of people with poor or fair credit than unsecured cards. You will need to have funds for the required minimum deposit—without paying the deposit, you won’t be able to open a secured card account.

You can typically get your deposit back by paying off your card in full and closing your account. Some cards also offer a chance at upgrading to an unsecured card after demonstrating responsible behavior, in which case your deposit would be refunded to you.

A secured credit card is a type of credit card that requires the user to provide a security deposit prior to getting the card. This deposit acts as collateral for the lender and it is held in case the borrower fails to make payments on their account. The amount of the security deposit typically determines the amount of credit available on the card.

As with any credit card, the cardholder must make regular payments on their account in order for it to remain active and in good standing. If you pay late or don’t pay what you’ve charged to the card, you run the risk of your credit score tanking, your account being closed and your deposit being confiscated.

Two downsides of getting a secured credit card include the security deposit and the fact that your credit limit is dependent on it. Some secured cards also have annual fees, which is not ideal if you’re also paying a security deposit. Plus, it’s typical for secured cards to have high APRs—we recommend paying your balance off in full every month so you don’t incur expensive interest charges.

^{¹Out of network ATM withdrawal and over the counter advance fees may apply. See here for details.}

^{²Money added to Credit Builder will be held in a secured account as collateral for your Credit Builder Visa card, which means you can spend up to this amount on your card. This is money you can use to pay off your charges at the end of every month.}

^{³To apply for Credit Builder, you must have received a single qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more to your Chime Checking Account. The qualifying direct deposit must be from your employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, or benefits payer by Automated Clearing House (ACH) deposit OR Original Credit Transaction (OCT). Bank ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, verification or trial deposits from financial institutions, peer to peer transfers from services such as PayPal, Cash App, or Venmo, mobile check deposits, cash loads or deposits, one-time direct deposits, such as tax refunds and other similar transactions, and any deposit to which Chime deems to not be a qualifying direct deposit are not qualifying direct deposits.}

^{⁴On-time payment history may have a positive impact on your credit score. Late payment may negatively impact your credit score. Chime will report your activities to Transunion®, Experian®, and Equifax®. Impact on your credit may vary, as Credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors including the financial decisions you make with other financial services organizations.}

Editor’s Note: This article contains updated information from previously published stories:

*The information for the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured credit card, Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card, BankAmericard® Secured credit card, Capital One Platinum Credit Card, Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card, Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card, Navy FCU nRewards® Secured Credit Card, OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card and U.S. Bank Cash+® Secured Visa® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Ariana Arghandewal

BLUEPRINT

Ariana Arghandewal is a travel hacker and travel rewards expert who leverages credit cards to earn over a million miles every year. She is the founder of Pointchaser, an award-winning blog where she covered rewards travel and credit cards since 2012.

Robin Saks Frankel

BLUEPRINT

Robin Saks Frankel is a credit cards lead editor at USA TODAY Blueprint. Previously, she was a credit cards and personal finance deputy editor for Forbes Advisor. She has also covered credit cards and related content for other national web publications including NerdWallet, Bankrate and HerMoney. She's been featured as a personal finance expert in outlets including CNBC, Business Insider, CBS Marketplace, NASDAQ's Trade Talks and has appeared on or contributed to The New York Times, Fox News, CBS Radio, ABC Radio, NPR, International Business Times and NBC, ABC and CBS TV affiliates nationwide. She holds an M.S. in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University. Follow her on Twitter at @robinsaks.