Secure credit card — use security deposit as collateral Credit Lines — Whether you're rebuilding your credit or starting your credit history from scratch, help improve your credit score. You should know that these credit cards are notorious for their low credit limits. In other words, you have to be careful about maintaining your balance. may be better for you. If you want a little more flexibility when it comes to keeping your card balance, here are some secure card options.

U.S. Bank Secured Visa Card: Best for higher credit limits

• Credit limit: Up to $5,000
• APR : 26.99% variable
• Annual fee: None

U.S. Bank Secured Visa Card* has an annual fee I like it because it's free. will give you the option to select your credit limit and payment due date. In particular, credit limits can be set between $300 and $5,000. This is a definite perk for potential cardholders who have sufficient funds to secure a higher limit.

The deposit will be held in your FDIC insurance account and will be fully refunded. After at least one year of responsible use, U.S. Bank offers an easy way to upgrade to the insecure version of the card.

Simply call customer service and request a review of your account. If your request is approved, you will get a new account number and your deposit will be refunded.

OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card: Annual Rate Best for Low

• Credit Limit: $3,000
• Annual Rate: 21.14% Variable
• Annual fee: $35

The regular APR for the OpenSky® Secured Visa® credit card is relatively low at 21.14%, compared to others on this list. The APR of the card is between 25.49% and 26.99%. Additionally, the OpenSky Secured Visa offers a credit limit of up to $3,000, provided you are willing to leave with more money and the application process does not require a credit check.

Is possible. You can qualify for an OpenSky Gold Unsecured Card after just 6 months, but you can also see if an OpenSky Secured Visa is worth it for you.

Learn More Secure Credit Cards: Perfect for Cash Back Rewards

<

The Discover it® Secured Credit Card not only offers cardholders the opportunity to build credit using a secure card with no annual fee, it also offers cash back benefits. With this card, you get 2% (1% thereafter) on purchases totaling up to $1,000 each quarter at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% on all other purchases. As a perk, as a welcome bonus, Discover equates to all cash earned in the first year.

I also like this card because it has a way to upgrade to the insecure version, Discover it®. cashback. After 7 months, there is an automated account review to see if you are eligible.

Citi Secured Mastercard: Simplicity is Best

• Limit: $2,500
• APR: 26.74% Variable
• Annual fee: None

The Citi® Secured Mastercard® doesn't have many extras, but it's worth adding to the list

You can open the card for as little as $200 or as much as $2,500. After 18 months of on-time payments, you are eligible to upgrade to an unsecured Citi credit card and get your deposit back.

High limits Should You Get a Secured Credit Card?

If your credit score is not good enough to improve your credit with traditional credit cards, these secured cards can help you get a better credit score. We do not recommend using this method if you are unable to make payments on time and as agreed. Late or missed payments can further damage your credit.

And if you hold a balance on a secure credit card, you can not only pay interest, but also increase your credit utilization. Using credit is an important factor in maintaining a good credit score.

Finally, to get a higher credit limit, you'll need to get used to larger deposits. If you're comfortable spending $1,000 or more on a secured card, it could help you on your credit-building journey. If you're not in the financial position to part with a lot of money, consider waiting until your financial situation improves.

High limits How to choose a safe credit card

Some features you might find useful

Opportunities to increase your credit limit or upgrade your card

Some secure credit cards automatically verify your credit account and increase your credit limit. This is not something you have to initiate, it is built into the credit issuer's credit limit increase process.

Find out if there is an easy way to increase your credit limit, even if you don't have an automatic review. Your card issuer may also offer an upgrade path to a non-secure version of your secure credit card.

Low Fees

Some secure credit cards have various fees such as annual fees, foreign transaction fees, late fees and even higher interest rates. there is. Ideally, we recommend choosing a card with minimal fees to save you money with this credit building strategy.

Building Credit

Not all secure credit cards report your activity to the bank. Credit bureau. Before you get a secure credit card, make sure your card issuer reports your activity to credit bureaus.

Benefits

Although less common in the secured credit card space, secured credit cards offer benefits such as cash back and welcome bonuses. There are several While not as attractive as standard reward credit card benefits, they can provide an incentive to use your credit card even while you repair your credit score.

The bottom line

Secure credit cards are great tools for building credit, but their notoriously low credit limits can be a problem. This makes it difficult to keep credit utilization low. For this reason, we recommend that you consider a secure credit card with a higher limit. However, make sure a secure credit card has other desirable features besides higher credit limits, such as lower fees, perks, and automated account reviews.

It also helps to compare the selected card with others. Check out our list of the best secure credit cards, just in case other features catch your eye and are more valuable. Card details are not verified or approved by the card issuer.