Jim's Articles

Credit score tips to obtain premium secured credit cards

Credit score advices to get the top secured credit cards? Who can be approved? Even though secured credit cards are available to people with bad credit, and even though the security deposit reduces the risk to the issuer, approval is not guaranteed for everyone: The issuer will usually (but not always) check your credit report for signs that you’re an unacceptable credit risk. If you’re in the middle of a bankruptcy, for example, or you’re currently delinquent on other accounts, or you’ve opened a bunch of new accounts recently, you’re unlikely to be approved. You’ll also have to show that you have income so you can pay your credit card bill. Yes, the issuer has your deposit, but it will use that money to cover your bill only as a last resort. You’re expected to pay your bill every month, so you’ll need income.

OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card: Details and benefits: The two reasons you may want to apply for the OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card is if you don’t own a checking account, but still want access to a credit card, or if you’re looking for a secured card with a decent annual percentage rate. For everyone else, the $35 annual fee should make this card a non-starter. That being said, OpenSky Secured Visa can help you build or rebuild your credit, as the issuer, Capital Bank, reports your monthly payments to the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

First Progress checks your credit when you apply for one of its secured cards, but it’s not a “hard” inquiry, meaning it doesn’t affect your credit score. The First Progress Platinum Elite Mastercard® Secured Credit Card gets the nod here as the lowest-cost First Progress card. Getting a secured card without a hard inquiry on your credit report can be a benefit to those with lower credit scores, when every point counts. The interest rate on this card is decent for a secured card, though it’s best to pay your balance in full every month, especially when building credit. The annual fee of $29 isn’t terrible — but there are good secured cards available with no annual fee at all.

The Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card is our pick for best business secured card, which is an obvious choice since it appears to be the only secured business card in the market. It offers the flexibility of earning cash back or points rewards and the ability to have a credit line up to $25,000. The Wells Fargo Business Secured Card is ideal for small business owners needing to build their business credit or have experienced business credit challenges in the past.

If you are unable to obtain a standard credit card, or just don’t want your credit score to endure any additional searches, does that mean you’re cut off from obtaining a credit card? The answer is no. Though it’s a little more complicated than a standard application; what you need is a secured credit card. What Is The Difference Between A Standard and a Secured Credit Card? Secured cards are secured for the lender. They will provide you with a credit card, and a credit limit, which you can use as normal. However, they hold your deposit as a security against any balance you accumulate. Read even more information on Secured Cards.