Best Credit Cards to Build Credit

Best Credit Card to Build Credit

Assent Platinum Mastercard® Secured Credit Card

Features

• APR: 29.24% variable, applicable to purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers.
• Annual Fee: $0, making it cost-effective for users.
• Credit Line: Ranges from $200 to $2,000, secured by a fully-refundable deposit.
• Deposit Requirements:
  • Minimum deposit: $200, refundable upon closing the account balance.
• Fees:
  • Cash Advance Fee: 3% (minimum $10).
  • Late Fee: Up to $41.
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: 3%.
  • Return Payment Fee: Up to $30.
• Additional Features:
  • Monthly reporting to all three major credit bureaus.
  • Free real-time access to your credit score and ongoing credit monitoring provided by Experian.
  • Full-feature Platinum Mastercard® benefits including wide acceptance for car rentals, hotels, and more.

Assent Platinum Mastercard® Secured Credit Card: A Detailed Review

Build credit with Assent Platinum; $0 annual fee, credit monitoring, accepted worldwide.

Keys to Credit AIRickie C. Keys, Ph.D., MPH

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students 

Features

• Cash Back Rates: 1%-3% on purchases.
• Annual Fee: $0, making it accessible for students.
• Welcome Bonus: $200 after $1,000 purchases within the first 90 days.
• Intro Purchase APR: 0% for 15 billing cycles, offering a break on interest for new purchases.
• Regular APR: 18.24% - 28.24% Variable, depending on creditworthiness.
• Balance Transfer: Intro fee of 3% for the first 60 days, then 4%.

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students Review

No-fee student card with flexible cashback & intro APR offer.

Keys to Credit AIRickie C. Keys, Ph.D., MPH

Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students

Features

• Cash Back: Unlimited 1.5% on all purchases.
• Annual Fee: $0, making it budget-friendly for students.
• Welcome Bonus: $200 after spending $1,000 within the first 90 days.
• Intro APR: 0% for purchases and balance transfers made within the first 15 billing cycles within the first 60 days.
• Regular APR: Variable, currently 18.24% - 28.24% after the intro period.
• Balance Transfer Fee: 3% intro fee for the first 60 days, then 4%.

Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students Review

BoA Student Card: Earn 1.5% cash back on purchases, $0 annual fee.

Keys to Credit AIRickie C. Keys, Ph.D., MPH

Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students

Features

• Cash Back: Unlimited 1.5% on all purchases.
• Annual Fee: $0, making it budget-friendly for students.
• Welcome Bonus: $200 after spending $1,000 within the first 90 days.
• Intro APR: 0% for purchases and balance transfers made within the first 15 billing cycles within 60 days.
• Regular APR: Variable, currently 18.24% - 28.24% after the intro period.
• Balance Transfer Fee: 3% intro fee for the first 60 days, then 4%.

Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students Review

BoA Student Card: Earn 1.5% cash back on purchases, $0 annual fee.

Keys to Credit AIRickie C. Keys, Ph.D., MPH

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

Features

• APR for Purchases and Transfers: 30.74% Variable, adapting with the market based on the Prime Rate.
• APR for Cash Advances: Matches the purchase APR at 30.74% Variable.
• Annual Fee: None, making it a cost-effective option for building credit.
• Transaction Fees:
  • Balance Transfer Fee: 4% on each transferred balance at a promotional APR. No fee for balances at the Transfer APR.
  • Cash Advance Fee: The greater of $5 or 5% of the advance amount.
• Penalty Fees:
  • Late Payment: Up to $40, encouraging timely payments.
• Billing Method: Average daily balance, including new transactions, ensures fair interest calculations.

Capital One® Secured Mastercard® Review: Strengthening Credit Foundations

Boost credit with Capital One®: No annual fee, educational tools, and growth potential.

Keys to Credit AIRickie C. Keys, Ph.D., MPH

Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

Features

• No Annual Fee: Enjoy the benefits of a credit card without the burden of an annual fee.
• Cash Back Rewards: Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with no categories to track or limits on how much you can earn. Additionally, earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
• Credit Building: This card is ideal for individuals with limited or bad credit history. It reports to all three major credit bureaus, improving credit scores.
• Additional Benefits: Up to 6 months complimentary Uber One membership, $0 Fraud Liability, automatic consideration for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months, and access to CreditWise from Capital One to monitor your credit score.

Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card Review

Earn rewards and build credit with $0 annual fee using Capital One Quicksilver Secured.

Keys to Credit AIRickie C. Keys, Ph.D., MPH

Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

Features

• Cash Back: Unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, grocery stores (excluding big-box retailers like Walmart and Target), plus 1% on all other purchases.
• Early Spend Bonus: Many students aspire to earn a $50 bonus after spending $100 within the first three months.
• Uber & Uber Eats Benefits: Enjoy 10% cash back on these services and complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024, catering to the student lifestyle.
• APR: A variable APR of 19.99%-29.99%, the standard for student cards, emphasizing the importance of responsible spending.

Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card Review: Maximizing Student Rewards

Unbeatable 3% student cash back, with $0 fees & credit building.

Keys to Credit AIRickie C. Keys, Ph.D., MPH

Chime Secured Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card

Features

• No Annual Fee or APR: It's cost-effective, as there are no annual fees or interest charges.
• No Credit Check Required: Accessible to those with poor to fair credit scores, making it an excellent tool for credit building.
• Flexible Credit Limit: Your credit limit is adjustable based on the funds you transfer to the secured account.
• Chime Checking Account Requirement: You must open a Chime Checking Account to use the Credit Builder card.

Chime Credit Builder Review: A Step Towards Better Credit

Chime’s Credit Builder: No fees, no APR, secure credit growth.

Keys to Credit AIRickie C. Keys, PhD, MPH

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Features

• APR for Purchases: 28.24%, variable with the market based on the Prime Rate.
• APR for Balance Transfers: 10.99% introductory rate for the first 6 months from the date of the first transfer for transfers posted by June 10, 2024. The post-introductory rate at 28.24%.
• APR for Cash Advances: 29.99%, also variable with the Prime Rate.
• Penalty APR: Not applicable.
• Interest-Free Period: At least 25 days after the close of each billing cycle.
• Minimum Interest Charge: Not less than $0.50.
• Annual Fee: None.
• Transaction Fees:
  • Balance Transfer: 3% intro fee on transfers by June 10, 2024. Afterwards, 5%.
  • Cash Advance: The greater of $10 or 5% of the advance amount.
• Penalty Fees:
  • Late Payment: Up to $41 after the first late payment.
  • Returned Payment: Up to $41.
• Calculation Method: Daily balance, including new transactions.

Discover it® Secured Credit Card: A Comprehensive Review

Discover it® Secured: Build credit with 0% annual fee, cashback rewards, and no penalty APR

Keys to Credit AIRickie C. Keys, Ph.D., MPH

First Progress Platinum Elite Mastercard® Secured Credit Card

Features

• Minimum Deposit: $200, fully refundable, securing your credit line.
• Credit Line Range: $200 to $2,000, determined by your deposit.
• Regular Purchase APR: 25.24% Variable, adjusting with the market.
• Annual Fee: $29, a small investment towards building or rebuilding your credit.
• Credit Reporting: Monthly to all three major credit bureaus, aiding in establishing a credit history.
• Application Requirements: There is no minimum credit score or credit history required, making it ideal for those with limited, poor, or no credit.

First Progress Platinum Elite Mastercard® Secured Credit Card Review: Building Credit Made Accessible

Build credit easily with First Progress Platinum Elite: Low deposit, reports to credit bureaus, $29 fee.

Keys to Credit AIRickie C. Keys, Ph.D., MPH

First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card

Features

• Minimum Deposit: $200 refundable deposit to set your credit line.
• Purchase APR: Low variable APR of 15.24%, providing cost-effective credit access.
• Annual Fee: $49, a manageable cost for credit building.
• Cash Back Rewards: Earn 1% on payments, incentivizing timely bill payments.
• Credit Bureau Reporting: Monthly reports to all three major credit bureaus to help establish and improve your credit history.
• Application Eligibility: No credit history or minimum credit score is required for approval.

First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card Review: A Stepping Stone to Credit Improvement

Build credit with Prestige: Low APR, 1% cash back rewards, and extensive credit tools.

Keys to Credit AIRickie C. Keys, Ph.D., MPH

Merrick Bank Secured Credit Card

Features

• Minimum Deposit: $200-$3,000, setting your credit line directly and refundable upon account closure.
• Purchase APR: 22.70% Variable, competitive within the secured card market.
• Annual Fee: $36 for the first year, billed as $3 monthly thereafter, minimizing upfront costs.
• Credit Line Increases: Eligibility for review at 9 months for a credit line increase without an additional deposit.
• Credit Reporting: Monthly to all three major credit bureaus, supporting credit-building efforts.

Merrick Bank Secured Credit Card Review: A Gateway to Credit Rebuilding

Merrick Bank’s Card: Build credit with a flexible line, low fees, and a free FICO® score.

Keys to Credit AIRickie C. Keys, Ph.D., MPH

Mission Lane Cash Back Visa® Credit Card

Features

• Annual Fee: $0, making it a cost-effective choice for credit building.
• APR: Variable APR of 26.99%-29.99%, reflecting the card's focus on customers with average credit.
• Credit Score Requirements: Ideal for users with credit scores ranging from 630 to 719.
• Rewards: Earn up to 1.5% cash back on purchases, a competitive rate for cards in this category.
• Credit Limit Reviews: Automatic consideration for a higher credit line within as few as 7 months.

Mission Lane Cash Back Visa® Review: A Leap Toward Credit Building

Boost credit with Mission Lane: No fee, earn rewards, and no deposit is needed.

Keys to Credit AIRickie C. Keys, PhD, MPH

OpenSky® Secured Credit Visa® Card

Features

• Minimum Deposit: $200, establishing your credit line, fully refundable.
• Purchase APR: 25.64% Variable, aligning with secured card standards.
• Annual Fee: $35, a nominal charge for credit-building capabilities.
• Cash Back Rewards: Up to 10% on everyday purchases, a new and enticing feature.
• Credit Check: None required, making it accessible regardless of credit history.
• Credit Score Impact: Minimal, with no credit inquiry to apply.
• Credit Building: Reports to all three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
• Mobile Wallet Compatibility: Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Google Pay are supported for convenience.

OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card Review: Empowering Credit Growth

OpenSky® Visa: No credit check, up to 10% cash back, and a path to better credit.

Keys to Credit AIRickie C. Keys, Ph.D., MPH

Self Visa® Secured Card

Features

• Annual Fee: $25, a manageable cost for building credit.
• APR: 29.24% Variable, emphasizing the card's focus on credit building rather than borrowing.
• Credit Score Range: 300-850, catering to a wide spectrum from poor to excellent.
• Security Deposit: Low entry barrier with a deposit as low as $100, achieved through micro-payments.

Self Visa® Review: Building Credit Uniquely

Self Visa®: No credit check, low deposit, unique credit-building path.

Keys to Credit AIRickie C. Keys, PhD, MPH