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If you have a limited credit history, or past or current credit issues, you may not qualify for all credit cards. Luckily, secured credit cards are a great option. Secured cards are guaranteed by your funds, which act as a security deposit in case you default on the loan with the credit card company. The nice thing about secured cards is that they work act and look just like regular credit cards, which is important if you need to rebuild your credit. In fact, most of these cards will report your payment history to credit bureaus and reporting agencies to help boost your credit history. Prepaid cards are another great option for those with poor credit, although they won't help improve your credit like secured cards do. Prepaid cards act like a debit card, requiring you to deposit the amount you wish to spend ahead of time. We review secured cards in this section, but if you're interested in prepaid cards take a look at our Prepaid Cards reviews. To learn more about credit cards, see our FAQ.
Bad Credit Credit Card Reviews & Prices
Updated 05-18-2013
| Name & Card | Purchase APR | Type of Card | Min. Secured Card Deposit | Fees | Helps Credit History? | Our Rating & Bottom Line |
| Capital One® Secured Mastercard® |  | 22.9% variable | Secured Mastercard for those with poor or no credit | $49 | $29 annual fee | Reports to all 3 credit bureaus every month | Our Rating: Top pick for rebuilding your credit history; strong choice for those with poor credit; includes 3-bureau credit reporting  |
| First Progress Premium Elite MasterCard® Secured Credit Card |  | 14.99% variable | Secured Mastercard for those with poor or no credit | $300 | $39 annual fee | Reports to all 3 credit bureaus every month | Our Rating: Great choice for those with poor credit; includes 3-bureau credit reporting |
| Applied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Credit Card |  | 9.99% (Fixed) | Secured Visa card for those with poor or no credit | $200 | $50 | Reports to Experian and TransUnion credit bureaus every month | Our Rating: Good choice for those with poor credit; Experian and TransUnion credit reporting |
| Platinum Zero® Secured Visa® Card from Applied Bank |  | 0% APR | Secured Visa card for those with poor or no credit | $500 | $9.95 maint fee/month ($119.40 annually) | Reports to Experian and TransUnion credit bureaus every month | Our Rating: 0% APR on purchases is good for those who carry a balance; Experian and TransUnion credit reporting; maintenance fees are a bit high |
Disclaimer: This content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuers. Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of the credit card issuers, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuers. This site may be compensated through the affiliate program of the credit card issuers.
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