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The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card, U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Secured Card, U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa® Secured Card, U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card, U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.
Getting approved for the best credit cards can be challenging if you have a bad credit score. However, getting a credit card and making regular payments is also a vital step toward repairing damaged credit or even building credit from scratch.
Best Credit Cards to Rebuild Credit
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card - Product Name Only : Best overallU.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Secured Card - Product Name Only : Best for flexible bonus categoriesCapital One Platinum Secured Credit Card - Product Name Only : Best for a low security depositPetal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card - Product Name Only : Best for no feesU.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa® Secured Card - Product Name Only : Best for dining rewardsCapital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card - Product Name Only : Best for travelDiscover it® Student Cash Back - Product Name Only : Best for establishing credit
If you're digging yourself out from past credit problems or looking to establish a credit history, secured credit cards and other entry-level cards can help. Read on to see our picks for the best credit cards you can get to rebuild credit.
Compare Credit Cards to Rebuild Credit
Credit Card to Rebuild Credit Frequently Asked Questions
How do I rebuild credit with a credit card?
Opening and using a credit card responsibly can help you rebuild your credit history. As long as you use your card regularly (even by putting a couple of small charges on it each month) and pay it off on time and in full, you should see an improvement in your credit score over time.
How do I get approved for a credit card to rebuild credit?
If you have a low credit score and want a credit card to help rebuild your credit, you'll want to stick to applying for cards that you're likely to qualify for (that is, avoid credit cards that require good credit or better). Secured credit cards, which require a security deposit for approval, are typically the easiest to get approved for.
You might also want to check credit cards with preapproval; these are where the bank shows you if you're likely to be approved for a card before doing a hard inquiry on your credit (which can decrease your credit score).
Can I rebuild credit without a credit card?
Yes, it's possible to rebuild your credit without a credit card, although opening a credit card and using it responsibly is one of the faster ways to improve your credit score. One way is to become an authorized user on someone else's credit card — as long as they have good credit, your score should see a boost. That's why many parents add their children as authorized users to give them a head start on building credit.
Other options include opening a credit-builder loan or a secured loan, using one of the best rent reporting services so that your rent payments are reported to the credit bureaus, or using a free credit-building product like Experian Boost.
What credit card is the best for credit repair?
The best credit card for credit repair is any credit card you're able to get approved for and use responsibly. That means paying off your statement balance in full each month and not spending more than you can afford. This will help repair your credit score by showing the lender that you can be trusted to repay your debt. Over time, your credit limit could also increase, which will positively impact your credit score.
Credit Cards for Rebuilding Credit Reviews
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card
The
You'll earn 3% cash back on purchases in one category of your choice, which you can change each calendar month. The options include gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, and home improvement purchases, altogether covering a lot of bases. You'll also earn 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, with a cap of $2,500 in combined spending per quarter applied to the 3% and 2% categories. All other purchases earn 1% cash back.
You can redeem cash back rewards in any amount as a statement credit to your card account or a deposit to an eligible Bank of America or Merrill account. Rewards can also be redeemed by check, but only in amounts of $25 or more.
As a secured credit card, your account requires a security deposit of at least $200 and up to $5,000; how much you deposit influences the credit limit you receive. Secured card issuers typically hold deposits as collateral while the account is open, but Bank of America may refund your deposit after a periodic review based on factors like your credit history and banking relationship.
The card has no annual fee, and rewards don't expire so long as your account remains open and in good standing. However, the card charges a foreign transaction fee of
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card Review
US Bank Cash+ Secured Credit Card
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You can redeem rewards as a statement credit to your card account, as a deposit into a US Bank checking or savings account, or as a prepaid US Bank debit card. Rewards have a minimum redemption threshold of $25, and they expire 36 months after the billing cycle in which they were earned. Since there's no advantage to stockpiling rewards, it's best to redeem them as you earn them.
This card has no annual fee, but does charge foreign transaction fees and has a minimum security deposit of $300. To help rebuild your credit, US Bank regularly reports your card status to the three major credit bureaus. With on-time payments, cardholders can get the security deposit returned and graduate to the non-secured version of the card (the
US Bank Cash Plus Secured Credit Card Review
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
The
The minimum security deposit can be as low as $49 depending on your creditworthiness, though it may instead be $99 or $200, which puts it in line with other secured cards. Those initial deposits yield a credit limit of $200. You can provide a larger deposit (up to $1,000) for an equivalent higher credit limit, but in that case, you'd be better off choosing one of the more rewarding cards on this list. The security deposit is refundable regardless of the amount if your account is upgraded or closed in good standing.
Capital One reports your account to all three major credit bureaus, and automatically considers you for credit line increases or a switch to the unsecured version of the card (the
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card Review
Petal 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa Credit Card
The
The card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and goes a step further by charging no late fees and no returned payment fees. You'll still want to pay your bill in full and on time to avoid interest charges, but at least the fee won't be tacked on if you do miss a payment.
Rewards on the
You can redeem cash back for a statement credit in any amount up to your current rewards balance. Alternately, you can request a check or ACH transfer by phone with a minimum redemption of $20.
Petal 2 Visa Credit Card Review
US Bank Altitude Go Secured Card
The
Points are worth 1 cent apiece when you redeem for statement credits to your account, with a minimum redemption of 2,500 points. You can also redeem for travel and gift cards at the same rate, but with a lower threshold of 1,000 points. Unlike the
On top of competitive rewards, the
In other respects, this card is similar to the
US Bank Altitude Go Secured Credit Card Review
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card
The
You can redeem rewards for statement credits to your card account or cash back by check, as well as for gift cards and travel. You can set up automatic redemptions for a certain threshold or date, but rewards don't expire as long as your account is open and in good standing, so there's no pressure to redeem until you're ready.
Capital One offers an initial credit line equal to your security deposit, with a minimum of $200. Your account is reported to all three major credit bureaus, and is eligible for credit line increases and a transition to the unsecured version of the card (
In addition to the high earning rate for select travel purchases, the card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, making it a good option among secured cards for international travel. The
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Card Review
Discover it Student Cash Back
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The card earns 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent each quarter when you activate (then 1% back), and 1% back everywhere else with no limits
You can redeem cash-back rewards in any amount as a statement credit to your card account or a direct deposit to a linked bank account. You can also redeem rewards for a variety of retail gift cards, which sometimes offer bonus value of up to 25%, or use rewards as payment on Amazon and PayPal. Cash-back rewards don't expire, so there's no rush to redeem until you're ready.
The
Discover it Student Cash Back Card Review
Why Trust Us: How We Chose the Best Credit Cards to Rebuild Credit
We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
Insider's credit card experts considered dozens of credit cards for bad credit that are geared to those who want to rebuild their credit score. We narrowed down our list to include the best of the bunch, focusing primarily on cards that earn rewards or offer a unique feature not seen on other credit cards for rebuilding credit.
We evaluated the cards based on several factors, including:
- Credit score requirement — While none of the cards we considered require a good credit score, are there restrictions that would prevent you from qualifying, like having a recent bankruptcy or being a member of a particular bank?
- Rewards earning potential — If the card earns rewards, are the earning rates competitive with similar cards? Are the bonus categories useful, and are any of them capped at a certain spending amount?
- Fees — None of the cards we included charge an annual fee, but are there other fees or a high APR to be aware of?
- Benefits — Most credit cards for rebuilding credit are light on benefits, but does the card offer perks that make it stand out from similar cards, such as statement credits or waived foreign transaction fees?
You can read our guide to how we rate credit cards at Insider for a full breakdown of our methodology.