7 Best Secured Credit Cards With No Credit Check
There are many secured credit cards that do not require a credit check and are therefore easy to get approved for even with bad or no credit. We have provided a list of the best ones to consider.
Table of Contents
- Best Secured Credit Cards With No Credit Check
- 1. OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
- 2. Applied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Preferred® Credit Card
- 3. Chime® Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card
- 4. First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured
- 5. First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card
- 6. Savings Secured Platinum Rewards Credit Card
- 7. Self Visa® Secured Card
- Other Secured Credit Cards for No Credit or Bad Credit
- Why Do Some Secured Credit Cards Require Credit Checks?
- How To Choose the Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit
- Can My Secured Credit Card Application Be Denied?
- FAQs
It is possible to get approved for a secured credit card with no credit. This is because these cards require a security deposit that acts as collateral and reduces the risk of lending for the issuer.
The easiest secured cards to get with poor or no credit are the ones that require no credit check. These can be attractive to consumers with low credit scores or no credit history, as applying won’t have an impact on their credit. But these cards typically come with high interest rates and fees – which may end up being an expensive form of credit. However, some credit card companies provide credit cards with no credit checks and no fees – like the Chime® Credit Builder Secured Visa®. These card issuers look at other factors to evaluate the risk of lending, like your bank account, income, and employment history, instead of your FICO credit score.
There are other types of secured credit cards that do run a credit check but they do not have a minimum credit requirement. So, even if you have bad credit or no credit, you can still try these cards without worrying about rejection.
We’ve rounded up the best secured credit cards that don’t require a credit check, along with their terms, requirements, and benefits.
Best Secured Credit Cards With No Credit Check
Lender | Scholaroo rating | Regular APR | Credit Score |
---|---|---|---|
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Best for no checking account Visit website | 22.64% | N/A | |
Applied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Preferred® Credit Card Best for lowest interest rates Visit website | 9.99% | N/A | |
Chime® Credit Builder Secured Visa® Best for no interest Visit website | 0% | N/A | |
First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Best for a Mastercard Payment Network Visit website | 15.24% | N/A | |
First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Best for fast upgrades Visit website | 19.24% | N/A | |
Savings Secured Platinum Rewards Best for travel Visit website | 17.24% | N/A | |
Self Visa® Secured Card Best for no upfront security deposit Visit website | 28.24% | N/A |
OpenSky® Secured Visa®
Best for no checking account
Applied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Preferred® Credit Card
Best for lowest interest rates
Chime® Credit Builder Secured Visa®
Best for no interest
First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured
Best for a Mastercard Payment Network
First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured
Best for fast upgrades
Savings Secured Platinum Rewards
Best for travel
Self Visa® Secured Card
Best for no upfront security deposit
1. OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
2. Applied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Preferred® Credit Card
3. Chime® Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card
4. First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured
5. First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card
6. Savings Secured Platinum Rewards Credit Card
7. Self Visa® Secured Card
Other Secured Credit Cards for No Credit or Bad Credit
There are other secured credit cards that do carry out a hard inquiry when assessing a credit card application but they do not have a minimum credit requirement. Therefore, people with any level of credit or those who are new to credit can also apply for these cards.
Lender | Scholaroo rating | Fixed rates starting (APR) | Variable rates starting (APR) |
---|---|---|---|
Discover It® Secured Great for building credit Visit website | 27.99% | N/A | |
Capital One® Platinum Secured® Best for low minimum security deposit Visit website | 30.49% | N/A |
Discover It® Secured
Great for building credit
Capital One® Platinum Secured®
Best for low minimum security deposit
1. Discover It® Secured Credit Card
2. Capital One® Platinum Secured® Credit Card
Why Do Some Secured Credit Cards Require Credit Checks?
A lot of people wonder why some secured credit cards require a credit check, as these cards use a security deposit as a credit limit. This means the bank has a way of covering the outstanding balance if you default on payments.
One point to note is that many secured credit cards allow for variable down payments that can result in credit lines in the thousands of dollars. Not everyone can receive the maximum credit line, however, even if they can make the deposit.
Credit card issuers are obligated to make sure that individuals can manage their bills before authorizing their application, as a large credit limit can lead to financial issues. To decide the maximum amount that can be allowed, a credit review is carried out.
Certain circumstances necessitate a credit check that has nothing to do with a person’s credit score. For example, United States financial institutions are mandated, according to the law, to authenticate the identity of anyone who is applying for a credit card, and credit reports can be a valuable aid in this procedure.
How To Choose the Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit
Getting a credit card can help you improve your credit. Here’s what to look for in cards designed for consumers with bad credit.
- Reporting on-time payment behavior: Choose a card that reports to at least one credit bureau: Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. However, it’s ideal if you can choose a card that reports to all three credit bureaus because consistent payments will show up on your credit report and can help improve your credit standing over time
- Light on fees: Most bad credit card fees are high, like a yearly fee without any benefits. Look for a card that has low fees to make owning the card affordable
- Ability to upgrade: Some cards let you “graduate” after making on-time payments for a few months. This helps if you don’t have to open another account, and also helps if opening a new line hurts your credit score
Can My Secured Credit Card Application Be Denied?
The benefit of a secured credit card is that it is a low-risk option for the credit card company. This means that almost anyone can be approved to get one, especially since the deposit amount is equivalent to the credit limit and the bank doesn’t need to worry about the cardholder being unable to pay.
However, though your credit score is a factor, there are a few other reasons why a credit card issuer may decline your secured credit card application. These may include but are not limited to, the risk of default, income level, employment status, and other financial obligations.
Here are some of the reasons why your application may be declined:
- No bank account: Most banks require you to have an active U.S. checking account to open a credit card. There are very few credit cards that do not need a bank account like the OpenSky® Secured Visa®.
- Residency requirements: Most credit card issuers require you to be a U.S. resident to qualify.
- Income too low: Credit card companies are not allowed to issue credit cards to applicants who are deemed unable to afford the payments. Eventhough there is generally no minimum with secured cards; however, the applicant must at least have enough to make the security deposit and to manage the monthly payments.
- You are in the middle of bankruptcy proceedings: Most issuers won’t want to offer you credit if you’re in the middle of filing for bankruptcy as they risk being included in the proceedings.
- You have a poor bank history: Although your credit report may not show old missed payments or defaults, banks have their own internal records. For e.g., if you’ve abused a card from them before or discharged their card during bankruptcy, they may reject your application.
FAQs
Can I get a secured credit card with no credit?
You can get approved for a secured credit card with no credit history. These cards base their decision on factors like the ability to pay the security deposit and monthly payments. However, some cards for bad or no credit come with annual fees and higher interest rates.
It would be best to compare all the options to select the one with the lowest fees and interest rate. OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card is a great secured card with no credit. For no credit and no fees, you can consider the Chime® Credit Builder Secured Visa®.
What are the easiest cards to get approved for?
The easiest cards to get are usually ones without credit checks. This is because there are fewer criteria you have to meet. Secured credit cards are easy to get because your credit line is backed by collateral. You can often input your information and see what cards you’re pre-approved for without impacting your credit score.
Does secure credit card require credit check?
This depends on the credit card issuer’s guidelines. Some credit cards take other factors into account like your employment history and bank account, instead of looking at your credit score.
A few of the best options for secured cards that do not check credit include OpenSky® Secured Visa®, Applied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Preferred® Credit Card, and Chime® Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card.
Does a credit check hurt my credit score?
Soft credit checks don’t have any impact on your credit score. However, hard credit inquiries do. When you complete a pre-approval process for a credit card, it generally only triggers a soft credit check without any impact on your credit score. A full credit assessment will trigger a hard credit inquiry, and this may lead to a temporary dip in your score.
Which secured credit card can I use instantly?
Capital One Platinum Secured credit card allows instant use for Capital One’s existing customers who have the Capital One app.