The Ultimate Guide to Credit Cards
Saturday, April 27, 2024

2024‘s List of Subprime Credit Cards (April 2024)

List Of Subprime Credit Cards
Eric Bank

Written by: Eric Bank

Eric Bank
Eric Bank

Eric Bank is an M.B.A. who has covered financial and business topics since 1985, appearing regularly on Credible, eHow, WiseBread, The Nest, Zacks, Chron, BadCredit.org and dozens of other outlets. Eric specializes in taking complex subject matters and explaining them in simple terms for consumer audiences, particularly in the world of personal finance. Eric holds a Master's in Business Administration from New York University and a Master's in Finance from DePaul University.

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Edited by: Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro
Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro brings more than 30 years of editing and journalism experience to the CardRates team. She has written and edited for major news organizations, including The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the New York Times, and she previously served as an adjunct journalism instructor at the University of Florida. Today, Lillian edits all CardRates content for clarity, accuracy, and reader engagement.

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Reviewed by: Ashley Fricker

Ashley Fricker
Ashley Fricker

Ashley Fricker has more than a decade of experience as a finance contributor and editor, and has specialized in the credit card industry since 2015. Her credit card commentary is featured on national media outlets that include CNBC, MarketWatch, Investopedia, and Reader's Digest, among many others. She has worked closely with the world’s largest banks and financial institutions, up-and-coming fintech companies, and press and news outlets to curate comprehensive content and media. Ashley holds a bachelor's degree in multimedia journalism from Florida Atlantic University.

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Advertiser Disclosure

Our rather long list of subprime credit cards proves that you have many potential shopping partners despite your past financial challenges. Some of these cards may be unfamiliar to the average consumer, but we’ve also included offerings from major league players such as Citibank, Discover, and Capital One. 

These cards build credit when you use them responsibly. Paying your bills on time may help you move up to prime credit cards within a year. This article discusses how (and why) to do that. With a bit of work and patience, you’ll soon be reading our articles about cards for good credit. 

List of Unsecured Cards From Subprime Issuers

Unsecured subprime cards offer a certain give and take. They give you access to a credit account without requiring a deposit. They take sizable fees for the privilege due to the heightened risk subprime cardowners pose of defaulting on their credit card debt. 

If your subprime credit score is 500 or higher, you have a pretty good chance of qualifying for these unsecured cards.

Continental Finance Company (CFC)

The Continental Finance Company sponsors several subprime credit cards in association with the issuers Celtic Bank and Bank of Missouri. The company is one of America’s leading marketers and servicers of credit cards for consumers with less-than-perfect credit. CFC has serviced more than 2.6 million cards for fair, limited, and poor credit since its founding in 2005.

CFC cards charge average to high interest rates, and some waive a signup fee, although their annual fees are relatively high. All offer to double your credit limit after six months of timely payments. 

Surge® Platinum Mastercard® Review

at Continental Finance’ssecure website

UNSECURED RATING

★★★★★

4.6

OVERALL RATING

  • Up to $1,000 credit limit doubles up to $2,000! (Simply make your first 6 monthly minimum payments on time)
  • All credit types welcome to apply!
  • Monthly Credit Score – Sign up for electronic statements, and get your Vantage 3.0 Score Credit Score From Experian
  • Initial Credit Limit of $300 – $1,000 (subject to available credit)
  • Monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus
  • See if you’re Pre-Qualified without impacting your credit score
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
See website for Details
See website for Details
29.99% APR (Variable)
$75 – $125
See website for Details*
Reflex® Platinum Mastercard® Review

at Continental Finance’ssecure website

UNSECURED RATING

★★★★

4.4

OVERALL RATING

  • Up to $1,000 credit limit doubles up to $2,000! (Simply make your first 6 monthly minimum payments on time)
  • See if you’re Pre-Qualified with no impact to your credit score
  • All credit types welcome to apply
  • Access to your Vantage 3.0 score from Experian (When you sign up for e-statements)
  • Initial Credit Limit of $300 – $1,000 (subject to available credit)
  • Monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
29.99% APR (Variable)
$75 – $125
Bad, Fair, or No Credit
FIT™ Platinum Mastercard® Review

at Continental Finance’ssecure website

UNSECURED RATING

★★★★

3.5

OVERALL RATING

  • $400 credit limit doubles to $800! (Simply make your first 6 monthly minimum payments on time)
  • All credit types welcome to apply
  • Monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus
  • Initial Credit Limit of $400.00 (Subject to available credit)
  • Fast and easy application process; results in seconds
  • Use your card at locations everywhere Mastercard® is accepted
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
29.99%
$99
Fair/Poor/Bad

As is usual for subprime unsecured credit cards, these don’t bill the monthly maintenance fee for the first 12 months, and some cards may waive it (and the foreign transaction fee) for cardmembers with better credit. CFC cards provide a 25-day interest-free grace period

Concora Credit Inc.

Concora Credit Inc. sponsors credit cards for subprime consumers through a policy it calls second-look financing. The company has two decades of experience and services 200,000 new cardholders monthly.

Celtic Bank and Bank of Missouri issue Concora Credit credit cards, which feature a 25-day grace period and a low foreign transaction fee.

Milestone® Mastercard® Review

at Milestone Mastercard®’ssecure website

UNSECURED RATING

★★★★★

4.5

OVERALL RATING

  • Greater access to credit than before – $700 credit limit
  • Get a Mastercard accepted online, in store and in app
  • Account history is reported to the three major credit bureaus in the U.S.
  • $0 liability* for unauthorized use
  • Access your account online or from your mobile device 24/7
  • *Fraud protection provided by Mastercard Zero Liability Protection. If approved, you’ll receive the Mastercard Guide to Benefits that details the complete terms with your card.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
See terms
See terms
Fair/Good
Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit Review

at Indigo® Mastercard®’ssecure website

UNSECURED RATING

★★★★

4.4

OVERALL RATING

  • Now with higher credit limits
  • Increase your access to available credit
  • Higher limit than before, still no security deposit required!
  • Greater access to credit than before
  • Less than perfect credit is okay
  • Mobile account access at any time
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
35.9%
$175 – $199
Bad, Poor Credit
Destiny Mastercard® Review

at Destiny Mastercard®’ssecure website

UNSECURED RATING

★★★★

3.5

OVERALL RATING

  • All the benefits of a Mastercard, without a security deposit
  • 24/7 access to your account, even on mobile!
  • Reports to all three major credit bureaus
  • Less than perfect credit is okay, even with a prior bankruptcy!
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
See terms
See terms
Poor to Good

Concord Credit credit cards payments are reported to each major credit bureau. Its cards offer multiple agreements with different (potentially high) annual fees and APRs but no monthly maintenance fees. Watch out for a higher annual fee after the first year of ownership.

Bank of Missouri (BoM)

The Bank of Missouri offers various personal and business financial products, including subprime credit cards. Some of their cards carry the bank’s name and logo, but the cards listed below do not. 

Some cards offer premium designs for a small fee, and one, the Fortiva® Mastercard® Credit Card, lets you earn cash back on your eligible purchases while building credit with responsible use.

Fortiva® Mastercard® Credit Card Review

at Fortiva’ssecure website

UNSECURED RATING

★★★★★

4.7

OVERALL RATING

  • Earn 3% Cash Back Rewards* on Gas, Groceries and Utility Bill Payments
  • Earn 1% Cash Back Rewards* on all other eligible purchases
  • Good anywhere Mastercard® is accepted
  • $0 fraud liability**
  • Free access to your VantageScore 4.0 credit score from TransUnion®†
    *See Program Terms for important information about the cash back rewards program.
    **Fraud liability subject to Mastercard® rules.
    † Your credit score will be available in your online account starting 60 days after your account is opened. (Registration required.) The free VantageScore 4.0 credit score provided by TransUnion® is for educational purposes only. This score may not be used by The Bank of Missouri (the issuer of this card) or other creditors to make credit decisions.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
29.99% or 36% Fixed
As low as $85
Fair
Total Visa® Card Review

at Total Card’ssecure website

UNSECURED RATING

★★★★★

4.5

OVERALL RATING

  • Earn 1% cash back rewards on payments made to your Total Credit Card
  • Checking Account Required
  • $300 credit limit (subject to available credit)
  • No security deposit, simply pay a one-time $95 program fee to open your account.*
  • User friendly Mobile App.
  • *See Rates, Fees, Costs & Limitations for complete offer details
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
35.99%
$75.00 1st year, $48.00 after
Fair, Bad Credit
First Access Visa® Card Review

at First Access Visa®’ssecure website

UNSECURED RATING

★★★★★

4.6

OVERALL RATING

  • Earn 1% cash back rewards on payments made to your First Access Credit Card
  • Checking Account Required
  • $300 credit limit (subject to available credit)
  • No security deposit, simply pay a one-time $95 program fee to open your account.*
  • User friendly Mobile App.
  • *See Rates, Fees, Costs & Limitations for complete offer details
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
35.99%
$75.00 1st year, $48.00 after
Bad Credit

These subprime BoM cards reduce their annual fees after the first year. They provide the minimum grace period, 21 days, and report your payments to each major credit bureau. 

List of Secured Cards From Subprime Issuers

Don’t let their deposit requirements deter you from applying for these secured subprime cards. For many, paying a refundable deposit makes more sense than shelling out hundreds for unsecured cards that impose setup, annual, and monthly maintenance fees.

Secured credit cards cost less than their unsecured cousins and are easier to get, especially if your subprime credit score is 500 or lower. While secured cards may charge annual fees, the charge is usually much lower than those on unsecured cards. Moreover, they help you build credit, something no prepaid card can do.

Synovus Bank

Synovus Bank of Columbus, Georgia, issues a trio of Mastercards under the First Progress label. These secured cards require no credit check or minimum credit score for approval. Your deposit will be equal to the credit limit you receive. 

The only differences among the three cards are the annual fees and APRs. 

First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card Review

at First Progress’ssecure website

SECURED RATING

★★★★

4.2

OVERALL RATING

  • 1% Cash Back Rewards on payments
  • Choose your own credit line – $200 to $2000 – based on your security deposit
  • Build your credit score.¹ Reports to all 3 credit bureaus
  • No minimum credit score required for approval!
  • ¹ Cardholders who keep their balance low and pay their credit card bill on time every month typically do see an increase in their credit score.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
15.24% (V)
$49
Poor/Limited/No Credit
First Progress Platinum Elite Mastercard® Secured Credit Card Review

at First Progress’ssecure website

SECURED RATING

★★★★

3.8

OVERALL RATING

  • Choose your own credit line – $200 to $2000 – based on your security deposit
  • Build your credit score.¹ Reports to all 3 credit bureaus
  • No minimum credit score required for approval!
  • ¹ Cardholders who keep their balance low and pay their credit card bill on time every month typically do see an increase in their credit score.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
25.24% (V)
$29
Poor/Limited/No Credit
First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card Review

at First Progress’ssecure website

SECURED RATING

★★★★

3.8

OVERALL RATING

  • 1% Cash Back Rewards on payments
  • Choose your own credit line – $200 to $2000 – based on your security deposit
  • Build your credit score.¹ Reports to all 3 credit bureaus
  • No minimum credit score required for approval!
  • ¹ Cardholders who keep their balance low and pay their credit card bill on time every month typically do see an increase in their credit score.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
19.24% (V)
$39
Poor/Limited/No Credit

You want to choose the card that will cost you the least each year. For example, if you plan to pay your entire balance every month, choose First Progress Platinum Elite Mastercard® Secured Credit Card because it has the lowest annual fee.

Capital Bank NA

Not to be confused with Capital One Bank, Capital Bank issues the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card to consumers with subprime credit. This secured Visa credit card does not check applicant credit and accepts deposits as low as $200. 

OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card Review

at Capital Bank N.A.’ssecure website

SECURED RATING

★★★★★

4.8

OVERALL RATING

  • New feature! Earn up to 10% cash back* on everyday purchases
  • No credit check to apply. Zero credit risk to apply!
  • Looking to build or rebuild your credit? 2 out of 3 OpenSky cardholders increase their credit score by an average of 41 points in just 3 months
  • Get free monthly access to your FICO score in our mobile application
  • Build your credit history across 3 major credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion
  • Add to your mobile wallet and make purchases using Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay
  • Fund your card with a low $200 refundable security deposit to get a $200 credit line
  • Apply in less than 5 minutes with our mobile first application
  • Choose the due date that fits your schedule with flexible payment dates
  • Fund your security deposit over 60 days with the option to make partial payments
  • Over 1.4 Million Cardholders Have Used OpenSky Secured Credit Card To Improve Their Credit
  • *See Rewards Terms and Conditions for more information
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
25.64% (variable)
$35
Poor

The card charges the same, low APR for purchases and cash advances, and the annual fee is $35. This card is good for newbies and those with a low credit score.

Cards For Bad Credit From Mainstream Issuers

If you are a brand-name type of person, your bad credit need not stop you from owning a credit card from a well-known issuer. Some people feel a little embarrassed brandishing a no-name credit card, thinking it screams “credit problems” to the public. 

We don’t necessarily agree, but if you fall into that camp, these cards will keep your bad credit on the down low. While all these cards are secured, you’d never know by looking at them. They are especially suited to folks with no or limited credit history. 

Discover

We love Discover credit cards. They offer cash back or mile rewards, match the first-year rewards of new cardmembers, and never charge an annual fee. Merchants accept Discover cards at 99% of places that accept the other major payment networks.

The APR on the Discover it® Secured Credit Card is higher than we like to see for a secured card, but you can avoid it by paying your bill in full each month. Unlike the no-name subprime cards, this one supports balance transfer transactions and even may offer a low APR to new members who want to transfer balances from other cards. 

Discover it® Secured Credit Card Review

at Discover Card’ssecure website

SECURED RATING

★★★★★

4.7

OVERALL RATING

  • No credit score required to apply.
  • No Annual Fee, earn cash back, and build your credit history.
  • Your secured credit card requires a refundable security deposit, and your credit line will equal your deposit amount, starting at $200. Bank information must be provided when submitting your deposit.
  • Automatic reviews starting at 7 months to see if we can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.
  • Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
  • Get an alert if we find your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites. Activate for free.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
10.99% Intro APR for 6 months
28.24% Variable APR
$0
New/Rebuilding

The card does not have a penalty APR or charge a fee for your first late payment. You can receive a refund of your deposit by making timely payments.

Capital One

Capital One Bank shows its commitment to consumers with less than perfect credit by offering two different secured credit cards. Although the bank isn’t that old, its memorable television advertising has made it a household name. It provides a full range of cards for consumers of every credit stripe. 

SECURED RATING

★★★★★

4.7

OVERALL RATING

  • No annual or hidden fees, and you can earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day. See if you’re approved in seconds
  • Put down a refundable $200 security deposit to get a $200 initial credit line
  • Building your credit? Using a card like this responsibly could help
  • Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
  • You could earn back your security deposit as a statement credit when you use your card responsibly, like making payments on time
  • Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months with no additional deposit needed
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
29.99% (Variable)
$0
Limited, Bad

SECURED RATING

★★★★★

4.7

OVERALL RATING

  • No annual or hidden fees. See if you’re approved in seconds
  • Building your credit? Using the Capital One Platinum Secured card responsibly could help
  • Put down a refundable security deposit starting at $49 to get a $200 initial credit line
  • You could earn back your security deposit as a statement credit when you use your card responsibly, like making payments on time
  • Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months with no additional deposit needed
  • Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
29.99% (Variable)
$0
Limited, Bad

Its secured cards do not charge an annual or foreign transaction fee. Both cards provide $0 fraud liability and offer upgrades to cardowners who pay on time. 

Check out the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card if you want to earn cash back from a rewards card. The APRs on these cards are not the best, but the grace period for avoiding interest is a generous 25 days.

Citibank

Citibank traces its origins back 200 years yet remains one of the most technologically advanced banks in the world. Its credit cards favor value over flash, which is undoubtedly true for the Citi® Secured Mastercard®.

Citi® Secured Mastercard®

This card is currently not available.

Secured Rating

★★★★★

N/A

OVERALL RATING

N/A
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

Additional Disclosure: The information related to Citi® Secured Mastercard® has been collected by CardRates.com and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service.

The card charges no annual fee, and its APRs (for purchases, cash advances, and balance transfer transactions) are average. The grace period is 23 days, and you don’t want to miss a payment — the card has a steep penalty APR in addition to its late fee.

What Is Subprime Credit?

Someone with subprime credit cannot access the best, or prime, interest rates for loans and credit cards. More than a third of the country has subprime credit. 

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau identifies five credit score categories in prime terms:

  • Deep subprime (credit scores below 580)
  • Subprime (credit scores of 580-619)
  • Near-prime (credit scores of 620-659)
  • Prime (credit scores of 660-719)
  • Super-prime (credit scores of 720 or above)

These card levels do not correspond precisely to the more common definitions that apply to FICO and VantageScore credit scores:

VantageScore and FICO Score Models

It may surprise consumers with fair credit that they have near-prime or subprime credit. But the credit card companies understand these distinctions quite well and pitch some of their subprime cards to fair credit consumers. Very poor FICO scores correspond to deep subprime credit.

Without getting into a numbers game, it’s safe to assume that you want your FICO score to exceed 700. The reviewed cards demonstrate that credit becomes harder and more expensive to get below that level. 

Several unsecured cards impose APRs above 30%, and at least one charges the maximum, 36%.

Secured subprime cards charge less interest, typically in the 25% range, although the best secured credit cards have APRs below 20%. If you plan to finance credit card purchases by stretching payments over multiple months, it’s worth considering one of the secured cards with an APR below 20%.

What Is an Unsecured Credit Card?

When your credit card is unsecured, only your signature on the credit agreement backs your promise to pay on time. 

The issuers of unsecured cards do not count on collateral to offset losses from cardmembers who default on their accounts. That’s far less of a problem when customers have good credit, but subprime credit card companies must take steps to protect themselves by issuing unsecured cards that generally:

  • Charge high interest rates
  • Impose steep and numerous fees
  • Offer modest or no rewards on purchases
  • Do not provide introductory promotions such as signup bonuses and 0% APRs
  • Offer only essential benefits, such as fraud protection

You could pay close to $200 in upfront fees to get a subprime unsecured card with a high APR. That’s the time to consider secured cards instead.

What Is a Secured Credit Card?

A secured credit card may be your best credit card option when your credit is below prime. You must post a cash deposit to collateralize these cards against default, but that money is refundable, whereas fees aren’t. Since secured cards cost less and are easier to obtain, they may be the wisest choice for subprime consumers.

Unsecured vs. Secured Credit

The amount you deposit usually equals your card’s credit limit, although the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card may require a lower deposit for a slightly higher credit limit. The minimum deposit is generally $200. Some cards do not allow larger initial deposits, but others do. 

All the secured cards allow you to increase your credit limit with additional deposits after a set waiting period. You may be able to increase your credit line to $2,500 or more this way.

Virtually all secured cards can be upgraded to unsecured cards after you make timely payments for a set period of time. In that case, the card company will refund your deposit. Alternatively, a secured card may offer to increase your credit limit without an additional deposit.

Secured cards never charge signup or monthly maintenance fees. Any annual charges they impose are low, and their APRs undercut those of unsecured cards. 

A secured rewards card lets you earn cash back on eligible purchases. They may also provide valuable benefits, such as cellphone insurance or rental car coverage.

Can I Be Denied a Secured Credit Card?

You have a pretty good chance of qualifying for a secured credit card, but it’s not guaranteed. Here are three tips to increase the odds in your favor:

  • Prequalify for the card: You can prequalify for most secured and unsecured credit cards without damaging your credit score since the process doesn’t require a hard pull of your credit. Bear in mind that prequalification does not guarantee final approval.
  • Apply for a no-credit-check card: The Secured Sable ONE Credit Card and OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card don’t pull an applicant’s credit. These cards offer applicants the best odds of approval.
  • Recruit a cosigner: Using a cosigner with good credit increases the likelihood that a credit card issuer will approve your application. But if you have a cosigner, you’d be better off applying for a high-quality unsecured card and avoiding a security deposit.

You should receive an Adverse Action Notice if a credit card issuer declines your application. The notice reveals information the credit card issuer used to make its determination. 

You can use the notice to help you improve your chances of being accepted the next time you apply for a card. For example, suppose you learn that you have negative items on your credit report and feel the information is incorrect. In that case, you can attempt to remove it on your own or with the assistance of a credit repair company.

Can I Get A Subprime Card Without a Credit Check?

If you have no, limited, or poor credit, you may find it challenging to get the credit card you want. We know of at least two secured credit cards that do not perform credit checks. Other secured cards may be willing to approve your application if your score is very poor. 

Your security deposit removes much of the risk secured card issuers assume by approving subprime and deep-subprime applicants. If you miss a secured card payment, the issuer will use your deposit for the minimum amount and report your late payment to the bureaus, which can greatly hurt your credit score. It may also charge you a late payment penalty, typically around $40. 

Repeated missed payments may cause the issuer to close your account and return the remainder of your deposit after deducting the money you owe. Expect substantial damage to your credit score if you default on a credit card.

As previously mentioned, most issuers will prequalify you for a credit card without checking your credit. Hard credit checks can lower your credit score by a few points and remain on your credit reports for two years. 

By prequalifying for a credit card, you learn whether you should risk a damaging hard credit check by applying for the card.

How Does Bad Credit Affect Credit Card APRs and Fees?

Unsecured cards for subprime credit have high interest rates and fees, including charges you won’t encounter on better-quality cards.

Average Credit Card APRs

Nuisance fees include an upfront signup charge that may exceed $100 and maintenance fees, usually $6.25/month, waived for the first year. Of course, subprime unsecured cards also impose standard credit card charges such as annual fees, fees for foreign transactions, and late payment fees. 

They have relatively high APRs and may charge an even higher penalty APR if you miss a payment. You can reduce your credit card costs over time when you build credit.

How Can I Rebuild Credit With a Subprime Credit Card?

Subprime credit cards usually report your payments to all three credit bureaus. The bureaus record the information and publish it in credit reports. Credit score models then use it to recalculate your credit score. 

Your score will slowly increase when you pay your bills on time but will quickly drop if you are late by 30 days or more. 

How to Build Credit With a Credit Card

Paying on time is the most critical requirement for rebuilding credit. FICO attributes 35% of your score to this factor. 

Another 30% of your score is based on the amount of money you owe to your credit cards. Your credit utilization ratio is the credit you currently use divided by your credit limit. Ratios above 30% hurt your credit, so you can improve your credit by paying down your credit card debt.

Less significant factors for rebuilding credit include keeping old credit accounts open, refraining from applying for new credit, and broadening the mix of your credit accounts.

As explained earlier, it also helps to remove derogatory inaccuracies from your credit reports.

Subprime Credit Doesn’t Have to Last Forever

CardRates.com’s list of subprime credit cards helps you in two ways:

  • It reveals the costs and benefits of the cards that best serve a subprime borrower.
  • It can help you apply for a credit card through our offer-box links. 

Using your credit card responsibly allows you to join the ranks of consumers with prime or super-prime credit. That’s a worthy goal because it will save money and improve your lifestyle. 

The money you save comes from lower interest rates and fees. And your lifestyle improves when you can purchase items without paying for them upfront. 

The bottom line: Whatever your previous mistakes, your credit score is in your own hands. Subprime credit cards can help you build better credit and enjoy its accompanying benefits.

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CardRates.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free, we receive compensation for referrals for many of the offers listed on the site. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear across CardRates.com (including, for example, the order in which they appear). CardRates.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. Editorial opinions expressed on the site are strictly our own and are not provided, endorsed, or approved by advertisers.