Updated: 05/05/2021

Credit Rebuilding Credit Cards to Help Growing Your Credit

Rebuilding credit after a bankruptcy or another negative event is a tough business. A situation where you need to have credit first in order to build credit is a typical Catch 22 situation. However, you still have options. Secured cards and high-risk products are some of them. 

Here're our editor’s picks for cards that will help you establish or rebuild credit:

intro purchase APR n/aregular APR35.99% see Terms and Conditions below
fair credit / bad credit required

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

See Total Card Visa Rewards Programs Terms & Conditions for details

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intro purchase APR n/aregular APRSee website for Details*
bad credit required

no fees

Up to $5,000 Spending Limit in Less than 60 Seconds! Shop from over 100,000 brand name products such as Apple, Samsung, Sony, Gucci, Prada and much more with low easy payments.

Less than Perfect Credit Accepted. Approval is quick and easy. Must be 18 years or older, have a valid checking account and a verifiable source of income.

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intro purchase APR no intro offerregular APR25.64 (variable)
Either $6 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
bad credit required

No credit check to apply. Zero credit risk to apply!

Looking to build or rebuild your credit? 2/3 of cardholders receive a 48+ point improvement after making 3 on-time payments

Extend your $200 credit line by getting considered for an unsecured credit line increase after 6 months, no additional deposit required!

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

Join over 1.2 million cardholders who’ve used OpenSky to build their credit

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intro purchase APR no intro offerregular APR24.99 - 24.99% (V)
intro BT APR 24.99% no BT fee
bad credit / no credit required

no annual fee

bad credit or no credit 

25 days grace period

$49-$200 security deposit

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intro purchase APR n/aregular APR9.24 - 18.00% (V)
intro BT APR n/a 9.24-18%
rewards 1 point/$1 with no limit
bad credit / no credit required

no annual fee

1 point per dollar rewards

low APR

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intro purchase APR no intro offerregular APR23.49% (V)
intro BT APR 10.99% for 6 months 3% BT fee
rewards $1-$2 cash back
  • 1% cash back on all purchases
  • 2% cash back on gas and dining with $1000 quarterly limit

 

bad credit required

no annual fee

25 days grace period

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intro purchase APR no intro offerregular APR20.74 - 20.74% (V)
intro BT APR 20.74% 3% min $10
bad credit required

$39 annual fee

reports to 3 major credit bureaus

25 days grace period

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intro purchase APR no intro offerregular APR29.99 - 29.99% (V)
bad credit required

$125 annual fee

$60 annual maintenance fee

$30 additional annual fee

25 days of grace period

read review

Generally, whatever option you choose, these are the main principles:

  • Get a card that reports to major credit bureaus, not unknown ones. Some cards report like secured cards, some like regular – it does not matter that much.
  • Get a card with a grace period. It will give you additional 20-25 days to pay off your balance every month.
  • Get the highest credit limit you can get. A high limit will help you build a credit score faster.
  • Do not overuse your credit limit. You should not exceed 30% of your credit limit every month; it is even better to aim for 10% territory. If needed, pay your balance two times a month.
  • Pay on time. Always. That is a simple but effective way to improve your score.
  • Do not send out many credit card or loan applications. Lenders make so-called “hard inquiries” on your credit report and this can lower your score in a year’s timeframe.

In most situations of bad credit, the only choice is the secured card. A secured card offers you a credit limit that is secured with a deposit that you put in a bank as collateral.

Some of the good secured cards are:

intro purchase APR no intro offerregular APR13.49 - 23.49% (V)
intro BT APR 13.49-23.49% 3% BT fee $5 min
rewards 1x-2x miles per dollar +5,000 bonus
  • 2x miles on gas and groceries
  • 1x miles on all other purchases
  • get 5,000 bonus on first card use

 

bad credit required

$25 annual fee

$0 first-year fee

reports to credit agencies

24 days grace period

unsecured card offer after 12 months

read review
intro purchase APR no intro offerregular APR10.40% to 20.40%*
intro BT APR no intro offer 3% BT fee
bad credit / no credit required

Best for members rebuilding or establishing credit

It's a real credit card — not a debit or prepaid card.

Determine your own credit limit ($250 to $5,000) with an interest-earning CD.

read review
intro purchase APR no intro offerregular APR12.00% (V)
intro BT APR n/a no BT fee
bad credit / no credit required

no annual fee

read review

If your credit score is not damaged but rather nonexistent, it is much easier because you have more options – typical newcomer products like Capital One Platinum, Credit One Platinum or some of the Discover cards can help you to jump-start your credit score building.

intro purchase APR 0% for 14 monthsregular APR11.49 - 23.49% (V)
intro BT APR 0% for 14 months 3% BT fee
rewards 1% or 2% 
  • earn 2% cashback on gas and restaurants with $1,000 quarterly limit in combined purchases
  • 1% on all other purchases
good credit / fair credit required

no annual fee

2% on gas and dining out

read review
intro purchase APR no intro offerregular APR24.99 - 24.99% (V)
intro BT APR no intro offer no BT fee
no credit required
  • no annual fee
  • for average or no credit
  • high 24.99% APR
read review



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