Ashley has managed content initiatives for BadCredit since 2015, having worked closely with the world’s largest banks and financial institutions, as well as press and news outlets, to publish comprehensive content. Her credit card commentary is featured on national media outlets, including CNBC, MarketWatch, Investopedia, Yahoo Finance, and Reader's Digest.
Lillian brings more than 30 years of editing and journalism experience, having written and edited for major news organizations, including The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the New York Times. A former business writer and business desk editor, Lillian ensures all BadCredit.org content equips readers with financial literacy.
Danielle has an academic background in accounting and a professional background in sub-prime lending, adding up to a 10-year stint in the finance industry. Today, she oversees financial operations while working with credit card issuers and advertising partners to ensure our content meets compliance and regulatory standards.
Regardless of how your credit got to be “bad” in the first place, there are still easy credit cards to get with bad credit. And getting and using a new credit card responsibly is one of the first steps toward rebuilding credit.
Credit cards available specifically for those with subpar credit come in two forms: unsecured and secured. The difference between the two is unsecured cards do not require an initial deposit to secure a line of credit, whereas secured cards do. The deposit amount varies by card but typically equals the amount of credit you’ll have available to spend.
In the article below, we’ll take a look at credit cards that are easy to get approved for to get with bad credit. This list includes our top selections for both unsecured and secured credit cards.
Unsecured credit cards are regular credit cards — no security deposit required — with easy application processes. All of these cards report to the credit bureaus, so if you pay on time each month and keep your balance below 30% of your available credit limit, your credit rating will begin to reflect your good behavior.
The PREMIER Bankcard® Mastercard® Credit Card will report your account to each credit bureau to help you repair your credit over time with responsible use. Your fees will vary based on the credit limit you receive, so be sure to read the terms and conditions before applying (See Provider Website for full Terms & Conditions).
Just complete the short application and receive a response in 60 seconds.
You can build or rebuild your credit: apply for a PREMIER Bankcard credit card, keep your balance low, and pay all your monthly bills on time.
Don’t let a low FICO score stop you from applying – we approve applications others may not.
FICO scores are used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any PREMIER Bankcard® product.
The PREMIER Bankcard® Grey Credit Card is a great option from the PREMIER Bankcard® credit card line that will help repair your credit over time if used responsibly. Card fees are based on the credit limit you receive (See Provider Website for full Terms & Conditions).
Earn 3% Cash Back Rewards* on Gas, Groceries and Utility Bill Payments
Earn 1% Cash Back Rewards* on all other eligible purchases
Up to $1,000 credit limit subject to credit approval
Prequalify** without affecting your credit score
No security deposit
Free access to your VantageScore 4.0 score from TransUnion®† *See Program Terms for important information about the cash back rewards program. ** Prequalify means that you authorize us to make a soft inquiry (that will not affect your credit) to create an offer. If you accept an offer a hard inquiry will be made. Final approval is not guaranteed if you do not meet all applicable criteria (including adequate proof of ability to repay). Income verification through access to your bank account information may be required. † 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.
The Aspire® Cash Back Reward Card accepts applications from consumers with bad, no, and fair credit. It is offered by the Bank of Missouri and may provide you with an initial credit limit higher than that of other subprime cards and lucrative cash back rewards.
The Surge® Platinum Mastercard® accepts applications from consumers with bad, or even no, credit. It is offered by the Continental Finance, and may provide you with an initial credit limit higher than other subprime cards. This card charges an annual fee.
The Revvi Card offers cash back rewards on every eligible purchase you make. While the initial credit limit is modest, you have the opportunity to earn a higher credit line with on-time payments.
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.
The Fortiva® Mastercard® Credit Card is another cash back card with a maximum credit limit of $1,000, based on your creditworthiness and income. But you don’t need good credit to apply, and you can build credit over time with responsible use.
The FIT™ Platinum Mastercard® accepts applications from consumers with bad, or even no, credit. It is offered by Continental Finance and charges a variable APR that varies with the market. Applying and receiving a decision takes only minutes.
The Total Visa® Card offers a decision “in as little as 60 seconds” and does not require perfect credit for approval. If approved, a program fee is required.
Easy Secured Cards to Get With Bad Credit
Secured credit cards require a deposit that is usually equal to the amount of credit you’re issued, but your deposit is fully refundable after your balance is paid off or if you close the account. These cards generally offer a more lenient application process and may not require a minimum credit score or credit history.
All of these secured cards report to at least one credit bureau, so your payment history will be documented and allow you to rebuild your credit and eventually upgrade to an unsecured card.
The OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card is another popular secured option with a low ongoing interest rate. It does charge a small annual fee, but it is lower than that of other secured cards that charge annual fees.
The First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card offers a low APR in exchange for a modest annual fee. The minimum required deposit is $200, and when you make six consecutive on-time payments, you’ll be invited to apply for an unsecured card.
The Applied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Preferred® Credit Card offers the lowest interest rate among the cards on this list, but that’s mainly because it doesn’t offer a grace period. Interest begins accruing the day you make a purchase with this secured Visa credit card.
12. PREMIER Bankcard® Secured Credit Card
This offer is currently not available.
The PREMIER Bankcard® Secured Credit Card comes from a popular subprime issuer and is exceedingly easy to get. This card charges an annual fee but offers a much lower APR than the unsecured cards from PREMIER Bankcard® (See Provider Website for full Terms & Conditions).
Choose your own credit line based on how much money you want to put down as a security deposit.
Initial deposits can be from $200 to $3,000. You can increase your credit line at any time by adding additional money to your security deposit, up to $3,000.
After 9 months, we review your account for a credit line increase. No additional deposit required!
Secured Credit Cards are great for people looking to build or rebuild credit and are available to people with all kinds of credit backgrounds.
Unlike a debit card or a pre-paid card, it helps build your credit history. We report your payment history to all three major credit-reporting agencies.
Get your FICO® Credit Score for free each month.
Fraud coverage if your card is lost or stolen. Access your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Get help staying on track with available Auto Pay and account alerts.
If you click the Apply button above for the Merrick Bank Secured Credit Card, you’ll actually be offered two secured card products. One offers a fixed deposit amount that will double over a period of seven months with on-time payments. The second allows you to choose your credit line based on how much you deposit, up to $3,000.
Do You Need Ongoing Credit or Cash?
Unsecured cards for bad credit come with notoriously low credit limits. Sure, you may be approved for up to $1,000, but that’s usually only if your credit score is near-prime, also known as fair credit (a FICO Score of about 600+).
But if you need $500 or more that you want to repay over time, a bad credit loan may be the better option. You can get approved for an installment loan of up to $5,000 or more and repay it over several months. This will also help you with building credit over the long term when you make your payments on time.
Our top-rated lending networks for bad credit loan offers are as follows:
$5,700 loan with an administration fee of 9.99% and an amount financed of $5,130.57, repayable in 36 monthly installments, would have an APR of 29.95% and monthly payments of $217.66.
$4,000 loan at 15.0% APR = $193.95/month for 24 months ($4,654.72 total)
A credit card is advantageous in that it is a method of payment you can use and repay as needed. If you just need a way to pay for things, choose a credit card. But if you need money to pay for something and may not qualify for a large enough credit line from a card, choose a personal loan.
Don’t Apply For Cards You’re Not Qualified For
Your credit score is one of the main factors that determine approval for credit cards. That means if you have poor credit, you’ll be denied the best credit card offers for people who have good credit. Only apply for the cards that are within your reach, and as time goes on and your credit improves, you can then go after cards with lower interest rates and the most benefits.
In the meantime, the cards reviewed above can be your gateway to improved credit and all the benefits that come along with it.
Advertiser Disclosure
BadCredit.org is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free for users, we receive advertising compensation from the financial products listed on this page. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear on the page (including, for example, the order in which they appear). BadCredit.org does not include listings for all financial products.
Our Editorial Review Policy
Our site is committed to publishing independent, accurate content guided by strict editorial guidelines. Before articles and reviews are published on our site, they undergo a thorough review process performed by a team of independent editors and subject-matter experts to ensure the content’s accuracy, timeliness, and impartiality. Our editorial team is separate and independent of our site’s advertisers, and the opinions they express on our site are their own. To read more about our team members and their editorial backgrounds, please visit our site’s About page.
Ashley has managed content initiatives for BadCredit since 2015, having worked closely with the world’s largest banks and financial institutions, as well as press and news outlets, to publish comprehensive content. Her credit card commentary is featured on national media outlets, including CNBC, MarketWatch, Investopedia, Yahoo Finance, and Reader's Digest.