Written by: Ashley Fricker
Edited by: Lillian Guevara-Castro
Every day I surf the web, I am overcome with gratitude that video phones and YouTube weren’t around to chronicle the mistakes of my youth. Today, public gaffes and uploaded mistakes can live on the internet for years (if not forever).
In the financial world, your missteps and missed payments are chronicled not on social media, but in the data files of the three major consumer credit agencies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Collectively forming your consumer credit reports, the data collected by these agencies influence your credit score and determines your ability to obtain credit cards, loans, and other credit products.
It can be difficult to find the credit you need when the mistakes of your youth, or simply the trials of your present, have caused your credit score to sink. Unfortunately, there’s no one-card-fits-all when it comes to credit cards. Instead, the easiest credit card to get will often be the card that’s best suited to your individual needs, financial situation, and spending behaviors.
Unsecured | Secured | Bankruptcy OK | FAQs
Easiest Unsecured Credit Cards to Get
Although unsecured credit cards are typically the most difficult type of card to qualify for, you can take a lot of risk out of the equation by choosing the right issuer and card. Specifically, credit card issuers specializing in subprime credit applicants will offers cards with the lowest credit score requirements, making them easier to obtain than other unsecured cards.
If you’re using your card to rebuild bad credit, the key thing you’ll need from your new card issuer is to report to the major credit bureaus. This will allow you to improve your credit score as you practice responsible credit card use.
Remember, paying your bill on time each month is the most important thing you can do to maintain a healthy credit score and demonstrate your financial responsibility. Our top three recommendations report to the major credit bureaus every month.
- $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
- Access to your Vantage 3.0 score from Experian (When you sign up for e-statements)
- Checking Account Required
| Application Length | Interest Rate | Reports Monthly | Reputation Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 minutes | 29.99% | Yes | 7.5/10 |
- 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.
| Application Length | Interest Rate | Reports Monthly | Reputation Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 minutes | 29.99% or 36% Fixed | Yes | 8.0/10 |
3. Revvi Card
- Earn 1% cash back rewards^^ on payments made to your Revvi Credit Card
- Perfect credit not required
- $300 credit limit (subject to available credit)
- Checking account required
- Opportunity to request credit limit increase after twelve months, fee applies
- *See Rates, Fees, Costs & Limitations for complete offer details
- ^^See Revvi Rewards Programs Terms & Conditions for details
| Application Length | Interest Rate | Reports Monthly | Reputation Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 minutes | 35.99%* | Yes | 8.0/10 |
+See More Unsecured Credit Cards
For many, the major benefit of an unsecured credit card is that you don’t need to make an initial security deposit to open the account. The cost of this benefit will come in other ways, namely through paying higher fees and interest rates than secured cardholders are charged.
Fees may include an annual fee, monthly maintenance fee, and an initial processing or program fee, among other fees.
Easiest Secured Credit Cards to Get
By far the easiest credit cards to obtain when you have bad credit, secured credit cards represent the lowest risk to issuers. This is because secured cards require an initial deposit that acts as collateral against the borrower if they default on the balance, so the issuer has little of its own funding on the line.
While credit limits for unsecured cards are based almost entirely on your creditworthiness, the credit limit you are offered for a secured card will depend on your deposit amount. Our top secured credit cards offer respectable credit limit ranges and report to the credit bureaus to ensure your payment history doesn’t go unnoticed.
- No credit check to apply
- Adjustable credit limit based on what you transfer from your Chime Checking account to the secured deposit account
- No interest* or annual fees
- Chime Checking Account and qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more required to apply. See official application, terms, and details link below.
- The secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Card is issued by The Bankcorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted.
- *Out-of-network ATM withdrawal and OTC advance fees may apply. View The Bancorp agreement or Stride agreement for details; see back of card for issuer.
| Application Length | Interest Rate | Reports Monthly | Reputation Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 minutes | N/A | Yes | 9.5 |
- 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
| Application Length | Interest Rate | Reports Monthly | Reputation Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 minutes | 25.64% (variable) | Yes | 7.0/10 |
- 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.
| Application Length | Interest Rate | Reports Monthly | Reputation Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 minutes | 19.24% (V) | Yes | 7.5/10 |
+See More Secured Credit Cards
The deposit required by secured cards may make some applicants nervous, but rest assured your deposit doesn’t simply disappear. The security deposit for your secured card will live in a locked savings account. When you close your account, your deposit will be returned to you in full.
Most issuers of secured credit cards will periodically (typically after six to 12 months) check your card account to see whether you qualify for an upgrade to an unsecured credit card.
If your credit card is upgraded to an unsecured card, you should receive your full deposit back, usually either as a statement credit or a check.
Easiest Credit Cards to Get With a Prior Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy, the last-resort option for dealing with overwhelming debt, tarnishes your credit history for up to a decade. But while that bankruptcy ball-and-chain can make it difficult to find willing credit card companies, getting the credit you need to start rebuilding your financial future may be easier than you think.
In fact, some lenders are perfectly happy dealing with applicants who have discharged bankruptcies, essentially because you are less likely to — and, in some cases, unable to — go through bankruptcy anytime soon.
Our best credit card recommendations for after bankruptcy have flexible credit requirements and report to the credit bureaus to help you rebuild your credit.
- 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
| Application Length | Interest Rate | Reports Monthly | Reputation Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 minutes | 25.64% (variable) | Yes | 7.0/10 |
- 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.
| Application Length | Interest Rate | Reports Monthly | Reputation Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 minutes | 19.24% (V) | Yes | 7.5/10 |
- 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.
| Application Length | Interest Rate | Reports Monthly | Reputation Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 minutes | 15.24% (V) | Yes | 7.5/10 |
+See More Bankruptcy OK Credit Cards
The most important step when rebuilding credit history after bankruptcy is to pay your new credit card on time every month.
As your bankruptcy discharge ages, it will have less impact on your credit, and your recent payment history will become the dominant factor in your credit score. You should also maintain a low balance and avoid opening excessive new accounts.
What Makes a Credit Card Easy to Get?
Credit cards considered easy to get have lenient approval requirements. That means they accept poor credit scores, prior bankruptcies, and low incomes, among other things.
Secured cards are the easiest category of credit to be approved for because of their required security deposit. The deposit protects the card issuer if you miss a payment.
Some secured cards can be obtained without a credit check, providing nearly instant approval for anyone who meets the basic eligibility criteria. Two secured cards that don’t run a credit check include the Secured Sable ONE Credit Card and OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card.
Sable is a cash rewards credit card, which means eligible purchases earn cash back rewards, and it also offers one of the lowest APRs of any credit card.
This is in stark contrast to unsecured cards for bad credit, which are not only harder to get approved for, but they charge excessive fees and offer few perks — you won’t see any balance transfer or intro APR deals with these cards.
Which Bank Will Issue a Credit Card Easily?
Many subprime credit card companies and banks are willing to issue cards to applicants who have poor credit. These include PREMIER, Credit One, Continental Finance, Bank of Missouri, Synchrony Bank, and others.
And even some big banks issue secured cards for building credit, such as:
- Bank of America
- Capital One
- Citi
- Discover
- Wells Fargo
Note that some secured cards from big banks require an applicant to have at least fair credit for approval.
And then there are big banks that do not issue credit to subprime applicants, including:
- American Express
- Chase Bank
So while you may not get approved for a fancy card with Chase Ultimate Rewards Points or American Express Membership Rewards just yet, the easiest credit cards to get can help you improve your credit over time so you eventually qualify for a more prestigious card.
Can I Get a Business Credit Card With Bad Credit?
Yes, business credit cards are available for borrowers with bad credit, but they aren’t generally marketed as “easy to get.”
That’s because options are limited and you may have to put down a security deposit for approval. One such option is the Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card.
An unsecured business credit card is the Spark 1% Classic from Capital One, but it requires fair credit for approval.
Build Your Credit to Open More Options
In the era of smartphones and social media, every John and Jane on the street has a camera in their pockets — and they’re not afraid to use them. Each embarrassing social stumble, short-sighted fashion choice, and inebriated mistake can (and, likely, will) live on forever on the world wide web.
Fortunately, the consumer credit world is a little more forgiving than your Facebook friends, and your financial mistakes will likely be forgiven years before you live down that publicly-posted reality show application video. In fact, negative marks on your credit report can only remain for seven years (up to 10 years for bankruptcies), after which time they no longer haunt your every credit application.
In the meantime, the absolute best thing you can do is to continue to pay down any existing debt and always pay on time. As your credit score improves so, too, will your credit options. With hard work and patience, you may one day find it easy to qualify for just about any credit card for excellent credit that catches your eye.
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