3 First Progress Credit Cards Compared (Oct. 2023)

First Progress credit cards serve consumers who need to build or rebuild credit. You don’t need a credit history or minimum credit score to get one of these secured credit cards.

This credit card review reveals that — except for interest rates and annual fees — the trio provides almost identical card terms. Your choice will likely hinge on whether you plan to carry balances across billing cycles, in which case you’ll want to pay the lowest available APR. 

The First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card charges the lowest APRs and highest annual fee of the three cards. It’s the trio’s best credit card when you carry a balance over multiple billing periods. 

1. First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card

APPLY HERE »

• 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.

• See official application, terms, and details.

★★★★★

4.5

Overall Rating

Application Length	Interest Rate	Reports Monthly	Reputation Score
8 minutes	15.24% (V)	Yes	7.5/10

The APR for purchases is considerably lower than the APR for cash advances. Applying for the card only takes a minute without harming your credit score.

First Progress Platinum Elite Mastercard® Secured Credit Card has the highest APRs and lowest annual fee in the lineup. It’s the best credit card if you’re sure you’ll pay off your entire purchase balance each billing cycle. Otherwise, your interest charges can easily swamp your annual fee savings. 

2. First Progress Platinum Elite Mastercard® Secured Credit Card

APPLY HERE »

• 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.

• See official application, terms, and details.

★★★★★

3.5

Overall Rating

Application Length	Interest Rate	Reports Monthly	Reputation Score
9 minutes	25.24% (V)	Yes	7.5/10

All three First Progress cards report to the three major credit bureaus to help cardholders establish or rebuild their credit histories.

The First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card offers the best compromise between interest rate and annual fee. It offers the best card terms if you think you may occasionally carry a balance across billing cycles but want to avoid the highest annual fee. 

3. First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card

APPLY HERE »

• 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.

• See official application, terms, and details.

★★★★★

4.6

Overall Rating

Application Length	Interest Rate	Reports Monthly	Reputation Score
9 minutes	19.24% (V)	Yes	7.5/10

No credit history or minimum credit score is required to get any of these three cards.

Synovus Bank of Columbus, Georgia, issues the three First Progress Platinum Secured Cards. You can get one despite having no or poor credit because your initial security deposit collateralizes your credit limit. The bank holds onto your deposit and uses it if you fail to pay at least the required minimum payment by the due date.

Your available credit equals your credit limit minus your current balance (i.e., the amount you owe, including interest and fees). The bank charges an annual fee when it issues the card (and on every anniversary), reducing your available credit until you pay it. 

With the issuer’s permission, you can increase your credit line by adding money (via a written check) to your deposit account. The bank will refund your deposit, minus any money you owe, if you close the account or the bank closes it for whatever reason.

First Progress Platinum Secured Cards do not offer rewards (i.e., cash back or points) on your purchases nor do they offer new cardmembers a signup bonus. They do report your payments to all three major credit bureaus each month, allowing you to establish or rebuild your credit history and improve your credit score with responsible use. 

The First Progress trio of Mastercards provides $0 fraud liability, ongoing credit monitoring, and worldwide acceptance. You can manage your card online or with the accompanying mobile app. 

To be eligible for a First Progress credit card, you must be at least 18 years old (19 in Alabama and Nebraska), have a valid Social Security number, be a US resident, and have an active checking or savings account. You may be ineligible to open an account if you have responded to a previous offer for a First Progress credit card within the last 30 days or if the bank approved you for an earlier credit card offer.

You can apply for a First Progress secured credit card online by submitting basic information about your identity, including your address, email address, phone number, Social Security number, and date of birth. You’ll also be required to provide your monthly income, monthly financial obligations, and security deposit amount. You may request a second card for an authorized user.

The credit card issuer does not perform a hard credit inquiry when you submit your application, thereby preserving your credit score (if you have one). Approval may take up to three weeks to complete. If the issuer approves you for a card, you will need to pay the annual fee upfront using a bank debit card or prepaid debit card. 

The bank will send you your First Progress secured credit card once the payment clears. For a fee, it will expedite your card’s processing, speeding delivery by up to seven days.

Yes, these are full-fledged Mastercards, widely accepted worldwide. You can use a First Progress Card to shop online, in stores, over the phone, or in-app. To preserve your privacy, the word “secured” doesn’t appear on the card

The credit card issuer divides the year into billing cycles of approximately one month each. At the end of each cycle, the credit card company provides a billing statement that shows your transactions, the credit card debt you owe (including interest and fees), and the minimum amount due. 

You can pay your card with a check or a transfer from your checking or savings account.

The grace period for First Progress credit cards is 25 days. That’s how much time you have between the billing cycle’s end and the payment due date to remit the entire purchase balance and avoid interest charges. 

Any unpaid credit card debt remaining after the grace period expires, and all subsequent charges, will incur a daily interest charge (i.e., the APR divided by 365, compounded daily) until fully repaid. The card reestablishes the grace period once you clear your outstanding balance. 

Cash advances have no grace period and begin incurring interest immediately. These cards do not support balance transfers. If you need to perform a balance transfer, consider the Discover it Secured card instead.

First Progress credit cards do not require a credit score, making them an appropriate choice for consumers with no, limited, or poor credit. Card issuers typically check an applicant’s credit report with a major credit bureau (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion). 

This credit check is considered a hard inquiry, meaning it may lower your credit score by a few points and remain on your credit report for two years. First Progress doesn’t issue hard credit checks, relying instead on your security deposit to protect against delinquencies and defaults.

The initial credit limit on a First Progress secured credit card ranges from $200 to $2,000, which also equals the size of your credit line. Over time and with the bank’s permission, you can raise your credit limit to $5,000 by adding to your security deposit. 

Yes, the First Progress line consists of some of the best secured credit cards, offering good, straightforward credit cards with no frills or hidden charges. They give consumers with bad credit a way to get a credit card without resorting to a high-fee, high-interest unsecured card. 

You don’t have to pay the signup or monthly maintenance fees that a typical subprime unsecured credit card charges. 

These cards help you build or rebuild credit by reporting your payments to the major credit bureaus each month and providing ongoing credit monitoring. You can raise your credit score by always paying your bills on time and keeping your credit utilization ratio (i.e., credit used divided by total credit available) below 30%.

Once you boost your score into the fair credit range (or better), you should have no trouble getting an unsecured credit card that pays rewards and offers additional benefits. You can then close your secured card account and receive a refund of your security deposit. 

The three First Progress credit cards allow you to build credit even with no credit history. It takes only $200 to get one of these cards, and you can select the card with the APR and annual fee combination that best suits your needs. They are among the best secured credit cards available to consumers with bad credit.

If you want more information about any of the First Progress cards that appear in this credit card review, click on the APPLY NOW links above to be transferred to the First Progress website, where you can conduct more research and apply for a card.