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FICO can be fickle, which is why we write articles like this Legacy Credit Card review. You need only a few financial indiscretions to completely screw up your credit and send your FICO credit score into the ditch.

 The question becomes, what can you do to right the course and reenter polite credit society? 

The Legacy Visa® Credit Card can help when most other unsecured cards can’t because this Visa card from First National Bank will accept your application even if your FICO score is as low as 400, which is low indeed. If you’re ready to travel the road to financial redemption, you can take the first step by checking out this credit card that, when used responsibly, offers a way out of the darkness and back into FICO’s good graces.

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The Legacy Visa Is an Invite-Only Card For Bad Credit

The only way to get the Legacy Visa® Credit Card is via a prequalifying invitation. You can then apply for the card by submitting information about your income, expenses, and debt. 

The Legacy Visa® Credit Card is an invite-only card that approves applicants with scores as low as 400.

The card carries a high variable APR and a modest annual fee. The card’s grace period is at least 25 after the close of each monthly billing cycle. The initial credit limit ranges from $350 to $1,500, depending on your credit profile.

The Legacy Visa® Credit Card authorizes cash advances of up to 50% of your credit limit. A cash advance fee applies. Its other charges are low, and there are no setup or maintenance fees.

You automatically receive fraud protection on lost and stolen cards, relieving you of liability for transactions that result from identity theft. 

The Legacy Visa® Credit Card doesn’t offer balance transfer transactions. However, many of its competitors also lack balance transfer (and cash advance) capability.

The card’s two optional features are:

  • Payment Protection Plan: This plan covers up to $5,000 of your minimum payments if you experience a qualifying event (i.e., unemployment, disability, hospitalization, military leave, certified family medical leave, or jury duty). The premium is $0.89 per month for every $100 of your statement balance (e.g. a $500 balance would cost you $4.45 a month), and coverage for most qualifying events terminates after 18 months.
  • Premium Club: The club will provide you with purchase discounts on select items if you become a member and pay the monthly fee.

You will want to read all the fine print for each optional program before deciding whether they are worth their fees. 

First National Bank is more than just the issuer of the Legacy Visa® Credit Card. The bank also offers branch-based and online banking — you can get a checking or savings account using its online banking portal. If you’d like to earn interest above savings account levels, you can also purchase high-yield certificates of deposit.

Alternative Cards For Bad Credit You Can Apply For

You don’t have to wait for an invitation to apply for these credit cards. Each card targets consumers with scant or poor credit who want to own an unsecured credit card.

4.0 / 5.0
  • PREMIER Bankcard credit cards are for building credit.
  • Start building credit by keeping your balance low and paying all your bills on time each month.
  • When you need assistance our award-winning US-based Customer Service agents are there to help.
  • Credit Limit Increase Eligible after 12 months of consistent responsible account management.
  • We report monthly to the Consumer Reporting Agencies to help you build your credit.
  • See official site, terms, and details »
Interest Rate See Provider Website
Reports Monthly Yes
Application Length 4 minutes
Reputation Score 9.0/10

The PREMIER Bankcard® Mastercard® Credit Card serves consumers who have poor credit. As with most cards in this category, there are fees to be aware of. Please read the terms and conditions for a list of fees charged by this card issuer (See Provider Website for full Terms & Conditions). As a plus, every cardholder receives the global acceptance and fraud protection of a Mastercard. 

4.0 / 5.0
  • You don’t need good credit to apply.
  • We help people with bad credit, every day.
  • 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.
  • See official site, terms, and details »
Interest Rate See Provider Website
Reports Monthly Yes
Application Length 4 minutes
Reputation Score 9.0/10

The PREMIER Bankcard® Grey Credit Card offers multiple card designs at no additional cost. Its minimum credit limit is below that of its sibling, the PREMIER Bankcard® Mastercard® Credit Card, but otherwise, the two cards are similar. Both feature a longer-than-average grace period that can help a cardholder manage the financing of everyday purchases.

4.5 / 5.0
  • 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
  • Fast and easy application process; results in seconds
  • Online account access 24/7
  • Checking Account Required
  • See official site, terms, and details »
Interest Rate 29.99% APR (Variable)
Reports Monthly Yes
Application Length 9 minutes
Reputation Score 8.5/10

The Surge® Platinum Mastercard® offers the basic benefits, including identity theft liability protection and cash advances. You can use the card’s website or mobile app to make payments, check due dates, and view statements. Its online knowledgebase gives consumers access to articles that cover a wide variety of personal finance topics. 

4.6 / 5.0
  • 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
  • Fast and easy application process; results in seconds
  • Use your card at locations everywhere Mastercard® is accepted
  • Checking Account Required
  • See official site, terms, and details »
Interest Rate 29.99% APR (Variable)
Reports Monthly Yes
Application Length 8 minutes
Reputation Score 8.0/10

The Reflex® Platinum Mastercard® is a twin of the Surge Mastercard. Both offer the same fraud protection and credit limit policies. It is an unsecured card, available without a security deposit. As stated earlier, this card does come with fees, so be sure to read the terms and conditions for a list of fees charged by this card issuer.

How Do I Get an Invite For the Legacy Visa® Credit Card ?

First National Bank routinely prescreens individuals identified by the three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and Transunion) who meet the bank’s minimum credit criteria, including:

  • You must be a resident of the United States.
  • You must be at least 18 years old.
  • You must meet the issuer’s debt-to-income (DTI) ratio requirements. The DTI ratio equals your total monthly debt payments divided by your total monthly gross income. Each creditor or lender sets a maximum acceptable DTI ratio, and 36% is a popular cap among financial institutions.
  • You cannot have any other credit cards issued by First National Bank.

You can accept your new credit card by going online to the Legacy credit card login page and entering the reservation number and access code contained in the invitational letter. You’ll then receive a final decision on your approval. Once approved, the bank will assign you a credit line and mail out the card right away. 

Does the Legacy Visa® Credit Card Offer Rewards?

The Legacy Visa® Credit Card allows you to earn cash rewards through its optional Premium Club membership. The club provides purchase discounts on a variety of name-brand suppliers and services. The cost is $4.95 per month, and you can cancel at any time.

The discounts on qualifying purchases available through the Premium Club include:

  • Gift cards: A 15% discount on select gift card offerings. For example, you can get up to 6% off Spa & Wellness gift card purchases accepted at more than 8,000 locations in North America.
  • Local and national merchants: You will receive premium deals and everyday savings on eligible purchases. Merchants may limit you to one premium deal per 12-month period. Everyday savings include discounts as high as 20% on eligible purchases and are limited to a maximum of $25 per transaction.
  • Prescriptions: You can receive discounts of 10% to 85% on qualifying purchases of prescription medications at participating pharmacies. 
  • Restaurants.com: For as little as $5, you can get a restaurant gift certificate worth $25 from restaurants.com.
  • 1.800.Flowers.com: This website offers you up to 15% off fresh flowers, gift baskets, chocolate, and spa baskets, among other gifts.
  • Theme parks: Receive up to 40% off the general admission price at select theme parks.
  • Movie tickets: Up to 40% off blocks of five to 40 tickets per order. Shipping and processing fees apply.
  • Travel purchases: You can save money on travel purchases through hotel discounts of up to 20% and car rental discounts of up to 25%. These perks are attractive but don’t match the benefits that better reward credit cards offer, such as the Chase Sapphire twins and the Chase Freedom rewards card, all of which earn Ultimate Rewards points. Alas, Chase cards are generally issued to people with good or better credit, but they may incentivize you to improve your credit.

You can cancel your membership at the Legacy Credit Card login page at any time, without penalty. If you cancel your credit card, your Premium Club membership will automatically terminate. 

Does the Legacy Visa® Credit Card Have a Mobile App?

The issuer, First National Bank, offers a mobile app for its credit cards. You can use the app to pay your bill, check your account balance, and view transactions, among other things.

Screenshots of the Legacy First National Bank app on a tablet.
First National Bank offers a mobile app for both Apple and Android devices that you can use to manage your account.

The Apple version of the app provides fast and easy account access with iPhone Touch ID and Face ID. An Android version is also available.

You can opt for account alerts, including payment due dates and payment postings. You can also download monthly statements, check your balances and available credit, manage autopay functions, and update account information.

Does the Legacy Visa® Credit Card Give Credit Limit Increases?

Your credit limit depends on your FICO score and payment history, among other things. First National Bank will initially issue you a credit line of at least $350 on its Legacy Visa® Credit Card. The highest starting credit line is $1,500. 

You may be considered for a higher credit limit if you meet the bank’s requirements. You must:

  • Make all your payments on time. Late payments will delay or permanently bar a credit limit increase.
  • Meet the bank’s debt-to-income requirements, which are unpublished. 
  • Keep your account in good standing.
  • Maintain your credit profile.

Your monthly statement always reports your current credit limit. If you go over your credit limit, you must pay the overage immediately. 

Is the Legacy Visa® a Good Credit Card? 

We like that you can get the unsecured Legacy Visa® Credit Card with a credit score as low as 400, just 100 points above the FICO minimum. That’s usually the territory occupied by the secured credit card marketplace. 

You must deposit cash collateral to receive a secured card. As with a prepaid or gift card, a secured card doesn’t depend on your credit score.

Receiving an invitation to apply for the card means that you are already prequalified and preapproved. Although preapproval doesn’t guarantee acceptance the way a secured credit card does, we expect getting an invitation bodes well for final approval.

You can accept your offer for a Legacy Visa® Credit Card online, though an invite does not guarantee approval.

The card’s optional Premium Program rewards net purchases — something competing cards don’t offer. While we’d rather see the Legacy Visa® Credit Card incorporate a reward program without charging an extra fee, it’s still a perk, and it may interest you. 

The Premium Program does not offer cash back, reward points, nor a statement credit. The discounts apply directly at the time of purchase. 

The other optional program, the Payment Protection Plan, may attract consumers who are ill-prepared to handle financial emergencies. Make sure you understand the plan’s cost and limitations before signing up.

The card’s high variable APR and its annual fees are not very different from those charged by most competing cards. Some of its other fees are relatively low (such as its late fee), and the card provides a grace period on purchases. 

You may also want to check the credit card your local credit union offers. If you don’t qualify for your local credit union, you may find one online that accepts all applicants.

Legacy Visa® Credit Card: A Good Choice For Bad Credit

As our Legacy Credit Card review indicates, an abysmal credit score need not deny you access to an unsecured credit card. True, the Legacy Visa® Credit Card is vanilla, but it keeps some of its fees in check and offers a couple of intriguing features.

Before deciding whether to accept the Legacy Visa® Credit Card invitation mailed to you, we suggest you look at the competing credit cards we’ve included in this review. Just click on the APPLY NOW links to get more information about any cards that interest you.

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About The Author

Eric Bank has been covering business and financial topics since 1985, specializing in taking complex subject matters and explaining them in simple terms for consumer audiences. Eric's writing regularly appears on Credible.com, eHow, WiseBread, The Nest, Get.com, Zacks, Chron, and dozens of other outlets. A former software engineer, Eric holds an M.B.A. from New York University and an M.S. in finance from DePaul University.

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