I Reviewed the Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit: An Accessible Card for Building Credit

You sigh, staring at this all-too-familiar phrase on your computer screen: “We are unable to approve your application at this time.” 

Maybe you want to rebuild your credit, or maybe just afford groceries between paydays without taking out a short-term loan. But no one will give you a chance because your credit score has seen better days.

I’ve been there. And if you’re there now, you may have already heard about the Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit. Like many products for people with credit issues, it may seem too good to be true: An unsecured credit line that you can apply for with no hard inquiry unless you’re approved.

So, what’s the catch? Well, like any card designed for people in your situation, it comes with some fees and a higher interest rate. However, its accessibility and credit-building benefits may far outweigh those drawbacks if you use it the right way.

And I’m here to tell you everything you need to know about the Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit so you can decide whether it’s a good fit or if you should keep looking. In this review, I’ll give you an inside look at the fees, the full application process, and make the fine print seem a little less fine-print-y. 

The Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit is issued by Celtic Bank and serviced by Concora Credit. There won’t be a test later, so you don’t need to remember that, but just know that these companies came together to design this card specifically for consumers with subprime credit scores.

So, if reaching the high-end of FICO’s fair credit score range (669) is a goal you’re currently striving for, this card could be an option for you. Now, let’s get into some of what makes this card appealing.

An Unsecured Option for Builders

Folks with damaged credit often turn to secured credit cards to rebuild their scores. With a secured credit card, you have to put down a security deposit as collateral before you can use your account. 

That deposit becomes your credit limit, so you’re basically pre-paying for your purchases to access the card and its credit-building powers. But if your budget is tight, forking over that deposit may put you in a tight spot.

Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit

APPLY HERE »

• Get the credit limit you deserve—$700 guaranteed if approved
• Apply with Confidence! There is no impact to your credit score if you’re not approved. See terms.
• Get the credit you deserve, even with less-than-perfect history.
• Trusted by more than a million customers with reporting to all three major credit bureaus so you get credit for all of your hard work.
• Zero Fraud Liability – Peace of mind that comes with having a Mastercard.
• Don’t Have Perfect Credit? No Problem!
• No security deposit, just purchasing power.

Show MoreShow Less See application, terms, and details. »

Our Rating

Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit

4.0/5.0

About this rating

BadCredit.org’s credit card ratings are calculated by our financial experts based on key criteria including APRs, fees, and approval odds. We also consider factors such as customer service and cardholder benefits. Our ratings are unbiased and regularly updated.

Ashley Fricker Senior Editor

Close

★★★★★

4.0

Application Length	Interest Rate	Reports Monthly	Reputation Score
3 minutes	35.9%	Yes	9.0/10

The Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit is an unsecured credit card, so you don’t need to put down a security deposit to get approved. That means you can keep more of your cash in the bank upfront and can start your credit-building journey sooner. 

Plus, you could get a higher initial credit line, since a secured card typically caps your spending limit at your security deposit.

Tri-Bureau Credit Reporting

While this doesn’t sound exciting, it is the most important feature of any credit card when you’re trying to improve your score. Again, there won’t be a test, but if you only read one part of this review, make it this one.

The credit card issuer reports your account activity to all three major credit bureaus (Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian). Over time, your credit score reflects how you manage this account (and any others you may have). 

With responsible behavior, you move the needle toward a higher score month by month. Here are the two most critical things you can do to make the biggest positive impact:

Pay your bill on time every time: Payment history accounts for 35% of your FICO score. Paying your bill faithfully every month shows up on your credit report and proves to lenders that you take your financial obligations seriously.

Keep your balance low: Credit utilization accounts for 30% of your FICO score. Lenders like to see that you don’t rely too much on credit or spread your finances too thin, so try to keep your balance to less than 30% of your credit limit.

Mobile App and Customer Support

There isn’t a dedicated app for the Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit, but you can manage your account through the Concora Credit App. Here’s what you can do in the app 24/7:

• Activate your card.
• Schedule and make payments.
• Review your transactions.
• See your account balance, available credit, payment due date, and minimum payment due.

Collectively, users report a generally positive overall experience with the app, giving it 3.3 stars on Google Play and 3.0 stars on the App Store at the time of writing.

If you need support from a real person, you can call Indigo’s customer service department from 6 AM to 6 PM Pacific Time, Monday through Friday, at 1-800-353-5920. I called in on a Friday afternoon to gauge the department’s responsiveness.

I was pleased that it took less than one minute to connect with a representative. They were friendly and tried to help. 

However, they couldn’t answer questions about basic account policies, such as changing payment due dates or increasing credit limits, without me having an account.

While I would have loved to get answers to my questions, I did respect the fact that they were prioritizing cardholders. That’s probably why my call was answered so quickly.

And that’s why I’ll try to answer all of the questions you might have in this review!

Not having to put down a security deposit is a huge check mark in the pros column for this card. However, credit card issuers typically charge folks with bad credit a premium to use their products. The Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit is no exception.

It’s important to look at the total cost of ownership before applying for this card. I compiled a list of fees and ran some numbers for you. Here’s what I found: 

Upfront & Recurring Costs

You’ll get charged a $175 annual fee as soon as you activate your card. That means if you get approved for a $300 initial credit line, your spending power will be instantly cut to $125. 

Plus, your credit utilization ratio would be over 58% on day one, which can hurt your credit score if you don’t pay down your balance before it gets reported to the credit bureaus.

In year two, your annual fee drops to $49. However, a $12.50 monthly maintenance fee will kick in, which adds up to $150 annually. That brings the cost of keeping this card in your wallet to $199 a year, which is an increase from Year 1.

If you use your card for a cash advance, you’ll pay the greater of $5 or 5% of the advanced amount, with this fee capped at $100. Plus, you’ll pay a 1% foreign transaction fee if you use your card abroad.

Interest Rates & Penalties

Using this card can be very expensive when you carry over a balance from month to month. If you can’t pay off your entire balance before your due date, you’ll pay an interest rate that is close to the highest allowed by law on the debt left over. 

Purchases and cash advances have the same annual percentage rate (APR). However, with cash advances, interest starts accruing from the date of the transaction, so you will incur some interest even if you pay off your balance that billing cycle.

Late payment fees can also be painful, at up to $41 a pop. Going over your limit (if you’ve opted for overlimit coverage) or having your check (virtual or physical) bounce is equally expensive. 

Imagine your first payment not going through and then being late with the second. That could eat up to $82 of your credit line. But there is good news.

Unlike the annual fees and monthly maintenance fees (which you can’t avoid), paying interest, late fees, and cash advance APR is entirely avoidable with a little planning and discipline.

Total Cost Analysis

We already know that it costs $175 to own this card in the first year, before you even buy anything. But what if you carry a $100 balance from month to month?

At nearly 36% APR, you’ll pay around $36 in interest that year. That may not sound like much, but if your credit limit is only $300, your interest charges equate to more than 10% of your spending power.

In this scenario, you’ll pay about $211 in year 1 to have and use your card. In year two, the expense will increase to roughly $235 ($199 in annual and monthly fees, plus $36 in interest).

If your score jumps significantly during this time due to responsible use, the cost of credit might be worth it since you may be able to qualify for better cards. But if your credit profile doesn’t meaningfully improve, these fees will be hard to justify.

And always remember, because of this card’s grace period, you can avoid interest by paying off your entire balance before your due date each month.

As I’ve covered, the Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit is fairly flexible when it comes to your credit score. But it does have some requirements if you want to be approved. 

To apply for this card, you must:

• Be age 18+.
• Have a valid Social Security number, physical address, and US IP address.
• Not have an existing Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit account.
• Not have an Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit charged off due to delinquency.
• Meet credit, income, and debt-related requirements.

You may have to submit your driver’s license or other documentation to prove your identity.

Concora Credit doesn’t give specifics about its credit and income eligibility criteria. However, I checked Credit Karma, and its members who matched with this and similar cards have an average credit score of 567. Matched members also earn an average of $73,203 per year.

You don’t need a checking account to qualify for this card. However, if you don’t have one, you’ll have to make payments by mail via money order, which is inconvenient, slow, and could result in expensive late fees if you aren’t diligent.

Before you apply, let me set your mind at ease about something that may be worrying you: Your credit score won’t get dinged unless you’re approved for the card. 

That’s because a hard credit check is only submitted to your credit report if you are approved. So, this is a rare case (and the only one I’ve seen) where you can’t walk away with a lower credit score and without a credit card. 

You may also receive an offer to apply for the card in the mail. If so, you can start by filling in your application code and zip code, and click “Get Started.”

I didn’t receive an offer, so I went through the regular application process. Follow my journey below.

Please note: I didn’t actually apply for this card. I stopped short of submitting my application.

Step 1: Card Design, Name, Address, Email, and Phone

I clicked “+ Select Card Design” and chose the purple card. (I mean, it is the Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit after all.) Then, I filled in my name, address, email address, and phone number.

Step 2: Birth Date, SSN, Monthly Income & Expenses

Next, I entered my date of birth, Social Security Number, total monthly income, and total monthly expenses. 

I understand that the bank needs this information to verify my identity, run a soft credit inquiry on my credit report, and determine if I have sufficient income to repay this new debt.

Step 3: Optional Overlimit Service

I read about the Overlimit Coverage. I had about as much fun as I would watching a documentary on toothpaste, but I learned a few things. 

I encourage you to read it line by line, too (I don’t want to be the only one having fun!), but in case you don’t, here’s the TL;DR:

• The bank will decline any charge that puts you over your limit unless you accept this coverage.
• If you go over your limit, you’ll have to pay a fee (up to $41).
• You could be charged this fee two more times if you don’t pay your balance down fast enough.

If I were actually getting this card, I’d accept the coverage, but watch my balance like a hawk. The only time I’d willingly go over my limit is if I were in dire need of food or medicine. You should accept or decline this coverage based on your spending habits and financial situation.

Step 4: Optional Credit Protection Coverage 

I read about the Credit Protection coverage and found it to be just as riveting as the previous section. 

While you should give this a few minutes of your time, here’s what I learned so we can compare notes:

• You’ll pay $1.49 per $100 owed each month.
• In exchange, the bank may cancel your minimum monthly payments for a set time or wipe out your balance if you involuntarily lose your job, become disabled, die, or experience another qualifying event.
• You can cancel this coverage at any time.

I opted into a similar program on another card many years ago. I never made a claim, but I appreciated the peace of mind at the time. 

The cost here is relatively low, so I’d likely accept it this time around, too (and just try not to carry a balance).

Step 5: Read the Terms & Conditions 

I read the Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit Terms & Conditions. Here’s where I learned about the card’s fees and high APR. 

While I covered a lot of the highlights earlier in this review, you should at least scan through the document to make sure you understand what you’re getting before you submit your application.

You may be wondering: Would she download these documents for future reference? Heck no, I wouldn’t. There’s a 99% chance I’d never look at them again, and they’re always available online.

If I had a question about my account, I’d call the card servicer. But if you have an infinite amount of storage space on your device, feel free!

Step 6: Additional Disclosures

I begrudgingly read a few more confirmations and disclosures. At this point, even as a voracious reader and personal finance nerd, I was done.

I understood everything I read, especially the bit about the hard inquiry on my credit report only appearing if I was approved. 

Take a quick scan through the bullet points. You’re in the home stretch!

Step 7: Submit the Application

I clicked the link and read the “Consent to Electronic Communications” document (remember, I said you were almost done.) I consented to receiving account disclosures electronically and agreed to everything else listed in the paragraph.

Now, since I didn’t actually submit the application because I’m not in the market for a credit card, I don’t know exactly what happens after you click “Submit Application.” But, after going through this process many times over the years, I have a good idea.

I imagine your screen tells you whether you’ve been approved and, if so, displays your initial credit line. If you decide to submit an application, let me know if I was right.

If you’re approved, you should receive your new card in the mail within 14 business days. If more than 21 days pass, call the Lost/Stolen Department at 1-800-314-6340.

Overall, this application is very easy to complete, which is not always the case with similar cards. The entire application is on one page, and even if you read through everything carefully (which you always should), you can fill it out in a few minutes. 

It’s pretty straightforward to improve your credit score with the Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit. It just takes consistency. If you pay on time every month and keep your total utilization low (preferably under 30%), you should see your score steadily rise.

The Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit also allows you to set up automatic payments. This can allow you to avoid late payments, which can come with hefty fees and possible credit score damage. 

Depending on your cash flow, you can set it up to automatically pay the minimum payment, the full balance, or a custom amount.

Don’t like the idea of your money moving on its own? Set a recurring calendar reminder on your phone so you never forget to make a payment.

You’ll also want to consistently review your credit report and score to track your progress. While the Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit doesn’t offer free access to your credit score, services like Experian offer free access to your FICO 8 score. 

You can also access your credit report at no charge through annualcreditreport.com. While your report doesn’t include your score, it does show all of the credit accounts tied to your name. Spotting and disputing any errors can help boost your score.

The Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit isn’t for everyone, and it’s not supposed to be. But it can help a wide swath of people with bad credit who are determined to use it as a tool to better their situation.

 It may be ideal if you:

• Can’t qualify for a better unsecured option.
• Can’t save up for a security deposit.
• Think you can pay off your card in full every month (or keep the balance really low).
• Believe the potential increase in credit score is worth the high fees.

You may want to consider other options if you:

• Can get approved for an unsecured card with lower fees and more perks.
• Can come up with a security deposit in a reasonable amount of time.
• Think you’ll carry a high balance from month to month.
• Believe the cost of building credit with this card is too high.

Ultimately, you know your situation better than anyone. Which of these profiles seems most like you?

It might take you a long time to save up a security deposit for a secured credit card, which can be frustrating when you need credit, like, yesterday. If you qualify, you could get the unsecured Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit in your hands within a week or two.

But before you apply, reconsider the pros and cons we’ve covered:

Whether you opt for a secured card or an unsecured account, credit growth can come with costs. With the former, you have to part with a sizeable chunk of cash upfront. With the latter, you can pay your way to better credit in installments. 

However, your security deposit is generally refundable (and account fees are often lower). You can get your security deposit back once you close your account (less any remaining balance due). The fees you pay to use your unsecured account are sunk costs – you’ll never see those dollars again.

You’ll have to decide which is more important to you: faster access to credit or lower cost long-term.

There are many other cards on the market designed for folks with less-than-perfect credit. Here are two to consider:

opensky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

APPLY HERE »

• Earn up to 10% cash back on everyday purchases
• No credit check required – 89% approval rate with zero credit risk to apply!
• Boost your credit score fast—2 out of 3 opensky® cardholders see an average increase of 47 points after 6 months
• Track your progress with free access to your FICO® score in our mobile app
• Build your credit history with reporting to all three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion
• Seamless payments—add your card to Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay
• Start with just $200—secure your credit line with a refundable deposit
• Fast and easy application—apply in minutes with our mobile-first experience
• Flexible payment options—pick a due date that works for you
• More time to fund—spread your security deposit over 60 days with layaway
• Join 2 million+ cardholders who have used opensky® to build better credit!

Show MoreShow Less See application, terms, and details. »

Our Rating

opensky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

4.6/5.0

About this rating

BadCredit.org’s credit card ratings are calculated by our financial experts based on key criteria including APRs, fees, and approval odds. We also consider factors such as customer service and cardholder benefits. Our ratings are unbiased and regularly updated.

Ashley Fricker Senior Editor

Close

★★★★★

4.6

Application Length	Interest Rate	Reports Monthly	Reputation Score
9 minutes	23.89% (variable)	Yes	7.0/10

In my opinion, the opensky® Secured Visa® Credit Card is one of the best secured options available. If approved, you can open your account with a security deposit as low as $200.

This card doesn’t require a credit check to apply, gives you free access to your FICO credit score, and you can earn up to 10% cash back at participating retailers.

So, what’s the catch? Since this is a secured card, you’ll have to say goodbye to some of your money (albeit temporarily) up front to get started. And it picks the retail partners where you’ll earn cash back. That means you may not get to earn that much unless your purchases happen to align with specific merchants.

Capital One Platinum Credit Card

Like the Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit, the Capital One Platinum Credit Card is an unsecured credit card.

But it doesn’t have annual, monthly maintenance, or foreign transaction fees. It also has a potentially lower APR.

The downside? This card is designed for consumers with fair credit (a credit score of 580 or higher).

So, if your score is still in the mid-500’s (or lower), you likely won’t qualify.

If you’ve had financial struggles in the past, but still can’t qualify for a better card, then I’d certainly recommend the Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit as an option. 

It’s accessible, doesn’t have an upfront cost like a secured card, and can truly help you build credit if you’re ready to use it responsibly. However, I’d encourage you to research other options (like the alternatives I highlighted) to make sure it is the best choice for you. 

If improving your credit score is a top priority, but unsecured accounts with fewer fees and more perks are out of reach, this card should be on your list. 

It could take a year or two to see a meaningful boost in your credit score, regardless of what credit card you use. So, starting on that path may be your priority over getting caught up in what features other cards have.

And if you do decide to go with the Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit, track your credit score closely. Once you get to a better place, you may qualify for cards with lower APRs and perks like cash back or rewards.

At that point, you may be able to leave cards designed for bad credit behind for good.