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☉Credit score calculated based on FICO® Score 8 model. Your lender or insurer may use a different FICO® Score than FICO® Score 8, or another type of credit score altogether. Learn more

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25 Card Offers

Retail Account at Fingerhut.com

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Intro bonus

Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year

Rewards

2% Cash Back on Gas Stations & Restaurants

1% Cash Back on All Other Purchases

Ongoing APR

25.99% Variable APR

Credit One Bank® Secured Card

Rewards

1% Cash Back on Eligible Gas, Grocery Purchases and Mobile, Internet, Cable and Satellite TV Services

Ongoing APR

26.24% Variable

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Credit cards for bad credit

What is considered bad credit?

A very poor credit rating based on a FICO Score includes scores ranging from 300 to 579. Generally, applicants with this FICO Score range may be required to pay an additional fee or even a deposit. This score range is also the lowest on the rating scale, and applicants may have trouble getting approval from credit card issuers.

How to work on bad credit

Checking your FICO Score includes the factors that are positively and negatively impacting your credit, and knowing those factors can help you get your credit to where you want it to be. In general, paying all your bills on time and keeping your balances low will help you on the road to good credit.

Secured and unsecured credit cards

There are two types of credit card options for bad credit, secured and unsecured. A secured credit card requires a deposit of a certain amount of money into a savings account, and the credit limit is often based on a percentage of the deposited amount. This deposit for a secured credit card acts as collateral, and funds are not used for regular payments. This is unlike a prepaid card, which draws from the funds you deposit and is not reported to credit bureaus. Most credit cards are unsecured credit cards. An unsecured credit card requires no deposit and is simply a revolving line of credit with a limit that you can borrow against.

Credit card details to look for with bad credit

• Secured credit cards: These can be a great tool for helping to build credit, but only if the issuer reports the credit history to the credit bureaus. Issuers will generally require a minimum security deposit, and some will even hold your deposit in an interest bearing account, such as a CD. Secured credit card providers may not require any credit history or have a minimum credit score for approval.
• Fees: Some issuers for both secured and unsecured cards may or may not charge annual fees, and some may even charge monthly service fees on top of an annual fee. Paying attention to all of the different fees can help you understand your total costs. Additional things to look for including any program or maintenance fees, application fees, transaction fees, and penalty fees, There may also be fees for optional services, such as fees for lost cards or credit line increases.
• Rates: Interest rates can vary significantly and can be either fixed or variable. Paying the full balance each month could help you avoid interest and to help maximize rewards if those are offered. Some issuers offer no penalties for missed payments, while some can increase your interest rates significantly.

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ΘCredit score calculated based on FICO® Score 8 model. Your lender or insurer may use a different FICO® Score than FICO® Score 8, or another type of credit score altogether. Learn more

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