The Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit

The Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit for 2019

The best credit cards for bad credit can help with rebuilding or establishing credit. Look for a card that has low upfront fees, offers pre-qualification checks, and reports to all three credit bureaus. Then make your payments on time each month, and keep your balance low relative to the credit limit, for positive marks on your credit report. Choose one of the secured or unsecured credit cards for bad credit from our list and use it responsibly to start building better credit over time.

Don’t look desperate! When looking at credit cards for bad credit, you may be tempted to apply to as many as possible in hopes of getting approved. Don’t do this! Each time you apply, a hard inquiry is put on your credit report and negatively impacts your credit score for as long as 12 months. Instead, try a pre-qualification option first (which is a soft inquiry), or only apply for cards you are confident you’ll receive approval.

Don’t let the security deposit deter you — the costs are minimal, there’s no annual fee, and you could receive a refund, plus a credit line increase, with responsible use. You can take advantage Guarantee Trust Bank feature (such as personalized payments and CreditWise) so you can take control of your credit.

Anyone who’s filed a bankruptcy knows that it can limit your credit options. That’s why the forgiving guidelines from the Golden Platinum Mastercard® make it a desirable option. There’s no security deposit required, and the small annual fee makes this card an affordable option for improving your credit score.

We at The Ascent want to help you climb to the top and conquer your money goals. That is why our top picks have a few features in common that can help your money work harder for you, cut out-of-pocket costs, or help you get out of debt faster. The most important factors in our rating methodology are as follows:

• Zero to low annual fees to cut-out-of pocket costs
• Big sign-up bonuses to make your money work harder for you
• High rewards rates in everyday spending categories
• The inclusion of 0% intro APR offers to help you get out of debt faster or defray the cost of a large purchase
• Competitive ongoing APRs to ensure debt balances are manageable.

Though there are many different credit cards out there, virtually all card offers can be divided into five different categories based on their features and rewards programs. The first thing you should do when shopping for a credit card is to narrow the list of possible matches by picking a certain feature or functionality that is particularly important to you.



The five types of credit cards are as follows:

• 0% APR cards
• Cash-back cards
• Travel cards
• Secured cards
• Business cards 

How to Apply for a Credit Card for Bad Credit

When it comes time to apply for a credit card with bad credit, follow some best practices to help guide you toward the best possible outcome. Before you apply for a credit card with bad credit, here are some things to consider:

Know your credit score. Knowing your credit score helps you narrow down which cards you’re mostly like to get approved for during the process.

Try going unsecured first. Many unsecured credit cards for bad credit offer pre-qualification options so you can check the likelihood of getting approved without hurting your credit.

Avoid flashy cards. The best rewards, cash back, and travel cards may be tempting, but you’ll want to focus on credit cards for people with bad credit specifically first.

Go secured for a limited time. If an unsecured card isn’t an option, consider a secured credit card. You’ll need to put down a security deposit, but you’ll still be building credit in the process.

Try a prepaid debit card. You might need a bank account to open a secured credit card. If you don’t have one, use a prepaid debit card until you can open an account. You won’t build credit, but it’s a good short-term solution.

Most card issuers report your balance and activity to the credit bureaus once per month. The problem is that the report might be issued before your monthly statement is due. So even if you pay your card in full each month, it will appear to credit bureaus that your utilization ratio is higher than it actually is. If you’re committed to keeping your credit utilization ratio low, call your credit card helpline, ask when your credit activity is reported, and make sure to pay your balance before that date. (Paying off charges immediately isn’t a bad idea either.)

Secured credit cards are less risky for lenders than regular credit cards because they’re bankrolled by you. Less risk means you don’t have to have a great credit score to qualify. That’s why secured cards are one of the best ways to build and improve credit. And after a few months of disciplined use, you might even be able to upgrade your credit limit — or qualify for an unsecured card with a better rewards program.

In general, secured credit cards are my choice for rebuilding bad credit, with the Discover it® Secured Card probably at the top of the list. It has no annual fee, cash back rewards, and Discover will upgrade you to an unsecured product when you’ve made progress.

Generally speaking, you need a “good to excellent” credit score to apply for top rewards cards like the Discover it Cash Back or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. Secured cards, on the other hand, will consider scores much lower — some cards don’t even require a credit check to apply. But credit isn’t the only factor to consider. Some secured cards, like Secured Mastercard, have other criteria, like having a bank account. Always make sure you understand the requirements before you apply.

Secured cards are a great option for those looking to establish or improve their credit. Students may want to consider starting with a secured card, as this will help build credit while limiting how much they can charge.

If your credit is bad, you may be concerned about applying for a credit card — What if I don’t get approved? Many credit cards for bad credit offer free pre-qualification checks. A pre-qualification check allows the creditor to do a “soft inquiry” on your credit report to establish whether you may qualify for a particular card. This soft inquiry doesn’t affect your credit score, but it does allow you to get an idea of what cards may be best for you.

Not all cards touted for those with bad credit will help you improve your credit score. Here are two types of cards that you should avoid:

Cards with no grace period

If the card doesn’t have a grace period, don’t sign up. Without a grace period, you’ll begin to accrue interest immediately after your monthly statement processes. It’s also worth noting that card offers change pretty frequently. Sometimes cards have multiple versions as well, so make sure you read the fine print of the current offer before you pull the trigger.

Merchandise cards

Merchandise cards (often called online catalog cards) aren’t credit cards at all. They’re lines of credit that you can only use while shopping at specific online marketplaces. Because you can’t use them for everyday purchases, they do not help you rebuild credit. (Not to mention they encourage unnecessary spending.

Sources: www.fool.com; www.thesimpledollar.com