Premium secured credit cards with zero credit checks from Eastwood Bank? You receive the card. Once your deposit is funded, the issuer will send you your card. You can then use it just like any other credit card. In general, it’s best to use less than 30% of your available credit at any given time, so don’t go maxing out your secured card. Use it for a few small purchases each month and pay them off promptly. You get your bill and pay it each month. Because secured cards tend to charge very high interest rates, it’s best to pay your bill in full every month to avoid finance charges. The issuer reports your payments to the credit bureaus, which helps you build credit.

Who should get this card? If you don’t have a bank account and/or your credit check would make a traditional credit card issuer avoid your calls, an OpenSky secured credit card may be just what you’re looking for. But there’s no reason for most people to pay the $35 annual fee. We caution most consumers to avoid paying such fees on secured cards, as there are plenty of annual-fee-free options for consumers with limited credit.

You don’t have to undergo a credit check to apply, and you don’t need a bank account to qualify. If these are areas of concern for you, the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card is definitely worth a look. If not, there are better (and cheaper) alternatives. The issuer doesn’t run a credit check on OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card applicants, making this an attainable option for people with severely damaged credit. You can make your deposit — minimum $200, maximum $3,000 — and pay your bills with a debit card, wire transfer, check or money order, making it one of the few secured cards that doesn’t require a traditional bank account.

The Self Visa is our top rated secured card for credit building because it offers an unusual on-ramp to building a positive credit history through the creation of both an installment loan and a credit card account. If you’re able to meet the Self Visa’s lenient eligibility requirements, you’re granted a CD secured loan. Once you’ve made three on-time loan payments that unlock at least $100 of value in your CD, you can open a secured card using the repaid funds as the security deposit. You earn interest on CD (while also paying interest on the loan), but the card also comes with its own set of interest rates and fees. It offers no rewards or other benefits.

What Happens If I Don’t Make A Payment? As mentioned above, if you don’t make a payment to your credit line when required, your card issuer may use some of your deposit balance to cover the amount. However, it is vital you don’t find yourself needing to rely on this. It may be tempting to skip a payment, thinking that the issue will be dealt with by your deposit, but this is not the case. You may find that your credit score — the very thing that you are trying to improve — is impacted by your missed payment. If you decide to open a secured credit card, then you should take the issue seriously. See the endeavor as an attempt to rebuild your credit and improve your financial situations in the future. See even more details on best secured credit cards.