What's the difference between an unsecured credit card and a secured credit card?

Answered on January 12, 2022
Updated on January 12, 2022
The content is accurate at the time of publication and is subject to change.
James Williams James Williams

Secured cards require an upfront security deposit to be paid. The credit limit on a secured credit card will be equal to the deposit you pay. The deposit is usually fully refundable. The issuers of secured credit cards can report them to credit bureaus as unsecured credit accounts. The unsecured credit cards do not require a security deposit, but may charge application and activation fees. The credit limit is determined based on applicant’s creditworthiness.

All rates and fees, and other terms and conditions of the products mentioned in this article/post are actual as of the last update date but are subject to change. See the current products' Terms & Conditions on the issuing banks' websites.

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BROWSE MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT Secured Credit Cards:

If you applied for the Merrick Bank Double Your Line® Secured Credit Card, your $200 credit line will automatically double to $400 if you make at least your minimum payment on time each month for the first 7 months your account is open. You won't need to deposit any more money to receive the doubled line. For the Merrick Bank Secured Credit Card, your credit line won't double. Instead, you can start with a credit line of $200-$3,000, depending on your deposit. Your account will then be reviewed periodically after the first year to see if you're eligible for a credit line...
A secured card may be a great option though for getting a credit card and rebuilding your credit as secured cards are usually reported to the credit bureaus – Experian, TransUnion or Equifax. The credit limit on a secured credit card is established by the security deposit an applicant pays. Your initial deposit is usually refundable, and there are secured cards with fair fee schedules and good customer service. It means that secured credit cards work like unsecured credit cards: a cardholder will receive statements every month and will be required to make card payments monthly. The security...
Merrick Bank offers two secured credit card options – the Merrick Bank Secured Credit Card and the . Both credit cards may help you build your credit because they report to all three major credit bureaus. Secured credit cards, like the Double Your Line® Secured Credit Card, are one of the best ways to quickly establish or rebuild credit. When using a secured card for purchases and then paying the full balance each month, your FICO Score can increase over time. Moreover, you will be able to get your updated FICO® Score each month for free to track your...

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