Repair Bad Credit with a Credit Builder

There are many reasons a person might need to rebuild credit. Unemployment, bankruptcy, illness, divorce or other circumstances can lead to problems with paying off the debt, which impacts your credit history. Or maybe you just have a short credit history. Having a low credit history - typically 620 or less - doesn't mean you can't get approved for a credit card. It just means you have to apply for the right one. There are many credit cards to apply when you are trying to improve credit history. And from all the variety you need a credit builder credit card.

BEST CREDIT BUILDER ACCOUNT

5
Card Overall Rating
Fair/Bad/No Credit
Regular APR
No interest
Annual Fee
$0
Program Fee
See terms
Credit Bureau Reporting
Yes
  • To apply for a Chime Card™, Chime® Checking Account is required to apply.
  • Build your credit history.398
  • Earn cash back (2% cash back399 on category of choice, e.g., gas and groceries) with Chime Plus™* status.
  • No annual fees or interest. No credit check to apply.400

Best Cards for People Rebuilding Credit

5
Card Overall Rating
Excellent, Good, Limited History, No History, Limited, No Credit
  • 1% cash back on all purchases. Unlock 3% on gas and groceries with AutoPay
  • No Annual Fee
  • 1-10% cash back at select national merchants
  • Credit limit increases in as early as 4 months for qualified borrowers
  • Pay with ease with a contactless card or on your phone using Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay
  • Build credit alongside hundreds of thousands of Tilt card members
  • Tilt reports to all 3 major credit bureaus
  • Freeze your card in the mobile app at any time for peace of mind
  • Zero liability fraud coverage
  • No security deposits required
  • Card issued by WebBank
  • Rates & Fees
Regular APR
29.99% Variable
Annual Fee
$0
Program Fee
See terms
Credit Bureau Reporting
Yes
4
Card Overall Rating
Fair / Poor Credit
  • PREMIER Bankcard credit cards are for building** credit.
  • Start building credit by keeping your balances low and paying all your bills on time each month.
  • When you need assistance our award-winning US-based Customer Service agents are there to help.
  • Credit Limit Increase Eligible after 12 months of consistent responsible account management.
  • We report monthly to the Consumer Reporting Agencies to help you build** your credit.
Regular APR
See Provider Website
Annual Fee
See Provider Website
Program Fee
See Provider Website
Credit Bureau Reporting
Yes
3
Card Overall Rating
  • Get the credit limit you deserve—$1,000 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.
Regular APR
35.90%
Annual Fee
$250 the first year; $99 thereafter
Program Fee
See terms
Credit Bureau Reporting
Yes
4
Card Overall Rating
  • Guaranteed $1,000 credit limit if approved.
  • Fuel your savings: Earn 5% Cashback Rewards on your first $5,000 in gas purchases each year! See Terms.
  • Plus, 1% Cashback Rewards earned on all other purchases.
  • 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.
  • Zero Fraud Liability - Peace of mind that comes with having a Mastercard.
  • Don't Have Perfect Credit? No Problem!
  • No security deposit required—get started today!
Regular APR
35.90%
Annual Fee
$250 the first year; $99 thereafter
Program Fee
See terms
Credit Bureau Reporting
Yes
4
Card Overall Rating
  • Start building credit with all three credit bureaus with the secured Self Visa® Credit Card.
  • Apply Now: Intro No Annual Fee with the secured Self Visa® Credit Card^
  • No credit check
  • No hard inquiry
  • $100 minimum security deposit*
  • *Qualification for the secured Self Visa® Credit Card is based on meeting eligibility requirements, including income and expense requirements and establishment of security interest. Criteria Subject to change.
  • The secured Self Visa® Credit Card is issued by Lead Bank, Sunrise Banks, N.A., or First Century Bank, N.A., each Member FDIC.
  • ^$0 annual fee for the first year only, $25 annual fee thereafter. Variable APR of 27.49%. Offer valid for new customers only.
Regular APR
27.49% Variable (As of 1/1/2026)
Annual Fee
Intro - $0 ($25 Annual Fee after the first year.)^
Program Fee
See terms
Credit Bureau Reporting
Yes
4
Card Overall Rating
  • Turn everyday purchases into 1.5% Cashback Rewards!
  • A guaranteed $700 credit limit to help get your financial goals on track, if approved.
  • Apply with Confidence! No Impact to your credit score if you cannot be approved. See terms.
  • No upfront security deposit required so you can keep more money in your pocket.
  • Join over a million consumers who are working on building their access to credit.
  • Zero Fraud Liability - Peace of mind that comes with having a Mastercard®.
  • A rewards card for people with less than perfect credit!
Regular APR
35.90%
Annual Fee
$175 the first year; $49 thereafter
Program Fee
See terms
Credit Bureau Reporting
Yes
5
Card Overall Rating
Fair, Limited History, No History, Limited, No Credit
  • 1-10% cash back at select national merchants
  • No Credit Score? No problem. Credit history isn’t required for approval
  • No annual fee and no security deposit required
  • Credit limit increases in as early as 4 months for qualified borrowers
  • Build credit alongside hundreds of thousands of Tilt card members
  • Tilt reports to all 3 major credit bureaus
  • Freeze your card in the mobile app at any time for peace of mind
  • Zero liability fraud coverage
  • Card issued by WebBank
  • Rates & Fees
Regular APR
29.24% - 34.24% Variable
Annual Fee
$0
Program Fee
See terms
Credit Bureau Reporting
Yes

This offer is not available in Vermont and Wisconsin.

5
Loan Overall Rating
All Credit Types Considered
  • Get up to a +88 average* FICO® Score increase on autopilot
  • Designed for the biggest long-term impact on your credit score
  • Build from $1,000 up to $25,000 of credit history starting at low monthly payments
  • Great if you want to access premium CCs & higher credit limits
  • No credit history needed; no hard check required
  • No prepayment or early cancellation fees
  • *Average first-year credit score impact of +88 points in 2024 for CreditStrong account users who started with a score below 550; who paid on-time for consecutively 12 months; and who had no delinquencies or collections added to their credit profile during the period. Individual results may vary.

This offer is not available in Vermont and Wisconsin.

Checking Account Required
Yes
Maximum Loan Amount
$25,000
Minimum Loan Amount
$1,000
Employment Required
Yes
5
Card Overall Rating
Fair/Bad/Limited/No Credit
  • Help build your credit450
  • Spend your rewards anywhere with a Super.com Card451
  • Earn unlimited cashback on Super.com Card purchases451
  • Earn 1% cashback on all purchases451
  • 10% cashback on hotels booked with Super.com452
  • Plus additional savings on gas, prescriptions and more - all with no credit check452
  • Join Super+ for $15/Month452
Regular APR
0%
Annual Fee
No annual fee with paid Super+ Membership
Program Fee
$0
Credit Bureau Reporting
Yes
5
Loan Overall Rating
  • No credit check
  • 0% APR and No hidden fees
  • Open your account in minutes
  • Bank-level security keeps your data safe
  • Up to $3,500 Kickoff tradeline
  • Build payment history that gets reported to Equifax, Experian and TransUnion
Checking Account Required
No
Maximum Loan Amount
$3,500
Minimum Loan Amount
See terms
Employment Required
Yes
5
Loan Overall Rating
  • Build credit & Earn rewards.
  • Payment performance is reported monthly to TransUnion®, Equifax®, Experian®, and Innovis®.
  • Track your FICO® Score every month.
  • Get personal growth tools and 24mo of ID monitoring.
  • Earn up to $1,225 in rewards. Get 1% back for loans and up to $75 for credit cards.
  • No hidden fees. No credit check. Instant decision.
Checking Account Required
No
Maximum Loan Amount
See terms
Minimum Loan Amount
See terms
Employment Required
No
5
Card Overall Rating
  • Accepts immigrants and internationals without an SSN
  • Build credit faster
  • No credit check or hard inquiry
  • Earn up to 15% cashback at selected merchants
  • Get up to 4.00% APY396
  • 0% APR
  • You're pre-approved.397 Apply now with no risk to your credit score
Regular APR
0%
Annual Fee
$72-$144
Program Fee
See terms
Credit Bureau Reporting
Yes
3
Card Overall Rating
  • Guaranteed $1,000 credit limit if approved.
  • Apply with Confidence! There is no impact to your credit score if you’re not approved. See terms.
  • Don't Have Perfect Credit? No Problem!
  • Join over a million consumers who are working on building their access to credit.
  • Zero Fraud Liability - Peace of mind that comes with having a Mastercard®.
  • Get the credit you deserve, even with less-than-perfect history.
  • No security deposit, and a path to better credit.
Regular APR
35.90%
Annual Fee
$250 the first year; $99 thereafter
Program Fee
See terms
Credit Bureau Reporting
Yes
4
Card Overall Rating
  • The first credit card backed by vehicle equity.
  • Pre-approval decision in 1 minute.
  • $4,400 average credit limit - up to $10,000.
  • Fast access with the virtual card and cash advances.
  • Unlimited 1.5% cashback on all purchases.
  • Reports to the 3 major credit bureaus monthly.
Regular APR
24.88% to 35.88%
Annual Fee
$40
Program Fee
N/A
Credit Bureau Reporting
Yes
4
Card Overall Rating
  • Credit for everyone - Regardless of your credit history!
  • See an average FICO increase of 81 pts in 6 months
  • Simply open a Current Account and add funds. The amount added then becomes your spending power for the Build Card.
  • No minimum security deposit required.
  • Reports monthly to all three major credit bureaus.
  • View Product Disclosures
Regular APR
N/A
Annual Fee
$0
Program Fee
N/A
Credit Bureau Reporting
Yes
4
Card Overall Rating
Poor/Limited/No Credit
  • Now offering Up To 10% Cash Back at select merchants with First Latitude!^^
  • Make a Refundable Deposit & Use Your Card. Rebuilding Credit Can Be That Easy!1
  • Designed to push you forward on your credit building journey with $0 Annual Fee.1
  • Build your credit history across 3 major credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.1
  • All credit types welcome to apply!
  • 1Cardholders who keep their balance low and pay their credit card bill on time every month typically do see an increase in their credit score.
  • ^^The 10% cash back rate is available only at a limited number of participating merchants. Offer percentages vary by merchant and are subject to change. See First Latitude Rewards Program Terms & Conditions for details.
  • *See Important Disclosures for complete offer details
Regular APR
27.49% (V)
Annual Fee
$0.00
Program Fee
See website for Details*
Credit Bureau Reporting
Yes
5
Loan Overall Rating
Poor, Fair, Good Credit
  • Sezzle enables you to obtain no-interest loans for purchases.
  • No hard credit check.
  • Simple, transparent 6-week payment plan.
  • With the Sezzle subscription, Sezzle Anywhere, shoppers can shop at any retailer (in store and in person) and pay in 4 with Sezzle.
Checking Account Required
Yes
Maximum Loan Amount
See terms
Minimum Loan Amount
See terms
Employment Required
No
5
Loan Overall Rating
  • Apply Now: Intro No Annual Fee with the secured Self Visa® Credit Card^
  • If you have an active Credit Builder Account, $100 or more in savings progress and satisfying income requirements you may be eligible to receive the secured Self Visa® Credit Card*, without a hard credit check. Criteria subject to change.
  • Build credit and savings at the same time.
  • Start with a Credit Builder Account* that reports monthly payments to all 3 major credit bureaus.
  • At the end of your plan, unlock the savings you built - minus interest and fees.
  • The secured Self Visa® Credit Card is accepted at millions of locations in the U.S.
  • *Credit Builder Accounts & Certificates of Deposit made/held by Lead Bank, Sunrise Banks, N.A., First Century Bank, N.A., each Member FDIC. Subject to credit approval. The secured Self Visa® Credit Card is issued by Lead Bank or First Century Bank, N.A., each Member FDIC. See Self.inc for details. Subject to ID Verification. Individual borrowers must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and at least 18 years old. Valid bank account and Social Security Number are required. All loans are subject to consumer report review and approval. The Secured Self Visa® Credit Card requires an active Self Credit Builder Account and qualification based on other eligibility criteria including income & expense requirements. Criteria subject to change.
  • ^$0 annual fee for the first year only, $25 annual fee thereafter. Variable APR of 27.49% as of 1/1/2026. Offer valid for new customers only.
Checking Account Required
Yes
Maximum Loan Amount
See website for details*
Minimum Loan Amount
See website for details*
Employment Required
No
5
Loan Overall Rating
  • Get up to $500 quickly.277
  • Start building your credit today.278
  • It only takes 2 minutes.
  • Stay on top of your credit and identity.
  • No credit check required. No interest.279
  • Real-time alerts.
Checking Account Required
Yes
Maximum Loan Amount
$500
Minimum Loan Amount
$25
Employment Required
Yes
5
Overall Rating
  • 3-bureau credit scores & reports
  • Track your scores, reports, and follow your progress
  • Credit report review
  • Credit building tools at your fingertips
  • AI-driven interactive credit analysis
  • Unlimited dispute generation
Credit Bureaus Monitored
All three bureaus
Trial Term
$1 (7 day trial)
Monthly Fee
$39.99
Credit Monitoring Alerts
See terms
5
Loan Overall Rating
  • Credit Boosting Made Easy.
  • No hard credit pull.
  • Positive credit reporting with every payment.
  • Secured credit card after your 4th payment.
  • Payment amounts are yours to keep, minus interest and fees.
  • Easy. Smart. Automatic.
Checking Account Required
Yes
Maximum Loan Amount
$1,100
Minimum Loan Amount
$650
Employment Required
Yes

Know your opportunities to build or rebuild credit

People often apply for wrong credit cards in their attempts to repair their credit. As a result their applications are denied and their credit history continue rushing down. So how to rebuild credit when your credit history is low? Here we give you several ways, which one to choose is up to you:

Catalog cards (also known as shopping cards):

These cards are linked to a specific retailer and can be used to buy goods from their online or mail-order catalogs. You will be able to buy almost anything you need, from kitchen utensils, beauty supplies and clothing to outdoor gear and sports equipment. With the convenience to buy products at your favorite retailers you also get the opportunity to fix credit history.

Secured cards:

If you prefer a major credit card that is accepted at most locations, a secured card may be a better choice for you. The catch is, you will have to put down a deposit up front, to act as collateral. The amount you put down will usually be equal to the line of credit you are granted. Cards for bad credit:

There are some unsecured credit cards designed especially for people with bad credit. They often have high APRs, and may carry more fees than credit cards for good credit, but if they are used responsibly they can help you repair your credit.

Prepaid cards:

You might think that a prepaid card, which anyone can be approved for with no credit check, is a good idea for you if your credit is bad. While they are a good option when you need the convenience of using card, there is one problem - they do not report to the consumer reporting agencies. So although prepaid cards can be great, they will not help you rebuild your credit.

GET YOUR OFFER MATCH
Get matched to suitable credit offers!
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Will not affect your
credit score
Select your credit score:
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Debit Card
Credit Card
This tool finds credit offers that suit your situation best. However, only lenders and issuers decide whether you'll be approved or not for an offer.

Not Sure Which Card to Choose?

Ask Our Experts or Read Credit Card FAQs
A credit card is the easiest way to improve your credit history. But it’s better not to apply for a credit card right away the bankruptcy is discharged. It is wise to wait at least six month. If you can’t wait, make sure all your reports...
You may find different credit card offers aimed at people with bad credit. It is important to understand your financial situation and preferences to recommend the best card for bad credit. First of all, you should consider fees and interest rates....
Prepaid cards do not help your credit because the activity on the card is not reported to the credit bureaus. But secured cards are a good option if you want to improve your credit history. The issuers of secured credit cards report the credit...
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