How a Secured Credit Card Works

Many people with poor credit wonder how they can ever begin to rebuild their credit. After all, it's hard to get approved for loans or credit cards with a poor credit score. A secured credit card is one way of rebuilding a poor credit score.

A secured credit card is not the same thing as the regular credit cards that you get advertisements for in the mail. They are "secured" because you have to support the credit card with funds. For instance, if someone has a secured credit card with a $500 credit limit, they must pay $500 to the credit card company in order to access the funds on their credit card. In that way, it is somewhat like a prepaid debit card. However, the deposit is held as long as you use the card. Your deposit is returned to you when you close the card.

Typically, secured credit cards start out with low credit limits. You can get a higher credit limit in a few different ways. Regularly paying off the card or making consistent, on-time payments may qualify you for a credit limit raise. Some companies require you to add to your initial deposit to get a higher credit limit.

Secured credit cards can help consumers build their credit scores with all three credit bureaus. The entire credit limit is reported to the credit bureaus, and every payment that a consumer makes on a secured credit card is reported to the bureaus. As the on-time payments build up, the credit scores will begin getting higher. To get the most out of secured credit cards, consumers should use it monthly for a few small expenses. Pay it off every month to avoid interest charges; secured credit cards are known for having high interest rates.

Most secured credit cards have a number of fees associated with them. Many cards charge an application fee, although it is possible to search around and find a card that doesn't have an application fee. Every secured card has an annual fee, due to the added work of holding a deposit and giving credit to a credit-poor consumer. Some banks do take advantage of consumers who need secured credit cards; some charge so many fees that the majority of the card's credit limit is used up before the consumer can even use it. To avoid this, consumers should look for cards that do not have an application fee, monthly maintenance fees, or fees for paying online.

When used correctly, secured credit cards are a safe way for consumers to start rebuilding their credit scores. They can help people rebuild their credit without paying high interest rates on a large balance every month.