| Credit Building Rating: | 2.5 / 5 |
| Cost of Membership | 2.5 |
| Ease of Building Credit | 2.9 |
| APR | 4.5 |
| Features | 0.0 |
In a Nutshell:
With a relatively low APR and annual fee, the OpenSky Secured Visa credit card is a great card for those with bad to fair credit. You won’t earn any rewards, but you’ll keep additional charges to a minimum, and you can qualify for the card without a credit check.
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Average cost of membership per year ($3,600 annual spend) |
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Security deposit required |
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Initial credit limit |
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Access to higher credit line? |
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APR |
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Other rates and fees
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Features: $0 fraud liability, auto rental insurance
When it comes to secured credit cards, the OpenSky Secured Visa is a pretty standard option. Your initial credit limit is equal to a security deposit, and you won’t earn any rewards. The additional perks with this card are limited, including only basics like fraud protection and account alerts.
However, the low annual fee and APR set this card apart as a solid choice for those who need to build their credit over time, but still might need to carry a balance.
No credit check required
If you have a less than ideal credit history – or no credit history at all – the OpenSky Secured Visa is a fantastic opportunity to start building your credit. OpenSky doesn’t require any credit check to apply for the card and offers everyone who is approved the same APR and credit limit range.
See related: Best soft pull credit cards
Initial credit limit up to $3,000
Like most secured cards, the OpenSky Secured Visa requires a refundable security deposit up front to determine your initial credit limit. The beginning of the range is slightly lower than average, at $200, and you’ll be able to deposit as much as $3,000. If you have the money for a larger deposit, a high limit secured card can make a huge difference toward improving your credit score.
One downside to this card is that there is no specified policy for applying for a credit limit increase. That means you’ll be limited to the deposit you can afford. If you aren’t able to choose a higher credit limit, you might consider a card with regular reviews for a credit line increase.
Relatively low annual fee
While it’s true there are secured cards out there with no annual fee, the OpenSky Secured Visa fee of $35 is still relatively low. Many similar cards will charge $50 or even $75 on top of higher APRs. If a low interest rate is on the top of your priority list, this card could be worth the investment.
Lower-than-average APR
The lower-than-average APR definitely sets the OpenSky Secured Visa apart from other secured cards. While many cards that are designed for those with bad to fair credit charge upwards of 20% or even 25%, the OpenSky Secured Visa only charges 17.39% (variable). Indeed, 17.39% is only a bit higher than the national average credit card APR. Best of all, everyone who is approved for this card gets this same APR, so you don’t have to worry about falling toward the high end of a range.
These few percentage points can make a big difference if you are trying to improve your credit but still might need to carry a balance.
Standard Visa benefits
The OpenSky Secured Visa doesn’t have any sort of rewards program and only includes basic benefits. You’ll enjoy $0 fraud liability and auto rental insurance, but not much else. If earning rewards is important to you, this is probably not your best choice. But keep in mind that credit building cards with rewards programs typically come with a higher APR.
Inactive account fee
The OpenSky Secured Visa is not a card to open and forget. If you don’t have any activity on your account for a year, you’ll be charged $10 per month as an inactive account fee. Continue to make payments using this card – even small ones – until you are ready to close the account.
Why get the OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card?
- You have bad to fair credit or no credit history and need a card with a low barrier to entry.
- You plan to carry a balance and need a lower APR.
- Lower fees and interest rates are more important to you than a rewards program.
How to use the OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card:
- Make as large of a security deposit as possible to boost your credit limit and improve your credit score.
- Make payments regularly to avoid an inactive account fee.
- Pay off your balance in full whenever possible to avoid racking up interest charges.
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