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★ CREDIT SCORE GROWTH SIMULATOR ★ What if you started today? See your score curve. Same formula the bureaus use. On-time history (35%), utilization (30%), credit age (15%), new accounts (10%), credit mix (10%).
★ PROJECTED SCORE CURVE
850 700 550 300
540
558
569
578
586
594
602
609
615
622
628
634
640
M 0 M 6 M 12
★ AT 640 YOU UNLOCK Some cards · B-lender mortgage
★ 6 BEST SECURED & BUILDER CARDS ★
From $0 fee to no deposit · 6 routes in NEO Neo Secured Mastercard Neo Financial · $0/yr
BEST OVERALL · NO FEE $50+ MIN DEPOSIT
$0 annual fee Refundable deposit ($50 min) Reports to both bureaus Earns cash back Refundable security deposit from $50. Earns 5% cash back at partner stores while you build. Reports to Equifax + TransUnion monthly.
Apply → C1G Capital One Guaranteed Mastercard Capital One · $59/yr
GUARANTEED · NO DEPOSIT $0 MIN DEPOSIT
No security deposit Guaranteed approval $59 annual fee Auto-upgrade after 12 mo on-time No security deposit required. "Guaranteed" approval if you meet qualifying income (steady income, Canadian address). Reports monthly to both bureaus.
Apply → HTS Home Trust Secured Visa Home Trust · $59/yr
NO INCOME REQUIRED $500+ MIN DEPOSIT
No income/job check Deposit refundable $59 annual fee Approved at any credit Approved with NO income or employment check. Secured by deposit ($500-10,000). 19.99% APR. Reports monthly to both bureaus.
Apply → REF Refresh Financial Secured Refresh · $12.95/yr
BUILD-FIRST · NO INTEREST $200+ MIN DEPOSIT
$12.95/yr maintenance Deposit refundable Credit Builder Loan add-on Reports to both bureaus Deposit-secured, $200 minimum. Pair with their Credit Builder Loan to add 2 tradelines at once. Reports monthly to both bureaus.
Apply → PLA Plastk Secured Visa Plastk · $99/yr
EARNS REWARDS · BUILD $300+ MIN DEPOSIT
1x rewards points Deposit refundable $99 annual fee Mobile app + tools Rare for a secured card: earns 1x rewards points on every purchase. Higher fee but the only secured card with real rewards.
Apply → KHO KOHO Credit Building KOHO · $84/yr
NO DEPOSIT · APP-BASED $0 MIN DEPOSIT
No security deposit $7/mo subscription App-tracked progress Builds in 6 months $7/mo subscription to credit-building service. Not a traditional card — KOHO opens a small revolving line you pay monthly. Reports as tradeline.
Apply → YOUR QUESTIONS
Secured cards · straight answers How fast does a secured card actually rebuild credit? − First report: 30-45 days after card opens. Score lift in first 3 months: 20-40 points if starting under 580 (where reports have biggest impact). By month 12 with on-time payments + low utilization: typically 60-100 point gain. Most users go from 540 → 680+ in 18 months with a secured card. What happens to my security deposit? + Will the secured card automatically upgrade to unsecured? + Can I get approved with a previous bankruptcy? + What about debit cards vs secured credit cards for building credit? + How much should I put on a secured card monthly? + Can I open multiple secured cards at once? + When can I move from secured to unsecured cards? +