Bad Credit Credit Cards

Credit Cards for People with Bad Credit

Having bad credit is nothing that can’t be corrected. Like anything else in life it just takes a little work. One of the first steps you need to take is to create a budget. After you have created a budget you should apply for a credit card. The key is paying your bills on time and living within your means which is where the budget comes in. Most credit cards for bad credit will start you off with a small credit line. As you start paying your bills on time, they will review you later on for credit line increases. The important thing is that when you do pay your bill on time, it gets reported to the three major credit bureaus. As time goes by and more positive activity gets posted to your credit reports, your credit score will begin to increase. The higher your credit score, the better the credit card offers you will have access to. In the meantime, there are still several great options that can help you rebuild your credit to get to that point. Orchard Bank is one of the leading credit card issuers that focus on issuing credit cards to people with bad credit. Their annual fees and interest rates are reasonable versus their peers in the industry.

Different Types of Credit Cards for Bad Credit

When you have bad credit you have three choices when it comes to credit cards. You can apply for an unsecured, secured, or prepaid card. An unsecured card which is by far the most popular choice, provides you with a small credit line. These cards typically have an annual fee, but because the card is unsecured, you won’t have to put up cash as a deposit. A secured card is a credit card that has you put up a deposit to secure against the credit line that they will provide you. If you deposit $1,000, the credit line is typically $1,000. If you fail to make your payments, the bank will end up taking your deposit. This type of card typically has an annual fee as well. A prepaid credit card has you deposit money and every time you use the card, money is deducted from your account. It operates very similar to that of a traditional debit card. There generally is fees associated with every withdrawal and transaction. Be sure to read the terms of those types of cards. Unsecured and secured cards report to the 3 major credit bureaus. There are prepaid offers that will report, but you have to make sure that is a feature that is offered.

Choosing the Best Bad Credit Credit Card

When choosing the credit card for you, be sure to have a clear picture of the type of card you are looking for. Unsecured, secured, and prepaid cards are available, but are not made the same. See our “Different Types of Credit Cards for Bad Credit” for more details. When we formed our rankings we took the following into account. First we looked at if the product had the potential to build your credit history. Second we looked at the fees associated with the cards. If they were higher than their peers, they didn’t make the cut. Finally we looked at interest rates. There are plenty of cards available that are designed for people with bad credit that don’t have abnormally high interest rates. Anything less than 24.9% is reasonable in today’s environment. Based on all of these features, we formed our Top 5 listing.