The Best and Worst Secured Credit Cards. I get a lot of requests for reviews of secured credit cards. Thanks to all of you, this list just keeps growing and growing Ive recently updated quite a few of these credit card reviews, so I decided it was time to look at the rankings again. My goal is to give you a list of ranked secured credit cards that have unbiased and neurotically thorough reviews. Oh, and if the issuer deserves it, I throw in a little snark here and there for your reading pleasure. The reason I can say whatever I wantGet the latest science news and technology news, read tech reviews and more at ABC News. Following the Target data breach, card security has become a hot topic. Here is a updated list of which U. S. cards offer the EMV chip. I dont make any money if you apply for a card and get accepted. I can be honest without worrying about affiliate partnerships with issuers. To learn more, read Why I Dont Make Money from Credit Card Referrals. Okay, so Ive got the cards in tiers Top, Middle, and Bottom. Theres also a note about whether the issuer reports the card  as secured or unsecured to the credit bureaus. If anyone notices that a card is no longer reported as listed here, please mention it in the comments and Ill update the list. And keep in mind that issuers also change policy from time to time, so use this list only as a guideline. For those who are concerned about a secured card that reports as secured, read this post Does the FICO Score Treat Secured Credit Cards Differently The quick answer is that it wont negatively impact your credit score at all. In the post, I also talk about why a card that reports as secured is not always a bad thing. Okay, so I reviewed the rates and fees of each card and even took into consideration some intangibles, such as customer service and the opportunity to graduate to an unsecured credit card. With almost any credit card you have, especially when youre in a rebuilding or establishing credit mode, youll encounter problems from time to time. I learn a lot about customer service and other issues from all the emails and comments I get from readers. I appreciate this valuable information and it helps others, too. How to use this list. The goal is to get the best card that you can qualify for. It tends to be more difficult to get approved for the secured credit cards from the major banks and from other top tier cards, especially if youve had a recent bankruptcy. Aladdin 1994 Game there. Dont despair if you cant qualify for a card in the top tier. Credit Cards Paypal Talk Cash Out Hacking Website' title='Credit Cards Paypal Talk Cash Out Hacking Website' />Get the best card you can qualify for and focus on using the card responsibly to build or repair your credit. I put them in a ranked order to give you an idea of which cards to look at first, second, third, and so on. But its more important to focus on the tier and not the specific number ranking at this point. For instance, a 7 card isnt light years better than a 8 card since theyre both considered top tier cards. But if you can qualify for 7, that might be a better choice. Now, the secured cards in the middle tier arent too bad. I put cards in this category that arent from prestigious banks, but that are easier to obtain. These cards also have limited fees compared to the cards in the bottom tier. If you only qualify for a card in the bottom tier, you need to be on your toes and be aware of what youre dealing with. Keep in mind that I have a lot of tips on my site to help you survive the experience while you rebuild your credit. I understand that there are situations where you simply cant qualify for better options right now. If you want more information about a card, just click on the card name and youll land on my review. I suggest you read the comments, too. Youll find helpful tips and insider info from those who are using the card that youre considering. If youre interested in a secured card that isnt on this list, shoot me an email and request a card review. Im happy to do it The Top 1 Navy Federal Credit Union n. Rewards Secured Card. You get a variable APR ranging from 8. You can earn rewards at the rate of one point for every dollar spent. Theres no annual fee, which is awesome. To be eligible for this card, you have be in the military or related to someone who is. You are also eligible if youre retired from the military or if youre related to someone who served and has retired. Credit bureaus Reports as unsecured. SDFCU Savings Secured Visa Platinum Card. You get a variable rate of 7. Theres also a rewards program. You get 1 Flexpoint for every dollar spent. Theres no annual fee. Note There used to be no credit check. But my contact there has told me your credit will now be checked to confirm your identity. I was also told that regardless of your credit status, almost everyone gets approved. Credit bureaus Reports as secured. Discover it Secured Credit Card. What I like about it You get the same rewards as the unsecured version and theres no annual fee. The rate is a little high. You get a variable 2. APR. Dont carry a balance, though, and it wont matter. You can earn rewards while rebuilding credit. And Discover has shown that if folks do a good job with this, theyre willing to graduate secured cardholders to an unsecured card. Yay for that Credit bureaus It used to be reported as unsecured, but now it reports as secured. This doesnt change my opinion of the card. Its still one of the best secured cards you can get. USAA Secured Credit Cards. This issuer offers secured credit cards from Visa and from American Express and the rates and fees are the same. You get a variable rate of 1. The annual fee is 3. Theres also a rewards program, which is nice. To be eligible for this card, you have be in the military or related to someone who is. Credit bureaus Reports as unsecured. Capital One Secured Master. Card Credit Card. You get a variable rate of 2. Dont carry a balance and this is a low cost card. Capital One doesnt charge foreign transaction fees, so if you have bad or limited credit and you need to travel overseas in the near future, this is a good choice. Cap. One has also shown a willingness to graduate secured cardholders to an unsecured card. Credit bureaus Reports as unsecured. Wells Fargo Secured Card. You get a variable rate of 1. The annual fee is 2. If you use the card responsibly, youll be considered for an unsecured credit card. I like it Credit bureaus Reports as secured. Bank. Americard Secured Credit Card. You get a variable rate of 2. The annual fee is 3. Bo. A issues fully secured credit cards as well as partially secured credit cards, depending on your credit history and score. If you use the card responsibly, youll be considered for an unsecured credit card after 1. Credit bureaus Reports as secured. U. S. Bank Secured Visa Card. You get a variable rate of 1. The annual fee is 2. Some readers have reported that they graduated to an unsecured credit card from U. S. Bank after 1. 2 months, but in many cases, they had to initiate the phone call and ask. Credit bureaus Reports as secured. Citi Secured Mastercard. You get a variable rate of 2. The annual fee is 2. You no longer have to apply in person at a branch. You can now apply for it online. If you have a history of bankruptcy within the past two years, its unlikely youll be approved. This issuer does graduate folks after you use the secured card responsibly. Theres no set timetable, but it seems to be around 1. Credit bureaus Reports as secured. Secured Visa Classic Card. You get a fixed rate of 1. Theres also a primor Secured Visa Gold Card version and it has a 9. Its rare these days to see a credit card with a fixed rate. The issuer claims guaranteed approval if your monthly income exceeds your expenses by at least 1. They also say they dont check your credit only a soft inquiry. A few commenters have confirmed this. Credit bureaus Reports as unsecured. Aero. Mexico Visa Secured Card. This card is also issued by U. S. Bank. You get a variable 2. APR. The annual fee is 2. You also get rewards. It appears that you might be offered an unsecured card if you use the secured card responsibly. But its not a graduation, so you have to apply for the unsecured card. Credit bureaus Reports as secured.