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First Digital Mastercard® review
Last updated:
An expensive card for building credit.
- Get this card if you want an unsecured card for building credit.
- Pick something else if you want a no-annual-fee option for building credit.
- Apply with no credit history or with a poor credit score.
$75
Annual fee
for the first year ($48 thereafter)
35.99%
Purchase APR (fixed)
300
Recommended credit score
Expert review
Review by
Kliment Dukovski
kliment.dukovski@findercrew.comKliment Dukovski is a credit cards writer. He's written over 600 articles to help readers find and compare the best credit cards. Kliment has also written on money transfers, home loans and more. Previously, he ghostwrote guides and articles on foreign exchange, stock market trading and cryptocurrencies.
Expert review
The First Digital Mastercard® is an unsecured card aimed at those with less-than-perfect credit. And while using this card responsibly may boost your score, the high fees and interest make it difficult to do so.
For the first year, you’ll pay a total of $170 for the annual fee and the one-time program fee, and $48 annually each year after that. Add on the incredibly high APR and all the additional fees, and you could easily break $200 in fees just to use the card.
Because of that, a secured card may be a better option. You make a one-time secured deposit of at least $200 and then you can use the credit line for as long as you need. Most secured cards have no annual fees and can help you build your credit.
How to apply for the First Digital Mastercard®
- Click Apply now.
- Fill out the application form.
- Review the form and submit.
What credit score do I need?
Apply with a poor credit score or with no credit history.
What to watch out for
- Many fees. To own the card, you have to pay a number of fees, including:
- $75 annual fee for the first year, $48 thereafter
- $95 one-time program fee
- $0 monthly servicing fee for the first year, and then $48 annually paid in monthly increments of $6.25 from the second year onward
- High APR. This card has one of the highest interest rates you’ll find in a credit card at 35.99%.
- Low credit limit. You start with a $300 credit limit. This is low considering the card costs $170 the first year in fees alone.
- Credit limit increase fee. If you request a credit limit increase and your request is approved, you’ll pay a 25% fee of the amount of the increase. This means a $200 credit limit increase will cost you $50.
- Can’t use the card abroad. The card’s terms and conditions under the prohibited card use section say you can’t use the card outside of the US or make purchases in foreign currency.
Card benefits
Note that while there are some benefits to using this card, the pros are almost negligible when weighed against the many cons of the card.
- Low approval requirements. You can apply with a poor credit score or with no credit history and still get the card.
- Build credit. First Digital Mastercard® claims to report your card activity to the credit bureaus, meaning you can build your credit with responsible card use. But again, the fee and high APR make it difficult to do this.
Alternative credit cards to build your credit
To start building your credit you don’t need an expensive card. There are many no-annual-fee options that work just as well, such as:
Compare low credit score credit cards
Bottom line
The First Digital Mastercard® is designed to help you build credit. But with all the fees and high interest, this may prove hard to achieve.
If you can afford to make at least a $200 secured deposit, a secured credit card for building credit may be a better choice.
