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OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card review

Megan Horner
Megan Horner
Last updated:  

A solid secured card with no credit check and with a low annual fee.

finder.com’s rating: 3.8 / 5.0

★★★★★

  • Get this card if you had credit difficulties in the past or if you have no credit history.
  • Pick something else if you want an unsecured card or you don’t want to pay an annual fee.
  • Apply with no or poor credit.

$35

Annual fee

19.14%

Purchase APR (variable)

300

Recommended credit score

Details

Product NameOpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
Card typeVisa
Annual fee$35
Purchase APR19.14% variable
Balance transfer APRN/A
Cash advance rate19.14% variable
Cash advance fee$6 or 5% of the cash advance amount, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fee3% of the transaction value
Interest free periodUp to 25 days
Late payment feeUp to $38
Returned payment feeUp to $25
Additional cardholder fee$0

Expert review

Megan Horner

Review by

Megan Horner is the credit cards publisher at finder.com. She's passionate about helping you find the best credit cards to meet your financial needs — whether that's earning great rewards or improving your credit score. Previously, she edited and published educational articles on credit cards as an assigning editor at Credit Karma.

Expert review

The OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card has a $35 annual fee and comes with a 19.14% variable purchase and cash advance APR — a lower interest rate than you’ll find with most other secured cards. You can open an account with a deposit between $200 and $3,000, which will serve as your credit limit.

It’s a good choice for people who need a simple credit card to help them build credit. Apply in about 10 minutes online, with no credit check or credit history necessary.

If you default on payments, the bank will cover the shortfall with your security deposit. As long as you pay on time, however, you’ll get your deposit back when you close the account. Stick to a responsible spending plan and pay off your balance each month and you’ll be able to graduate to an unsecured card.

Apply now

The perks

  • Build your credit.

    Your card activity is reported monthly to the three major credit bureaus — TransUnion, Experian and Equifax. This means you can quickly build credit when you spend responsibly and pay your balance in full each month.

  • No credit check.

    There’s no pull on your credit when you apply, so you don’t have to worry about it affecting your credit score. The issuing bank, Capital Bank, only uses your ID during your application to confirm you are who you say you are.

  • Credit limit.

    Your deposit sets your credit line, which can be from $200 up to $3,000.

  • FDIC insured deposit.

    Get peace of mind, knowing your security deposit is FDIC insured.

You’ll also like …

  • Visa card.

    Get all of the standard Visa benefits, such as fraud protection and acceptance worldwide.

  • Email alerts.

    Sign up for alerts to get notified when payments are due or set up automatic payments online.

What to watch out for

  • Annual fee.

    The card comes with a $35 annual fee, charged to your balance as soon as you receive the card. This reduces your available credit limit until the fee is paid.

  • Foreign transaction fee.

    Every time you use your card when traveling abroad, you’ll pay an additional 3% of the transaction. That means $1,000 worth of purchases cost $30 in fees — nearly the cost of your annual fee.

  • Expedited shipping fee.

    If you want to get the card as fast as possible, be ready to pay a one-time $50 fee.

Compare similar secured cards

Name Product Filter values Purchase APR Annual fee Recommended minimum credit score
Capital One® Secured Mastercard®
Capital One® Secured Mastercard®
26.99% variable
$0
300
Get access to a higher credit line after making your first 5 monthly payments on time.
See offer
View details
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
19.14% variable
$35
300
A secured Visa® credit card that helps you build your credit quickly.
Apply now
View details
Applied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Preferred® Credit Card
Applied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Preferred® Credit Card
9.99% fixed
$48
300
This secured card can help you rebuild your credit with an initial deposit of $200 to $1,000.
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First Progress Platinum Elite MasterCard® Secured Credit Card
First Progress Platinum Elite MasterCard® Secured Credit Card
20.74% variable
$29
300
Build your credit with all three major credit bureaus.
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Green Dot primor® Visa® Classic Secured Credit Card
Green Dot primor® Visa® Classic Secured Credit Card
13.99% fixed
$39
300
Open a personal savings deposit account to secure a credit line from $200 to $5,000.
Apply now
View details

Compare up to 4 providers

What should I know before I apply?

To apply for the card, you must be at least 18 years old and a US resident.

When you fill out the application, you’ll need to provide information such as:

  • Your name and contact details.
  • Social Security number and date of birth.
  • Your annual income and monthly housing payment.
  • An ID, such as a passport or driver’s license.
  • Deposit information.

What credit score do I need?

You can apply with a poor credit score or with no credit history. Capital Bank won’t do a credit pull, but you’re not guaranteed approval just by applying.

What do customers say about the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card?

Customers happy with this card claim their credit score increased in just a few months. Some customers warn that it takes up to five days for your monthly payment to register, so give yourself a buffer between when you pay and your due date.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) rates OpenSky with an F. This is in part because many of complaints on the BBB website weren’t resolved by OpenSky.

How to apply for the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

  1. Click apply now.
  2. Fill out all of the required information.
  3. Read through and accept the terms and conditions. Click Submit.
  4. You will be notified via email that your application has been sent.

How long will it take to get my OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card?

You’ll get a decision on your application within a few minutes. Once approved, expect your card to arrive in the mail within seven to 10 business days.

I got the card. Now what?

  • Download the OpenSky Mobile app. You can use it to set up automatic payments, monitor your transactions and more.
  • Avoid interest. Pay your balance on time and in full monthly to avoid interest and to build your credit. With timely payments, you’ll also avoid late payment fees.
  • Customer service. You can reach OpenSky’s customer service by calling 800‑859‑6412 or through the OpenSky® mobile app.

How can I increase my credit score?

Aside from making on-time payments, credit utilization is another major factor that determines your credit score. Usually, utilization levels of less than 30% are considered good, but the lower you keep your utilization the better.

Let’s say you have a credit line of $200. The annual fee of $35 is deducted from your credit line and that’s 17% utilization straight away. To make the most of your card with a low credit line, use your card to pay for small recurring costs like your phone bill or Netflix and always try to pay your balance in full before it’s due.

You can learn more about how to build your credit score with secured cards using our comprehensive guide.

Apply now

Bottom line

This is a strong card for people with very little credit who want to rebuild their credit score. Since there’s no pull on your credit, the chances are high that you’ll be approved if you can show that you can afford the payments. Pay on time and watch your utilization levels and you’ll build your credit, letting you apply for an unsecured card with no deposit.

If you’re still unsure if this is the card for you, be sure to compare other secured credit card options and find the right one for you.

Frequently asked questions

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★★★★★ — Average

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Our team evaluates credit cards to determine their value against similar cards on the market.

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Learn the details of our methodology and scoring.

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11 Comments

  1. Default Gravatar
    Llewellyn
    June 22, 2019

    Is this facility available In South Africa??

    Reply
    • AvatarStaff
      Charisse
      June 23, 2019

      Hi Llewellyn,

      Thanks for reaching out to Finder.

      OpenSky secured Visa credit card is being offered by Capital Bank which is a privately held bank in Washington, D.C. so it is only available in the US as of this time.

      If you are looking for a secured credit card, you may want to check with your local banks and/or financial institutions in South Africa to see if they offer one.

      I hope this helps.

      Cheers,
      Charisse

      Reply
  2. Default Gravatar
    elle
    June 10, 2019

    Is the deposit refundable?

    Reply
    • AvatarStaff
      nikkiangco
      June 13, 2019

      Hi Elle,

      Thanks for getting in touch!

      Yes, the deposit is refundable. As it says on the page – your credit line depends on the cash you put down as a security deposit. So, if you default on payments, the bank uses that security deposit as collateral. As long as you pay on time, you’ll get your deposit back when you close the account.

      Hope this was helpful. Don’t hesitate to message us back if you have more questions.

      Best,
      Nikki

      Reply
  3. Default Gravatar
    Jo
    May 14, 2019

    Haven’t received my card yet. Checking status.

    Reply
    • AvatarStaff
      Jeni
      May 14, 2019

      Hi Jo,

      Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.

      If you apply with OpenSky online, you will get a decision on your application within a few minutes. Once approved, expect your card to arrive in the mail within seven to 10 business days. If you are unsure if your application was approved, kindly contact their support team to check your application status.

      I hope this helps.

      Thank you and have a wonderful day!

      Cheers,
      Jeni

      Reply
  4. Default Gravatar
    Ryan
    March 10, 2019

    Open Sky Card Services does what they say they will do. If you apply and fund your secured Card, they will give you a secured credit card without checking your credit, and as long as you pay your minimum payment every month and keep your balances low your credit score will improve over time. I opened this card because I needed to start improving my credit score and aside from one of my payments being declined through user error (IE: don’t try to pay 77 cents from your PayPal balance towards your credit card bill, Paypal will not approve transfers of less than $1) I have been able to use the card to purchase what I need to and pay off the balances. Open Sky’s $35 annual fee is the most reasonable for people who have a poor credit score. Other Secured cards like First Premier have a $25-$95 processing fee, a $75-$125 first-year annual fee and an additional $120-$174 in fees each year thereafter, and a 36% regular APR. Open Sky’s APR is roughly 19.24%.

    Reply
  5. Default Gravatar
    Henry
    March 6, 2019

    Hi,

    I have applied and gave $ before but had trouble taking photos and other info needed to finish processing. Can I send in the mail this info if once I apply and where do I send it and what info would be needed for my information to make sure it reaches the correct place so it would get process?

    Reply
    • AvatarStaff
      Jeni
      March 6, 2019

      Hi Henry,

      Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.

      You do not need to send or upload photos when applying for an OpenSky credit card. Kindly click on the Apply now button and you’ll be redirected to their official page to start your online application. The application page will just require you to enter all the numbers of the requirement documents like your SSN.

      I hope this helps.

      Thank you and have a wonderful day!

      Cheers,
      Jeni

      Reply
  6. Default Gravatar
    Terell
    June 29, 2017

    When I. Cancel the card will it hurt my credit

    Reply
    • AvatarStaff
      Anndy
      June 29, 2017

      Hi Terell,

      Thanks for your question.

      Generally, if you close your credit card following our guide here, it will not have a negative impact on your score.

      However, if you close your account while you still have an outstanding balance, it will leave a negative mark on your file.

      Cheers,
      Anndy

      Reply
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