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A solid secured card with no credit check and with a low annual fee.
finder.com’s rating: 3.8 / 5.0
★★★★★
30-second take
- 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 credit history or with poor credit score.
| Product Name | OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card |
|---|---|
| Card Type | Visa |
| Annual Fee | $35 |
| APR (Annual Percentage Rate) for Purchases | 19.14% variable |
| Cash Advance Rate | 19.14% variable |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 3% of the transaction value |
| Cash Advance Fee | $6 or 5% of the cash advance amount, whichever is greater |
| Interest Free Period | Up to 25 days |
| Late Payment Fee | Up to $27 |
| Returned Payment Fee | Up to $25 |
| Additional Cardholder Fee | $0 |
| Rates & Fees | Rates & Fees |
| Minimum Age | 18 years of age |
|---|
The basics
The OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card is great for people who need a simple credit card to help them build credit. This card is fast and easy to apply for: The whole process takes about 10 minutes online, and Capital Bank, N.A. — the issuing bank for OpenSky cards — doesn’t run a credit check on applicants or require them to have a credit history.
Furthermore, your credit line depends on the cash you put down as a security deposit. 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.
The perks
Build your credit.
Your card activity will be reported to the three major credit bureaus — TransUnion, Experian and Equifax — every month. Increasing your credit score and getting closer to a better card can be as easy as using your card responsibly and making timely payments.
No credit check.
There’ll be no pull on your credit when you apply. Capital Bank, N.A. will only use the ID you supply 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 money are FDIC insured.
You’ll also like …
Visa card.
Get all of the standard Visa benefits, such as fraud protection, worldwide acceptance and more.
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. Know that this amount will be charged to your balance as soon as you receive the card. This will reduce your available credit limit by the amount until it’s paid off.
Foreign transaction fee.
Every time you use your card when traveling abroad, you’ll pay an additional 3% of the transaction. It may not seem like much, but $1,000 worth of purchases will cost you $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.
Consider other cards if …
You want a similar card from another bank.
Either of these two cards can help you rebuild your credit if you have a bad credit score or no credit history: First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card or the Green Dot primor® Mastercard® Classic Secured Credit Card.
You want an unsecured card for bad credit.
If you have bad credit, you can also apply for an unsecured card. Note that these usually come with a low credit line. The Platinum Credit Card from Capital One® is a no-annual-fee card that could help you in your credit-building efforts.
However, if you’re a college student, the Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card for College Students or the Journey® Student Credit Card from Capital One® could be a better choice.
You want cash back while you build your credit.
The unsecured QuicksilverOne® Rewards from Capital One® or the secured Discover it® Secured let you earn cash back on your purchases and build your credit score.
Compare secured cards
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 form, 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 identifying document, 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, N.A. won’t do a credit pull, but just applying doesn’t guarantee approval.
What do customers say about the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card?
Most customers who are happy with this card claim they managed to get 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 make sure you 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
- Go to the OpenSky website.
- Fill out all of the required information.
- Read through and accept the terms and conditions. Click Submit.
- 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 7 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. Try to pay your balance on time and in full every month so you can avoid any interest and build your credit. With timely payments, you’ll also avoid late payment fees.
- Customer service. You can reach OpenSky’s customer service by calling 1‑800‑859‑6412 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 will be 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.
Bottom line
This is a great card for people with poor or very little credit. Since there’s no pull on your credit, the chances are high that you’ll be approved if you can show that you have the income to support owning the card. As long as you pay on time and you watch your utilization levels, you’ll build your credit and soon you’ll be able to comfortably apply for a better card.
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
Credit-building cards and secured card ratings
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Our team evaluates credit cards to determine their value against similar cards on the market.
We rank card types — travel, cash back, business — on a set of factors that are most relevant to that type of card. We create these rankings to help you narrow down a credit card that best suits your spending and budget.
When I. Cancel the card will it hurt my credit
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