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$25
Annual fee
19.74%
Purchase APR (variable)
300
Recommended credit score
You can’t apply for this credit card online. To apply, visit your local Union Bank branch with such information as:
Once you’ve completed your application, wait for a confirmation of approval and delivery of your card within two weeks.
Secured cards are generally designed to help those with poor credit improve their creditworthiness and overall financial health. Because a deposit secures your card against default on payments, approval is typically more lenient than an unsecured card.
Because Union Bank processes its applications manually, expect to wait anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks before hearing back about your application.
At just $25 a year, this secured card is an affordable and flexible option for building your credit through your everyday purchases. While you won’t know your credit limit until you apply, by staying within your approved limit and paying your statements on time, you could see credit increase and even a return on your deposit after an initial waiting period.
Union Bank also reports your responsible spending to all three major credit bureaus, along with free credit checks to keep track of your score. The bank may even reward responsible payments with an upgrade to an unsecured card.
Add to this the benefits that come with most Visa cards — like cell phone protection, roadside dispatch and auto rental collision damage — and it’s a card worth weighing among your other options.
The Union Bank® Secured Visa® Credit Card doesn’t come with a rewards program
Now that you’re approved, it’s time to start using your card. Activate it online or by phone to start taking advantage of your new Union Bank® Secured Visa® Credit Card.
To make sure you never miss a payment, consider signing up for autopay through your Union Bank online account. You can avoid unnecessary interest by paying your bill in full each month.
Watch out for high fees for late or returned payment, balance transfers, cash advances and foreign transactions, which can quickly add up.
After paying your bills consistently and on time for a year or longer, ask a bank representative if you’re eligible for graduating to an unsecured card.
If you lose your card, you’re protected by Visa’s worldwide emergency card replacement and cash disbursement through any of Visa’s Global Customer Assistant Services toll-free numbers worldwide.
Union Bank is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and earns an A+ overall rating. However, customers on online forums and message boards report poor customer service, issues with credit limit increases and trouble graduating to unsecured cards.
Union Bank’s secured card is a solid option if you’re looking to build a positive credit history. It reports your on-time payments to the major credit bureaus, which can get you on the road to financial health more quickly.
But by comparing other secured credit cards out there, you could find one with no annual fee or even rewards — even with poor credit.