Best Secured Credit Cards for Building Credit in the U.S. (Guide for Immigrants and Beginners)

Card Reviews

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Best for: Immigrants and beginners who want rewards and a clear upgrade path Annual fee: $0 Minimum deposit: $200

Discover it Secured is one of the most complete secured cards available for beginners. It earns real cash back, charges no annual fee, and automatically reviews the account after seven months for an upgrade to an unsecured card with the full deposit returned.

Pros

• No annual fee
• 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants; 1% on all other purchases
• Discover matches all cash back earned in the first year
• Automatic upgrade review after 7 months
• Reports to all three major credit bureaus

Cons

• $200 minimum deposit required
• Discover not accepted at all merchants internationally

Good fit for

• Immigrants building credit for the first time
• Beginners who want rewards while learning responsible card use
• Anyone who wants a clear path from secured to unsecured

See Official Offer

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

Best for: Beginners who want to minimize the upfront deposit Annual fee: $0 Minimum deposit: $49, $99, or $200 depending on the application

The Capital One Platinum Secured is one of the few secured cards where some applicants qualify for a deposit as low as $49 while still receiving a $200 credit limit. After six months of on-time payments, Capital One automatically reviews the account for a credit limit increase.

Pros

• No annual fee
• Deposit as low as $49 for some applicants
• Automatic credit limit review after 6 months
• Reports to all three major credit bureaus

Cons

• No rewards
• Deposit amount varies and cannot be predicted before applying

Good fit for

• Immigrants and beginners with limited funds for a deposit
• Anyone who wants a straightforward no-fee secured card from a major bank

See Official Offer

Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

Best for: Beginners who want cash back rewards on a secured card Annual fee: $0 Minimum deposit: $200

The Quicksilver Secured earns 1.5% cash back on every purchase with no category restrictions and no annual fee. After six months, Capital One reviews the account for an upgrade to an unsecured card.

Pros

• No annual fee
• 1.5% cash back on all purchases
• Automatic upgrade review after 6 months
• Reports to all three major credit bureaus

Cons

• $200 minimum deposit required
• No bonus categories for higher earning

Good fit for

• Immigrants who want simplicity and rewards from the beginning
• Beginners who prefer one flat rate over tracking spending categories

See Official Offer

OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

Best for: Anyone who wants approval without a credit check Annual fee: $35/year Minimum deposit: $200

OpenSky requires no credit check and no bank account to apply. Approval is based almost entirely on the deposit. For immigrants or beginners who have been denied elsewhere, OpenSky provides the most reliable path to a first credit card.

Pros

• No credit check required
• No bank account required to apply
• Reports to all three major credit bureaus

Cons

• $35 annual fee
• No rewards
• No automatic upgrade path to an unsecured card

Good fit for

• Immigrants who have been denied by other issuers
• ITIN holders who want maximum approval certainty
• Beginners who want a guaranteed starting point

See Official Offer

Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa®

Best for: Chime members who want to build credit with no interest and no minimum deposit Annual fee: $0 Minimum deposit: No minimum

Chime Credit Builder works differently from traditional secured cards. We move money from our Chime spending account into the Credit Builder account, and that becomes our available balance. Because we are spending money we have already set aside, there are no interest charges and no risk of falling into debt.

Pros

• No annual fee
• No minimum deposit
• No interest charges
• No credit check required
• Reports to all three major credit bureaus

Cons

• Requires an existing Chime spending account
• Not available as a standalone product

Good fit for

• Immigrants and beginners who already bank with Chime
• Anyone who wants a low-risk, zero-interest credit-building tool

See Official Offer

How We Selected These Secured Credit Cards

Every card in this comparison was evaluated against the same set of criteria — the factors that matter most for immigrants and beginners building credit from zero.

• Annual fees — We prioritized cards with no annual fee or minimal fees that are justified by the benefits offered
• Deposit requirements — We looked for accessible deposit minimums, including options with no minimum at all
• Credit bureau reporting — Every card included reports to all three major bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion
• Upgrade potential — We favored cards with a clear, automatic path from secured to unsecured
• Accessibility for beginners — We considered approval requirements, credit check policies, and ITIN acceptance where relevant
• Issuer reliability — All cards included are issued by established financial institutions with verifiable track records

No card was included based on promotional considerations. The goal is to help us find the right starting point — not to promote any particular product.

How to Choose the Right Secured Credit Card

Not every secured card works the same way. Here is what to compare before applying.

Deposit Requirements Most secured cards require between $200 and $500 as a minimum deposit. Some, like Capital One Platinum Secured, may accept as little as $49. The Chime Credit Builder has no minimum. Consider how much we can set aside before choosing.

Annual Fees Several strong secured cards charge no annual fee — including Discover it Secured, both Capital One options, Chime, Citi, and Bank of America. Cards like OpenSky and Applied Bank charge a fee in exchange for easier approval. If we qualify for a no-fee card, that is almost always the better choice.

Reporting to Credit Bureaus A secured card only builds our credit if it reports to the credit bureaus. Every card in this comparison reports to all three major bureaus. Always confirm this before applying for any card not listed here.

Upgrade Path to Unsecured The goal of a secured card is eventually to graduate to an unsecured card and have our deposit returned. Cards like Discover it Secured and both Capital One options have automatic review processes for this. Not all cards do.

Approval Requirements Most secured cards require a Social Security Number. Some may accept an ITIN. OpenSky and Applied Bank require no credit check at all. Understanding each issuer’s requirements before applying helps us avoid unnecessary hard inquiries on our report.

Rewards Rewards are not essential for a first card, but several options do offer them. If we plan to use the card regularly, choosing one that earns cash back adds value without any extra effort.

Foreign Transaction Fees For immigrants who travel internationally or send money abroad, foreign transaction fees matter. The Citi Secured Mastercard charges a fee on international purchases. Cards without this fee are preferable for frequent international use.

How Secured Credit Cards Build Credit

Using a secured card responsibly is one of the most reliable ways to establish a credit history in the United States. Here is how the process works.

Payment History This is the single most important factor in a credit score. Every on-time payment is recorded in our credit file. Consistent payments over months and years form the foundation of a strong score.

Credit Utilization This is the percentage of our credit limit we are using at any given time. Keeping our balance below 30% of the credit limit is widely recommended. Lower is better.

Reporting to Credit Bureaus Each month, our card issuer sends a report to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion showing our balance, our limit, and whether we paid on time. After three to six months of reporting, we typically have enough history for a credit score to appear.

Account Age The length of our credit history also affects our score. Keeping a secured card open — even after upgrading to a better card — adds to the age of our accounts and supports a stronger long-term score.

Mistakes to Avoid With Secured Credit Cards

Missing Payments A single missed payment can significantly damage a credit score. Setting up automatic minimum payments removes this risk. Paying the full balance each month is even better.

Maxing Out the Card High credit utilization signals financial stress to lenders. Keeping balances low relative to the limit is essential for building a strong score quickly.

Applying for Too Many Cards at Once Each application creates a hard inquiry on our credit report. Multiple inquiries in a short period can lower our score. We should apply for one card, use it responsibly, and only consider a second card once our credit profile has strengthened.

Choosing Cards With High Fees Some secured cards charge annual fees, processing fees, or monthly maintenance fees that reduce the financial benefit of having the card. Always read the full fee schedule before applying.

Confusing Secured Cards With Prepaid Cards Prepaid debit cards look similar to credit cards but do not build credit history. Because there is no credit extended and no payment history reported to the bureaus, prepaid cards have no impact on our credit score. Only true credit cards — secured or unsecured — build credit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do secured credit cards build credit? Yes. As long as the card reports our payment activity to the three major credit bureaus — which every card in this comparison does — using a secured card responsibly builds a credit history over time.

Can immigrants get secured credit cards? Yes. Most secured cards are accessible to immigrants living in the United States. Requirements typically include a U.S. address and either a Social Security Number or ITIN depending on the issuer.

Can I apply for a secured card with an ITIN? Some issuers accept an ITIN in place of a Social Security Number. OpenSky and Applied Bank do not require an SSN for approval. Policies vary by institution and should always be confirmed directly with the issuer before applying.

Do I get my deposit back? Yes — in most cases. When we close the account in good standing or upgrade to an unsecured card, the issuer returns the full deposit. It is not a fee; it is collateral held temporarily by the bank.

What credit score do I need to get a secured card? Most secured cards require no minimum credit score. They are designed for people with no credit history at all. Cards like OpenSky and Applied Bank require no credit check whatsoever.

How long should I keep a secured card? We should keep a secured card open until we qualify for an unsecured card with better terms — typically one to two years of responsible use. Even after upgrading, keeping the account open preserves the length of our credit history.

Can a secured card become an unsecured card? Yes. Issuers including Discover, Capital One, and Bank of America automatically review secured accounts after a period of responsible use and offer upgrades with the deposit returned. Not all issuers offer this, which is why choosing a card with a clear upgrade path matters.

Is a secured card the same as a prepaid card? No. A prepaid card holds money we load onto it and does not report to the credit bureaus. A secured card is a true credit card that builds credit history. They look similar but function very differently.

Final Summary

Secured credit cards are the most reliable starting point for anyone building credit in the United States without an existing credit history. They are accessible, straightforward, and when used responsibly, they create a foundation that opens doors to better financial products over time.

The right card depends on our situation. For no annual fee and a clear upgrade path, Discover it Secured or Capital One Platinum Secured are strong choices. For guaranteed approval without a credit check, OpenSky or Applied Bank remove that uncertainty. For Chime members, the Credit Builder offers a zero-interest, no-deposit alternative.

Whatever we choose, the principles are the same: pay on time every month, keep balances low, and give the account time to build. Credit is not built overnight — but with the right secured card and consistent habits, it is built reliably.

Related Guides: [How Immigrants Can Build Credit in the United States] 

 [Credit in America Explained for Immigrants] 

 [10 Credit Mistakes Immigrants Make in America]