Rewards:

None

 

Costs:

Annual fee

$0

Purchase APR

22.49% variable APR1

Intro APR

N/A

A security deposit

is required for this product (minimum $200)2

Balance transfer fee

$0

Foreign transaction fee

None


Program Details

Citi® Secured Mastercard® is an option for customers with little or no credit history and can help you build your credit when used responsibly.

Unlike a debit card, Citi® Secured Mastercard® is a real credit card that helps build your credit history with monthly reporting to all 3 major credit bureaus.

Once available, you will also have free access to your FICO score online. Tracking your score is a great first step to managing your credit history and taking control of your financial future.


Credit Line Request (Security Deposit Amount)

You can choose your credit line amount (minimum $200, maximum $2,500, in increments of $100). If you are approved, your security deposit will be equal to the amount of your credit line.

If you are approved for a Citi Secured Mastercard, subject to receipt of collateral, you'll have 14 days to provide your bank account information via our secure site to fund your required security deposit. If this information is not received in time (by 9:00 PM ET on the 14th day), your Citi Secured Mastercard account will not be opened and your application will be closed.

Your security deposit funds will be placed into a Collateral Holding Account ("CHA") if you are approved. The CHA account does not pay interest. There are no fees for the CHA. We will review your card account within 18 months to determine if you are eligible to have your deposit returned.

Enter an amount between $200-$2,500 in $100 increments.

Citi® Secured Mastercard®

From very_poor To exceptional ( Credit Recommended None )

Citi® Secured Mastercard®

While offering no rewards and limited benefits, the Citi Secured Mastercard presents a good way to build credit whether you’re new or working your way back from having bad credit. It requires a security deposit to fund your credit limit, but Citi may eventually return your deposit if you show responsible credit habits.

Read More

01

pros and cons

The Citi® Secured Mastercard® is a no annual fee credit card that helps you build your credit when used responsibly.

Unlike a debit card, it helps build your credit history with monthly reporting to all 3 major credit bureaus. Once available, you will also have free access to your FICO score online.

Use your card anywhere Mastercard® is accepted — worldwide.

Get help staying on track with Auto Pay and account alerts.

With Flexible Payment Due Dates, you can choose any available due date in the beginning, middle or end of the month.

Manage your account 24/7 online, by phone, or in our mobile app.

The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 22.49%. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi’s discretion.

A security deposit is required. Once approved, your credit limit will be equal to your security deposit (minimum of $200).

Cost

Annual Fee

$0

Purchase APR

3%

Foreign Transaction Fee

Cash Back

None

Credit Score

None

Food (Restaurants and Groceries)

The Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card (Review) is one of the most flexible cash back cards around, with a 3% bonus category you can change every month. Dining is one of your choices, along with quite a few other useful options, and you’ll always get grocery stores for one of your smaller categories.

No Annual Fee Credit Cards For Flat-Rate Rewards

Paying an annual fee on a credit card can be worth it if it gets you substantially higher rewards. But in many cases, credit cards that don’t charge annual fees offer better long-term value than those that do. No-annual-fee credit cards make it easy to come out ahead, regardless of your spending. Plus, you’ll be able to keep your card open for a long time at no cost, increasing the average age of your accounts, which has a positive effect on your credit score.

No Annual Fee Credit Cards For Long 0% Balance Transfer APR

If you need a card with a long 0% intro APR for purchases, it will be hard to beat the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card.

No Annual Fee Credit Cards For Long 0% Purchase APR

If you need a card with a long 0% intro APR for purchases, it will be hard to beat thses cards.

No Annual Fee Credit Cards For Rotating Bonus Categories

The Discover it® Cash Back (Review) is our top pick for rotating cash back categories thanks to its unique Cashback Match. You’ll earn 5% back in categories that change every three months, up to $1,500 spent per quarter (activation required).

Sponsored Links

Related Credit Card/Article

Milestone Gold Mastercard
The Milestone Gold Mastercard from The Bank of Missouri is an unsecured credit card designed to help you build or rebuild your credit history. Depending on your credit situation and how you use the card, however, it could get expensive.
Milestone Gold Mastercard

First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card
First Progress offers three secured credit cards for people who are new to credit or rebuilding their credit. These cards have the same application requirements and similar features, but offer a choice between a lower annual fee or lower interest rate. The Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card is the middle option.
First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card

OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card
One of the biggest barriers to building credit is not having a bank account. If you don’t have either, the OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card from Capital Bank, N.A. can help you, and for a reasonable price. You won’t need any credit at all to get a card, and you won’t need a bank account either, although you may need to find some creative ways to pay the security deposit and your bill.
OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card

Discover it® Secured
Discover it® Secured is 2019’s best secured credit card because it has a $0 annual fee and rewards cardholders with 1% to 2% cashback on purchases. The Discover it Secured card also doubles the rewards cardholders earn the first year. Very few secured cards even offer rewards.
Discover it® Secured

Capital One® Secured Mastercard®
If you need to build or repair your credit, the Capital One Secured Mastercard provides a simple, inexpensive opportunity to do so. You’ll need to provide an initial security deposit to establish your line of credit, up to a maximum of $1,000, but you’ll be able to increase it in time.
Capital One® Secured Mastercard®