Best secured credit cards of February 2026

Personal and small business cards issued by Discover are currently not available on CNBC Select and links have been redirected to our credit card marketplace where you can review offers from other issuers like American Express or Chase. You can also check out our list of best credit cards for alternative options.

A secured credit card can enable you to establish a line of credit if you have poor credit or no credit history. While the limit will be low (and tied to a security deposit), good payment habits will put you on the path to a higher credit score — and an unsecured card with perks.

We've chosen the best secured credit cards in a variety of categories, including deposit size, credit limit, interest rate, benefits and more. (See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best cards.)

Who's this for: The Discover it® Secured Credit Card offers benefits typically only found with unsecured cards, including a generous welcome bonus, cash-back rewards and no foreign transaction fees.

Standout benefits: You'll earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, then 1%. You can earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

[ Jump to more details ]

Who's this for? You can get approved for a Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card with a $49 deposit and still have a $200 credit limit.

Standout benefits: Eligible cardholders can qualify for a higher credit limit after just six months of on-time payments.

[ Jump to more details ]

Who's this for? The Platinum Secured Mastercard® from First Tech Federal Credit Union has a maximum credit limit of $25,000.

Standout benefits: You'll earn 1X points on all purchases you make with the Platinum Secured Mastercard®. This is a nice perk since secured cards often lack rewards programs.

[ Jump to more details ]

Who's this for? The DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card offers one of the lowest interest rates among any no-annual-fee secured card we've reviewed.

Standout benefits: We don't recommend carrying a balance when you're trying to build credit, but this card has a $0 balance transfer fee, so you can reduce what you're paying in interest by transferring existing credit card debt.

[ Jump to more details ]

Who's this for? If you want to earn cash back while you build credit, the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Secured Card has flexible bonus spending categories. Choose from a variety of categories, like internet and streaming, utilities, fast food, movies, gas, groceries and dining out.

Standout benefits: You can redeem your cash back rewards for a statement credit, direct deposit to your U.S. Bank checking, savings or money market account or a U.S. Bank rewards card.

[ Jump to more details ]

Who's this for? The State Department Federal Credit Union (SDFCU) Savings Secured Visa Platinum Card offers travel-centric perks, like no foreign transaction fees, auto rental collision damage waiver, emergency assistance and pay-per-use 24/7 roadside dispatch.

Standout benefits: Cardholders earn 1X Flexpoints on all purchases.

[ Jump to more details ]

Who's this for? The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Credit Card is ideal if you value simplicity. Every purchase earns 1.5% cash back.

Standout benefits:

[ Jump to more details ]

Best welcome bonus

Secured cards typically don't offer rewards, but Discover will match all cash back earned by new Discover it® Secured Credit Card members at the end of their first year.

The card requires a minimum $200 security deposit, but seven months after you open your account, Discover will review it to see if it can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.

[ Return to summary ]

Best for low deposit

The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card has no annual fee and the minimum security deposit starts as low as $49, depending on your creditworthiness. Regardless of the deposit you qualify for, your initial credit limit is at least $200.

[ Return to summary ]

Best for high credit limit

The Platinum Secured Mastercard® from First Tech Federal Credit Union (FTFCU) has a $500 minimum security deposit, which is higher than many other secured cards. However, the maximum credit limit is $25,000 (provided you have the funds for an equivalent security deposit).

Cardholders earn 1X points on all purchases, and enjoy travel accident insurance, baggage delay insurance, trip cancellation coverage, ID theft protection, an auto rental collision damage waiver and purchase protection.

Membership in FTFCU is available to anyone who works or lives in Lane County, Oregon, or who is employed by the state of Oregon or a qualifying technology or telecom company. You can also join by becoming a member of the Computer History Museum ($15 annual donation) or the Financial Fitness Association ($8 annual membership).

[ Return to summary ]

Best for low interest

While the DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card requires a $500 minimum security deposit, it has no annual fee, a low APR and comes with travel insurance, identity theft protection and extended warranty protection.

[ Return to summary ]

Best for cash back

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® cardholders enjoy:

• 5% cash back on the first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases in two categories each quarter
• 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked in the Rewards Travel Center
• 2% cash back on eligible purchases in your choice of one everyday category (including gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants)
• 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases

The minimum opening deposit (and credit limit) for the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® is between $300 and $5,000, depending on your credit profile. After a period of on-time payments in full, U.S. Bank may upgrade you to the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card.

[ Return to summary ]

Best for travelers

The SDFCU Savings Secured Visa Platinum Card earns 1X Flexpoints on all purchases. You can redeem points in various ways, including travel, event tickets, merchandise, gift cards or even donations to charity. Cardholders also get access to Visa card benefits, like roadside assistance.

In addition to State Department employees and their families, SDFCU membership is open to anyone who joins the American Consumer Council. There is no cost, but you must be a U.S. resident.

[ Return to summary ]

Best for flat-rate rewards

The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Credit Card starts with an opening credit limit/security deposit of $200, which can be increased to $3,000.

[ Return to summary ]

Aimed at consumers with poor (or no) credit, secured credit cards use a cash deposit as collateral. The amount of the deposit usually determines your credit limit.

Because they don't rely on your creditworthiness and don't have a minimum credit score requirement, secured cards are easier to get approved for than traditional unsecured cards.

While unsecured cards generally have more perks and higher credit limits, secured cards offer a pathway to building or rebuilding credit and graduating to an unsecured card.

When you're choosing a secured card, there are several factors you should consider:

• Fees: Look out for annual fees, processing fees and other charges.
• Interest rates: Secured cards have higher APRs, so check the rate of any card you're interested in to understand how much you'll pay for carrying a balance.
• Credit reporting: Ensure the card issuer reports to the three major credit bureaus to help build your credit history.
• Credit limit: While your security deposit often doubles as your credit limit, some card issuers will approve a $200 limit with a smaller deposit.
• Security deposit: See how much of a deposit you need to provide and make sure it's refundable.
• Upgrade policy: Find out if the card offers a pathway to an unsecured card after a period of responsible use.

If a secured card isn't right for you, you can still build a healthy credit history.

Become an authorized user

You can also be added as an authorized user on someone else's card without a credit check. You'll improve your credit score and help the primary holder earn rewards. The cardholder will be liable for any unpaid balance, however, regardless of who made the purchase.

Get a prepaid debit card

A prepaid debit card isn't linked to a traditional bank account, so there's no credit check, interest or overdraft fees. Keep in mind prepaid cards can come with lots of fees and won't help improve your credit history.

The PayPal Prepaid Mastercard® lets you earn 5% back on up to $1,000 spent in your selected category every month.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card story is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best secured credit cards.

To determine which secured cards offer the best value for a range of consumers, CNBC Select analyzed the 22 most popular secured credit cards offered by the biggest banks, financial companies and credit unions that allow anyone to join.

We compared each card on a range of features, including annual fee, minimum security deposit, credit limit, rewards program, introductory and standard APR, welcome bonuses and foreign transaction fees, as well as factors such as required credit score and customer reviews when available. We also took into account how easy it is to upgrade the card from secured to unsecured and how quickly you can get your security deposit back.

Because it's unusual for secured credit cards to have robust rewards programs, we did not analyze how many reward points you can earn in the first year. For cardholders who are looking to rebuild credit, it's more important to practice good credit card habits — spending within your means and paying your balance on time and in full — than trying to optimize your points balance.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of credit cards, banking and money, and follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.

For rates and fees of the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, click here.

*Results may vary. Some may not see improved scores or approval odds. Not all lenders use Experian credit files, and not all lenders use scores impacted by Experian Boost.

Information about the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Secured Card and the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.