When you have bad credit, the last thing you want is another credit card.

Or is it?

A secured visa credit card can actually help you rebuild credit, let’s take a look at how this card differs from a regular, or unsecured, credit card.

Secured Card vs. Unsecured Card – What’s the Difference?

A secured credit card like the UNITY Visa Secured Card is a credit card that is funded by you. The amount you deposit for the card determines your limit.
On the other hand, an unsecured card does not require you to fund it. Your credit limit for these cards is based on factors like your credit score and credit history and is determined by your lender. If you continue to demonstrate good credit usage, your lender may decide to raise your credit limit.

Another big difference between the two is that secured cards are usually easier to get. They are known as second chance cards for a reason. An unsecured credit card, on the other hand, typically requires the applicant to have a decent credit score. To qualify for a card that comes with perks, you may need a good to excellent credit score.

Which Card is Best?

While both cards have their own merits, a secured card is the way to go if you have money management issues or are trying to rebuild credit.

Why?

There are three big reasons:

1. Using a secured card can help you live within your means and avoid falling deep into debt when trying to rebuild your credit.
2. It can strengthen your credit score by helping you use credit wisely, and it’s a great card to start off with when you’re first learning to use credit.
3. When you have bad credit, unsecured cards may carry high fees or come with high interest rates, and neither option is good for someone trying to rebuild credit.

Tips to Rebuild Credit with a Secured Visa Credit Card

To help strengthen credit with a secured card, it’s important to keep these things in mind:

• Charge in small amounts. It’s easy to keep a low limit since you’re funding the card, but it’s also wise to charge only what you can afford and pay off the entire balance.
• Keep your credit use low. If you do carry over a balance, keep the balance-to-limit ratio low.
• Pay your bill on time, every time. Doing so shows good money and credit management and will help raise your credit score.

How to Open a Secured Credit Card

If you’re as serious about rebuilding credit as we are, we recommend applying for a UNITY Visa Secured Card.

It comes with a fixed rate, access to our How to Rebuild Credit Program and reporting to the major credit bureaus, so you can see your efforts paying off when your credit score starts rising.

You may think avoiding another credit card is the best thing to do when you want to rebuild credit, but that’s not always the case. Consider opening a secured credit card. If you place limited funds on it, use it sparingly and pay it in full each month, this credit card can easily help you rebuild your credit.