How Are Secured Credit Cards Different from Unsecured Credit Cards

Here’s what you need to know: a secured credit card is backed by some amount of cash that the bearer will need to provide. So, a person who wants to get a secured credit card would have to put up a set amount of money up before the card. That amount of money will be the credit limit.

On the other hand, an unsecured credit card doesn’t have any up-front cash that comes along with the card. The limits are set by the lenders that assign the card. That credit limit will come after those companies analyze the requester’s background.

A secured credit card is ideal for a few different situations:

• If you’re starting in the financial world and you don’t have any history by which the lending companies can make a credit assessment, you can use a secured credit card to build up that type of responsible payment structure that can pay off in the future.
• On the other hand, if you have had poor credit in the past, responsible spending while using a secured credit card might be a fine way to rebuild your financial standing.

On the other hand, an unsecured card is the way to go in most other situations. While secured credit cards offer those perks detailed above, they frequently come with higher fees to the consumer. Additionally, the limits on a secured credit card are generally much lower than the ones you would get on an unsecured one. Unsecured credit cards will also offer bonuses (air miles, cash back, etc.) that most secured credit cards do not.

Before deciding on what type of card to get, be sure to take a look at all the options available. Take a look at your credit score and financial history, and examine very carefully the pluses and minuses associated with each card available. Going with the right credit card is an essential part of having a stable and successful financial foundation.