Points Panda has partnered with a variety of financial companies including CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. Points Panda and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. For more information please read our full Advertiser Disclosure.
Building credit takes time and a lot of hard work so if you’re someone who has poor credit, you should consider the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card.
It’s one of the best beginner cards from Capital One since it requires a low credit rating and the income requirements aren’t that high. There are no annual fees and other credit card charges except for late payment penalty fees. Basically, it’s one of those credit cards for people with poor credit scores.
Not to mention, the Capital One Secured card’s benefits include an extended warranty, secondary car rental insurance, and travel accident insurance. What also sets it apart from other secured cards is that it offers a credit limit that’s higher than your initial security deposit.
The Capital One Secured Credit Card At A Glimpse
The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is perfect for people looking to build or rebuild their credit. Basically speaking, it really doesn’t matter if you have a credit score below 600 or have multiple credit card rejections in the past because there’s an 80%-90% chance that you’re going to get approved for it.
If you’re contemplating on getting this card, here are some basic things that you need to know:
- Low Security Deposit Required – The card’s security deposit requirements is between $49 to $200, and it’s actually pretty low compared to other secured credit cards that require at least $300 of security deposit.
- High Line Of Credit – The card is known for having a high line of credit and there’s a chance that your credit line can be increased within 6 without the need for an additional security deposit (provided that you pay your bills on time).
- Zero Annual Fees – A great starter credit card shouldn’t have annual fees and yes, the Capital One Secured Credit Card doesn’t have one.
- Credit Bureau Reporting – The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card reports to all three credit bureaus ( Equifax, Experian, and Transunion) so it helps in building your credit when you use it the right way. You can monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It’s free for everyone
- 24/7 Access – Get 24/7 access to your account with online banking from your desktop or smartphone, using the mobile app.
- No Rewards – Unfortunately, the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card isn’t a premium card like the Amex Gold or Chase Sapphire Reserve. Its main purpose is to provide funds for borrowers who want to build or rebuild their credit so they can be approved for more credit cards in the future.
Read More: How To Increase My Credit Score To 800
Capital One Secured Benefits & Perks
The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is not a cashback or miles card so don’t expect too much from it. However, it’s a solid credit choice for starters because it covers all the basic features that you would need in a credit card.
It’s accepted in thousands of locations all over the world so you can use it when you’re traveling domestically or even abroad. Even if you just make a minimum security deposit, you can get a $200 initial credit limit.
Here are more of the card’s benefits:
- Get Platinum Credit Card Benefits – All eligible Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card holders will also be entitled to the Platinum Credit Card’s benefits such as travel and emergency assistance, card emergency services, and price protection.
- Personalized Payment Terms – Cardholders will have the option of picking a specific monthly due date and payment method which makes paying balances a whole lot easier.
- Fraud Coverage – Get zero fraud liability coverage plan if ever your credit card gets lost or stolen.
- 24/7 Customer Service – Cardholders will have 24/7 access to Capital One’s customer service centers whether it’s via phone, mobile, or website.
- Extended Warranty – Purchase eligible items using your credit card and get an extended warranty if ever your products are defective.
Read More: Top 3 Picks For The Best Beginner Credit Cards
Pros & Cons Explained
Pros
- Credit limit can be higher than your security deposit
- Pay your security deposit in installments
- Zero foreign and annual fees
Cons
- No bonus rewards or rewards program
- Bank account needed when getting the card
Pros Explained
- Credit Limit Can Be Higher Than Your Security Deposit – Most credit cards usually give cardholders a credit limit that’s only equal to the amount of their security deposit. For example, you can put a $49 security deposit and can still be approved for $200.
- Installment Security Deposits – You can pay for the card’s security deposit in installments and each payment must be at least $20 per transaction. Also, you need to reach the deposit amount within 35 days of getting approved.
- No Annual or Foreign Transaction Fees – You won’t pay any annual fees which is a huge benefit since annual fees can range between $95-$500. Also, there is no foreign fee so you can shop till you drop whenever you’re out of the country since foreign fees are usually at 3%.
Cons Explained
- Bank Account Required – You need to have a bank account whenever you want to make monthly payments or pay bills. It’s pretty inconvenient for people who don’t have one yet such as those who just moved to the U.S.
- No Early Spend Bonus or Rewards Program – The card isn’t a cashback or miles credit card and its main purposes are to give cardholders credit and help them build their credit score. There are other secured cards that are pretty similar to the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card but has a rewards program.
Capital One Secured Credit Card VS Discover It Secured
We’ve tried comparing the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Cardagainst the Discover It Secured card based on a few categories, and here are the results.
- Benefits – Cardholders will get fraud protection, personalized payment plans, buyer protection, and travel assistance. Meanwhile the Discover It Secured allows cardholders to view their FICO Score for free so they can keep track of their credit.
- Rewards – The card doesn’t have a cashback or rewards system. Meanwhile, the Discover It Secured gives cardholders a 2% cashback on restaurants and gas stations, and 1% on everything else.
- Welcome Offer – The card doesn’t have a welcome offer. Meanwhile, the Discover It Secured card will match all of the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your calendar year. Let’s say you’ve earned $100, at the end of the year, Discover will give you an additional $100 which totals your cashback to $200.
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card VS SDFCU Savings Secured Visa Platinum Card
Another secured credit card that’s very comparable to the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is the SDFCU Savings Secured Visa. Here are a few examples of their differences.
- Annual Fees – Both the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card and the SDFU Savings Secured Visa Platinum do not have annual fees.
- Rewards – The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card has no rewards program while the SDFCU has a Flexpoints rewards program that earns one point per dollar.
- Welcome Offer – Both cards do not have a welcome offer so it’s really a tough choice for this category on which one’s better.
Final Thoughts
If you’re just looking to build credit or rebuild your credit, then the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is a solid option. No annual fees, no foreign fees, and high credit limits are decent perks that will get the job done without paying for extra fees.
Whatever secured card you get, always remember to use it properly so you can get higher credit scores and eventually sign up for much better cards in the future.
If you’re still undecided about which card to get, we’re offering a travel hacking concierge where you can access tons of travel hacking resources from Points Panda, and of course, get one-on-one consultations with us.
Advertiser Disclosure
PointsPanda Deal of the Week!
Looking for the best flight deals? Each week we'll send you updates with the best deals on flights and hotels both using points and cash.
Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.