Bad credit cards are aimed at people who have made mistakes in the past. In today’s tough financial environment getting one can be tricky, but the approval requirements for the cards listed below are less stringent.There are three different types available a secured, unsecured, or pre-paid.

With an unsecured offer they will usually provide you with a limit of several hundred dollars. As this type represents a high risk to the lender, you will usually have to pay higher annual fees. These fees typically range from a few dollars year, up to and over $99 every year. The APR is also higher and will usually be above 19.9% APR.

With a secured card they will require you to make an initial deposit, which is then held as a bond. These work the same as unsecured in that you will have monthly bills, an interest rate and a limit. The amount that you deposited as your bond becomes your limit. The bond will earn interest for you whilst it is held, and be returnable if you close the account on good terms.

Bad credit credit cards offers

First Progress Secured Platinum MasterCard® credit card
Rates			Fees
Intro Rate	APR	Cash Adv. Rate	Cash Adv. Fee	Late Fee	Annual Fee
N/A	14.99%	19.99%	3% (min. $10)	up to $35	$39
Full-feature Platinum MasterCard secured credit card No credit history or minimum credit score required for approval Monthly reporting to all 3 major credit bureaus to help build credit Quick & complete online application Set your own credit limit from $300 – $2,000 Free 24/7 access to your account online FDIC-insured deposit account Issued by Synovus Bank, Columbus, GA Credit required: Limited or No credit*

Orchard Bank® Classic MasterCards
Rates			Fees
Intro Rate	APR	Cash Adv. Rate	Cash Adv. Fee	Late Fee	Annual Fee
N/A	14.99% – 19.99% or 7.99% for Secured	see terms	see terms	see terms	$39-$59 for the first year, $59 per year thereafter*
The Orchard Bank® MasterCard® is an excellent credit card choice for people looking to build their credit, with reporting to the three major credit bureaus on a monthly basis. See the card you’re more likely to be approved for, risk and obligation free, and in just 30 seconds! An excellent credit card for help rebuilding credit reports to 3 major credit bureaus monthly! Acceptance at millions of locations worldwide, including website purchases and reservations Your account information is updated and at your fingertips 24/7 so you can manage it your way Email and text messages are available to remind you of your upcoming payment due date Knowledgeable customer service representatives to assist you with questions or concerns

Orchard Bank® Visa® Cards
Rates			Fees
Intro Rate	APR	Cash Adv. Rate	Cash Adv. Fee	Late Fee	Annual Fee
N/A	14.99% – 19.99% or 7.99% for Secured	see terms	see terms	see terms	$39-$59 for the first year, $59 per year thereafter
The Orchard Bank® Visa® Credit Card can help you get your credit back on track. We report monthly to all three major credit bureaus giving you the opportunity to rebuild your credit with good payment behavior! Go online now to see the card you’re more likely to get approved for, and get a response in less than 1 minute! Reports to 3 major credit bureaus monthly providing you the opportunity to rebuild your credit Acceptance at millions of locations worldwide, including website purchases and reservations Your account information is updated and at your fingertips 24/7 so you can manage it your way Email and text messages are available to remind you of your upcoming payment due date Knowledgeable customer service representatives to assist you with questions or concerns It is our goal to offer you the credit card that best fits your credit profile based on your consumer credit report and other information you provide us. You may be offered a secured card or an unsecured card which will be disclosed before your application is processed.

Applied Bank® Visa® Gold Credit Card
Rates			Fees
Intro Rate	APR	Cash Adv. Rate	Cash Adv. Fee	Late Fee	Annual Fee
–	9.99%	9.99%	$5 / 5%	up to $35	$50
Apply for the Applied Bank(R) Secured Visa(R) Gold Credit Card Credit Card Today! No Account Set Up Fees! 9.99% Low Fixed APR – Your Rate Won’t Change Even if You Are Late Choose Your Credit Limit – From $200 to $5,000 Monthly Credit Bureau Reporting *See card terms and conditions

Platinum ZeroTM Secured Visa® Credit Card from Applied Bank®
Rates			Fees
Intro Rate	APR	Cash Adv. Rate	Cash Adv. Fee	Late Fee	Annual Fee
–	0%	9.99%	$5 / 5%	$32-$35	$119.40
Apply for the Platinum ZeroTM Secured Visa Credit Card from Applied Bank Credit Card Today! ZERO – 0% FIXED APR on Purchases – No Intro Rates! ZERO – 0% Rate Won t Change – Even If You re Late! ZERO Application Fees ZERO Worries – FREE Personal ID Theft Protection

More on bad credit credit cards

A key thing to look for with these types is whether or not the company reports to the main credit bureaus. There are three main bureaus, and if you are managing your finances well and are paying your new bills on time, you want them to know about it, as this can help to improve your rating. Bear in mind, however, that you may already be able to remove negative entries on your report, by contacting the bureau directly.

Pre-paid cards are used in a similar way to that of a bank card. You can fund your account through direct deposit, use it to pay bills, make online payments and withdraw cash. Some companies charge you for every transaction or withdrawal, so make sure you check the terms and conditions.

There are several companies in each type of offer that are prepared to approve people, even those with bad credit. However make sure you are aware of the fees and interest rates that you be will liable for if you sign up, and read the terms and conditions carefully. Due to the high fees and interest rates involved, you should only consider these options if you have exhausted all others.

In sum, these can be helpful to get you through your day to day. But it is important to realize that you don’t just have to live with these high costs. There are steps you can take to improve a damaged score, while in the meantime you do use a bad credit card.