With a secured card in hand, follow these tips:
- Make sure your secured card has a MasterCard, Visa, Discover or American Express logo. These are the most popular cards available and the ones most likely to be accepted by stores and restaurants.
- Apply only for a secured card that reports account activity to all three major credit bureaus. This way, when a lender pulls your credit report in the future, the credit you’ve built with the secured card will appear on the reports.
- Pay your balance off in full each month. By doing it, you’ll demonstrate to creditors that you’re a low credit risk.