Green Dot Spotlight—Building Your Credit

Published January 21, 2019

Do you have bad credit? Or no credit? Maybe you’ve been denied for credit card after credit card. And you know that if a creditor just gave you a chance that you would prove you can make responsible financial decisions because you’d make your payments on time each month.

Luckily, companies like Green Dot understand what you’re going through. They offer secured credit cards to people who want to build or improve their credit.

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What is Green Dot?

Green Dot is a bank that offers a variety of products, like secured credit cards. These types of accounts allow consumers with subprime credit access to a line of credit that helps them establish a positive credit history. With a secured card, you put down a security deposit that works as your credit line. Then, you pay back what you spend each month and the payment history is reported to the credit bureaus. Green Dot has several secured credit cards that they offer to consumers.

Why Get a Green Dot Secured Credit Card?

Green Dot Secured cards come with benefits for users:

  • You don't need a checking account to apply for one of these cards.
  • They have low APRs (annual percentage rate).
  • Deposits are flexible. You can put down anything from $200 to $5,000.
  • Application and approval process are quick and easy.
  • Green Dot reports to all three credit bureaus.

You do have to be 18 years or older, and there are some annual fees. If you decide to apply for a Green Dot card, make sure you understand the fees and interest rates that come with the card.

Green Dot Secured Credit Card Reviews

Here are some highlights of some of the secured credit cards that Green Dot offers:

Green Dot Platinum Visa© Secured Credit Card

This card doesn’t require a credit check and doesn’t require a checking account. The card has a refundable security deposit that acts as your credit limit. The minimum security deposit for this card is $200. You can make your monthly payments at any participating retailer. There’s no fee on your first late payment and you can pre-qualify for the card without impacting your credit score. Most people will qualify for this card.

Green Dot Primor Visa Gold© Secured Credit Card

Like every other card on this list, the Green Dot primor Visa Classic© Secured Credit Card doesn't require a credit history or credit check. You can also pick a credit line of anywhere from $200-$5,000. 

Green Dot Primor® Visa® Classic Secured Credit Card

If you’re ready to start building your credit, then a Green Dot secured credit card may be the right option for you. All of these cards do come with annual fees, so remember to make sure you understand what these are. If you want to learn more about your credit, sign up for a free account with Credit.com. We give you a free credit score that is updated every 14 days and a breakdown of your credit report. This can be a great way to help improve your credit.

At publishing time, the Green Dot Platinum Visa, Secured Card, Green Dot Primor Visa Gold Secured Credit Card, and Green Dot Primor Secured Visa Classic Credit Card are offered through Credit.com product pages, and Credit.com is compensated if our users apply for and ultimately sign up for any of these cards. However, this relationship does not result in any preferential editorial treatment. This content is not provided by the card issuer(s). Any opinions expressed are those of Credit.com alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the issuer(s).

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