If you have less-than-perfect credit, it might feel like your credit card options are pretty limited. But there’s good news—there are credit cards out there that are specifically for people with bad credit. Which is great, because you’ll be able to use your credit card and build your credit (with responsible use, of course).
The Surge Mastercard is one of those credit cards for bad credit and is a great option if you’re ready to build or rebuild your credit. Check out our Surge Mastercard review below to learn more.
Surge® Platinum Mastercard®
- Up to $1,000 Initial Credit Limit
- See if you Pre-Qualify with No Impact to your Credit Score
- Less than perfect credit? We understand. The Surge Mastercard is ideal for people looking to rebuild their credit.
- With responsible card use, you may be able to rebuild or improve your credit
- Unsecured credit card that requires No Security Deposit
- Perfect card for everyday purchases and unexpected expenses
- Monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus
- Access to your Vantage 3.0 Score from Experian (when you sign up for e-statements)
- Use your card everywhere Mastercard is accepted at millions of locations
- Enjoy peace of mind with Mastercard Zero Liability Protection for unauthorized purchases (subject to Mastercard guidelines)
Our Quick Take on the Surge Mastercard
Before diving into the details about this card, review the major highlights and important bits of information:
- You’ll need at least some credit history to get approved, although you can get by with fair, poor or bad credit. This might not be the right card for someone who’s just starting to use credit.
- All credit types are welcome to see you pre-qualify for a Surge Mastercard without impacting your credit score.
- The Surge Mastercard can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted. That’s a pretty wide range of physical and online checkouts.
- Your credit limit starts somewhere between $300 and $750, depending on your credit profile. That’s pretty decent for credit cards for bad credit. You’ll also get automatically reviewed for potential credit limit increases after six months.
- Surge Mastercard reports to all three major credit bureaus. So, if you make timely payments and manage your account responsibly, that could help improve your credit score.
What Is the Surge Mastercard Credit Card?
The Surge Mastercard is a credit card primarily targeted at those with bad, poor or fair credit. The card is offered by Celtic Bank and marketed through Continental Finance.
Pros of the Surge Mastercard
The biggest benefit of this card is that you can get approved with less-than-stellar credit. That lets you add a revolving credit account to your history, improving your credit mix. It also lets you establish a history of timely payments. If you keep your balance below the limit, your credit score could improve.
Another benefit of this card, especially compared to similar credit cards, is that you don’t have to pay a security deposit. You can also get a decent credit limit—as much as $750 depending on your credit score.
After just six months, your account can be reviewed to increase your credit limit. Typically, these types of decisions are based more on how you managed the account than on your credit score. So, by paying your credit card bills on time each month and keeping your balance low, you could increase your credit limit—and your credit score.
Surge Mastercard also offers a few other benefits and perks. It reports to all three credit bureaus, which is important for those trying to build their credit. It also protects you with $0 fraud liability if your card or card number is stolen and used to make unauthorized charges. You can even track your credit score since your monthly e-statements include your credit score.
Cons of the Surge Mastercard
It’s important to remember that this is a card designed for people with less-than-perfect credit histories. Even if the lender’s willing to take a chance on you, they may not have data that lets them know you’ll pay your bills on time. That means they need to hedge their bets, which can result in higher interest rates.
It’s important to note that rates for credit cards for bad credit are typically higher. You’ll also need to check your credit card offer to find out if it includes an annual fee. Finally, as with many credit cards designed for those with fair or lower credit, the Surge Mastercard doesn’t offer rewards perks.
Alternatives to the Surge Mastercard
The Surge Mastercard is not the only credit card created for people with lower credit scores. Here are a few other options.
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
- New feature! Earn up to 10% cash back on purchases made with your OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card at 40,000+ retailers. Visit OpenSky Rewards in the OpenSky app for participating retailers. See Rewards Terms and Conditions for more information.
- No credit check to apply. Zero credit risk to apply!
- Looking to build or rebuild your credit? 2 out of 3 OpenSky cardholders increase their credit score by an average of 41 points in just 3 months
- Get free monthly access to your FICO score in our mobile application
- Build your credit history across 3 major credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion
- Add to your mobile wallet and make purchases using Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay
- Fund your card with a low $200 refundable security deposit to get a $200 credit line
- Apply in less than 5 minutes with our mobile first application
- Choose the due date that fits your schedule with flexible payment dates
- Fund your security deposit over 60 days with the option to make partial payments. Over 1.4 Million Cardholders Have Used OpenSky Secured Credit Card To Improve Their Credit
This is another great option that requires no credit check to apply, but it does require a security deposit. However, it is refundable. It’s also important to note that this card has a $35 annual fee.
Milestone Mastercard® - $700 Credit Limit
- Greater access to credit than before - $700 credit limit
- No security deposit required, even with less than perfect credit
- Applying is quick and easy with our fast decision process
- Get a Mastercard accepted online, in store and in app
- Account history is reported to the three major credit bureaus in the U.S
- Responsible use can begin your financial future on the right track
- Get the flexibility of an unsecured Mastercard, even with less than perfect credit
Check Out Your Other Options
Check other credit cards for bad credit at Credit.com. But don’t apply to all of them—that can cause a high number of hard inquiries, which reduces your credit score. Instead, do your research and apply to the card that most meets your needs and that you’re most likely to be approved for.
Credit cards can be useful financial tools, but you need to choose the right one for you. Only you can know what your financial situation is and what might be right for you. But you might consider the Surge Mastercard if:
- You have poor, bad or fair credit
- You want to improve your credit score over time
- You want a credit card from a company with great customer service
So should you get the Surge Mastercard? It depends. If you need a credit card, but have bad, poor or fair credit, this could be a good option for you.
