Citi Secured Mastercard

The Citi Secured Mastercard is a straightforward credit-building tool from a major bank: no annual fee, a single 25.99% APR, and nothing complicated to manage while you establish a payment history. That simplicity is why it lands at #4 on our Best Secured Credit Cards list. The catch is that it is a builder and nothing more: it earns no rewards, carries no intro APR offer, and charges a foreign transaction fee, so it is a poor choice for travel or everyday value. Pay the balance in full each month so the 25.99% rate never comes into play. Use it to build a record of on-time payments, then plan to move on to a rewards card once your credit can support one.