Navy Federal cashRewards Secured

The cashRewards Secured is a solid credit builder for Navy Federal members because it has a clear path to an unsecured card. After 3 months you can qualify for a higher credit limit without adding to your deposit, and starting at 6 months Navy Federal reviews the account every month for an upgrade to the unsecured cashRewards card, returning your deposit (minimum $200) when you're upgraded. It has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee, and it earns a flat 1% cash back, which is uncommon for a secured card. The catch is the 18% APR, which is lower than many secured cards charge but still adds up quickly if you carry a balance. Use it for small purchases you pay off in full, and treat it as a 6-month step toward an unsecured card, not a card to keep long term.