Navy Federal cashRewards Secured

The cashRewards Secured is a credit-building card that still earns something: 1% cash back on every purchase, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. Its most useful feature is the upgrade path, with a possible credit limit increase after 3 months without adding to your deposit and monthly reviews starting at 6 months for a move to the unsecured cashRewards card, at which point your deposit (minimum $200) is returned. The tradeoff is an 18% APR and a flat, unremarkable earn rate, so carrying a balance would quickly outweigh any rewards. Navy Federal also does not charge a cash advance fee, though ATM fees apply outside its own branches and ATMs. Use it to build a payment history, pay it in full each month and aim for the upgrade.