USAA Secured American Express

The USAA Secured American Express is a straightforward credit builder with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, so the only cost of using it responsibly is the security deposit that comes with any secured card. The main catch is a fixed 26.4% APR, which makes carrying a balance expensive, so pay in full each month. It also earns no rewards, which is typical for this category but means it offers nothing beyond the credit history it helps you build. Because it runs on the American Express network, acceptance can be narrower than Visa at some merchants. If you have the choice, USAA's Secured Visa Platinum carries a lower APR range, which makes it the safer pick for most credit builders.