USAA Secured American Express

The USAA Secured American Express is a straightforward credit-building tool: no annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, and a path to establishing payment history. It is a reasonable place to start if you are new to credit or rebuilding after a setback. The catch is the flat 26.4% APR, which is steep, so carrying a balance would cost you real money. The card also earns no rewards, and it runs on the American Express network, which is not accepted at every merchant. USAA's own Secured Visa Platinum offers a much lower APR range of 11.4% to 21.4%, so compare the two before you choose.