Secured credit cards offer several advantages to the user. The first is that the security deposit that one has to make before the card is issued acts like a fixed deposit of sorts. Many issuers of secured credit cards pay interest on unused parts of the security deposit.
The second is that the security deposit can be as large as one can afford. Since the percentage of the credit limit used affects the credit history, having a larger security deposit and thus increasing the credit limit on the card affects ones credit score positively. One must keep ones use of the card to the minimum and pay bills on time, however.
The third, however, is the main reason; for persons with no credit history or bad credit history, obtaining a secured credit card is much easier than obtaining an unsecured credit card. Credit history – or the lack of it – is not a factor in the application process at all!
One of the worst kinds of fees on a credit card is the category of