What to look for in a credit building credit card
To build your credit history, make sure your credit activity is being reported to the credit bureaus. Discover, a division of Capital One NA, reports your credit history to the 3 major credit bureaus.
When building credit history, you don't want anything that could negatively impact your score. See if you're pre-approved with no harm to your credit score.5
The best credit card to build credit history may be one that lets you seamlessly upgrade to a better card with more perks. With Discover, upgrade to an unsecured card after 6 consecutive on-time payments and maintaining good status on all your credit accounts.6
Consider any fees your credit card issuer may charge and compare them to the rewards you can earn. If the fees, like an annual fee, cost more than you can earn in rewards, there may be better options for you that won’t cost you money. Discover cards have no annual fee.
There are lots of benefits if you're ready to build your credit history
Build your credit with responsible use.2 Use it for everyday purchases, pay your bills on time and in full, and stay within your credit limit.
Although building credit may help you get new credit or a higher credit line, other things that need a credit check (like renting an apartment or getting a cell phone) may deny you if you have no credit history or a poor credit score.
A card issuer sees a good credit score as proof that you have a history of responsible credit use. A credit card issuer expects a borrower with good credit to repay their credit; this is why good credit and a higher credit score often means lower interest rates.
Your credit score includes credit utilization ratio, overall credit limit, and credit account age. Your oldest credit account starts your credit history and will continue to appear on your credit report for at least as long as the account is open. Open a credit card account early and keep it open to help your credit score.
Benefits that don't just talk the talk
You're never responsible for unauthorized purchases on your Discover Card.7
You can talk to a real human on our customer service team any time.8
The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is not a prepaid card or a debit card
It’s a real credit card that gives rewards with no annual fee.
Your credit line will equal your deposit amount, starting at $200.1
Build your credit with responsible use.2 Use it for everyday purchases, pay at least the minimum amount due on time, and stay within your credit limit.
We'll report your payment history, credit utilization and other habits to the 3 major credit bureaus that calculate your credit scores.