How Much Will a Secured Credit Card Raise My Score? (2024)

FAQs

How many points can a secured credit card raise your score? ›

There isn't an exact number for how much a secured credit card may raise your credit score. The improvement of your score depends on how you use your card, how long you use it and the starting point of your credit. Being approved for a secured credit card won't improve your score automatically.

Many people find that by using a secured card carefully, it takes six months to a year to improve their credit score enough that they're able to qualify for an unsecured card.

For most people, increasing a credit score by 100 points in a month isn't going to happen. But if you pay your bills on time, eliminate your consumer debt, don't run large balances on your cards and maintain a mix of both consumer and secured borrowing, an increase in your credit could happen within months.

While we can't say for sure how much your credit score might improve, we can tell you that using a secured card can boost your credit score relatively quickly — think “under six months” — especially if you focus on the five factors that make up your credit score: Payment history. Credit utilization.

Patience is key here! It may take anywhere from six months to a few years to help raise your score by 200 points depending on your financial habits. As long as you stick to your credit-rebuilding plan and stay patient, you'll be able to help increase your credit score before you know it.

Whether you're building credit from scratch or rebuilding a poor credit history, there's no minimum amount of time you should hold on to a secured credit card. Instead, focus on how the card is helping you work toward your goal and consider the card's features to determine the right approach.

As someone with a 650 credit score, you are firmly in the “fair” territory of credit. You can usually qualify for financial products like a mortgage or car loan, but you will likely pay higher interest rates than someone with a better credit score. The "good" credit range starts at 690.

Should I pay off my credit card in full or leave a small balance? ›

It's a good idea to pay off your credit card balance in full whenever you're able. Carrying a monthly credit card balance can cost you in interest and increase your credit utilization rate, which is one factor used to calculate your credit scores.

The time it takes to raise your credit score from 500 to 700 can vary widely depending on your individual financial situation. On average, it may take anywhere from 12 to 24 months of responsible credit management, including timely payments and reducing debt, to see a significant improvement in your credit score.

Cons of secured credit cards

Like any type of credit card, secured cards are not without their risks. Secured credit cards tend to have: High fees and interest rates. Secured credit cards may charge high application, processing or annual fees.

By having two secured cards, you effectively double your total available credit. A higher available credit limit can lower your credit utilization ratio, potentially boosting your credit score.

Having multiple secured credit cards is not necessary to build good credit, and there is nothing intimating that you'll achieve a good credit score faster by doing so. However, opening more than one secured credit card can help you in one important way: credit utilization.

In fact, some consumers may even see their credit scores rise as much as 100 points in 30 days. Steps you can take to raise your credit score quickly include: Lower your credit utilization rate. Ask for late payment forgiveness.

It is possible to increase your credit score by a large amount in a year or less. Two ways to quickly boost your credit are to dispute any errors on your credit reports and pay down credit card balances. Make sure you also pay your bills on time and keep new credit applications to a minimum.