Secured Credit Card
What is a Secured Credit Card
It’s a great solution for people who need help to build or repair credit. If you have been denied for a standard credit card, or if you do not have any credit history, a Secured Card from First Commonwealth Bank could help put you on the path to financial wellness. Our Secured Card credit limits range from $300 to $5,000 and require you to have matching funds held in a First Commonwealth Hometown Savings account as collateral for your credit card account (see Cardmember Agreement link below).
How does it work?
To start, you apply for the Secured Card and, once you are approved, you will be required to retain a collateral savings account with a balance equal to at least the amount of your Secured Card credit line; this is your security deposit. We will open a First Commonwealth Hometown Savings account, if you don’t already have one, to hold your security deposit. A hold will be placed on your savings account in the amount of your credit limit, which means you won’t have access to those funds. You will still have access to any funds in the savings in excess of what is being held for your credit card, so you can continue to save. You will earn interest on the entire balance in the savings, including the portion being held as a security deposit for your Secured Card (see Cardmember Agreement link below).
What is the difference between a Secured Credit Card and a pre-paid card?
A Secured Credit Card is an actual credit card. Unlike a pre-paid card, a Secured Card reports your payment history to the credit bureaus, helping you build credit if you use the card responsibly and make your payments on time. Many pre-paid cards have monthly or per usage fees while our Secured Credit Card has an annual fee of just $25, and no monthly fees. The Secured Credit Cards are Mastercard® Chip cards to help protect against fraud and are accepted everywhere Mastercard® is accepted. Your Secured Credit Card can also be added to your mobile wallet via Apple Pay™, Google Pay™ and/or Samsung Pay™ .
View the Secured Cardmember Agreement and Terms and Conditions