Discover it® Secured Credit Card

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With no harm to your credit score19

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No annual fee. No credit score required to apply5

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Discover it® Secured Credit Card
★★★★★
★★★★★

x out of 5 Average of x Reviews16

See how we calculate our ratings

How the Discover it® Secured credit card works for you

A secured credit card could help you build your credit history2 to make more things possible tomorrow.

You provide a refundable security deposit when you apply

Your credit line will equal your deposit amount, starting at $200.1

Your secured credit card can help you build credit responsibly

Smart habits like paying all your bills on time and in full each month can help you build credit with responsible use.2

You can get your deposit back

After 7 months, we begin automatic monthly account reviews to see if you qualify to upgrade to an 'unsecured' card and get your deposit back.3

See if you’re pre-approved

A secured credit card with real rewards

2 % Cash Back

Earn 2% Cashback Bonus® at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.††

1 % Cash Back

Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all your other purchases.

2 x Cash Back

Get an unlimited dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year, automatically. There is no limit to how much we’ll match.4

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99% nationwide acceptance — Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of places that take credit cards.10

Secured Credit Card FAQs

If you want to build a credit history,2 or looking to rebuild credit with responsible use,2 the Discover it® Secured Credit Card may be right for you. To see if you qualify, Discover reviews your application, credit report, and other information.

And while you work on your credit, the Discover it® Secured Credit Card also provides other industry-leading benefits, like cash back rewards on every purchase, a refundable security deposit, security features like Online Privacy Protection and $0 Fraud Liability Guarantee, and more.

The Discover it® Secured Credit Card helps you build your credit history with responsible use.2 It looks and acts like a traditional credit card except that you provide a refundable security deposit, which will equal your credit line, of at least $200.1 And like a traditional credit card, as you use your credit card, you’ll need to make payments each month and your credit card account use is reported to the three major credit bureaus. So, your on-time payments and responsible use can help build your credit history.2 Discover conducts automatic reviews starting at 7 months to see if we can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.3 These reviews will look for your responsible credit use across all your cards and loans, not just with Discover. Apply Now.

A secured credit card requires you to make a deposit equal to the amount of your credit line, while an unsecured credit card requires no deposit.

To determine if you qualify for an account, we review the information that you provide on the application, information in your credit report, as well as other information we may have about your creditworthiness. You’ll need to be at least 18 years of age, have a Social Security number, U.S. address and U.S. bank account, and provide all the required information in the online application. Be sure to have your bank routing number and account number handy when you apply. There’s no credit score required to apply* for a Discover it®️ Secured Credit Card.

 

If you’re not approved, we’ll provide you with the score we obtained, which credit reporting agency it was obtained from, and the reasons we couldn’t approve your application.

 

Applications are taken 24X7 on Discover.com. Apply Now

Some secured credit cards can help you build or rebuild credit if used responsibly, and if your card issuer reports your credit activity to the major credit bureaus. For example, the Discover it® Secured Card can help you build your credit history2 if you responsibly use your account and pay your other loans on time. Be sure to make at least your minimum monthly payment due on time. It may also help to pay down existing credit card debt and dispute errors on your credit report.

How long it takes to get the credit score you want depends on where you're starting, and how you use your secured card, other credit accounts, and loans. With the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, after 7 months, we begin automatic monthly account reviews to see if you qualify to upgrade to an 'unsecured' card and get your deposit back.3

Apply for a Discover it® Secured card today, and if approved begin to build your credit with responsible use.2

Discover determines your credit limit based on the information you provide. Your secured credit card requires a refundable security deposit, and your credit line will equal your deposit amount, starting at $200. Bank information must be provided when submitting your deposit.1 If approved, you could have a credit limit up to $2,500.

1. If you pay your balance in full and close your credit card account, we'll refund your security deposit, which can take up to two billing cycles plus 10 days.

2. After 7 months, we begin automatic monthly account reviews to see if you qualify to upgrade to an 'unsecured' card and get your deposit back.3 These reviews are based on responsible credit management across all of your credit cards and loans, including Discover and others.

Yes. Getting a secured credit card isn’t guaranteed. Your application can be turned down.

Your APR—or annual percentage rate—on a secured credit card is a statement of the interest rate as a yearly rate. Let's say you started a new term and charged $500 for books, with an 18% APR. If you made only the minimum payment every month for 12 months, you would owe an extra $42 in interest.

With Discover, your secured credit card requires a refundable security deposit, and your credit line will equal your deposit amount, starting at $200. Bank information must be provided when submitting your deposit.1 When you're trying to build a credit history, you need a credit limit that lets you easily make regular purchases and pay your bill responsibly.

Yes, a credit card issuer will typically place a hard inquiry on your credit report when you apply for either secured or unsecured credit cards.

Paying your Discover it®️ Secured credit card is like paying any regular credit card. Each month, you’ll receive a statement with your minimum payment due by the due date. Pay at least the minimum amount due by the due date to keep your account in good standing.

No, you can't increase the credit limit on your secured card. However, you can get your deposit back after six consecutive months of on-time payments and maintaining good status on all your credit accounts. If you qualify to get your deposit back, you’ll automatically be considered for a credit line increase.3

No annual fee

x% Standard Variable Purchase APR† applies.

†See rates, rewards, fees, and other cost information > , Opens new window
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Make the right call to build your credit history2

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How to get a secured credit card and build credit with responsible use2

When you're just starting out and you have no credit history at all, you need to find the right credit card that can help prepare you for the future. On-time payments can help put you on the right financial path. It's important to show a good credit score in case you want to rent an apartment, finance a car loan, get hired by employers who review credit reports, or use a mortgage to buy a house.

Check your credit score 

Discover shows your FICO® Credit Score9 for free, so you can track it. Seeing how your credit score is affected by your credit actions can help you improve your credit knowledge.

Apply for the Discover it® Secured Card

With the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, you provide a refundable security deposit to back your credit line. You still make monthly payments, and can build credit with responsible use.2

Pay credit bills on time

The Discover it® Secured Card can help you build credit with responsible use2, like making your payments on time and in full each month. Payment history is reported to the credit bureaus.

Keep your balances low

Another part of responsible credit card use is to keep your balances low to improve your credit utilization ratio–using less of your available credit is viewed by credit bureaus more favorably.

Get your deposit back

After 7 months, we begin automatic monthly account reviews to see if you qualify to upgrade to an 'unsecured' card and get your deposit back.3

Inward Curve

Discover service and security features

Online Privacy Protection.

We’ll help you regularly remove your personal info from select people-search websites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the Discover app.17

Free Social Security number alerts
Get an alert if we find your Social Security Number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites. 7 Activate for free.
Turn your account on/off with Freeze it®
If you misplace your card, you can prevent new purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers in seconds with the Freeze it® on/off switch on our mobile app and website.8
$0 Fraud Liability Guarantee

You're never responsible for unauthorized purchases on your Discover Card.15

100% U.S. Based Customer Service

You can talk to a real person from our customer service team any time.18

View your FICO® Credit Score for free

Viewing your Credit Scorecard will never impact your FICO® Score.9

Inward Curve

Discover Cards with no deposit required

Before you apply, see what Discover offers you could be pre-approved for with no harm to your credit score19

Find Out if I'm Pre-Approved

Learn more about secured credit cards

What is a Secured Credit Card? >

 

Denied for credit cards or loans due to poor credit? Learn what secured cards are and how one can help you build your credit history2 and get back on track.

How to Use a Secured Credit Card >

 

Use these tips on how to use your secured credit card.

What is a Secured vs. Unsecured Credit Card?

 

Learn what makes a secured credit card different than an unsecured credit card, including which card requires a deposit and how you can qualify for each.

Secured Credit Card Myths and Realities

 

Worried about not getting your security deposit back? Learn more about how secured cards work.

View all Secured Credit Card Articles View all Secured Credit Card Articles

†† You earn a full 2% Cashback Bonus® on your first $1000 in combined purchases at Gas Stations (stand-alone), and Restaurants each calendar quarter. Calendar quarters begin January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1. Purchases at Gas Stations and Restaurants over the quarterly cap, and all other purchases, earn 1% cash back. Gas Station purchases include those made at merchants classified as places that sell automotive gasoline that can be bought at the pump or inside the station, and some public electric vehicle charging stations. Gas Stations affiliated with supermarkets, supercenters, and wholesale clubs may not be eligible. Restaurant purchases include those made at merchants classified as full-service restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, fast-food locations, and restaurant delivery services. Purchases must be made with merchants in the U.S. To qualify for 2%, the purchase transaction date must be before or on the last day of the offer or promotion. For online purchases, the transaction date from the merchant may be the date when the item ships. Rewards are added to your account within two billing periods. Even if a purchase appears to fit in a 2% category, the merchant may not have a merchant category code (MCC) in that category. Merchants and payment processors are assigned an MCC based on their typical products and services. Discover Card does not assign MCCs to merchants. Certain third-party payment accounts and digital wallet transactions may not earn 2% if the technology does not provide sufficient transaction details or a qualifying MCC. Learn more at Discover.com/digitalwallets. See Cashback Bonus Program Terms and Conditions for more information.

  1. Minimum Security Deposit: If approved, you must make a minimum security deposit of $200 (or more, in increments of $100 up to $2,500), which will equal your requested credit limit. Discover will determine your maximum credit limit by your income and ability to pay.

  2. Build credit with responsible use(Secured): Discover reports your credit history to the three major credit bureaus so it can help build/rebuild your credit if used responsibly. Late payments, delinquencies or other derogatory activity with your credit card accounts and loans may adversely impact your ability to build/rebuild credit.

  3. Getting your deposit back: Monthly reviews start your seventh month as a customer. We will refund your security deposit if you have made all payments on time for the last six consecutive billing cycles on all your Discover accounts including any loans, and you've remained in "good status" on all credit accounts you are responsible for whether they are Discover accounts or not. "Good status" means: (1) your credit report shows no delinquencies, charge-offs, repossessions, or bankruptcies for the six months prior to our review; and (2) your Discover secured card is not in a prohibited status at the time of our review, including, but not limited to: closed, revoked, suspended, subject to tax levy, garnishment, deceased, lost/stolen, or fraud. Monthly reviews may be delayed if you change your payment due date. We typically process your refund in 2-3 business days based on your delivery preference. If you close your account and pay in full, we'll return your deposit within two billing cycles plus ten days.

  4. Cashback Match: Only from Discover as of September 2024. We'll match all the cash back rewards you've earned on your credit card from the day your new account is approved through your first 12 consecutive billing periods or 365 days, whichever is longer, and add it to your rewards account within two billing periods. You've earned cash back rewards only when they're processed, which may be after the transaction date. We will not match: rewards that are processed after your match period ends; statement credits; rewards transfers from Discover checking or other deposit accounts; or rewards for accounts that are closed. This promotional offer may not be available in the future and is exclusively for new cardmembers. No purchase minimums.

  5. Based on 2023 Discover it Secured credit card application data, applicants without a credit score may qualify. You must meet other applicable underwriting criteria. When we evaluate your creditworthiness, we consider all the information you provide on your application, your credit report, and other information. If you have a credit score, we may use that in our evaluation.

  6. Based on the preceding 12 months of Discover Student credit card application data, applicants without a credit score may qualify. You must meet other applicable underwriting criteria. When we evaluate your creditworthiness, we consider all the information you provide on your application, your credit report, and other information. If you have a credit score, we may use that in our evaluation.

  7. Discover® Identity Alerts (Alerts) are offered by Discover Bank at no cost, are available only online, and do not impact your credit score. The Alerts currently provide: (a) daily monitoring of your Experian® credit report and an alert when a new inquiry or account is listed on your report; (b) daily monitoring of thousands of Dark Web sites known for revealing personal information and an alert if your Social Security Number is found on such a website. Alerts are only provided to Primary cardmembers who agree to receive them online and whose accounts are open, in good standing, have a Social Security Number, and an email address on file. This benefit may change or end in the future. Discover Bank is not a credit repair organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. To see a list of Frequently Asked Questions, visit discover.com/freealerts.

  8. Freeze it®: When you freeze your account, Discover will not authorize new purchases, cash advances or balance transfers (including checks). However, some activity will continue including charges from merchants where your card is stored or billed regularly, as well as returns, credits, dispute adjustments, delayed authorizations (such as some transit purchases), payments, Discover protection product fees, other account fees, interest, rewards redemptions and certain other exempted transactions.

  9. FICO® Credit Score Terms: Your FICO® Credit Score, key factors and other credit information are based on data from TransUnion® and may be different from other credit scores and other credit information provided by different bureaus. This information is intended for and only provided to Primary account holders who have an available score. See Discover.com/FICO about the availability of your score. Your score, key factors and other credit information are available on Discover.com and cardmembers are also provided a score on statements. Customers will see up to a year of recent scores online. Discover and other lenders may use different inputs, such as FICO® Credit Scores, other credit scores and more information in credit decisions. This benefit may change or end in the future. FICO is a registered trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation in the United States and other countries.

    If you prefer not to receive your FICO® Credit Score just call us at 1-800-DISCOVER (1-800-347-2683). Please give us two billing cycles to process your request.

  10. Acceptance: According to the Feb 2024 issue of the Nilson Report.

  11. Rewards Redemption: Rewards never expire. We reserve the right to determine the method to disburse your rewards balance. We will credit your Account or send you a check with your rewards balance if your Account is closed or if you have not used it within 18 months. You may be unable to redeem rewards in some limited situations such as when you choose to use an electronic funds transfer to redeem rewards to a new (unverified) deposit account. Any gift card must have a minimum value of at least $5.00 to be redeemed.

  12. Use Rewards at Amazon.com: For complete details on how to Pay with Rewards at Amazon.com see Amazon.com/DiscoverRewards. Amazon is not a sponsor of this promotion. Amazon, the Amazon.com logo, the smile logo and all related marks are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. To redeem your rewards at checkout, you must select the Discover Card from which you want to redeem rewards. If you do not pay for your full purchase with rewards, you may use the Discover Card from which the rewards were applied or an Amazon.com Gift Card to pay for the remainder of your purchase. You may not use a credit card from an issuer other than Discover or another Discover credit card enrolled in Shop with Points in conjunction with the rewards transaction.

  13. Use Rewards with PayPal: For complete details on how to Pay with Rewards with PayPal see PayPal.com/Discover. Pay with Rewards with PayPal will be available for eligible credit cards on eligible purchases or rewards can be donated to support a charitable cause with PayPal Giving Fund. To learn more about Pay with Rewards, see terms and conditions.

    All reward redemptions are subject to Discover’s reward program terms. To redeem your rewards at checkout, you must select the Discover Card from which you want to redeem rewards. If you do not pay for your full purchase with rewards, you must use the Discover Card from which the rewards were applied to pay for the remainder of your purchase. You may not use a credit card from an issuer other than Discover or another Discover credit card enrolled in Pay with Rewards in conjunction with the rewards transaction.

    PayPal, and the PayPal logo are trademarks of PayPal and its Affiliates.

  14. Free Overnight Card Replacement: Free overnight shipping is not available to P.O. boxes or addresses outside the U.S. Carrier overnight shipping limitations apply that may impact the exact delivery date.

  15. $0 Fraud Liability: An “unauthorized purchase” is a purchase where you have not given access to your card information to another person or a merchant for one-time or repeated charges. Please use reasonable care to protect your card and do not share it with employees, relatives, or friends. Learn more at Discover.com/fraudFAQ.

  16. About product reviews: We calculate the average product rating based on ratings that customers submit. We exclude some reviews from being displayed for reasons such as the customer included profanity, reviewed the wrong product, submitted inappropriate or irrelevant content, or revealed personally identifying information. Reviews are not filtered, edited, or deleted simply because they are negative or are lower rated. If a review is excluded, the associated rating is not calculated in the average product rating.

  17. Online Privacy Protection: Online Privacy Protection is offered by Discover Bank at no cost and only available in the mobile app. About every 90 days we will scan at least 10 people-search sites for your online personal information and help you submit opt-out requests. Types of personal information found on these sites will vary.

  18. 100% U.S. Based Customer Service: You can reach a live agent any time by calling 1-800-Discover (1-800-347-2683). Certain specialized customer service agents may not be available 24/7.

  19. There is no hard inquiry to your credit report to check if you’re pre-approved. If you’re pre-approved, and you move forward with submitting an application for the credit card, it will result in a hard inquiry which may impact your credit score. Receiving a pre-approval offer does not guarantee approval. Applicants applying without a social security number are not eligible to receive pre-approval offers. Card applicants cannot be pre-approved for the NHL Discover Card.

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