Secured card
A secured card is a real credit card that requires a refundable security deposit, which usually becomes your credit limit. It reports your payments to the credit bureaus and builds history just like a regular card.
Why it matters
The deposit lowers the lender's risk, which is why secured cards are made for people with no credit history (the issuer still decides whether to approve you).
Example
You put down a $200 refundable deposit and usually get a $200 credit limit; with a record of on-time payments, some issuers may upgrade you to an unsecured card and refund your deposit — timing varies by issuer, so don’t count on a date. As of October 20, 2026, Capital One's Platinum Secured page lists a $49, $99 or $200 minimum refundable deposit for an initial credit line of at least $200.