Capital One Credit Cards for Bad Credit
If you are looking for Capital One credit cards for bad credit, Capital One currently offers two secured credit cards that may be worth considering: the Capital One Platinum Secured and the Capital One Quicksilver Secured. Both require a refundable security deposit to open the account, but they offer different features. The Platinum Secured is designed for people rebuilding their credit, while the Quicksilver Secured offers 1.5% cash back on every purchase.
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Capital One Platinum Secured
The Capital One Platinum Secured is a secured credit card designed for people who are building or rebuilding their credit. It has a $0 annual fee, and depending on your creditworthiness, Capital One may require a refundable security deposit of $49, $99, or $200 for an initial credit line of at least $200.
The $49 and $99 deposit options are particularly interesting because you may be able to receive a $200 credit line without depositing the entire $200. In effect, this means the card can be partially secured at those deposit levels. If Capital One requires the full $200 deposit, the entire initial credit line is secured by the deposit.
Capital One also says responsible use can provide opportunities to earn back your security deposit and potentially transition to an unsecured Platinum card. The account may also be reviewed for a credit-line increase in as little as six months.
➤ See the Capital One Platinum Secured Card
Capital One Quicksilver Secured
The Capital One Quicksilver Secured is another secured card from Capital One, but it adds cash-back rewards. It has a $0 annual fee, requires a $200 minimum refundable security deposit, and earns unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase.
Like the Platinum Secured card, the Quicksilver Secured is designed to help you build credit with responsible use, and Capital One says secured cardholders can have opportunities to increase their credit lines over time.
➤ See the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Card
Does a Capital One Secured Card Guarantee Approval?
No. A security deposit does not guarantee approval for a Capital One secured credit card. Capital One specifically states that an application for the Platinum Secured Credit Card can be declined and that applicants must meet certain conditions involving their income and existing debt to qualify.
This is an important distinction if you have bad credit. The security deposit provides collateral for the account after you are approved; it does not eliminate Capital One's approval requirements. Capital One says its secured cards do not require a credit score to apply, but that does not mean everyone who can provide the deposit will be approved.
What If You Don't Want to Make a Security Deposit?
A secured credit card can be a useful option if you have the money available for a refundable deposit. However, not everyone wants to put money down to get a credit card. You may not have the money available for a deposit, or you may simply prefer an unsecured credit card that does not require a security deposit.
If you are looking for bad credit credit cards with no deposit, see our Bad Credit Credit Cards With No Deposit page. There you can look at five unsecured credit card options that do not require a security deposit.
Pre-Approved Credit Cards for Bad Credit
If you specifically want to see the two cards we selected as our best pre-approved credit cards for bad credit, see our Best Pre-Approved Credit Cards for Bad Credit page.
These two cards were selected based on our more than 25 years of experience reviewing credit cards, including the fees, features, pre-approval options, and overall structure of the accounts compared with many other cards available to people with bad credit.
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FICO® Credit Scores
A FICO® Score is a proprietary credit score created by the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO). About 90% of top U.S. lenders use it to make lending decisions.
FICO® Score Ranges:
- Exceptional: 800–850
- Very Good: 740–799
- Good: 670–739
- Fair: 580–669
- Poor: 300–579
FICO categorizes scores as Poor, Fair, Good, Very Good, and Exceptional.
What is a Credit Score?
A credit score is a three-digit number (300–850) predicting your creditworthiness. Lenders use it to evaluate risk and determine rates and terms for credit.
Why it matters: A higher score can help you qualify for loans and lower interest rates. A lower score can lead to higher borrowing costs or application denials.
FICO® Credit Score Facts
- Three-Digit Number: Summarizes your credit risk.
- Range: 300–850; higher scores = lower risk.
- Data Source: Uses your credit reports from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
- Industry Standard: Lenders rely on FICO for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards.
Note: Credit scores reflect your creditworthiness but do not guarantee approval for any credit product.
Security Notice: All participating issuers use secure application systems protected by Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption to help protect your information.
*See the online credit card applications for details about terms and conditions of credit card offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. When you click on the " Apply Now " button you can review the credit card terms and conditions on the credit card issuer's web site.
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