What Credit Cards Can You Get With a 520, 530, or 540 Credit Score?

With a 520, 530, or 540 credit score, you may be able to get both secured and unsecured credit cards for bad credit. Secured credit cards will generally be among the easier cards to qualify for because you provide a refundable security deposit, but a credit score in the 520–540 range does not automatically prevent you from getting an unsecured credit card. There are issuers that offer unsecured cards to people with less-than-perfect credit, including cards such as the Indigo^® Mastercard^®, Destiny^® Mastercard, and Milestone^® Mastercard.

However, there is no particular credit score that guarantees approval for one of these cards. Your credit score is only one part of the application. An issuer may also consider your payment history, current or recent delinquencies, existing debt, income, and other information in your credit profile. The reason you have a 520, 530, or 540 score can also make a difference. A person with a 530 score caused by recent serious delinquencies may have a different application profile from someone with a 530 score who simply has a thin credit history.

Credit cards for people in this score range can also come with significant costs. Unsecured bad-credit cards may charge annual fees, monthly maintenance fees, or other account fees, and their interest rates can be high. Before applying, it is important to look at the complete terms of the particular offer rather than focusing only on whether you can get approved.

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What Credit Cards Can You Get With a 520–540 Credit Score?

You may be able to get a secured credit card or an unsecured credit card specifically intended for people with bad or less-than-perfect credit. Secured cards require a refundable security deposit, while unsecured bad-credit cards do not require a deposit to establish the credit line.

For example, the Indigo^® Mastercard^®, Destiny^® Mastercard, and Milestone^® Mastercard are examples of unsecured credit cards that are marketed to consumers with less-than-perfect credit. These types of cards can be an option even when your score is in the 520–540 range.

That does not mean that everyone with a 520, 530, or 540 score will be approved. Credit card issuers evaluate applications individually, and the information behind your credit score can be important when determining whether you qualify.

Secured cards can also be worth considering, particularly if you have difficulty qualifying for an unsecured card. Because you provide a security deposit, a secured card can give you another way to establish or rebuild credit without relying entirely on an unsecured approval.

How Can You See What Credit Cards You May Qualify For?

You can use our free credit card tool to see what pre-qualified offers may be available based on your individual credit profile. Instead of trying to determine which card you might qualify for based solely on a 520, 530, or 540 credit score, the tool can show you multiple offers from participating banks and credit card issuers.

The tool is free to use, and checking for pre-qualified offers does not affect your credit score. It can give you an idea of what credit card offers may be available to you before you decide whether to submit an actual application.

Pre-qualification is not a guarantee of approval. If you decide to apply for a credit card, the issuer will make the final approval decision after reviewing the application and the information it uses for underwriting.

What Should You Look for in a Credit Card With a 520–540 Score?

Don't look only at whether a card says it accepts people with bad credit. Look at the complete offer before deciding whether to apply.

Pay particular attention to the annual fee, monthly fees, security deposit requirements, starting credit limit, and whether the issuer reports the account to the major credit bureaus.

With some unsecured credit cards, fees are charged against your initial credit limit, so the amount of credit available to you may be less than the advertised credit limit when you open the account.

The goal is not simply to find a card that will approve you. You should also understand what the card will cost and how much usable credit you will actually have.

What If You Have a 520, 530, or 540 Score and Can't Get Approved?

If you are not approved for a particular credit card, that does not necessarily mean you cannot get credit anywhere. Different issuers have different approval requirements, and the reason for your credit score can affect which products are available to you.

A secured credit card may be an alternative if you cannot qualify for an unsecured card. You can also use a pre-qualification tool to look for other offers before submitting additional applications.

Most importantly, review your credit report to understand what is contributing to your score. If your score is being affected by missed payments, high balances, collections, or other negative information, addressing those issues can be more important than applying for multiple new credit cards.