With a 550, 560, or 570 credit score, you may be able to get both secured and unsecured credit cards for less-than-perfect credit. Secured credit cards can still be a viable option because you provide a refundable security deposit, but moving into the 550–570 range can also give you more unsecured credit card options to consider. These can include cards such as the Indigo® Mastercard®, Destiny® Mastercard, and Milestone® Mastercard, along with other cards such as the Ollo Everyday Rewards Mastercard® and OneMain BrightWay® Mastercard®.
Your credit score is only one part of a credit card application. An issuer may also consider your payment history, current or recent delinquencies, existing debt, income, and other information in your credit profile. Two people with the same 550, 560, or 570 score can have very different credit reports, which can lead to different application results.
As you compare cards in this credit-score range, it is also important to look beyond the approval question. Some cards designed for people with less-than-perfect credit can have substantial fees, while other cards may offer rewards, lower fees, or other features that make them more attractive as your credit profile improves.
Affiliate Disclosure: We are a professional review site that receives compensation from the companies whose products we review and recommend. If you click on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened, we may earn a commission. We are independently owned, and the opinions expressed here are our own.
You may be able to get a secured credit card or an unsecured credit card designed for consumers with less-than-perfect credit. Secured cards require a refundable security deposit, while unsecured cards do not require a deposit to establish the credit line.
Several unsecured cards remain relevant in this range. The Indigo® Mastercard® is issued by Celtic Bank, while the Destiny® Mastercard and Milestone® Mastercard are issued by The Bank of Missouri. All three are unsecured cards marketed to consumers with less-than-perfect credit.
As you move into the mid-500s, however, you can also begin looking beyond cards that are primarily associated with damaged credit. The Ollo Everyday Rewards Mastercard®, issued by Merrick Bank, is designed for consumers across bad, fair, and good credit categories and offers cash back without an annual fee. The OneMain BrightWay® Mastercard® is another option to consider, with cash back and a program that can provide account benefits as you make qualifying on-time payments.
None of these cards guarantees approval based on having a 550, 560, or 570 credit score. Each issuer has its own underwriting requirements, and the information in your credit report can be just as important as the score itself.
Secured cards also remain worth considering. If you cannot qualify for an unsecured card that fits your needs, a secured card can provide another way to establish or rebuild credit while giving you control over the amount of your initial credit line through the security deposit.
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 cards you might qualify for based solely on having a 550, 560, or 570 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 your application and the information it uses for underwriting.
As your credit score moves higher, don't assume that you should simply take the first unsecured card that will approve you. Compare the complete offer and look at what you are getting in return for the fees you may have to pay.
Pay particular attention to the annual fee, monthly fees, security deposit requirements, starting credit limit, rewards, and whether the issuer reports the account to the major credit bureaus.
Some cards for less-than-perfect credit charge fees against the initial credit line, so the amount of credit available to you may be less than the advertised credit limit when you open the account.
Other cards may have a different fee structure and offer rewards or other benefits instead. For example, the Ollo Everyday Rewards Mastercard has no annual fee and offers cash back on eligible purchases, while the OneMain BrightWay Mastercard offers cash back and can provide milestone benefits for qualifying payment history.
The goal is not simply to find a card that will approve you. As your credit profile improves, it makes sense to pay more attention to the cost of the account and the features you receive in return.
If you are not approved for a particular credit card, that does not necessarily mean you cannot get credit elsewhere. Different issuers have different approval requirements, and the information behind your credit score can affect which products are available to you.
A secured credit card may still 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.
If you are denied for a card, review the information in your credit report to understand what may be affecting your applications. A 550, 560, or 570 score does not tell the entire story, and improving the underlying credit profile can eventually open the door to additional credit card options.
Found this guide helpful? Save this for later as you continue your financial journey!
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:
FICO categorizes scores as Poor, Fair, Good, Very Good, and Exceptional.
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.
Note: Credit scores reflect your creditworthiness but do not guarantee approval for any credit product.
The card offers that appear on this site are from companies from which Gettingacreditcard.com may receive compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Gettingacreditcard.com does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace.
The card offers that appear on this site are from companies from which Gettingacreditcard.com may receive compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Gettingacreditcard.com does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace.