Does Bank of America Offer an Unsecured Credit Card for Bad Credit?
No, Bank of America does not currently offer an unsecured credit card specifically designed for people with bad credit. Bank of America does offer credit cards for people who are building or rebuilding their credit, but its credit-building cards are secured credit cards that require a refundable security deposit. Bank of America currently offers several secured cards, including options that earn cash back or travel rewards.
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Does Bank of America Have an Unsecured Credit Card for Bad Credit?
Bank of America does not currently have an unsecured credit card specifically marketed to people with bad credit. Instead, its credit-building options are secured credit cards that require a refundable security deposit. The amount of your deposit determines your initial credit limit.
Bank of America currently offers several secured credit cards, including the BankAmericard Secured Credit Card, Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card, Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card, and Travel Rewards Secured Credit Card. These cards give people who are building or rebuilding credit different options depending on whether they want a straightforward credit-building card, cash back rewards, or travel rewards.
If you want to see which Bank of America credit cards are available for bad credit, including the differences between its secured cards and their rewards, see our Bank of America Credit Cards for Bad Credit page.
Do Bank of America Secured Cards Require a Security Deposit?
Yes. Bank of America secured credit cards require a refundable security deposit, which serves as collateral for the account. The deposit is held in a secured account and generally establishes your credit limit.
If you specifically want an unsecured credit card with bad credit and no security deposit, Bank of America's secured cards will not meet that requirement. There are other unsecured credit cards designed for people with less-than-perfect credit that do not require a security deposit.
You can see five options on our Bad Credit Credit Cards With No Deposit page.
What Are the Best Pre-Approved Credit Cards for Bad Credit?
If you specifically want a pre-approved credit card for bad credit and would like to check for an offer before submitting a full application, see our Best Pre-Approved Credit Cards for Bad Credit page.
That page focuses on two cards that offer pre-approval options and are available to people with less-than-perfect 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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