What Citi Credit Card Can I Get With Bad Credit?

The Citi Secured Mastercard^® is the Citi credit card currently available for people with bad credit who are building or rebuilding their credit. It requires a refundable security deposit of $200 to $2,500, and the amount of your deposit determines your credit limit. Citi reports account activity to the three major credit bureaus.

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Citi Secured Mastercard^® for Bad Credit

The Citi Secured Mastercard^® is designed for people who are building or rebuilding their credit. Because it is a secured credit card, you must provide a refundable security deposit when you open the account.

You can choose a security deposit between $200 and $2,500 in $100 increments. Your security deposit and credit limit are always equal, so a $500 deposit gives you a $500 credit limit, while a $1,000 deposit gives you a $1,000 credit limit.

The card has a $0 annual fee, and Citi provides cardmembers with free access to their FICO^® Score. Citi also reports payment activity to the major credit bureaus, allowing the account to be used to establish or rebuild your credit history through responsible use.

Can You Eventually Get an Unsecured Citi Credit Card?

Yes, potentially. Citi says cardholders may become eligible to graduate from the secured card to an unsecured card with responsible use. Citi begins reviewing accounts for possible early graduation at 9 months and then reviews accounts on a 12-month basis.

If you meet Citi's graduation criteria, the Citi Secured Mastercard may be upgraded to the Citi Diamond Preferred^® Card, and your security deposit can be returned. Graduation is not automatic for every cardholder, and Citi says customers must meet its credit-graduation criteria.

This gives the Citi Secured Mastercard a potential path from a secured account to an unsecured Citi credit card rather than requiring you to start over with a different issuer when your credit improves.

Can You Get the Citi Secured Mastercard^® With a Low Credit Score?

You can apply, but having a low credit score does not guarantee approval. Even though the Citi Secured Mastercard^® requires a refundable security deposit, Citi still evaluates your credit history and other information when deciding whether to approve an application.

Citi says it considers factors including your income, existing debt, available credit information, and other information about your creditworthiness. Citi also states that applicants with a pending bankruptcy or a bankruptcy history within the previous two years cannot qualify for the card.

This is important to understand because a secured credit card is not the same as guaranteed approval. The security deposit helps secure the account, but you still have to meet Citi's approval requirements.

➤ See the Citi Secured Mastercard^® on Citi.com

What If You Don't Want a Security Deposit?

If you have bad credit but do not want to put money down as a security deposit, there are unsecured credit cards specifically designed for people with less-than-perfect credit. These cards do not require a security deposit to open the account.

We have put together 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 would rather look at cards where you can check for a pre-approved offer before applying, see our Best Pre-Approved Credit Cards for Bad Credit page.