What Is A Surge® Platinum Mastercard® Credit Card?
The Surge® Platinum Mastercard® is an unsecured Mastercard designed for individuals with bad or limited credit who want to build their credit history. It is issued by Celtic Bank and serviced by Continental Finance.
Key Features
- A card for rebuilding credit: Targeted at people with poor credit scores or no credit history. Responsible use and on-time payments can help improve your credit score.
- Unsecured: Unlike secured cards, it does not require an upfront security deposit.
- Credit limit: Initial limit ranges from $300 to $1,000. Your limit may double after six consecutive on-time monthly payments (e.g., $1,000 to $2,000 in 6 months).
- Pre-qualification: Soft credit inquiry available to check eligibility, which does not affect your credit score.
- Ideal Vantage 3.0 Score Range: 500 to 680, average around 600. Checking account required. U.S. domestic only.
- Credit reporting: Activity is reported to all three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
- Fraud protection: Mastercard Zero Liability Protection against unauthorized charges.
Significant Drawbacks
The main disadvantages of the Surge® Platinum Mastercard® are its numerous, high costs:
- Annual fee: $75 to $125.
- Monthly maintenance fee: Up to $12.50 per month after the first year, totaling up to $150 annually.
- High APR: 35.90% (Fixed), well above average for credit-building cards.
- No rewards: Does not offer cash back or points.
- Other fees: Includes a 3% foreign transaction fee and a late payment fee of up to $41.
Is the Surge® Platinum Mastercard® Right for You?
Due to its steep fees and high APR, many financial experts recommend exploring other credit-building options first. Secured cards often have no annual fee and may offer rewards. However, if you cannot qualify for secured alternatives and need an unsecured credit-building card, the Surge® Platinum Mastercard® is an available option.
Surge® Platinum Mastercard®
- Up to $1,000 Initial Credit Limit
- See if you Pre-Qualify with No Impact to your Credit Score
- Less than perfect credit? We understand. The Surge Mastercard is ideal for people looking to rebuild their credit.
- Unsecured credit card requires No Security Deposit
- Perfect card for everyday purchases and unexpected expenses
- Monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus
- Use your card everywhere Mastercard is accepted at millions of locations
- Enjoy peace of mind with Mastercard Zero Liability Protection for unauthorized purchases (subject to Mastercard guidelines)
- Apply with Confidence! There is no impact to your credit score if you’re not approved.
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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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