The content is accurate at the time of publication and is subject to change.

Since 2008, many consumers have found themselves in a bind when it comes to getting credit, and then once they get the credit, they find it hard to pay off their balances. In 2010 alone, credit card issuers had to charge off 11 percent of bank accounts. A charge off occurs when a consumer is six months or more behind on their payments, the credit card issuer then sells the information to a debt collector, and then the debt collector collects the payment. In 2011, charge offs have decreased, and are currently around six percent of bank accounts. Even still, some consumers still are having a hard time accessing credit due to prior mistakes.

Having a good credit card and a good credit score is important when looking for new credit cards, as well as auto insurance policies and home mortgages. If you have bad credit, try starting out with a secured credit card. Secured credit cards provide a viable alternative to traditional unsecured credit card. With secure credit card, you will be required to put down a security deposit which is the equivalent of your spending limit on the credit card. If you default on a payment, the issuer will just take it out of the security deposit that you put down upfront. Not all secured credit card issuers are gold; make sure they report your payment information to the one of the three major credit reporting agencies - Experian, TransUnion and Equifax, so it can enhance your credit score.

Here are our top three picks for secured credit cards:

  1. Orchard Bank Classic Visa and Classic MasterCard

    2. A very popular credit card, the first years' $35 annual fee is waved for new customers. Also, the card offers a 7.90 percent APR, and a 21 percent cash back APR. Use this card if you have a lot to deposit and not very many purchases to make.

  2. Capital One Secured MasterCard

    3. If you have a little bit of a good standing with the credit card issuers, this may be a good card for you. The Capital One Secured MasterCard is known to give you a little bit of a higher credit limit than the deposit you put down. This card has an APR of 24.99 percent, so we recommend putting money down to secure the card, but being very frugal about transactions.

As always fees are subject to change, please call up your credit card issuer if you are interested in a secure credit card.

tags : Banks Interest Rates Secured Cards

Disclaimer: This editorial content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuer(s). Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of the credit card issuer(s), and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer(s). Reasonable efforts are made to present accurate information, however all information is presented without warranty. Consult a card's issuing bank for the terms & conditions.
All rates and fees, and other terms and conditions of the products mentioned in this article/post are actual as of the last update date but are subject to change. See the current products' Terms & Conditions on the issuing banks' websites.