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Merrick Bank offers that can help you build or rebuild credit
Posted on Jun 23, 2022
Updated on Jun 23, 2022
Merrick Bank is a top 20 credit card issuer in the U.S. that offers both unsecured and secured credit cards to help those who are looking to build or rebuild their credit.
Since many people are not very familiar with Merrick Bank and might have questions about their credit cards, here is a more detailed overview of Merrick Bank cards currently available on the market.
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Regular APR
22.70% Variable
Annual Fee
$36 for first year. Billed $3 per month thereafter
Build Credit
Yes
- Choose your own credit line based on how much money you want to put down as a security deposit.
- Initial deposits can be from $200 to $3,000. You can increase your credit line at any time by adding additional money to your security deposit, up to $3,000.
- After 9 months, we review your account for a credit line increase. No additional deposit required!
- Secured Credit Cards are great for people looking to build or rebuild credit and are available to people with all kinds of credit backgrounds.
- Unlike a debit card or a pre-paid card, it helps build your credit history. We report your payment history to all three major credit-reporting agencies.
- Get your FICO® Credit Score for free each month.
- Fraud coverage if your card is lost or stolen. Access your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Get help staying on track with available Auto Pay and account alerts.
- Card issued by Merrick Bank, Member FDIC.
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First, it is worth noting that Merrick Bank is one of the rare issuers that offer credit doubling for positive credit behavior. The opportunity to double your initial credit limit with the Merrick Bank products available on the market today is a good enticement to form responsible financial habits and boost your credit score.
Merrick Bank credit cards are available to help cardholders improve their credit score and build a positive credit history. There are secured credit cards that require a security deposit to access a line of credit, and there is a standard, unsecured credit card that is not backed by a cash deposit from the cardholder.
Unsecured credit cards from Merrick Bank
The Merrick Bank Double Your Line® Mastercard® (expired offer) is the issuer's unsecured credit card, meaning you won't be required to pay a security deposit to access a revolving line of credit.
The standout feature of the card is the ability to easily double your credit limit after seven consecutive on-time payments from opening an account. This means that if you're approved for a credit limit of $1,350, for example, you could end up with a credit line as high as $2,700 simply by paying your bills on time.
Merrick Bank credit card pre-approval
Unlike many other cards, you can get pre-approved for the Merrick Bank Double Your Line® Mastercard® by mail or by filling out an online form on Merrick Bank's website.
No credit check for pre-approval is a great way to see if the Merrick Bank Double Your Line® Mastercard® is the right option for you without a hard inquiry on your credit report.
The credit card pre-approval means you've met the card issuer's initial criteria for a card. That doesn't guarantee you'll be approved, though. If you receive a preapproval, you still have to apply to find out whether you're approved.
Secured credit cards from Merrick bank
Building a strong credit history sometimes requires starting out with a secured credit card. Merrick Bank has two secured credit card offerings: the Merrick Bank Secured Credit Card and the Merrick Bank Double Your Line® Secured Credit Card (expired offer).
Both secured cards have the same terms and require a minimum initial security deposit of $200, which acts as your credit limit. With either card, your account is reviewed periodically for an automatic credit limit increase. You can also increase your initial credit line at any time by adding more money to your security deposit of up to $3,000.
If you're approved for the Merrick Bank Double Your Line® Secured Credit Card, you can also double your credit line to $400 without another deposit by making at least your minimum payment on time each month for the first seven months your account is open.
This may seem obvious, but the key to a solid payment history and consequently a good credit score is paying your bills on time, every month, without fail. As the most important factor when calculating a consumer's credit score, payment history accounts for 35% of a FICO Score calculation.
Opportunity to double the initial credit limit
This feature is available for two cards issued by Merrick Bank, as the name of the cards refer to: the Merrick Bank Double Your Line® Mastercard® and the Merrick Bank Double Your Line® Secured Credit Card. Credit limit doubling is available as a one-time option and provided your account qualifies.
Most importantly, if you pay 7 minimum consecutive payments on time, your credit line will double from your initial credit limit. Furthermore, after the initial doubling of credit line, Merrick Bank will regularly review your account to see if it qualifies for further credit line increases.
Finally, you may find the answers to the following frequently asked questions about the Merrick Bank products helpful:
How to apply for the Merrick card using the Acceptance Certificate Number?
If you receive an invitation to apply for a card from Merrick Bank by mail, you can try to use the following Merrick Bank page to apply. You will need to provide the Acceptance Certificate number found on the promotional mailing, the last name as it appears on your offer letter, and a valid email address. Please note that the Acceptance Certificate number does not guarantee credit card approval and the issuer reserves the right to terminate this promotion at any time.
How to check Merrick bank application status?
All applicants will receive a notification letter in the mail 2-3 weeks from when they applied. If you have not heard from the issuer within that time frame, you may call the Customer Service. The representative will track your Merrick bank credit card through the reference code that was provided to you at the time of application.
You can also check your application status by logging in to your account at merrickbank.com. Search for the application status tab, and you'll be able to check.
How long will it take to receive the card?
If you're approved, it could take up to two weeks for you to receive your credit card in the mail.
Before you can use your new credit card, you need to activate it. This is simple to do - call the phone number on the card or use the link in the acceptance letter. If you're activating your card by phone, be sure to call from the same phone number you listed on your credit card application.
How soon after 7 months the credit limit will be increased?
You can double your credit line by making at least your minimum payment on time each month for the first 7 months your account is open. If you qualify, the double credit line increase will be automatic. Most likely, your next credit card statement will contain information on your initial credit line increase. Your credit limit can be automatically doubled only once, after that, your account will be regularly reviewed for credit line increases without the need for an additional deposit.
Do Merrick Credit cards help to reestablish or build credit?
Since Merrick Bank reports to all three major credit bureaus every month, cardholders might be able to improve their credit score by practicing responsible credit behavior with their active credit accounts. These good habits include paying your statement balance in full and on time every month, keeping credit use below 30% of your total credit line, and avoiding opening too many new credit accounts in a short time.
