1. Credit Cards
2. Insights
3. BrightWay review: A beginner credit card that rewards on-time payments

Image: image_23f013

219

reviews

3.1

Rating: 3.1 out of 5.

Great for unlocking better terms

Annual Fee: $65 (you may see different offers on Credit Karma)

This content is curated by Intuit Credit Karma’s Editorial team using data from members who were approved for this card or similar cards, or who self-matched this card or similar cards. Intuit Credit Karma receives compensation from third-party advertisers, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our third-party advertisers don’t review, approve or endorse this content. Information about financial products not offered on Credit Karma is collected independently. Our content is accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted.

Here’s the average credit limit of members who matched their BrightWay or similar cards.

% of members by credit limit range

The average credit limit for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is $639, with $300 being the most common.

Here’s the average credit score of members who matched their BrightWay or similar cards.

% of members by credit score range

The average credit score for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is 561, with 555 being the most common. Note this is just one of the deciding factors when it comes to getting approved.

Member stats

Updated daily

62.7%

Average credit utilization (or what percent of the card’s credit limit is being used) of members who matched with this card or similar cards.

45 years

Average age of members who matched this card or similar cards.

$74,572

Average annual income of members who matched this card or similar cards. Note: Income may be estimated for some members by Credit Karma and may differ from members’ actual incomes.

Pros and cons

Image: yes

No security deposit

Image: yes

Ability to work toward better terms

Image: yes

Cash back rewards

Image: Con

Possible low credit limit

Image: Con

High annual fee

Image: Con

High APR, as is typical for similar cards

BrightWay review

Updated March 3, 2025

This date may not reflect recent changes in individual terms.

Written by: Sean McQuay

What you need to know

If you’re working on building your credit history, the BrightWay credit card may help you get started.

While you won’t need to put down a security deposit, the card has a $65 annual fee. You might see a different annual fee offered on Credit Karma.

Ability to unlock better terms

The card offers a credit limit of up to $2,000. But among the BrightWay card’s drawbacks are the potential for a credit limit as low as $300 (you might see different terms on Credit Karma) and a high interest rate. But if you make six months of on-time payments, you may be eligible to qualify for a higher credit line and lower interest fees.

The BrightWay credit card offers 1% cash back on all purchases. While this is a nice-to-have perk for a beginner card or unsecured credit card, it’s not as high as the cash-back rate you can get with some other cards.

And remember, it’s not a good idea to spend just for the sake of earning rewards.

What else you need to know

If you’re thinking about getting the BrightWay card, here’s a few more things to consider.

• APR is on the high side — At 35.99% for purchases, balance transfers and cash advances, if you don’t pay your balance in full every month, you could end up racking up extra debt just from interest charges. You might see a different APR offered on Credit Karma.
• Watch out for fees — There’s a fee of up to $40 for any late payments. Setting up autopay can help you avoid this situation.
• Using the card abroad will cost you extra — A foreign transaction fee of 1% of transaction value  will be applied to all transactions made outside of the United States, so it’s not the best card to use internationally.

Who this card is good for

The BrightWay credit card could be an option for people looking to establish or rebuild their credit history. Or it may make a good first credit card.

Before you decide to apply for this card though, there are other credit-builder cards that may offer better long-term value.

Not sure this is the card for you? Consider these alternatives.

• Petal® 1 Visa® Credit Card: This card may be a good fit if you’re brand new to credit and are looking for a first credit card.
• Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card: If you can afford a security deposit, this card offers a low-cost way to build credit and earn rewards.
• OpenSky® Secured Credit Visa® Card: People with no credit history might want to consider this card since it doesn’t require a credit check to apply.