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First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card review

Updated:

image_9afa06Image: image_9afa06

387

reviews

1.7

Rating: 1.7 out of 5.

Great for a low purchase APR

Annual Fee: $39

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 First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card or similar cards.

% of members by credit limit range

$0-$3K $3K-$5K $5K-$10K $10K-$20K $20K+ 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 90% 7% 3% 0% 0%
$0-$3K $3K-$5K $5K-$10K $10K-$20K $20K+ 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 90% 7% 3% 0% 0%
$0-$3K $3K-$5K $5K-$10K $10K-$20K $20K+ 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 90% 7% 3% 0% 0%

The average credit limit for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is $1,130, with $200 being the most common.

Here’s the average credit score of members who matched their First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card or similar cards.

% of members by credit score range

Thin file Poor Fair Good Excellent 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 1% 55% 24% 19% 1%
Thin file Poor Fair Good Excellent 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 1% 55% 24% 19% 1%
Thin file Poor Fair Good Excellent 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 1% 55% 24% 19% 1%

The average credit score for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is 592, with 566 being the most common. Note this is just one of the deciding factors when it comes to getting approved.


Member stats

Updated daily

48%

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.

44 years

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

$74,881

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

yesImage: yes

Potentially easy to qualify for

yesImage: yes

Reports to all three credit bureaus

yesImage: yes

Moderate variable APR for purchases


ConImage: Con

Charges annual fee

ConImage: Con

Can’t graduate to a fully unsecured version of the card


First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card review

Updated October 16, 2024

This date may not reflect recent changes in individual terms.

Written by: Clint Proctor


What you need to know about the First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card

Potentially easy to qualify for

First Progress says that there’s no minimum credit requirement to apply for the First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card. It doesn’t require a credit history either.

This card is designed to help consumers who are looking to establish or rebuild their credit history. And these relaxed requirements mean that consumers with bad or no credit might have a good chance of qualifying for the First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card.

Credit limit will be equal to your deposit

Secured credit cards require you to make a cash deposit to secure your account, which acts as collateral against your credit line. If you don’t make payments, then the card company can use your security deposit to pay your debt. So the security deposit helps to offset risk for the card issuer, which is why most secured credit cards can have lower credit requirements than unsecured credit cards.

With the First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card, you’ll need to make a minimum security deposit of $200, which is refundable. You can make a larger deposit if you choose, at a minimum of $200 and a maximum of $2,000. But no matter what size deposit you make, your credit limit will be equal to your deposit. One other thing to note: First Progress will deduct your $39 annual fee from your initial credit line. So if your deposit is $200, your initial available credit would be $161 until you pay off the $39.

Reports to the three major credit bureaus

Even though it requires a cash deposit, the First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card is a true revolving line of credit. And your card activity will be reported to all three major credit bureaus. So if you use the card carefully and make consistent on-time payments, it can have a positive effect on your credit scores.

One thing to note: Your credit utilization rate, which is the amount of money you’ve borrowed divided by the total credit available to you, can deeply affect your credit scores. The rule of thumb is to try and keep your utilization rate below 30%, but that can be hard to do if you have a low credit limit — especially if you get hit with an annual fee right out of the gate.

Over time, First Progress may choose to increase your credit limit without requiring an additional deposit. Just keep in mind that if First Progress does increase your limit that the maximum you can obtain is $5,000.

Can’t graduate to a fully unsecured card

Some secured credit cards will offer the option to graduate cardholders to unsecured versions of their cards after they’ve made a certain number of on-time payments.

But the First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card doesn’t offer the option to get your “refundable” deposit back without closing your account, sending the issuer your cards and paying off your balance in full. 

You can ask First Progress to bump up your credit limit at any time. But it makes no promises about approval. This is definitely an area where the First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card falls short.

Annual fee and APR

The First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card has a $39 annual fee and a variable 18.24% purchase APR. That’s not bad, as far as interest rates go, but it’s better not to carry a balance at all if possible.

Annual fees can be worth it with unsecured cards that offer a lot of rewards. But that’s not the case here. If you can qualify for a secured card that doesn’t charge any annual fee, that would probably be a better move.

What else you need to know about the First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card

  • Penalty fees — This card’s late payment fee is up to $41, and its returned payment fee is up to $30.
  • Transaction fees — With this card, a cash advance will cost you 3% (minimum $10) of the amount transferred (whichever is greater), and you’ll be charged a 3% fee for foreign transactions.

Who this card is good for

The First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card may be a good fit for someone who wants the combination of relaxed credit requirements and a moderate variable purchase APR. You should try to avoid carrying a balance, but if that’s not possible, the First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card could save you money over other secured credit cards that charge higher purchase APRs.

But if you plan to pay your bill off in full every month, there are better secured credit card options. Deciding on the right one for you depends on your needs.

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


Member reviews

Overall rating:

1.7

Rating: 1.7 out of 5.

387

reviews

Most helpful positive review

June 29, 2023

5

Rating: 5 out of 5.

So far very good.

Credit Karma Member

I was pleased with payment s being applied so quick. I paid on line which is great

Most helpful negative review

October 18, 2023

1

Rating: 1 out of 5.

Awful

Credit Karma Member

I completed the application. Funded my card w 500 dollars was taken out of my bank immediately. Then my application was declined? Now I’m told that it will be a week before then can reimburse me. That is ridiculous! I can not believe credit karma would recommend this card. I’m sm going to my bank tomorrow and report it as fraud

All member reviews