If you are new to the credit scene and have not built up any credit yet, you can do a search using the criteria "bad credit" and it will bring up a number of options for you to consider. Now, you may be thinking the category "bad" credit has nothing to do with you, but without the track record of credit history, it's difficult for a lender to evaluate your ability to make payments. Until you have built up a credit score, you have a low credit score; hence, the search for credit card options in the "bad credit" category.

Another place you can inquire about a secured credit card is a local branch of almost any major bank.

In considering which secured credit card is best for you, you should ask how much of a deposit is required to open the savings account to "secure" the card. Most banks require at least $250. You will also want to know whether the savings will earn interest. Find out, too, whether the bank reports your on-time payments to the credit bureaus, which ones and how often. And don't forget to ask if the bank will automatically convert your secured card to an unsecured card after a prescribed period of time.

Another important question to ask is what is the purchase APR? Expect this to be high, but sometimes you get lucky. Are there any frills with this card? I would not expect too much in this area such as rewards, because this is not the purpose of the card. The purpose of the card is to build your credit as rapidly as possible, and there simply is no faster way than with a secured credit card.