You might think that having bad credit would preclude you from qualifying for a cash back credit card.
Not so.
There is a classification of credit cards tailored to consumers with no credit and those whose credit history is, shall we say, less than stellar. Some of these are called “secured” credit cards, meaning that you must put forth a deposit in order to secure your credit limit. Others are unsecured cards with generally lower spending limits.
It’s certainly true that rewards shouldn’t be your first goal if you’re working to build or rebuild your credit, but if you’re being responsible AND can earn some rewards, what’s not to like?
Our editors have compiled a list of the cash back credit card options for people with a “Poor” credit score (a 580 and under FICO score). These cards serve two primary purposes. First, they give you an opportunity to build or rebuild your credit score with responsible use since all these options report your activity to the credit bureaus. Some of the secured cards will even give you the opportunity to graduate to an unsecured card if you make on-time payments over a set period of time, proving your creditworthiness.
The second purpose of the cards on the list our editors have compiled is to help you earn cash back each time you make a purchase. And we can all use some extra money in our wallets.