Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card Review

A credit card can be an excellent tool to help you manage your cash flow and boost your credit score, but if you currently have below-average credit, you might struggle to find a card you qualify for. Many credit cards – especially rewards credit cards – require either good or excellent credit.

That's where the CardName comes in. It offers the rewards benefit of many unsecured credit cards but is more accessible to consumers working on building their credit. Keep reading to learn more about this card, its benefits, who it's a good fit for, and more.

HOW DOES THE CAPITAL ONE QUICKSILVER SECURED CARD WORK?

The CardName is designed for borrowers who are working on building their credit.

If you're approved for the card, you'll be required to pay a refundable security deposit of at least $200, which will be your initial credit limit. This security deposit acts as collateral for the credit card, just as you would have collateral on a secured loan.

Once your credit card is open, you can spend on it just as you would any other. The card currently charges a variable rate of RegAPR, which you'll pay on any purchases you don't pay off by the payment date. See Rates and Fees

As you use the card, Capital One will report your on-time payments to the three credit bureaus, and with continued responsible use, you should see your credit score improve. Assuming you use the card responsibly, Capital One will automatically consider you for a higher credit line in as little as six months with no additional deposit. Continue to use your card responsibly and you can eventually earn your deposit back and upgrade to the unsecured CardName which offers a more competitive APR of RegAPR; balance transfer fee applies. See Rates and Fees.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE CAPITAL ONE QUICKSILVER SECURED CARD?

The major benefit of secured credit cards is they're available to borrowers who are rebuilding their credit or building it for the first time. Security deposits allow credit card companies to accept borrowers who may not otherwise be eligible for a credit card. And over time, your secured credit card should help you increase your credit score.

Unfortunately, that's where the benefits end with many secured credit cards. The CardName, however, stands out because it allows cardholders to build their credit while also earning rewards.

When you use your Quicksilver Secured, you'll earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase. For example, if you spend $500 in a month, you'll earn $7.50 in rewards. If you do that each month for a year, your earnings grow to $90. You can redeem those rewards for cash, statement credits, or gift cards to many of your favorite retailers. Additionally, you can earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options (terms apply). Finally, enjoy up to six months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024

Another benefit of the Quicksilver Secured, which many unsecured cards don't even offer, is that it doesn't charge foreign transaction fees. Many cash-back cards charge foreign transaction fees of up to 3% when you use them outside the United States, but you don't have to worry about that with this card. See Rates and Fees

WHO IS A GOOD FIT FOR THE CAPITAL ONE QUICKSILVER SECURED CARD?

A secured credit card can be a powerful tool to help you increase your credit score when you may not otherwise have access to a credit card. And this card, in particular, has the added benefit of 1.5% cash back on every purchase.

The CardName is a good fit for borrowers with limited/bad credit who either have defaulted on a loan or are building their credit for the first time.

As we talk about who this card is good for, we should also discuss who it may not be a right fit for. First, this card isn't for you if you have good credit and can qualify for an unsecured credit card. Not only can you avoid the security deposit by going that route, but you will also have access more card benefits and potentially a lower APR.

Additionally, the rewards-earning potential this card offers is nice, but don't let it distract you from your goal of improving your credit. If you think you might get carried away with earning rewards and spend beyond your means, this probably isn't the best card for you. The rewards earned aren't worth the cost of carrying a balanace and paying a high APR.

CAPITAL ONE QUICKSILVER SECURED CARD CARDHOLDER SCORES

CardRatings conducts a survey annually to learn what actual cardholders think of their cards. Here are the results:

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

HOW DOES THE CAPITAL ONE QUICKSILVER SECURED CARD COMPARE TO OTHER CREDIT CARDS?

The CardName is one of the top secured credit cards on the market, but it's far from the only option. Let's see how this credit card stacks up to some of the other top secured cards.

Capital One Quicksilver Secured vs. Capital One Platinum Secured

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See Rates and Fees

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The CardName is different from the Quicksilver Secured in a couple of key ways. First, the Quicksilver Secured requires a minimum $200 security deposit with an initial credit line of $200. Meanwhile, the Platinum Secured still has an initial credit line of $200, but with deposits available of $49, $99, or $200, depending on your credit score.

Another difference between the two cards is the rewards component. While the Quicksilver Secured offers 1.5% cash back on your spending, the Platinum Secured offers no cash back. That being said, the Platinum Secured might be a better choice if you worry about rewards potentially getting you into trouble.

Capital One Quicksilver Secured vs. Discover it® Secured

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The CardName is another top credit card for those working to build their credit. This card is very similar to the Quicksilver Secured in a couple of key ways. First, both of these cards require a security deposit of at least $200. Your deposit will be equal to your credit limit.

Even more important, the Discover it Secured also offers cash-back benefits, which remember, is somewhat rare in the secured-credit card space. You'll get 2% back on the first $1,000 per quarter you spend at gas stations and restaurants and 1% back on all other purchases. Finally, you'll get a dollar-for-dollar match of all of your cash back earned at the end of your first year as a cardholder.

Deciding which reward structure is better comes down to where you tend to spend the most. If you spend a lot at gas stations and restaurants, then the higher rewards rate on those purchases might be a better financial decision. However, if you don't spend a lot in those areas, then the 1.5% flat rate the Quicksilver Secured offers might make more sense.

Capital One Quicksilver Secured vs. Citi® Secured Mastercard®

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The CardName is another popular secured credit card option. This card requires a security deposit between $200 and $2,500, and the amount you deposit will be equal to your credit limit, just like with the Quicksilver Secured.

Unfortunately, the Citi® Secured doesn't offer any rewards for your spending. It does, however, allow you to choose the payment due date that works best for your finances, which is a nice perk for those seeking flexibility.

The Citi card is also available to those with no credit, so approval may be easier to get with this card if you're just starting your credit journey. Citi is a CardRatings advertiser.

IS THE CAPITAL ONE QUICKSILVER SECURED CARD A GOOD CARD?

We think the CardName is a great card for anyone with limited/bad credit who can't qualify for an unsecured credit card. Secured credit cards, in general, can be an excellent tool for credit building. And this card offers the unique benefit of cash back on your spending, which is difficult to find with other secured cards. For borrowers who need a secured card and meet the credit requirements for the Quicksilver Secured, this card is a solid choice.

Survey Methodology: CardRatings commissioned Op4G in September 2023 to conduct surveys among 1,869 cardholders nationwide. CardRatings website analytics from Jan. 1, 2023-Aug. 31, 2023 were used to determine a selection of the most popular cards and additional cards were included to add survey breadth. Responses to each of nine questions were given on a scale of 1-10 and respondents' scores were then averaged under broad topics. To determine the overall score, responses from questions 1-8 were summed and the answer to "How likely are you to recommend this card to a friend, coworker or family member?" was double weighted. “Current Scores” reflect scores from the most recent survey (2023); "Past Scores" reflect scores from the 2022 survey.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.