Citi Secured Card Review
This article was last updated Aug 15, 2018. Terms and conditions may have changed. For the most accurate information, please consult the issuer website.
Who the card is best for
The Citi® Secured Mastercard® issued by our partner Citi is a $0 annual fee secured card that provides cardholders the opportunity to build credit when used responsibly. This card is just OK when compared to other secured cards, given you won’t earn any rewards or receive substantial perks. Although that means you can focus solely on building credit, it can be a drawback if you’re looking for a secured card with rewards or above-average benefits. If that’s the case, check out other secured card options.
Where this card stands out in its category
This card offers a high credit limit range of $200-$2,500. But remember that this is a secured card, so your credit limit is equal to your security deposit. That means if you want a $2,500 credit limit you will have to deposit $2,500, which is no small feat, though it does give you the ability to have a high credit limit if desired.
Where this card falls short in its category
The Citi® Secured Mastercard® is very basic and lacks additional card perks that some other secured cards have like rewards, no foreign transaction fees and more. Therefore, this card is less appealing compared to competitors that have similar terms plus the added benefits of rewards and other noteworthy features.
Additional card benefits
Unfortunately, the Citi® Secured Mastercard® doesn’t come with any additional card benefits besides those that are standard to credit cards such as identity theft solutions and your free credit score.
How to use it most effectively
You can see the most benefit from the Citi® Secured Mastercard® when you follow proper credit behavior. An important factor in managing your card is to pay each statement on time and in full. That means you shouldn’t only pay the minimum due or carry a balance, because that will incur fees and paying late also results in a penalty APR, not to mention potentially damage your credit. Paying in full and on time saves you money and helps your credit score.
Another important practice is to keep a low utilization rate — that’s the amount of your available credit you use. The less you use of your available credit, the better, but a good rule of thumb is to keep your credit utilization rate around 20%. For example, if you have a $400 credit limit, try to spend less than $80 before paying off your balance. Citi also provides credit and financial management resources at their Credit Knowledge Center.
Compare it with the Discover it® Secured Credit Card
The Citi® Secured Mastercard® and Discover it® Secured Credit Card both require a minimum $200 security deposit but offer different card benefits. People looking to earn rewards with their card won’t find any with the Citi® Secured Mastercard®, but they will with the Discover it® Secured Credit Card — 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically So, if you want to build credit and earn rewards, check out the Discover it® Secured Credit Card.
Regarding other card benefits, the Discover it® Secured Credit Card has a more robust program than the Citi® Secured Mastercard® with no foreign transaction fees and a waived late fee for your first missed payment, among other perks. The Citi® Secured Mastercard® is very basic and doesn’t offer any benefits beyond standard features like identity theft protection. Overall, if you’re looking for a well-rounded secured card, the Discover it® Secured Credit Card is a great choice, and the Citi® Secured Mastercard® can be an alternative if you want a no-frills card.
Here’s a breakdown of the key features of each card:
| Citi® Secured Mastercard® | Discover it® Secured Credit Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Minimum Security Deposit | $200 | $200 |
| Purchase Intro Rate | N/A | N/A |
| Balance Transfer Intro Rate | N/A | 10.99% for 6 months |
| Balance Transfer Fee | 3% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum | 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)* |
| Regular Purchase APR | 22.49% (Variable) | 22.99% Variable APR |
| Rewards | None | 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically |
| Sign Up Bonus | N/A | Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match. |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 3% | None |
Bottom line
The Citi® Secured Mastercard® is an OK secured credit card. It can provide you with the foundation on which to build your credit, but you can easily find secured cards from other major issuers that provide rewards and other benefits.
