| Last updated on November 14th, 2023
Taz Visa®
Taz Visa®
Taz Visa®
- 29.99% variable based on the Prime Rate Regular Purchase APR
- 29.99% variable based on the Prime Rate Cash Advance APR
At a Glance
The Taz Visa® is a credit builder credit card that offers a platform for responsible use but little else. The card, from First National Bank, continuously monitors for credit limit increases, giving you the tools you need to demonstrate a positive credit history and graduate to more impressive rewards cards in the future.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- Stay on top of your account with the Taz mobile app
- U.S. based customer service
- 24/7 zero liability fraud protection
- Taz regularly monitors for credit limit increases
- Regular Purchase APR: 29.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance APR: 29.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: 2% of the amount of each cash advance
- Annual Fee: See Terms
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $7.50
- Return Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $25
- You have bad credit and want to repair it with responsible use
- You can afford the steep annual fee
- You don’t plan on using the card to carry a balance
- You have a mail offer from Taz
In-Depth Review: Taz Visa® Credit Card
The Taz Visa® Credit Card is a credit builder card issued by First National Bank. The card requires a mail offer to apply, including a reservation number and an access code.
Mail Offer and Reservation Code Required
As mentioned, the Taz Visa requires a pre-sorted mail offer to apply. Many subprime issuers use pre-screened and pre-sorted offers to target potential applicants, which can lead to frustration if you can’t access a reservation code. This process is similar to Mercury Financial, the issuer of the popular Mercury Mastercard, Best Egg Visa, and Free Spirit Points Mastercard.
Pre-sorted offers provide a slightly higher chance of approval versus a cold application. Still, since many of these offers are pre-sorted instead of pre-approved (meaning the offers were sent based on minimal credit information), the odds of approval aren’t certain, meaning you might find better value with another card offer.
Related Article: Credit Cards That Don’t Require a Preapproval Mail Offer
Starting Credit Limits
Starting credit limits vary with the Taz Visa. The card’s website claims successful applicants receive a $350 initial credit limit. Still, these credit lines may rise as high as $1,500 depending on your creditworthiness and the offer you receive from Taz upon approval. There are currently three offers, each with a varying annual fee:
- Offer 1: $49 introductory annual fee for the first year, $114 annually ($9.50 per month) after that
- Offer 2: $49 annual fee
- Offer 3: $75 annual fee
The Taz Visa’s annual fee is similar to other second chance and credit builder credit cards for subprime credit. The annual fee and starting credit limits are comparable with the Surge® Platinum Mastercard®, though the Milestone Mastercard, by comparison, provides a larger starting limit of $700 instead of $350.
Bad Credit Comparison
As mentioned, the Taz Visa requires a mail offer to acquire, which may put off some hopeful applicants. If you’re still keeping your options open, here are three other credit builder card options to consider:
| Revvi Card | Destiny® Mastercard® | Reflex Mastercard® | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $75 1st year, $48 after | See terms | See terms |
| Card type | Unsecured | Unsecured | Unsecured |
| Pre-qualify? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Starting limit | $300 | $500 | Up to $1,000 |
| Rewards | 1% cash back on Revvi payments | 1.5% cash back (for targeted applicants) | N/A |
| Network | Visa | Mastercard | Mastercard |
Building Credit with Taz
The main purpose of the Taz Visa is to provide a platform for building a positive credit history. Taz can help you raise your score through regular reporting to the three major credit bureaus – Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Regular reporting is the easiest way to build your credit as it constantly updates your score to reflect the positive credit habits you’ll need to learn.
These credit-building tips include:
| Tip | Explanation | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check your credit file | Checking your credit report is a great way to better understand your financial well-being. Checking your credit report helps you maintain an accurate credit history, protect against identity theft, and make informed financial decisions. You can ask for a free credit report from a credit-reporting agency every 12 months. | |||
| Keep credit utilization low | Aim to keep your credit card balances well below your credit limit. High credit card utilization, or the amount of your credit limit you actually use, can negatively impact your credit score. A general rule is to keep credit utilization below 30% of your credit limit. | |||
| Pay on time | Always pay your bills on time. Your payment history is a significant factor in your FICO Score and VantageScore credit scores. Always pay your bills, including credit cards, loans, and utilities, on time. Late payments can hurt your credit and may result in reduced credit limits or closed accounts. | |||
| Become an authorized user | Becoming an authorized user on someone else’s credit card account can help supercharge your credit growth. When you’re added as an authorized user, the card’s payment history and credit utilization are often reported on your credit report, potentially boosting your credit score if the primary cardholder manages their credit responsibly. | |||
| Limit new applications | Always try to avoid applying for too many credit cards in a short timeframe. Each time you apply for credit, it results in a hard inquiry on your credit report, which can temporarily lower your score. Be selective about applying for new credit and you will rpotect your credit score. | |||
Put simply, the Taz Visa provides the bones for a healthy credit-building journey – it just needs the right mindset and dedication to help improve your score. Taz also regularly checks your credit to look for credit limit increase opportunities.
Be Wary of the Fees
As with many subprime credit cards, the Taz Visa has a selection of associated fees you must consider before applying. Depending on your offer, you may need to pay a monthly fee for card membership. This $9.50 monthly fee can add up quickly and can impact your available credit. Other fees to be aware of include:
- Late payment fee of up to $7.50
- Returned payment fee of $25
- An authorized user fee of $20 per additional account
- A cash advance fee of 2% of each cash advance total amount
The card also has a very high APR on purchases. This high rate can be avoided by paying your balance in full each month, however. Doing so will also help you keep your credit utilization low. There is no foreign transaction fee, as the card cannot be used for purchases outside the United States.
Other Card Features
There aren’t many other features to note with the Taz Visa. One interesting detail, however, is the card’s mobile app – available on both Apple and Android devices. The app lets you check your account balance, pay bills, view transactions, and more with relative ease. In addition, the card features basic Visa benefits and security protections:
| Zero Fraud Liability | Cardholder Inquiry Services | Emergency Card Replacement |
| Roadside Dispatch and Auto Collision Damage Waiver | Lost/Stolen Card Reporting | ID Navigator from Norton |
First National Bank Ratings
What is First National Bank, the issuer of the Taz Visa, like to deal with as a lender? Here is a selection of expert and consumer reviews for First National and Taz:
| BestCards | Better Business Bureau | TrustPilot |
|
3/5 |
1.5/5 |
2.5/5 |
Should You Apply for the Taz Visa® Credit Card?
There are tons of subprime credit cards on the market, so should you choose Taz for your next credit card? We say there are better options out there aimed at the same credit profile – including rewards credit cards like the Aspire® Cashback Rewards Credit Card, which earns up to 3% cash back on purchases with a comparable annual fee. Options from Credit One Bank might also make more sense – particularly if you want rewards and room to grow.
Ultimately, the Taz Visa struggles to stand out in a very crowded marketplace. Is it a bad card? Not really. But the mail offer and reservation code requirements make it a hassle to seek out. Because of this, you might find better options from issuers like Applied Bank, Ollo (which also requires an access code), and Fortiva.
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