| Last updated on March 26th, 2024
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
- 25.14% (variable) Regular Purchase APR
- 25.14% (variable) Cash Advance APR
At a Glance
The OpenSky® Secured Visa® is a secured credit card that offers requires a low minimum deposit and features no credit checks for approval. The card, issued by Capital Bank, provides an easy route to better credit by offering credit limits as low as $200, a moderate fixed-rate APR, and a reasonable $35 annual fee.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- New feature! Earn up to 10% cash back on everyday purchases
- No credit check to apply. Zero credit risk to apply!
- Looking to build or rebuild your credit? 2 out of 3 OpenSky cardholders increase their credit score by an average of 41 points in just 3 months
- Get free monthly access to your FICO score in our mobile application
- Build your credit history across 3 major credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion
- Add to your mobile wallet and make purchases using Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay
- Fund your card with a low $200 refundable security deposit to get a $200 credit line
- Apply in less than 5 minutes with our mobile first application
- Choose the due date that fits your schedule with flexible payment dates
- Fund your security deposit over 60 days with the option to make partial payments
- Over 1.4 Million Cardholders Have Used OpenSky Secured Credit Card To Improve Their Credit
- *See Rewards Terms and Conditions for more information
- Regular Purchase APR: 25.14% (variable)
- Cash Advance APR: 25.14% (variable)
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: Either $6 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.
- Annual Fee: $35
- Foreign Transaction Fee: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $40
- Return Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $25
- Minimum Deposit Required: $200
- You're struggling to get accepted for other secured credit cards
- You don’t have a credit history
- You have bad credit and want to improve your credit score
- You have a large deposit and want a quick pick-me-up for their credit score
- You want access to a useful knowledge base of credit information and resources
In-Depth Review: OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
The OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card doesn’t turn heads, but it is a card that can turn around fortunes. Unlike some secured cards, OpenSky doesn’t punish cardholders with sky-high fees or charges, instead offering an ideal platform for establishing a positive history – for the first time, the second time, or whenever you need a credit pick-me-up.
How to Pre-Qualify for an OpenSky Secured Card
Getting a credit card usually requires a credit check. This requirement can sometimes keep those with bad credit from getting a secured card. Capital Bank (one of the lesser-known financial institutions), however, realizes this problem and requires no hard pull to approve applicants for the OpenSky® Secured Visa®.
Since the OpenSky Credit Card doesn’t require a pull on your credit score, how can they know who is – and isn’t – a good fit for the card? Since the card requires a security deposit, much of the worry of a lender might have been greatly reduced. Capital Bank only needs to verify critical parts of an applicant’s information before approving them – without checking their credit score.
So, precisely what information does Capital Bank require from applicants? Here is the basic information you’ll need to pre-qualify for a credit card with OpenSky:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Contact information (phone number, housing address, email)
- Income
- Housing payments
- Social Security Number
How to Apply for OpenSky
Capital Bank (the issuer of the OpenSky Visa credit cards) also has specific requirements as to who can apply for one of its card products. To qualify for the OpenSky® Secured Visa® or OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa® Credit Card, Applicants must:
- Be at least 18 years old,
- Be a United States citizen or a permanent resident alien,
- Have a valid Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
- Have a monthly income that exceeds their monthly bills,
- Not have three (3) or more credit cards with Capital Bank,
- Not have applied for four (4) or more Capital Bank credit cards in the previous 60 days and
- Have a positive payment history with Capital Bank for any existing accounts.
OpenSky Secured Visa Card Features
While secured cards are typically not as robust as other unsecured cards, they still offer essential protections and benefits consumers need.
Regular Reports to the Major Credit Bureaus
Like other secured cards, Capital Bank reports regularly to the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Making small purchases with the OpenSky credit card and paying them back each month can quickly raise a credit score.
A Decent APR
Many secured cards have interest rates well above 20%. While a lower APR is always preferable, this rate only applies to those who plan to carry a balance. Carrying a balance is when you fail to pay your entire statement balance instead of paying the minimum or anything less than the full amount.
The OpenSky Secured Visa has a variable APR higher than average but isn’t extortionate. That means the card can carry a balance, although doing so may cause adverse results on a credit report, especially if the balance leads to a credit usage rate of over 30%.
Fees
The OpenSky® Secured Visa® charges an annual fee of $35. Many secured cards charge a significantly higher annual fee, so the $35 charge isn’t too bad – especially considering the card doesn’t require a hard pull on your credit report.
The main issues with the card come from leaving it inactive. Capital Bank charges an inactive account fee should an account go unused for an entire year. This inactive account fee is $10 per month, which can quickly add to some serious money. While the fee can be avoided by using the card to make even the smallest purchase now and then, it is still an issue – and may deter those who want a secured account they can open and put away while reaping the credit score benefits of available credit.
Visa Benefits & Protections
Credit cards offer much more security than cash, one of the allures they offer. As the OpenSky Card is a full-fledged Visa, it provides the same perks and protections a cardholder would expect from a Visa product. OpenSky credit cardholders can expect Visa’s Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver for protection when rental cars are booked entirely with the card, and additional insurance is waived at the counter.
- Zero Fraud Liability
- Cardholder Inquiry Services
- Emergency Card Replacement
- Roadside Dispatch and Auto Collision Damage Waiver
- Lost/Stolen Card Reporting
- ID Navigator from Norton
These protections might not be the sexiest, nor are they a rewards program, but they offer cardholders value and peace of mind and give them a glimpse of the premium benefits that come with higher-end unsecured cards down the line.
OpenSky Comparison
When comparing the fees of the OpenSky Visa and the OpenSky Plus Visa, several differences are notable. First and foremost is the annual fee. With the basic OpenSky Visa there is a $35 annual fee, while the OpenSky Plus charges no annual fee. But while the OpenSky Plus features no annual fee, the other fees are slightly higher than the OpenSky Visa to account for this reduction in the yearly membership cost.
Cash Advance Fee:
- OpenSky: Either $6 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.
- OpenSky Plus: Either $10 or 3% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.
Late Payment Fee:
- OpenSky: Up to $38
- OpenSky Plus: Up to $40
Returned Payment Fee:
- OpenSky: Up to $25
- OpenSky Plus: Up to $40
What We Like About OpenSky
OpenSky has been a major player in the secured credit card market for some time – and that longevity means that the card program does many things right.
No Credit Check
The solid features of OpenSky are apparent from the start. When applying, the card requires no credit check, meaning you won’t have to worry about a hard inquiry and quick “ding” on your credit report. Instead, the application process relied on basic information like your income, monthly housing costs, and other readily available information.
Low APR for Bad Credit
Like other secured credit cards, OpenSky charges a fixed APR on purchases; that rate is significantly lower than what an applicant with bad credit can anticipate from an unsecured card. That low-interest rate with OpenSky is useful should you need to carry a balance.
Card Options for Different Budgets
Another great feature of OpenSky is that two secured card options let you determine which card is right for you. Those cards are currently being discussed OpenSky® Secured Visa® and the no annual fee OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa®.
The biggest difference between the two cards (beyond the annual fee) is the lower purchase APR with the OpenSky Plus Visa. That APR is about 25% higher than the $35 annual fee version of the card – partly due to the lack of an annual fee. Remember this before applying – especially if you use the card to carry a balance.
Things to Consider
Annual Fee
The $35 annual fee with OpenSky is frustrating but not unheard of. Many secured cards charge an annual fee of around $25 to $75. Therefore, the OpenSky Secured Visa is towards the lower end of that range – but paying an annual fee for a card without rewards might not be worth it for some.
Fortunately, OpenSky Plus now fills that gap in the market, providing applicants with the opportunity of a $0 annual fee in exchange for a slightly higher APR on purchases.
FAQs About OpenSky
Here are some common questions about the OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card, as well as their answers:
- The OpenSky credit card customer service phone number is 1-800-859-6412. Customer service specialists can assist with billing inquiries, credit card application status updates, credit card replacement services, and more.
- According to Capital Bank, OpenSky processes applications within 24 to 48 hours in most cases. If approved, you will receive an email from OpenSky congratulating you and informing you that your deposit is debited to your account – minus the annual fee.
- Once approved, you can expect to receive your physical credit card within 12 to 14 business days.
- You can activate your credit card by calling the number on the welcome letter enclosed with your OpenSky credit Card. Additionally, you can activate your card by visiting this page.
- The refundable deposit is held in an FDIC-insured bank account but does not earn any interest.
- No. Any US resident over 18 can apply for the OpenSky Visa.
- Yes. OpenSky allows you to open two card accounts, helping you to supercharge your on-time payments history.
- OpenSky credit card payments can be made online through the OpenSky website, on the app (for iOS and Android), or by calling OpenSky customer service at (800) 859-6412.
OpenSky Visa Card Ratings
How does the OpenSky Visa stack up? Here are a selection of expert reviews for the card:
| BestCards | Better Business Bureau | TrustPilot |
|
4/5 |
3/5 |
3/5 |
Should You Apply for the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card?
The OpenSky Secured Visa Card from Capital Bank is a very enticing offer for those who want to boost their credit score quickly but are wary of the negative impact a hard inquiry might have. The card doesn’t require a hard pull, making it an excellent choice for those who have a considerable amount of money (up to $3,000) to deposit so they can raise their available credit limit almost instantly – and with no adverse effects.
Secured cards from a local credit union might offer no annual fees, and the Discover It Secured might offer rewards, but these cards also require a credit check, which might add a barrier that those with the worst credit simply cannot clear. OpenSky fills this void, providing a reliable tool that offers significant value while avoiding the temptation to be extortionate.
Overall, there may be better secured credit card offers available elsewhere, but for those who need help with their credit and don’t want the hassle of a credit check – or those who are their wits ends – the OpenSky credit card is a great option to consider.
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