Yes, the First Access VISA® Credit Card comes with an app that allows you to track your spending, make payments, redeem rewards and monitor your credit score.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Our take: Our take on the First Access VISA® Credit Card can be summarized in a few words: Don’t get it unless it’s a last resort. Ongoing account servicing fees and an extremely high 35.99%* variable APR make this card more expensive than it’s worth. There are better credit cards designed for people with bad credit.
The First Access VISA® Credit Card just isn’t worth the high interest rates and fees. The card does have some benefits: It offers rewards, doesn’t require a deposit and can help you build your credit because it reports to all three credit bureaus. That said, you’re better off paying the deposit for a secured credit card, most of which come with lower fees and interest rates.
Intro Purchase APR
N/A
Regular Purchase APR
35.99%*
Intro BT APR
N/A
Regular BT APR
N/A
Annual Fee
$75.00 1st year, $48.00 after*
Cash Advance Fee
Either $10, or 3% of the amount of the Cash Advance, whichever is greater.
Foreign Transaction Fee
N/A
Balance Transfer Fee
N/A
Accepts applicants with lower credit scores
The First Access VISA® Credit Card is available to applicants with poor/fair credit, which is a major plus if you’ve had a hard time qualifying for a credit card in the past. The application and approval process is quick – you’ll know whether you’re approved within 60 seconds of submitting your application.
Cash back rewards
The First Access VISA® Credit Card offers 1% cash back, which is a rare feature for a credit card for poor/fair credit. You’ll earn rewards when you’ve paid your credit card bill — 1 point for each $1 you pay off. You can only redeem your points after your account has been active and in good standing for six months.
Credit-building tools
Like any good credit-building card, the First Access VISA® Credit Card offers free access to your credit score via their mobile app. Plus, First Access reports payments to the three major credit bureaus, so making your monthly payments on time with your First Access VISA® Credit Card will improve your credit score.
No security deposit
The First Access VISA® Credit Card is technically an unsecured card, meaning that it doesn’t require a security deposit. But you will have to cough up a one-time $95 program fee to open an account, and unlike a security deposit, this fee is not refundable.
Extremely high interest rates
The First Access VISA® Credit Card has a 35.99%* variable APR, which is one of the highest interest rates on the market. The typical APR for cards for poor/fair credit is currently around 30%, and you can find even better rates if you’re willing to submit a refundable security deposit for a secured credit card.
Long list of ongoing fees
In addition to the one-time program fee of $95, you might be on the hook for a host of unexpected ongoing fees for the First Access VISA® Credit Card, including:
Late payment fees are fairly standard, especially for cards designed for bad credit. But most card issuers don’t charge fees for credit limit increases or premium plastic cards, and many allow you to add authorized users for free.
To illustrate how expensive the First Access VISA® Credit Card is, we’ve compared the card’s mandatory first year fees and rewards to those of similar cards below:
| First-year fees | Estimated first-year rewards* | |
|---|---|---|
| First Access VISA® Credit Card | $170 | $36 |
| Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® | $0 | $254 |
| Capital One Platinum Credit Card | $0 | $0 |
| Discover it® Secured Credit Card | $0 (but requires a minimum $200 refundable security deposit) | $90 |
*Based on LendingTree’s value methodology
You have to pay to increase your credit limit
If you need access to more credit than the initial $300 limit, you’ll have to pony up 25% of the amount of the increase. For instance, if you want a $500 credit limit, you’ll pay a $50 fee. The fees get worse the higher your limit – you’ll be charged $1,175 to increase your credit line to $5,000.
Most credit card issuers allow you to increase your credit line for free. You’d be better off starting with a secured credit card, building your credit and getting your security deposit back once you’ve upgraded to an unsecured card.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Rewards Rate | Annual Fee | Recommended Credit Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First Access VISA® Credit Card
 Apply Now
on Bank Of Missouri's secure site Rates & Fees |
1% Cash Back | $75.00 1st year, $48.00 after* | Poor/Fair |
Apply Now
on Bank Of Missouri's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®
Apply Now
on Upgrade's secure site Rates & Fees |
1.5% unlimited cash back on card purchases every time you make a payment | $0 | Fair |
Apply Now
on Upgrade's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
Capital One Platinum Credit Card
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
Non-rewards Card | $0 | Limited/Fair |
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
Apply Now
on Discover's secure site Rates & Fees |
Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. | $0 | Limited/Poor |
Apply Now
on Discover's secure site Rates & Fees |
Verdict: Lower interest rates and better rewards for those with fair credit
If your credit score is between 580 and 669, we recommend the Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®. It offers a better rewards rate — 1.5% unlimited cash back on card purchases every time you make a payment — and a lower APR than the First Access VISA® Credit Card. Compared to the First Access VISA® Credit Card, the fees are minimal. There are no annual, account servicing or late payment fees.
Verdict: An unsecured card with better interest rates and no annual fee
While you won’t earn rewards with the Capital One Platinum Credit Card, you won’t be stuck paying a slew of fees, either. Unlike the First Access VISA® Credit Card, the Capital One Platinum Credit Card doesn’t charge annual fees, account servicing fees or authorized user fees. Plus, Capital One will automatically consider you for a (fee-free) credit limit increase after six months. The APR is also significantly lower, meaning it’ll cost less to carry a balance with the Capital One Platinum Credit Card.
Verdict: Lower ongoing rates and fees in exchange for a refundable security deposit
Even with the $200 minimum security deposit, the Discover it® Secured Credit Card is less expensive to carry than the First Access VISA® Credit Card. You won’t have to pay annual, account servicing or authorized user fees to carry the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, and the interest rate is much lower at 28.24% Variable APR. Plus, the deposit is refundable, and Discover offers a clear path to graduate to an unsecured card with even better terms and benefits.
The First Access VISA® Credit Card may be a viable option if your score is so low that you can’t get approved for better offers. Since it reports to the three major credit bureaus, it can help you build credit as long as you keep your account in good standing.
However, we don’t recommend the First Access VISA® Credit Card unless you’ve tried and failed to be approved for better secured credit cards and credit-building cards. The extremely high interest rates and ongoing fees make the card a poor choice for most consumers.
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.
Yes, the First Access VISA® Credit Card comes with an app that allows you to track your spending, make payments, redeem rewards and monitor your credit score.
The Bank of Missouri issues the First Access VISA® Credit Card.