How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
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Advertising Disclosure

LendingTree is an advertising-supported comparison service. The site features products from our partners as well as institutions which are not advertising partners. While we make an effort to include the best deals available to the general public, we make no warranty that such information represents all available products. We are compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order).
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American Express Disclosure
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American Express Disclosure

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First Access VISA® Credit Card Review: An Expensive Option for Building Credit

Updated on:
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
LendingTree's Review tooltip-question

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.
2.1
First Access VISA<sup>®</sup> Credit Card
Get Approved Fast
Quick and Easy Secure Online Application
Rewards Rate
1% Cash Back
Ongoing Purchase APR
35.99%*

Key takeaway

You shouldn’t get the First Access VISA® Credit Card unless it’s a last resort. Ongoing account servicing fees and an extremely high 35.99%* variable APR makes this card more expensive than it’s worth. There are better credit cards designed for people with bad credit.

Pros and cons

  • Accepts applicants with low credit scores
  • No security deposit required
  • Earns 1% cash back on all purchases
  • Access to credit score
  • Free credit-building tools
  • Long list of ongoing fees
  • Extremely high interest rates
  • You must pay for credit limit increases

Is the First Access VISA® Credit Card a good card?

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. With a secured credit card your money is tied up while you have the card, but it’s fully refundable upon closing your account or graduating to an unsecured card.

How much does it cost to own? (0 out of 5 stars)
You’ll pay $170* for the card’s set-up and annual fee in the first year versus $0* for the average credit-building card. You can potentially earn up to $36* in rewards with a $300 credit limit, which is not enough to cover the fees.

*Based on LendingTree’s value methodology

Quick facts

  • Annual fee: See Terms*
  • Program fee: $95 (one-time fee)
  • Servicing fee: $0 first year, $99/year after
  • Sign-up bonus: None
  • Rewards: 1% Cash Back
  • APR on purchases: 35.99%*
  • Credit needed: Poor / Fair

What we like about the First Access VISA® Credit Card

  • 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.

  • No security deposit

    The First Access VISA® Credit Card is technically an unsecured card, meaning that it doesn’t require a security deposit. However, 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.

  • 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. You can only redeem your points after your account has been active and in good standing for six months. Note that such limitations are rare for cash back credit cards, and you can generally redeem cash back at any time for statement credit.

  • Free 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. That means making your monthly payments on time with your First Access VISA® Credit Card will improve your credit score.

    Check your credit score for free with LendingTree Spring

What to look out for with the First Access VISA® Credit Card

  • Long list of ongoing fees

    The First Access VISA® Credit Card is a really expensive option for building credit, with a lot of fees hidden in the fine print, including:

    • Annual fee: See Terms*
    • Program fee: $95 (one-time fee)
    • Servicing fee: $0 first year, $99/year after
    • Additional card fee: $29 per additional authorized user per year
    • Premium plastic card fee: $10
    • Credit limit increase fee: 25% of the amount of credit limit increase
    • Express delivery fee: up to $35
    Important reminder: Most card issuers don’t charge fees for credit limit increases, premium plastic cards or card delivery, 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 feesEstimated first-year rewards*
    First Access VISA® Credit Card$170$36
    Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®$67 (estimated interest payments)$254
    Capital One Platinum Credit Card$0 (see rates & fees)$0
    Discover it® Secured Credit Card$0 (requires a minimum $200 refundable security deposit)$90

  • 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.

    Learn how your credit card interest is calculated

  • 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 limit for free. You’d be better off starting with a secured card, to build your credit with a credit card and get your security deposit back once you’ve upgraded to an unsecured card.

Alternative cards for building credit

Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® vs. First Access VISA® Credit Card

| Disclosures
Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®
Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Upgrade's secure site
Rates & Fees
N/A
14.99% - 29.99% APR
$0
1.5% unlimited cash back on card purchases every time you make a
  • $200 bonus after opening a Rewards Checking Plus account and making 3 debit card transactions* 
  • 1.5% unlimited cash back on every purchase 
  • No annual fee 
  • See if you qualify in seconds with no impact to your credit score 
  • Combine the flexibility of a card with the predictability of a personal loan 
  • Enjoy Visa Signature benefits, like Roadside Dispatch, Price Protection, Extended Warranty Protection, and more 
  • Up to 10% cash back from your favorite brands with Upgrade Shopping 
  • Contactless payments with Apple Pay® and Google Wallet™ Mobile app to access your account anytime, anywhere 
  • Use your card anywhere Visa is accepted 
  • Relax knowing that you are protected in case of unauthorized transactions with Visa’s Zero Liability Policy
  • *To qualify for the welcome bonus, you must open and fund a new Rewards Checking Plus account through Upgrade and make 3 qualifying debit card transactions from your Rewards Checking Plus account within 60 days of the date the Rewards Checking Plus account is opened. If you have previously opened a checking account through Upgrade or do not open a Rewards Checking Plus account as part of this application process, you are not eligible for this welcome bonus offer. Your Upgrade Card and Rewards Checking Plus account must be open and in good standing to receive a bonus. To qualify, debit card transactions must have settled and exclude ATM transactions. Please refer to the applicable Upgrade Visa® Debit Card Agreement and Disclosures for more information. Welcome bonus offers cannot be combined, substituted, or applied retroactively. The bonus will be applied to your Rewards Checking Plus account as a one-time payout credit within 60 days after meeting the conditions. This one-time bonus is available through this Upgrade Card offer and may not be available for other Upgrade Card offers.
600 660
Fair

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.


If you have fair credit, 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 or account servicing fees. Additionally, the Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® may be beneficial to your credit score since it’s reported as an installment loan. However, a downside is that there is no grace period — meaning, you immediately accrue interest when you make charges on the card. Also, since each month’s purchases are bundled and put on their own payment plan, it could be easy to get deep in debt if you are not following a budget.

Capital One Platinum Credit Card vs. First Access VISA® Credit Card

| Disclosures
Capital One Platinum Credit Card
Capital One Platinum Credit Card
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site
Rates & Fees
N/A
29.74% (Variable)
$0
Non-rewards Card
  • No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
  • Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
  • Help build your credit through responsible use of a card like this
  • Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
  • Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
  • Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with online banking from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One's mobile app
  • Check out quickly and securely with a contactless card, without touching a terminal or handing your card to a cashier. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you're all set
  • Pay by check, online or at a local branch, all with no fee - and pick the monthly due date that works best for you
  • For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
600 660
Limited / Fair

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.


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 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 if you need to. Additionally, you may be able to upgrade your Capital One card as your credit score increases.

Discover it® Secured Credit Card vs. First Access VISA® Credit Card

| Disclosures
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Discover's secure site
Rates & Fees
N/A
27.24% Variable APR
$0
2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000
  • No credit score required to apply. No Annual Fee.
  • Your secured credit card requires a refundable security deposit, and your credit line will equal your deposit amount, starting at $200. Bank information must be provided when submitting your deposit.
  • 30 points or more—that’s how much you could increase your FICO Credit Score on average after just six months of responsible use.
  • Automatic reviews starting at 7 months to see if we can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.
  • 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.
  • Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. Activate by mobile app for free.
  • Get an alert if we find your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites. Activate for free.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
300 600
Limited / Poor

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.


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. The security deposit is refundable and Discover offers a clear path to graduate to an unsecured Discover credit card with better terms and benefits.

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 27.24% Variable APR. You also earn cash back rewards on all purchases.

Is the First Access VISA® Credit Card right for you?

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.

Looking for a better credit-building card?

How we rate cards

We devote a large part of the score for credit-building cards to features that help build credit — we want to help you locate cards that don’t cost a lot to own and get help you upgrade to better card offers.

  • Annual savings (50% of rating): We calculate how much the average cardholder can save with the card on a yearly basis. If it is a rewards card, we use U.S. Bureau of Labor data and $300 in monthly spend (the typical starting credit limit for an introductory card) to calculate how much the average cardholder can earn in rewards. We then subtract fees — including annual fees and maintenance fees — from this amount.
  • Credit building features (50% of rating): We give points for features that help build credit, including reports to all three credit bureaus, regular account reviews for card upgrades and free credit score access. We detract points for features that can be costly to cardholders trying to build credit, such as security deposits, penalty APRs and late payment fees.

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

The information related to the First Access VISA® Credit Card has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.

The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.