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The Bank of America secured credit card offers you a chance to
rebuild your credit. Unlike prepaid credit cards and some of the
other secured cards on the market, Bank of America will report
your credit card activity to the three credit bureaus. This means
your good account standing will have a positive impact on your
credit report, which will raise your credit score over time.
Pro: A Reasonable Annual Fee
Bank of America offers very reasonable annual fees with their
secured card. While some companies try and charge $50, $60 or
even more for their cards, Bank of America's annual fee is just
$29. That's a great value when compared to the other secured credit
cards on the market.
Pro: Small Deposit Requirements
Many secured cards will require a deposit of $500 or more to
open a secured credit account. Bank of America's minimum deposit
is just $300. If you don't have a lot of cash to spare, this can
make all the difference in the world.
Con: A High Interest Rate
When you go to the Bank of America website to check out their
secured card, it might look like a reasonable interest rate at
first glance. However, it's not the 10.99% variable APR that many
some consumers think. If you look closely at the site, it's a
prime PLUS 10.99% variable APR. That means if prime is 7%, your
APR is 17.99%, not 10.99%.
Con: High Balance Transfer Fees
If you want to do a balance transfer or take out a cash advance,
the fees might be a problem. Not only will you be charged regular
interest, you'll also be charged a 4% transfer/cash advance fee.
When applying for a secured card it's important that you make
sure the card you choose is the best card for your needs. If you'll
be paying your bill in full each month and don't have any balance
transfer or cash advance needs, the Bank of America secured credit
card may very well be the best card for you.
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For more tips on secured credit cards, saving money and avoiding
getting taken, check out CreditCardTipsEtc.com, a website that
specializes in providing credit card tips, advice and resources.
http://www.creditcardtipsetc.com/secured_credit_cards/
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