Credit Cards Secured Cards

Indigo Mastercard® Review [2025]: Unsecured Credit Building

Your odds of being approved for the Indigo Platinum card could be good, even if you have bad or no credit, because the card is specifically designed for building credit. But it has a high annual fee with limited perks.

Updated Sept. 3, 2025
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Indigo Mastercard®

Indigo Mastercard®
3.3
info

OUR VIEW

When you're looking to build or establish credit, getting an unsecured credit card is tough. It's also challenging to get approved for credit if your score is in rough shape or your history contains negative marks, making it even harder to build credit than it already can be. Secured credit cards are often a good option if you’re in this situation, since you can qualify with bad or no credit and work toward building it. Most unsecured cards, on the other hand, won’t approve poor-credit applicants, but the Indigo Mastercard® is an exception.

The Indigo Mastercard® could give you a better chance of approval than the majority of unsecured credit cards. You may be able to qualify with bad credit or a thin history, and your credit won’t get dinged if you don’t. The Indigo card only offers maximum credit limits of around $2,000, but most people can expect a lower limit. Still, you don’t have to deposit any money.

Our Indigo MasterCard review will help you understand the card’s features and benefits, as well as its shortcomings compared to other cards for building credit.


Pros

Unsecured card you may qualify for with bad credit
Can prequalify
Doesn’t hurt your credit if you apply and aren’t approved

Cons

Annual fee of $49, even higher in first year
Very limited features and no rewards

Indigo Mastercard basics

Card type Credit-builder card
Card issuer Celtic Bank
Annual fee $49 ($175 the first year, $49 thereafter)
Features No impact on credit if not approved
Rewards rate N/A
Recommended credit score Good, Fair, Bad
Foreign transaction fee 1%
Learn how to apply

Who should get this card?

The Indigo MasterCard is likely best for those who have poor or fair credit scores and have not had much success being approved for other unsecured credit cards. Those with bankruptcies and other negative marks on their credit records could stand a decent chance at approval.

Though secured credit cards are generally better choices for establishing or rebuilding credit, they come with deposit requirements and your credit limit is only as high as the amount of money you deposit. If you're not looking to front the money for your credit card before you can use it, then you should check out what the Indigo MasterCard has to offer.

Indigo card benefits

  • You could be eligible for a $0 annual fee: The Indigo MasterCard has an annual fee, which is determined by your creditworthiness. Upon approval, you could be assigned an annual fee of $99 ($75 the first year), $59, or $0. The better your credit, the better your chances of getting a $0 fee.
  • Access Mastercard benefits: The Indigo card offers a limited number of Mastercard benefits, including online identity monitoring through Mastercard ID Theft Protection, 24/7 assistance for lost/stolen cards with Mastercard Global Service, and a 15% savings on airport meet-and-greet services through Mastercard Airport Concierge.
  • Option to prequalify for the card: Hard inquiries on your credit report can negatively impact your score. Indigo requires all applicants to prequalify before they will process the application. You're asked to enter basic information, including contact info and Social Security number. You get a decision in seconds with the option to move on to a full application. The card you qualify for, annual fee, and interest rate are given to you to consider before deciding if you want to submit a complete application, which will leave a hard inquiry on your report.
  • Reports to three major credit bureaus: Probably the best feature of this card is that it will report your timely payment history to all three credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. This ensures that all three of your scores are affected by your use of the card. With some time, responsible spending, and on-time payments, your scores could steadily improve.

Other cards to consider

The Indigo MasterCard is decent — especially if you can qualify for the $0 annual fee — but may not always be the optimal choice for those looking to build their credit profile. Some other credit cards that can help you build credit include:

Platinum Mastercard® from Capital One

The Platinum Mastercard® from Capital One is a great choice for you if you're a student or you're looking to build or repair your credit. This card has a $0 annual fee, and you get automatic consideration for a credit line increase in as few as six months after account opening. The card also has many more conveniences and benefits, including a mobile app, extended warranty protection, no foreign transaction fees, no liability for fraudulent charges, an auto liability waiver for rental cars, and free credit monitoring.

The card also has many more conveniences and benefits, including a mobile app, extended warranty protection, no foreign transaction fees, no liability for fraudulent charges, an auto liability waiver for rental cars, and free credit monitoring.

Platinum Secured Credit Card from Capital One

Also from Capital One is the popular secured credit card: the Platinum Secured Credit Card from Capital One. This card has a $0 annual fee and only requires an initial security deposit of $200. You can also get consideration for a credit line increase in as few as six months, and you have the option to pick your monthly due date. This secured card is worth considering if you want to rebuild your credit.

FAQs

Does Indigo Mastercard give credit increases?

Indigo hasn't publicly released info about increases to customer credit limits, but some sources report that Indigo does not approve credit limit increases. According to the card's terms, the standard credit limit is $300.

What bank issues the Indigo credit card?

The Indigo Mastercard is issued by Celtic Bank and serviced by Genesis FS Card Services. Celtic Bank is based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Can I get cash from my Indigo Mastercard?

Yes, you can get cash advances from your Indigo Mastercard, but you'll have to call for approval. You'll typically pay a higher APR on the cash amount and a fee of $5 or 5%, whichever is greater (not to exceed $100).

Does Indigo Mastercard have a mobile app?

There is currently no Indigo Mastercard mobile app in either the Android or Apple app stores. You can use your mobile device to access your account through the Indigo Account Management site 24/7.

Build Credit Without Making a Deposit
Indigo Mastercard®
3.3
info

Indigo Mastercard®

Current Offer

Choose from multiple card designs at no extra charge

Annual Fee

$49 - $175 the first year, $49 thereafter

Benefits and Drawbacks
Card Details
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