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When you’re looking to build or establish a credit history, getting an unsecured credit card can be difficult. It’s tough to get credit without a decent credit score or history, and you can’t rebuild or establish credit without using credit and borrowing responsibly.
Secured credit cards are often a good option, since finding an unsecured card that will approve a customer with a poor credit score is hard. However, the Indigo Mastercard® gives those who might not otherwise qualify for an unsecured card a much better chance at approval.
Our review of the Indigo MasterCard gives you a closer look at what’s involved with owning this card.
Build Credit Without Making a Deposit
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Indigo Mastercard®
Current Offer
Choose from multiple card designs at no extra charge
Annual Fee
$49 - $175 the first year, $49 thereafter
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.
Card Basics
| Annual Fee | $49 ($175 the first year, $49 thereafter) |
| Recommended Credit
Score |
Good, Fair, Bad |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 1% |
Top 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.
Common questions
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.
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:
The Capital One Platinum Credit Card is a great choice for students, those looking to establish or build a credit history, or even those who may have some loan defaults or other blemishes on their credit reports. 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.
Also from Capital One is the popular secured credit card: the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card. 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.
Build Credit Without Making a Deposit
Indigo Mastercard®
Why We Like It
Choose from multiple card designs at no extra charge
See how these cards compare:
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Capital One Platinum Credit Card
- Unsecured card for less-than-perfect or no credit
- Potential credit line increases in as little as six months
- Access to credit-building tools through CreditWise
- No foreign transaction fees
- $0 annual fee
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Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
- $200 initial credit line after making minimum security deposit
- Consideration for higher credit line as soon as 6 months after account opening
- No annual fee
- Pick your monthly due date