- Annual Fee = $39
- Regular APR = 13.9.9%
- Credit Limit = $200 - $2,000 secured by security deposit
- No Credit Checks
- Mobile App for Android Users
- Free Vantage Score from Experian
- Not available to residents of NY, IA, AR, or WI
At A Glance
Card Details
Annual Fee | $39 |
Regular APR | 15.49% |
Foreign Transaction Fee | 3% |
Security Deposit and Credit Limits | $200-$2,000 |
Other key features of the First Progress Select include
- Free Vantage Score from Experian - all cardholders get a free monthly Vantage score and credit monitoring service from Experian.
- Reports to all three credit bureaus - First Progress Platinum Select reports to all three major credit bureaus, Experian, TransUnion and Equifax.
- Android App Available - First Progress has an app for Android devices. Apple IOS app is still in the works.
First Progress Compared To Other No Credit Check Cards
Card | Annual Fee | Regular APR | Min Deposit |
---|---|---|---|
First Progress Select | $39 | 15.49% | $200 - $2,000 |
First Progress Prestige | $49 | 11.49% | $200 - $2,000 |
First Progress Elite | $29 | 21.49% | $200 - $2,000 |
Opensky | $35 | 17.64% | $200 - $3,000 |
Go2Bank | $0 | See Website | $100 |
Chime | $0 | N.A. - Pay in full | No min or max |
Self | $25 | 23.24% | $100 |
As First Progress does not check your credit score when you apply, we will compare this card with other secured credit cards that also does not check your credit score. First Progress also has two other cards which we have to compare it with.
Compared to Traditional No Credit Check Secured Credit Cards
The most well know no credit check secured credit card is the Opensky Secured Visa. Compared to the First Progress Platinum Elite, the Opensky has a slightly lower annual fee (at $35 vs $39), but a higher regular APR (17.64% vs 15.49% for the First Progress Elite). However, Opensky will evaluate you for a credit limit increase with additional security deposit or a graduation to an unsecured credit card after 6 months.Another secured credit card that does not check your credit is the Applied Bank Secured Credit Card. It has a lower APR than First Progress Select (9.99% vs 15.49%) but it does not have any grace period. The annual fee is higher ($48 vs $39 for First Progress Select). Hence, once again, there is a trade off between annual fee and APR for these two cards.
Compared to other First Progress Secured Credit Cards
First Progress also has two other secured credit cards which differ in both annual fees and APR. The first one is the First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard. It has an annual fee of $49 vs $39 for the Select version. However, the APR for the Prestige version is 11.49% compared to the Select Version. Hence, if you want to get a secured credit card with a lower APR, then First Progress offers the Prestige version but you have to pay a slightly higher annual fee.The other First Progress card is the First Progress Platinum Elite Mastercard. It has a $29 annual fee (vs $39 for the Elite) and a 21.49% APR (vs 15.49% for the Elite). Once again, the three different First Progress secured credit cards offer a trade off between annual fee and APRs.
First Progress Compared to New Fintech Secured Cards
Recently, there have been a few new secured credit cards launched by Fintech startups that have no credit checks and also no annual fees. But you are required to either open a mobile banking account and set up direct deposit with them or open a credit builder account. Let's look at a few of them.The Self Secured Visa is a secured credit card has no credit checks and no annual fee. But you can get it once you have "saved" enough money in your credit builder account. This is a card that is ideal for those of you that want to rebuild with a secured credit card but do not have the necessary cash to fund your deposit. It allows you to save up for it.
Then there are other secured credit cards like Chime Secured Visa, GO2bank Secured and Sable One Secured Credit Card that require you to set up a mobile banking account with them. Chime and GO2bank also require that you set up a recurring direct deposit with them. But once you have met this hurdle, you can simply get the secured credit card with a click from their mobile app.
Pros: What We Like
- Reasonable APR - The purchase APR of 15.49% is which is on the lower end of the APR spectrum for secured credit cards. Only the First Progress Prestige version has a lower APR at 11.49%.
- No Credit Checks - First Progress does not perform any credit checks. Therefore you will definitely be approved and get your card as long as you fund your security deposit.
- Free Vantage Score from Experian - Cardholdes get a free Vantage score from Experian.
- Mobile App - First Progress has a mobile app available for Android devices.
Cons: What Do Do Not Like
- Charges Annual Fee - Most secured credit cards used to charge an annual fee and the $39 annual fee from the First Progress Select is very reasonable. Having said that, there are also quite a few no annual fee secured credit cards out there.
- Mobile App only available on Android - First Progress only has their app available on Android devices. Iphone owners will have to wait until an IOS version is developed.
First Progress Select - Reasonable Annual Fee and APR
If you are really picky about having to pay an annual fee, there are some new secured credit cards like GO2bank secured credit card that has no annual fee and also does not check your credit. However, you have to set up a mobile banking acconnt with them and also a recurring direct deposit.
To sum up, based on our evaluations and review, we give the First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard a 4 star out of 5 rating for its' reasonable annual fee, APR and the fact that it does not check your credit report when you apply. We would recommend this card to rebuilders who want to rebuild with a secured credit card. You do have to be aware that First Progress does not accept applicants from the state of NY, IA, AR, or WI. If you are from one of these states, we suggest you look to an issuer like Opensky Secured Visa, which also does not check your credit and is very similar to First Progress. Furthermore, Opensky will evaluate you for a credit limit increase without additional security deposit or even a graduation to their unsecured credit card after 6 months.
How to Apply?








There are 3 ways to fund First Progress secured credit cards. You can fund it with a bank debit card or prepaid credit card or with a ACH transfer from your checking account. If you apply from your mobile phone (as you are doing now), funding your account via checking account is not available.
First Progress also offers you the option to get your card in the mail first and then fund later. If you choose this option, you are given up to 90 days to fund your account. But you have to pay a $29.95 fee. This option is great for those of you who are really paranoid about wanting to have the card in your hand before you part with your security deposit.




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Contact Information
P.O. Box 9053
Johnson City, TN 37615-9053