Credit Score: 605 Credit Limit: 500 Age: 25-34

Posted 02/07 2018

My credit took a hit after my divorce but I was determined to quickly rebuild my credit. After doing lots of research on rebuilding, I was convinced that secured credit cards was the way to go. I also found out about this card while looking at FNBO's other cards. Nobody seems to write about it but after looking at the details, I thought this was one great card. I travel for business and stay at Best Western a lot. On the website, it says you will be considered for a credit line increase without deposit after 7 months and also considered for a deposit refund and graduation after 11 months.

I initially deposited cos I wanted to make sure I had enough credit line to book and pay for my Best Western stays. After 8 months (or rather after my 8th billing statement), I got a credit line increase from $500 to $800. True to their word, no deposit was required. My $500 deposit was also returned after 1 year. I high recommend this for rebuilders if you do stay at Best Western often. I suspect this card will work out for folks like me who travel at least once a month for business.

 

Credit Score: 530 Credit Limit: 600 Age: 25-34

Posted 08/26 2017

Like others here, I travel for my work and stay at Best Western. I chose this card along with Cap One secured to rebuild. I put in $600 as deposit (which is a larger amount than usual) because I wanted to make sure I had enough credit line to book my hotels and rent a car and yet keep my utilization ratio within reason. So far I have had no problems booking hotels or using the card for car rentals. I am glad I can earn points and get discount booking through the site.

 

Credit Score: 543 Credit Limit: 500 Age: 35-44

Posted 05/03 2017

I have been a Best Western member for years (without having their credit cards). The reward program is ok and most folks would not bother with it. But I have lots of points because work requires traveling and Best Western is where I mostly stay. I actually applied for the regular unsecured version but was denied and offered the secured card. I decided to accept and since then, the card has been actually pretty good. I have had no problems using it to make reservations. I also like that I can monitor my fico score for free. I also recently got a credit line increase to $700. Will definitely recommend this card if you are a Best Western member.

 

Credit Score: 615 Credit Limit: 800 Age: 25-34

Posted 02/11 2017

I am really surprised that nobody really talks about this card. Ok - so best western is not as popular as say the Marriott but there are many of us who stay with them. And I think this is the only hotel that has a secured credit card offering. When I looked at their website, the terms were pretty good. Annual fee is quite low. You get free fico score. But most importantly, after 7 months, they might give you a credit limit increase and after 11 months, they might upgrade you to an unsecured card.

I got both this card and the Capital One secured. Both have been good and my experiences have been similar with both cards. After 7 months, cap one gave me a credit limit increase from $200 to $500. After 9 months, Best Western gave me a $300 increase to $1100. After about 14 months, I graduated to unsecured for both.

 

Credit Score: 590 Credit Limit: 600 Age: 25-34

Posted 12/15 2016

A couple of years ago, I applied for the best western premier and was denied. I just recently got an email from FNBO with this offer - the secured version. I decided that it might be the back door to the regular BW premier card since the website said that they will consider you for an unsecured version after 11 months. So far my experience has been great. The website is quite user friendly. My FICO score (according to the Best Western free version) was 590 when I started. It is now 655 after 8 months. I put $600 as deposit (which seems a lot) so I always had enough to reserve a BW room.

 

Credit Score: 540 Credit Limit: 300 Age: 25-34

Posted 11/11 2016

After doing lots of research on secured cards, I narrowed down to Cap One, Discover and Best Western (since I have a reward program account with them). I applied for all three and was approved. All three are pretty good and they all offer some sort of credit score. My understanding that the Best Western and Discover are true FICO scores while the Cap One creditwise is not a true fico (but a vantage score). The Best Western and Discover score was nearly identical 545 and 540. But Cap One was like 605? I still have all three but am making sure I pay in full every month and keeping my utilization ratio to like 25% max. I hope to graduate from all three cards. Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

Credit Score: 568 Credit Limit: 400 Age: 35-44

Posted 07/07 2016

I got this card to rebuild my credit score. Being a Best Western member I like that it allows me to earn more points. 10 points for using the card on top of the 3 points booking their rooms. My deposit and credit limit are not that such but I do not spend anywhere close for my best western stays so it is enough most of the time.

The website is pretty user friendly and I love it that I could check my fico scores. So the experience has been good.

 

Credit Score: 573 Credit Limit: 300 Age: 35-44

Posted 04/23 2016

I got this card because my job requires travel and I stay at Best Western quite a bit. Love the card and the fact that I can go to bwrcarddiscount.com and 10% off room rates. I also earn an extra 10 points per dollar at Best Western (on top of the 3 pts/$). However, I have recently changed jobs and it looks like I would not be traveling as much and I will probably close this card soon.

 

Credit Score: 582 Credit Limit: 500 Age: 35-44

Posted 02/19 2016

I just got approved for the card and deposited $500. So far, everything is going smoothly. About a month into the card, I check my credit reports and can confirm that they have reported to all three.

 

Credit Score: 560 Credit Limit: 500 Age: 25-34

Posted 10/23 2015

Here is my report and review on this card. I got this card and put $500 down. I spend about $250 on the card each month and for the most parts, I pay in full. The main reason I got this card was that for my job, I am out on the road 2 nights a week and I usually stay at Best Western hotels. Since my credit was not great, I thought this card will be helpful to earn some points and rebuild my credit.

I was surprised about the features once I started using the card. I could check and monitor the account from the app. I could see my FICO score for free. They do not charge any foreign transaction fee (which is nice though I do not travel abroad). After 7 months, I was given a credit limit increase without any deposit and my limit increased from $500 to $800. After 13 months, they returned my $500 deposit so I guess I have graduated.

This card is awesome. So under-rated and you do not see a lot of websites talk about it.

 

Credit Score: 580 Credit Limit: 400 Age: 25-34

Posted 09/06 2015

I started in commercial real estate and travel at least twice a month. Most of the time I stay at Best Western and have signed up for the reward program. I recently got an email from them for an offer on the secured credit card. My score was not that great so I decided to apply and got approved. Deposited $400. I really like the app and I can monitor my account pretty easily.

I called the customer rep about upgrading to an unsecured Best Western down the road and she said that as long as I use the card and pay on time, I will be considered for graduation after 11 months. They also said that I will be considered for a credit limit increase after 7 months without adding more deposit. Well, it's been only 2 months so we'll see what happens. But so far so good.