Credit Score: 496 Credit Limit: 200 Age: 25-34

Posted 11/07 2017

After I applied for the card, I got the "further processing required". 2 days later, funds were withdrawn from my bank account. I called Citi and was told that the funds will take about 3-4 days to clear. I was also told that I was still not approved and would be informed via email. A week later, I got the approval email.

 

Credit Score: 519 Credit Limit: 300 Age: 35-44

Posted 10/18 2017

I have actually graduated from this card and my experience has been ok. Like some folks here, my application process took about 2 weeks. I actually was told to call Citi where they verified my income and mortgage. Like many have said here, they withdraw money from your bank account and it took 4 days to clear. Then you get your approval email a couple of days later. Then you get your card about a week later. I checked and verified that Citi pulled EX.

The most useful feature is their app. You can activate your card, check your balances and pay your bills via the app. The only thing I regret is that I put in only $300 as my deposit. After a few months, I realized I need to book a hotel for several nights and rent a car. My limit turned out to be too low and I called to see if I could increase my deposit. I was told that I could not so I ended up having to apply for the Discover it secured and capital one.

About 3 months before the 18 month period (ie 15 months), I got an alert that citi has pulled TU. I called them but they denied! Call TU and they said it was Citi! Then not long after that, I got an email stating that I had been graduated to the Citi Diamond Preferred card with 0% for 21 months! My check for the deposit was also being returned. My credit line remained the same and I was told there would be another hard pull if I wanted it increased. I decided to hold off for now and am thinking of applying for a couple of other non-citi cards.

 

Credit Score: 522 Credit Limit: 500 Age: 35-44

Posted 06/06 2017

This is my adventure with Citi secured card from application to graduation. I applied for the card and chose to deposit $500. I did not get any instant approval but two days later, the deposit was withdrawn from my checking account. I heard from Citi a week later telling me that I was approved and got the card another week later.

My experience with the card has been good. Their app is very useful. You can activate your card, check your activity and pay your bills.

After 18 months (which is the time you have to have the card is it is held in a 18 month CD), I got a mail telling me that I had graduated to the Citi Diamond Preferred card and that a check has been sent to me returning my initial deposit. I also got an alert from creditkarma that there was a hard pull on my TU report. After I got the card, I called customer service and asked about my credit limit. They told me it was still $500 and that there would be another hard pull for a potential increase. I held off and did some research and decided to use the Diamond Preferred for a few months before trying to PC to another card. After six months, I decided to request for a PC to the Citi double cash and I bit the bullet with the hard pull (on TU again). I got approved with a limit of $12,000! So the hard pull was well worth it. At this time, my credit score was about 700.

I would give this card a 4 star because of the following reasons. It has been good to me but while I had this card, I also had the Discover it secured and Capital One secured. Capital One only required that I put up $99 for a $200 limit and it was increased to $500 after six months without having me to add an additional deposit. Discover actually graduated me after 10 months! So in certain aspects, I think Discover and Cap One are slightly better but Citi is still a good card. For some of you 18 months might be too long a wait and that is entirely your call.

 

Credit Score: 460 Credit Limit: 700 Age: 35-44

Posted 12/10 2016

My ex-wife ruined my credit and this was one of the secured cards I decided to get (the other one was Capital One). After a long approval process, I was finally approved. In the meantime, I had taken the time to settle my 5 collection accounts and even got one removed. My score improve about 90 points immediately after that.

The thing I like about this card is that the app is really easy to use. But one thing I found out was that I could not increase my credit limit by putting in another deposit. This was quite disappointing as Capital One actually increased by credit after 5 months without requiring me to put any more deposit. I also found out that I had to wait 18 months before I could be considered for graduation and if I did, the credit line will be the same as it is now.

This card is ok but if I had my way again, I would have tried for the Discover it secured first.

 

Credit Score: 546 Credit Limit: 200 Age: 25-34

Posted 07/17 2016

I really did not expect to get this card. I had a few collections including the Citi Double Cash! The approval process took at least 3 weeks but they finally approved me.

Since getting the card, the experience has been good. The app is awesome and after 5 months, my score has gone up 80 points.

 

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

Posted 01/14 2016

After a job loss and a divorce, my credit score tanked and I got this card as part of an effort to rebuild. Though I eventually got approved, I was quite puzzled with the whole process. I was told the application was pending but the deposit was taken out of my account after two days. I assumed that I was approved and called customer service but was told that I was not approved yet and that the deposit will be returned if I was declined. Then I got the approval email about 10 days later and the card in the mail about a week later.

I have been using the card for about a year now. Unlike some folks here, I have not graduated to an unsecured card. But my scores have improved. When I first got this card, they were like 605 EQ. They are now about 680. As long as you use the card carefully and responsibly, having a credit card will help your credit score.

 

Credit Score: 575 Credit Limit: 1000 Age: 25-34

Posted 12/16 2015

I have an account with my local Citi branch and when I decided to apply, I approached the branch manager. I was told that what I put down as the initial deposit will be my credit limit as long as I have the card. I cannot add to my credit limit later. So I decided to start with $1000 rather than the minimum of $200.

The card is good and the app is absolutely fantastic. I could check my account and pay my balance with it. Super easy to use.

 

Credit Score: 480 Credit Limit: 300 Age: 25-34

Posted 10/01 2015

Before I applied for this card, I had been rejected my Wells and USB. My score was below 500 and I had collections, charges and whatever you can think of on my credit report. I thought I would be rejected. I applied and got the "pending" message. I thought I was going to be denied. Then 2 days later, I got an alert from my bank app that $300 had been withdrawn! When I checked, it was from Citi for the secured credit card deposit. I called but they said that approval was still pending! Then I got an email notifying me of the approval and 7 days later, I got the card.

 

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

Posted 08/30 2015

I put down a $500 deposit when I got approved for this card. My EX score was around 560. After using the card for about 18 months, I graduated to the Citi Diamond Preferred card. My score is now about 660 with EX. I know some folks here and elsewhere complain that they have graduated. I can't help much because my card activity was pretty normal. I spend about $150 each month. I pay in full most months though there have been a couple of months where I run a balance (I would advice you not too cos the rates aren't the lowest). I was also late once (2 days) but Citi waived the late fee and they did not report it. I found the app easy to use that was one of the things Citi does well.