First Phase Visa Credit Card

You can start your financial life over with the First Phase Visa, aimed at those with poor to fair scores.

There are two types of people that eventually need a credit builder or starter card: those who are new to credit, such as Americans who just turned eighteen, and don’t have a history yet and those who have a poor score. Don’t worry, that happens to everyone in life, but it can cause you problems in the long term. 

With a good credit score you can get some great rewards cards that allow you to save up while traveling and even better deals in mortgages. That’s why the First Phase Visa card allows you to start your journey to better scores. Even those who have incredibly bad numbers can achieve an approval and start building their history over the next few months. 

Certainly it isn’t the most advantageous credit card out there, but it’s pretty reasonable within its group. The advantages you can get from this card also depends on your purchasing pattern, but we’ll explain how to best use it below. Keep reading to also find out who is eligible for this card, main benefits, interest rates and fees that you should watch out for. 

How does the First Phase Visa work? 

The First Phase Visa is a credit card that accepts users from all credit score ranges. If you visit its website, one of the first things you’ll notice is that you can prequalify despite a bad credit score, which doesn’t happen in other card categories. That’s why this one is recommended for those who are looking to build or rebuild their numbers. 

The Bank of Missouri issued this credit card especially for the bad score public. This bank has branches all across the Missouri state and focuses on small business owners and the private public. That’s why they have some great credit card choices for those who are trying to rebuild their credit history. 

You don’t have to worry about getting a card from this issuer. The bank is a trustworthy source that has been around for 100 years. There are plenty of other services and credit card options on their site for you to explore and choose from as well. 

What is a starter credit card?

Starter cards, also called credit builder cards, were created with people who have bad scores in mind. Remember that often you won’t have these low numbers because of reckless card use and debt in the past, it could happen because you never used financial services at all. This is especially common among young people or those who recently arrived in the USA. 

Normally, they offer you a starting point with modest credit limits. This way, you can experiment and learn at the same time you build a good credit history. Most starter card providers also give you the chance to learn about personal finances through their blog or platforms. 

Don’t be upset when you find out that your starting limit is around $300, as happens with the First Phase Visa. That isn’t a bad thing for those who didn’t have much experience or were irresponsible with credit card use in the past. It’s a manageable amount and helps to avoid overspending. 

Why should you use the First Phase Visa Card?

If you’re someone who currently has poor credit scores, whatever the reason, you should consider the First Phase Visa card. As we mentioned before, it’s an option that has a manageable starting limit, but you can increase it over time with timely payments. Which means that after a few bills paid on time, the Missouri Bank can review your credit line. 

The limits for this credit card can go up to $1.000. It’s quite high for a product aimed at people with poor credit score or no credit history. As for advantages that people usually look for in their credit card, there isn’t much to speak of. This card has no rewards system or intro offer, its main objective is only building better scores.

Other advantages include: 

• Approval without the need for a credit history; 
• Visa zero liability and identity protection; 
• Reports to all three major bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion); 
• Automatic credit limit reviews over time (get up to $1.000 limit); 
• Flexible 24/7 customer service. 

Are you still in doubt about getting a starter card? We’ll explain below why someone with poor credit scores should consider this option. 

How to get a better score with the First Phase Visa

This Missouri Bank product doesn’t want to be your forever card, quite the opposite of that. It gives credit card users the opportunity to build a better credit history. That will happen as you make purchases and make your balance in full every month. As long as the payment happens within your defined date, it will contribute to a positive history. 

You’ll also be able to work on your credit utilization rate, which happens to be 30% of your credit scores. For that, you must use less than 70% of your limit monthly and avoid holding a balance. After a few months you’ll see the difference in your credit score. 

Interest rates and fees for the First Phase Credit Card

Here we get to one of the low points of this credit card: the First Phase card has some high interest rates and quite a few fees. That happens with most cards focused on folks with poor credit scores. One more reason not to hold a balance while using this card and keep your spending under control. Check out some of the fees and interest you’ll have to pay with this card: 

• 34,99% fixed APR; 
• 34,99% APR for cash advances; 
• $89,99 program fee at the moment  of approval; 
• $75 annual fee for the first year, $48 after that; 
• $75 service year after the first 12 months; 
• $10 cash advance fee after the first 12 months; 
• $40 late payment fee; 
• $40 returned payment fee. 

You can apply as long as you’re over eighteen even if you don’t have a credit history. Instead of checking your credit score, First Phase Visa will look at your debt/income ratio to determine if you’re eligible for this credit card.