- Intro Offer
-
No current offer
- Annual fee
- See terms*
- APR
- See terms*
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
300 – 669
Poor – Fair
- Rewards rate
-
N/A This card doesn’t offer cash back, miles, or points
The Destiny Mastercard can help you repair or build credit. Since it’s an unsecured credit card, you won’t pay a security deposit, but you won’t get any rewards or perks either. Just be aware the Destiny Mastercard has a much higher-than-average annual percentage rate, or APR, of 35.90%.
Instead, this card can help you prepare for a credit card with more rewards and responsibilities. Even though the Destiny Mastercard doesn’t come with as many additional benefits, it lets you zero in on building good financial habits.
Here’s how the Destiny Mastercard compares to other unsecured credit cards.
Rewards
The Destiny Mastercard doesn’t offer any ongoing rewards and is better for anyone looking to build or repair their credit.
If you can balance earning rewards and building credit, there are other credit cards to consider. Here are a few:
- Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card*
- Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit*
- Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card
Welcome bonus
Like most credit-building unsecured credit cards, the Destiny Mastercard doesn’t come with a welcome bonus. Instead, this card is best for establishing good credit habits to increase your chances of approval for a rewards card that requires good to excellent credit.
Introductory APR
The Destiny Mastercard doesn’t come with an introductory 0% APR period. It has an ongoing APR of 35.90%.
If you want an introductory APR card to cover new purchases or pay off an outstanding balance, we recommend the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card. The Wells Fargo Reflect has a long introductory APR period on purchases and qualifying balance transfers.
Fees
This card does come with an annual fee of $175 for the first year and $49 thereafter, which is much higher than other credit-builder cards. Since this card doesn’t offer any perks or rewards to offset the cost, you’ll pay the fee outright without cash back or points on your purchases.
The Destiny Mastercard also has up to a $41 late or returned payment fee. And if you exceed your card’s limit, there’s up to a $41 over-limit fee. There’s also a 1% foreign transaction fee and a $5 or 5% cash advance fee, whichever is greater, for each transaction (this fee won’t exceed $100).
Other perks
The Destiny Mastercard has standard credit card theft and fraud protection**. However, there are no additional cardholder perks.
How to build credit with the Destiny Mastercard
To build credit with the Destiny Mastercard:
1. Pay your bill on time. We recommend paying your balance in full, if you can, to avoid interest.
2. Keep your credit utilization ratio low -- experts recommend less than 30% of your limit. Your credit utilization is the amount of credit you’re using versus the amount you have available to you. For example, if you have one credit card and your credit line is $1,000, a $300 balance would make your credit utilization 30%.
It may take time for your credit score to show your progress, but if you regularly practice good credit habits, you should see improvement over time. You should also continue paying down other outstanding debts and try not to take on new balances you can’t afford to repay, which could offset any progress you’re making.
Alternative cards
The Petal 2 ‘Cash Back, No Fees’ Visa Credit Card
The Petal 2 Visa, issued by WebBank, is a flat-rate rewards card that can help if you have less-than-ideal credit. It’s an unsecured credit card, just like the Destiny Mastercard -- but the Petal 2 Visa doesn’t charge an annual fee and lets you earn cash back as you demonstrate good credit habits.
You’ll earn 1% cash back upfront on eligible purchases. And after you make 12 on-time monthly payments, your cashback rate will increase by 0.5% to 1.5% on eligible purchases. You can earn 2% to 10% cash back with Petal when you shop with select merchants using Petal’s app.
Neither the Destiny Mastercard nor the Petal 2 Visa offers a welcome bonus or introductory APR, which is normal for credit-building cards. But the Petal 2 Visa offers rewards and more value over time, similar to a traditional rewards card.
Read our full review of the Petal 2 Visa.
Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit
The Credit One Bank Platinum Visa for Rebuilding Credit is another unsecured credit card option if you have low or fair credit. Like the Petal 2 Visa, you’ll earn rewards on select purchases. The card offers 1% cash back on eligible gas and grocery purchases, as well as mobile phone, internet, cable and satellite TV services.
When choosing between the Destiny Mastercard and the Credit One Bank Platinum Visa for Rebuilding Credit, both have an annual fee to take into account. Credit One charges $75 for the first year, then $99 a year. You’ll still have a foreign transaction fee, and the variable APR for this card is lower comparatively -- 29.74%.
Read our full review of the Credit One Bank Platinum Visa for Rebuilding Credit.
How Destiny Mastercard® – $700 Credit Limit compares to other cards
- Intro Offer
-
No current offer
- Annual fee
- See terms*
- APR
- See terms*
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- Poor – Fair
- Rewards rate
-
N/A This card doesn’t offer cash back, miles, or points
Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card
- Intro Offer
-
No current offer
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 18.24% – 32.24% (Variable)
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- No Credit History
- Rewards rate
-
1% – 1.5% Up to 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases after making 12 on-time monthly payments.; 1% cash back on eligible purchases right away.
- Intro Offer
-
No current offer
- Annual fee
- $75 for the first year. After that, $99 annually ($8.25 per month)
- APR
- 29.74% Variable
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- Poor
- Rewards rate
-
1% Earn 1% cash back rewards on eligible gas, grocery purchases and mobile phone, internet, cable and satellite TV services. Terms apply.
FAQs
No, you cannot transfer a balance onto your Destiny Mastercard. Other unsecured credit cards offer balance transfers.
You could start to see results within six months, but it could sometimes take longer than that.
Yes, you can manage your card and pay your bill online using www.mydestinycard.com.
*All information about the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card and the Credit One Bank Platinum Visa for Rebuilding Credit has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
**Fraud protection provided by Mastercard Zero Liability Protection. If approved, you’ll receive the Mastercard Guide to Benefits that details the complete terms with your card.
The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.
