Pairs a credit-builder loan + secured card — builds credit and savings simultaneously.
Get started at Self Financial (issued by Lead Bank or First Progress) → Pre-qualify (where available) with a soft credit pull — no score impact.
Building credit — Built for establishing or rebuilding credit — no minimum score
ClearValue Rating: 3.9 / 5 — our editorial assessment (how we rate)
Editorial confidence (30%), cost (25%), value (25%), accessibility (20%) — scored consistently across every product, independent of compensation.
Applicants who want to build an emergency fund while building credit, with no upfront deposit required.
Self Visa® Credit Builder Card carries a $25 annual fee and a variable APR of approximately 28.99% on purchases. No upfront cash deposit is required — your credit limit is funded by savings accumulated in your Self Credit Builder Account. Note that the Credit Builder Account itself has a separate monthly fee; review the full cost at self.inc.
Self Visa® Credit Builder Card — Pairs a credit-builder loan + secured card — builds credit and savings simultaneously. Best for: Applicants who want to build an emergency fund while building credit, with no upfront deposit required.. Compare it against alternatives before applying; the right fit depends on your situation, credit, and goals.
Per Self Financial (verified June 3, 2026, at self.inc): the Self Credit Builder Account is an installment loan where your payments are held in a savings account. When the loan term ends, you receive the saved amount. The on-time payment history is reported to all three bureaus throughout the term, building your credit profile. After 3+ months of on-time payments and a minimum balance in your account, you become eligible for the Self Visa Credit Builder Card. Verify current terms, monthly payment options, and fee structure at self.inc before applying.
Per Self Financial (verified June 3, 2026): the credit limit on the Self Visa card is funded by the savings you've accumulated in your Credit Builder Account — typically between $100 and $3,000 depending on your account progress. No cash deposit is required upfront because the funds already exist in your Self account. The $25 annual card fee applies in addition to the monthly Credit Builder Account fee — review the full cost structure at self.inc.
No. ClearValue Lending is not a bank, card issuer, lender, or financial advisor. The Self Visa® Credit Builder Card is a product of Self Financial, Inc., issued by Lead Bank or First Progress. APRs, fees, Credit Builder Account terms, and card eligibility are determined solely by Self Financial and its issuing partners and may change — verify current terms at self.inc before applying.
How we rate
Every pick gets a 1–5 ClearValue Rating computed from four weighted factors: Editorial confidence (30%), Cost (25%), Value (25%), and Accessibility (20%).
Scored consistently across every product and independent of any compensation. Full methodology →
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