DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card Review

MoneyGeek partners with leading industry experts and advertisers to help you get to your financial happy place. Our content is accurate when posted but offers may change over time. We may receive compensation for partner advertisements, but our editorial team independently reviews and ranks products. Learn more about our editorial policies.

DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card

Rates & Fees

REVIEW & APPLY

On Issuer's Site

Min. Security Deposit

$500

APR

16.25% – 18% variable

Annual Fee

Recommended Credit

580-740 (Fair to Good)

PROS
- No annual fee
- No fees for balance transfers, foreign transactions and cash advances
- Reports to major credit bureaus
- Enhanced security with fraud alerts
- Free access to monthly credit score
CONS
- Mandatory credit union membership
- Security deposit needed upfront
- No rewards or cash back
- Variable APR can be high
- APRs, Fees, and Penalties
  - A security deposit is required.
  - Enjoy no annual, balance transfer, foreign transaction, or cash advance fees.
  - The APR ranges from 16.25% to 18% variable.
- Perks & Benefits
  - Benefit from Visa perks, including travel and live music experiences.
  - Get free same-day delivery on orders over $35 with your free Visa credit cardholder membership.
  - Stay secure with fraud notifications and the ability to freeze or unfreeze your card.
  - Your personal information is encrypted in Mobile Wallet transactions.
  - Access your free monthly credit score based on Equifax data, complete with explanatory reasons.
  - Protect your identity with ID Navigator, offering identity theft protection, dark web monitoring, and data breach notifications.
  - Enjoy extended warranties on eligible items purchased with your Visa card.
- Membership Requirements
  - Membership to the Digital Federal Credit Union is required.

The DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card is an excellent choice for anyone looking to build or rebuild their credit, especially for DCU members. It has robust security features (including fraud protection and easy card management) and no standard fees. The card offers valuable Visa benefits like travel perks and live music experiences. Additionally, it focuses on digital security with encrypted transactions and identity theft protection. Although it requires a deposit and DCU membership, its comprehensive offerings make it a secure and beneficial choice for those committed to responsible credit management.

DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card Overview

Understanding the diverse features of a credit card, such as those of the DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card, is crucial in making an informed decision that aligns with your financial needs and goals.

Regular APR: 16.75% – 18.00% (Variable)
Deposit required: $500
Potential credit limit: $500 (equal to your deposit)
Annual fee: $0
Rewards rate: None

Important Card Details

In exploring the DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card features, we find attributes tailored to specific financial needs and goals. This analysis aims to provide an objective overview, considering both the advantages and limitations of the card, to offer a balanced perspective for potential cardholders.

Security Deposit

A key feature of the DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card is the required security deposit. This deposit acts as collateral and determines your credit limit. It is a common practice for secured cards, providing a safety net for the issuer while helping you build or rebuild your credit. The deposit is refundable, making it a wise investment in your financial future.

Card Eligibility

Secured credit cards, like the DCU Visa® Platinum, are particularly accessible to individuals with no credit history or those rebuilding credit. The security deposit minimizes the risk for the issuer, allowing them to extend credit to a wider range of credit profiles.

Fees

One of the strengths of the DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card is its minimal fee structure. It charges no annual, balance transfer, foreign transaction or cash advance fees. The lack of fees is especially good for people who want to avoid expenses when building or fixing their credit.

Other Perks

In addition to the fundamental features, the card offers several additional perks. These include free monthly credit score access, providing insights into your credit health; ID Navigator for comprehensive identity theft protection; and extended warranties on eligible purchases.

Credit Union Membership

To access the DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card, membership in the Digital Federal Credit Union is required. This membership comes with its own set of advantages, like lower loan rates and higher savings yields.

How the DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card Compares

In this comparative analysis, we'll delve into the features and benefits of two popular credit cards, helping you discern which card aligns best with your financial needs and spending habits.

How This Card Compares

DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card

Regular APR: 16.75% (Variable)
Deposit required: $500
Potential credit limit: $500 (equal to your deposit)
Annual fee: $0
Rewards rate: None
Best for: Those looking to build or rebuild credit with no annual fees, using a secured credit approach based on a deposit equal to their credit limit

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Regular APR: 28.24% (Variable)
Deposit required: $200 to $2,500
Potential credit limit: $200 to $2,500 (equal to your deposit)
Annual fee: $0
Rewards rate: Earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (up to $1,000 in purchases per quarter) and 1% cash back on other purchases; matches all your cash back in the first year
Best for: Individuals aiming to build credit while earning cash-back rewards, especially on gas and dining, and appreciating a first-year cash back match

About Grace Pilling

Grace Pilling was the Senior Content Manager for Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. She previously led personal finance teams at Bankrate, CreditCards.com and MoneyUnder30.

Pilling has a bachelor's degree in English from Western Sydney University and a diploma in book editing, proofreading and publishing. She is focused on empowering readers to make informed financial choices that support their best lives, not a company’s bottom line.

Read Full Bio »

*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.