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Card review

Milestone Mastercard: a deposit-free card with a limit of up to $1,000

A genuine Mastercard for bruised or brand-new credit. Your cash stays yours, since no deposit is taken, and every month is reported to all three bureaus. Reviewed by FlexiFundLoan.

  • Credit line as high as $1,000 for approved applicants
  • No deposit needed
  • Reports to Experian, Equifax and TransUnion
  • Accepted at 40 million locations online, in app and in store
Apply Nowon the issuer's secure site

Milestone's card is unsecured and aimed at two groups: people opening their first credit file and people starting over. Nothing goes down as a refundable deposit, and approval can bring a line as high as $1,000. The card works anywhere Mastercard does. Every month, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion hear how you paid, so on-time payments get noticed by the people who check.

Our take

Its job is narrow, and it does that job well: an actual unsecured Mastercard for a damaged or thin file, with no cash asked of you at the start. We like two things most. One is the missing deposit. The other is the reporting: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion all hear how you paid, so a run of on-time months counts where it matters.

Now the price. The annual fee runs $250 in the first year and $99 in the years after. Starting in year two, you also pay $19.25 every month, or $231 over a full year. The purchase APR is 35.9%. Rewards: none. This is a card for creating a track record of payments, not for holding a balance. Small, regular purchases paid off in full each month are how it earns its keep.

How applying works

  1. Read the terms first Open the offer and read three numbers first: the yearly fee, the monthly fee and the APR. You see all of it before committing, and it takes a couple of minutes.
  2. Apply with the issuer Milestone's issuer checks the application and may pull your credit report. A yes is never certain, and the issuer sets your line, up to $1,000.
  3. Pay on time, every time Once approved, spend lightly and pay by every due date. Each on-time month is passed to Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, and over time those months add up.

Fees and rates

Annual fee$250 in year one; $99 a year from year two
Monthly feeYear one: $0 ($0 a month). Year two on: $19.25 a month, which is $231 a year
Purchase APR35.9% (see terms)
Credit limitUp to $1,000 if approved
DepositNone, the card is unsecured
RewardsNone

Milestone charges more than a prime card because it serves people who are rebuilding. Your own credit profile shapes the fees and terms you are shown, and other Milestone offers you come across may not match this one. Read all of it on the issuer's site first.

Who it suits

A good fit if you

  • Are building credit for the first time or repairing past damage
  • Want an unsecured card without tying up a deposit
  • Want a card that works online, in app and in store wherever Mastercard is taken
  • Care about reports going to all three bureaus

Maybe not if you

  • Qualify today for a card with low fees or rewards
  • Want cash back, points or miles
  • Would rather not pay an annual fee
  • Expect to roll a balance from month to month
Apply on the Issuer's Site

on the issuer's secure site

Questions about Milestone

Does applying affect my credit score?

The issuer checks each application and may pull your credit report. If you are approved, the new account and the inquiry appear on your report, as with any card.

Is a deposit required?

No. Unlike a secured card, this one asks for no refundable deposit. When approved, the issuer decides your line, which can be as much as $1,000.

What credit do I need?

It is designed for imperfect credit. Every application is checked by the issuer, which may pull your credit report, and approval is never a sure thing. Holding a Milestone Mastercard already, or applying for one recently, may lead to a no.

Will my payments be reported?

Yes. Experian, Equifax and TransUnion each get your account activity. Paying on time with a modest balance builds, month by month, a record that can help your payment history.

The Milestone Mastercard is issued by The Bank of Missouri and serviced by Concora Credit Inc. Applications are subject to issuer review (which may include obtaining your credit report) and approval; to be approved you must meet the issuer's requirements for creditworthiness, ability to pay, and identity verification. If you have recently applied for or already have a Milestone Mastercard, you may not be approved. This offer may be unique and can only be guaranteed when using the link provided; other offers for this card may feature different terms and conditions. Annual fees, APRs, and credit limits vary by applicant. FlexiFundLoan is a free comparison and referral service, not a lender or card issuer, and may be compensated when you apply, which never changes the terms you are offered. This is an advertisement. Advertisement. FlexiFundLoan is a free loan-request and comparison referral service and a marketing affiliate, and we may be compensated when you use the links on this page. That never changes the terms you are offered.

Next step

See if Milestone suits your plan

No deposit, a line that can reach $1,000, and monthly reports to the three big bureaus. The application takes a few minutes on the issuer's secure site.

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