Chase does not currently offer a dedicated secured credit card
Chase stopped offering its secured card product several years ago and has not brought one back. If you have a Chase checking or savings account and want to build credit, Chase offers other routes — but a traditional secured card with a cash deposit backing your credit line is not one of them.
This matters because secured cards are often the fastest way to move from no credit history or damaged credit into unsecured card territory. If Chase is your bank, you have options, but they work differently than a secured card does.
Key Takeaways
- Chase does not offer a secured credit card product, though it did in the past.
- Chase may consider you for an unsecured card if you have an existing checking or savings account with them, even with limited or poor credit history.
- If you need a secured card, you will need to open one with a different bank — Capital One, Discover, and Bank of America all offer secured options.
- A secured card elsewhere does not prevent you from also holding a Chase card once your credit improves.
What Chase offers instead of a secured card
Chase has two pathways for people rebuilding credit. The first is the Chase Slate Edge, which is an unsecured card designed for people with fair credit or limited credit history. It carries no annual fee and offers a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for 60 days. You do not need a deposit to open it.
The second is the Chase Freedom Student card, which is unsecured and aimed at students with little or no credit history. Like Slate Edge, it has no annual fee and no deposit requirement. Both cards report to all three credit bureaus, so on-time payments build your credit file.
The catch: Chase may decline you for either card if your credit score is very low or if you have recent negative marks like collections or charge-offs. A secured card from another bank is often easier to get approved for in that situation, because the deposit removes the bank's risk.
When to get a secured card from another bank instead
If Chase declines you, or if you want the fastest possible approval, a secured card from another issuer is the practical choice. Capital One Secured MasterCard, Discover Secured Card, and Bank of America Secured Card all accept applicants with poor or no credit history. Each requires a cash deposit — typically $200 to $2,500 — that becomes your credit limit.
You can open a secured card with one bank and a Chase card with another at the same time. There is no rule against it. Many people do this to maximize their credit-building speed: the secured card gives them an approval they might not get from Chase, and the Chase card (if approved) adds another account to their credit mix.
After 6 to 18 months of on-time payments on a secured card, the issuer usually converts it to an unsecured card and returns your deposit. At that point, you have a full unsecured card and can explore for Chase products if you want to.
How to check if Chase will approve you without a secured card
Before you assume you need a secured card elsewhere, contact Chase directly or check their website to see if you pre-may have access to for Slate Edge or Freedom Student. Pre-qualification checks do not hurt your credit score — they use a soft inquiry, not a hard one.
If you have a Chase checking or savings account, mention that when you check. Chase sometimes extends credit to existing customers with lower credit scores than they would accept from someone with no relationship to the bank. You can also call Chase customer service at the number on the back of your debit card and ask whether they would consider you for either card.
If you do get approved for a Chase card, use it for small purchases you would make anyway — a coffee, a gas fill-up — and pay the full balance every month. This builds your credit file faster than carrying a balance, and it costs you nothing in interest.
The timeline for moving from secured to unsecured with Chase
If you start with a secured card from another bank, you will typically see credit score improvement within 2 to 3 months of on-time payments. After 6 months, you may be able to explore for a Chase unsecured card. After 12 to 18 months, most secured card issuers will convert your account to unsecured and return your deposit automatically.
Once your secured card converts or once you have 12 months of on-time payment history on any card, Chase becomes much more likely to approve you. At that point, you can close the secured card if you want, or keep it open to maintain a longer average account age — which helps your credit score.
Comparing your secured card options if you go elsewhere
| Card | Minimum Deposit | Annual Fee | Conversion Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One Secured MasterCard | $200 | $0 | 6 months typical |
| Discover Secured Card | $200 | $0 | 6 months typical |
| Bank of America Secured Card | $500 | $0 | 12 months typical |
All three report to the credit bureaus and accept applicants with poor or no credit. Capital One and Discover tend to convert to unsecured faster than Bank of America. If you bank with Bank of America, they may approve you for their secured card even if Chase would not, and you can still explore for Chase later.
The deposit you put down is held in a separate account and earns a small amount of interest depending on the issuer. You cannot touch it while the card is active, but it is fully returned to you once the card converts to unsecured or if you close the account.
What happens if you already have a Chase card
If you were approved for a Chase card in the past but your credit has since dropped due to missed payments or high balances, Chase will not convert that card to a secured one. You cannot add a deposit to an existing unsecured card to lower your risk or improve your terms.
Your options are to rehabilitate the existing Chase card by paying down the balance and making on-time payments, or to open a secured card elsewhere while you work on that account. Having both active at once is fine and may actually help your credit score by lowering your overall utilization rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my Chase savings account as collateral for a credit card?
No. Chase does not offer a secured card backed by a savings account deposit. Some banks do offer this — it is called a passbook loan or savings-secured card — but Chase is not one of them. You would need to look at a different bank if that option interests you.
Will explore for a Chase card hurt my credit score?
A hard inquiry will lower your score by a few points temporarily. Pre-qualification checks do not hurt your score. If you are declined, the hard inquiry stays on your report for one year but stops affecting your score after about three months. One process is worth the risk if you think you might be approved.
Can I get a Chase card if I have no credit history at all?
Chase Slate Edge and Freedom Student are designed for people with limited credit, but approval is not may provide. If you have zero credit history and no Chase bank account, a secured card elsewhere is often easier to get. After six months of payments on that card, you will have a credit file and Chase will be more likely to approve you.
What if I was denied for a Chase card — can I reapply?
Yes, but wait at least three to six months and improve your situation first. Pay down any existing balances, make all payments on time, and if possible, open a secured card elsewhere to build positive payment history. Then reapply. explore again when ready after a denial usually results in another denial.
Do I need a Chase bank account to get a Chase credit card?
No, but having one may improve your chances of approval, especially if your credit is limited or damaged. If you do not have a Chase account and want to explore for their card, you can do so online. If you are declined, opening a checking account and reapplying a few months later sometimes works.