Credit card review

Milestone Mastercard: an unsecured $1,000 limit for rebuilding credit

A real Mastercard for people whose credit is not perfect. There is no security deposit to lock up, and if the issuer approves you, your line can go up to $1,000. Reviewed by AdvancePointly.

Credit limit up to $1,000 if approved
No security deposit required
Payments reported to Experian, Equifax and TransUnion
Accepted at 40 million locations online, in app and in store

Apply Nowon the issuer's secure site

The Milestone Mastercard is an unsecured card aimed at people who are starting out or starting over with credit. You do not put down a refundable deposit, and if the issuer approves you, your line can go up to $1,000. It works anywhere Mastercard is accepted, and your monthly activity is sent to all three major bureaus, so paying on time is noticed where it counts.

Our verdict

This card does one job well: it gives someone with a thin or damaged file a genuine, unsecured Mastercard without asking for cash up front. The two features that stand out to us are the deposit-free structure and the reporting to all three bureaus. Every on-time payment is recorded with Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, which is the whole point of a card like this.

The trade-off is price. The annual fee is $250 in the first year and $99 after that, and from the second year a monthly fee of $19.25 (which adds up to $231 a year) applies on top. The purchase APR sits around 35.9%, and there are no rewards. In plain terms, this is a tool for building a payment history, not a card to carry a balance on. Use it for small, regular purchases, pay the statement in full, and let the bureau reporting do the work.

How it works

Check the terms Open the offer and read the annual fee, the monthly fee and the APR before you decide anything. It takes a couple of minutes and you see the terms before you commit.
Apply with the issuer The issuer reviews your application and may obtain your credit report as part of that review. Approval is never certain, and the issuer sets your line, up to $1,000, when it approves you.
Pay on time and build If approved, keep purchases small and pay by the due date every month. The account reports to all three bureaus, so steady on-time payments are recorded month after month.

Rates and fees

Annual fee	$250 in the first year; $99 thereafter
Monthly fee	$0 the first year (billed $0 each month); $231 annually thereafter (billed $19.25 each month)
Purchase APR	Around 35.9% (see terms)
Credit limit	Up to $1,000 if approved
Security deposit	None (unsecured)
Rewards	None

Milestone prices for the rebuilding market, so the fees run well above a prime card. What you are shown, including the exact fee and terms, depends on your own credit profile, and the offer behind this link may differ from other Milestone offers elsewhere. Go through the complete terms on the issuer's site before applying.

Who it is for

A good fit if you

You are building credit from scratch or repairing past damage
You want an unsecured card and do not want to tie up a deposit
You want a card that works online, in app and in store wherever Mastercard is accepted
You care about reporting to all three bureaus

Maybe not if you

You can already get approved for a low-fee or rewards card
You want cash back, points or miles
You are not willing to pay an annual fee
You expect to carry a balance at a high APR

Apply on the Issuer's Site

on the issuer's secure site

Milestone, answered

Will applying affect my credit score?

The issuer reviews every application and may obtain your credit report as part of that review. If you are approved, the new account and the inquiry show on your credit report as usual.

Do I need to put down a security deposit?

No. The Milestone Mastercard is unsecured, which means you never have to put down the refundable deposit that a secured card requires. If approved, the issuer assigns your credit line, up to $1,000.

What kind of credit does it take?

The card is designed for less-than-perfect credit. Every application goes through the issuer's review, and that review can involve pulling your credit report; approval is never certain. If you recently applied for or already hold a Milestone Mastercard, you may not be approved.

Does the card report to the credit bureaus?

Yes. Activity is reported to Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Pay by the due date and keep the balance low each month, and that steady record can strengthen your payment history over time.

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. AdvancePointly 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.

AdvancePointly is a free loan-request and comparison referral service. We are not a lender, a card issuer or an insurer, and we may be compensated when you apply through links on this page. This is an advertisement.

See if the Milestone Mastercard fits your plan

Up to a $1,000 limit, no security deposit, and reporting to all three bureaus. The application takes a few minutes on the issuer's secure site.

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