Best Secured Business Credit Cards of 2025
Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
Secured business credit cards are best if your personal credit score is below 690. That’s the lowest FICO score to get most business credit cards. If you don’t hit that number, a secured card can let you build credit in your company’s name.
Secured business cards aren't common. Those with good rewards, even more so. After reviewing eight options, our top choice is the Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® Secured credit card.
🏆 Our pick: The best secured business credit card
The Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® Secured credit card has no annual fee and earns unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. It also offers a stepping stone to getting a credit line from a major bank — a big plus for growing businesses.
BofA checks a lot of boxes, but it won’t be right for everyone. For instance, registered businesses could get a corporate card. Those base approvals on a company's finances, not personal credit history.
Also, if personal credit is a challenge, a secured personal card is better way to it. Those cards will help build or rebuild your own credit score. That can set your business up to tap into unsecured financing in the future.
Why trust NerdWallet
Our guide to secured business credit cards
How we chose the best secured business credit card
NerdWallet rates business credit cards on their overall value. Factors in that evaluation include fees, rewards, bonus offers and other noteworthy perks.
Secured business cards usually aren’t rich with features. Their primary purpose is establishing a trade line and building business credit. Of course, you can do that by using almost any business credit card responsibility. But secured options extend that benefit to those with thin or poor personal credit. Typically, that's a FICO score below 630.
With that in mind, we prioritized the following:
Key features for secured business credit cards
🤓 Is there an annual fee? We’re not against fees — you can potentially deduct them as business expenses, after all. But the benefits of a card should far outweigh that cost. Paying a fee only to establish business credit isn't worthwhile enough. That's especially because there are free ways to do so (getting a DUNS number, for instance).
🤓 How much is the deposit? You need to provide a refundable deposit for a secured card. It makes these cards less risky for issuers. They can seize that deposit if you don't pay. Minimum deposits should be low enough so a product is accessible and doesn't hamstring liquidity.
🤓 Are there upgrades? You can often graduate to an unsecured line of credit by using a secured card responsibly. Ideally, the card's issuer not only offers those upgrades, but also does so proactively.
🤓 What else does the card offer? TThe best secured options do more than report payment history to a commercial credit bureau. They also reward your spending and include other features that benefit your business.
What’s the best secured business credit card?
The Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® Secured credit card is our top pick for secured business credit cards. Bank of America is the only major credit card issuer with a secured option for business owners. But the card still stands out on its own merit.
The big pluses:
No annual fee and 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
No cap or expiration date on the rewards you earn.
Bank of America may upgrade you to an unsecured business card if and when you qualify.
We generally rate Bank of America business credit cards lower than other options. That changes if you qualify for the bank’s Preferred Rewards for Business program. You can do that with an average balance with the bank of $20,000 or more.
Preferred Rewards for Business earns you up to 2.62% unlimited, flat-rate cash back on certain cards. It also has perks like higher interest rates on business savings accounts.
That program is one reason NerdWallet considers Bank of America one of the best banks for small business. For new companies, getting a secured card from Bank of America is a simple way to start a relationship with a business bank.
The Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® Secured credit card does have drawbacks. The card is subject to credit approval, and you can’t prequalify to check your eligibility. It also has a needs security deposit of at least $1,000. While that isn’t the highest barrier to entry we’ve seen, it’s also not the lowest.
Other secured business credit cards we considered
The Valley Bank Visa® Secured Business Credit Card has no annual fee and offers 1% cash back. It also has a 0% intro APR period on purchases for your first six months (the ongoing APR thereafter is 15.20% to 26.50%).
A business card’s intro APR period is essentially an interest-free loan, so this is usually a notable perk. But it’s less valuable for secured cards. After all, that “loan” is offset by money you deposited. Valley Bank makes you put down 110% of your desired credit limit as well, tying up even more of your cash.
Also worth noting: You have to apply for this secured card in person. Valley Bank has branches in Alabama, California, Florida, New Jersey and New York.
The Charity Charge Nonprofit Secured Business Card is just for nonprofit organizations. The security deposit might shrink the pool of eligible applicants even further. This nonprofit business credit card requires you to put down at least $5,000.
The First National Bank Business Edition® Secured Mastercard® Credit Card is available to businesses in FNBO's service area. It requires a security deposit of at least $2,000 and charges a $39 annual fee.
You’ll earn interest on that deposit, but the card offers no other rewards.
We previously liked the Hello Alice Small Business Secured Mastercard®. FNBO issued that one, too, but it was more widely available. Hello Alice stopped offering this card in March 2025.
If you are prioritizing a banking partner, see if any community bank or credit union in your area offers secured business credit cards. Potential options include:
The Suncoast Credit Union Business Secured Visa. Available in 40 counties in Florida.
The Pacific Premier Bank Business Edition Secured Visa Card. Service area includes Arizona, California, Nebraska, Oregon and Washington.
Just weigh the card’s fees and features against the value of that local relationship. For instance, Metro Credit Union (headquartered in Chelsea, Mass.) has the Metro Business Builder Visa Credit Card —but it comes with a $69 annual fee and no rewards.
Fintech Lili entered the secured business card space in July 2025. Its product, the BusinessBuild Credit Card, focuses on business credit scores. The card is part of the company's BusinessBuild program. That includes payment reporting to Dun & Bradstreet, real-time credit monitoring and educational resources.
The card doesn't have a fee. But BusinessBuild does. Your first month is free. After that, monthly costs rise to $18 — for three months. You'll pay $30 each month thereafter. That'd equal $294 over a year. It's less than you'd pay for similar services from D&B itself ($499/year). That doesn't make it cheap, though — especially if you won't use every feature.
Are there alternatives to secured business credit cards?
You need excellent personal credit to get many business credit cards. But those with credit scores between 630 (typically considered bad credit) and 690 may have better options than a secured business credit card.
Can you use a personal secured credit card for business?
You don’t need a business credit card for business finances. If you’re a sole proprietor, you could get a separate personal secured credit card or opt for a personal card for fair or average credit. There are more of these for individuals than businesses.
These types of cards may help your personal credit — a must for future financing. But they’ll lack features like employee cards. They often come with lower limits than business credit cards, too. You'll also need to keep your business and personal spending separate.
Among personal secured cards, the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card is a solid choice. It offers an impressive combination of features for those with poor credit.
It requires a deposit, but in exchange you get:
A $0-annual-fee card that reports to all three credit bureaus.
An automatic credit limit review after six months.
A possible upgrade path to an unsecured Capital One card.
5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
1.5% cash back on all other purchases, which equals what you'd find on many unsecured cards.
See rates and fees.
$0
The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is another option with generous cash back. Discover says responsible habits will automatically trigger an evaluation for an upgrade after seven months with the card. Note that you must pay your security deposit through a bank account.
$0
Frequently asked questions: Secured business credit cards
What is a secured business credit card?
A secured business credit card is a line of credit that requires a cash deposit. That deposit typically functions as your credit limit. The card issuer can take it in instances of non-payment.
Secured business credit cards can make sense if your personal FICO score is below 690. That's the score you often need to qualify for most unsecured business credit cards. Secured cards are also solid — no matter your personal credit — for those with no business credit score. They can let your business show responsible debt repayment.
Which banks offer secured business credit cards?
Among major credit card issuers, Bank of America is the only one with a secured business credit card. Chase, Citi, Discover, U.S. Bank, American Express and others don't offer these cards. Wells Fargo used to, but its secured business card is no longer available to new applicants.
These niche products are more common among regional financial institutions. For instance, the First National Bank of Omaha, Valley Bank and Metro Credit Union (headquartered in Chelsea, Mass.) all offer secured business cards.
How to use a secured business credit card effectively
Here are a few ways to make the most of a secured business credit card:
Use the card consistently. Make one or two small purchases every month. Smaller purchases will leave you with more available credit, which is good for your business’s credit score.
Pay your balance in full every month before the due date. That way, you won't be charged interest. If your secured card has an intro APR period, be sure to at least make your minimum payment.
Watch your business credit score. You aren't entitled to view your full business credit reports for free. But there are ways to keep an eye on your scores for signs of improvement.
Keep in mind that business credit cards typically don't impact personal credit — except in instances of non-payment. Using a secured business credit card won't necessarily improve your approval odds for unsecured cards. Though some issuers may upgrade you if you become eligible. Otherwise, you'll likely need to improve your personal credit or consider business cards that don't require a credit check, like corporate cards.
* Information for the Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business was collected independently and not reviewed by or provided by Capital One.
Business credit cards methodology
NerdWallet's business credit card team selects the best small-business credit cards without outside input from partners or other business interests. We evaluate business cards based on value and simplicity, weighing fees, sign-up bonuses and reward rates, alongside perks like interest-free periods, statement credits and elite status (for travel cards). Business cards that earn the highest scores deliver the most value to the greatest number of business owners.
Notable changes to our methodology for 2025 include factoring in whether spending on employee cards earns rewards and counts toward the welcome offer requirements. We also now consider what information the card issuer reports to consumer credit bureaus. Learn how NerdWallet rates small-business credit cards.
Secured business cards can be an easy way to establish credit in your company's name. Most report your payment history to commercial credit bureaus.
You can establish credit by using many business credit cards responsibly. But most require a personal FICO score of at least 690 to qualify.
A secured personal card may be the quickest path to building or rebuilding credit if your FICO score is below that number.