Self Credit Builder: How It Works
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.

at Self
How Self — formerly Self Lender — works
How to qualify for a credit-builder loan with Self
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Be a permanent U.S. resident.
- Have a Social Security number.
- Have either a bank account or debit card; a prepaid card is OK.
Self fees and penalties
Self secured credit card
Credit-builder loans vs. secured cards
- You don’t need money upfront to get the loan. With a secured card, you typically have to pay a deposit upfront, and that amount is generally your credit limit.
- You cannot access the money on deposit until the loan is paid off. With a secured card, you can use up to your credit limit anytime — though doing so will increase your credit utilization and hurt your credit until the balance is low again.
Disclosure from Self
Sample product: $25/mo, 24 mos, 15.92% APR; $35/mo, 24 mos, 15.69% APR; $48/mo, 24 mos, 15.51% APR; $150/mo, 24 mos, 15.82% APR. See self.inc/pricing. Credit Builder Accounts & Certificates of Deposit made/held by Lead Bank, Sunrise Banks, N.A., First Century Bank, N.A., each Member FDIC. Subject to credit approval.
Article sources
- 1. National Bureau of Economic Research. Prodigals and Projecture: An Economic History of Usury Laws in the United States from Colonial Times to 1900. Accessed May 2, 2025.
- 2. Federal Register. Federal Interest Rate Authority: A Rule by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on 07/22/2020. Accessed May 2, 2025.
- 3. Federal Reserve. Military Lending Act. Accessed May 2, 2025.
- 4. Center for Responsible Lending. Unsafe Harbor: The Persistent Harms of High-Cost Installment Loans. Accessed May 2, 2025.
- 5. Angi.com. How Much Does It Cost to Make My Home Accessible?. Accessed Nov 12, 2024.
More like this