Our In-Depth First Phase Visa® Credit Card Review

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Having a less than perfect credit score can be a vicious cycle. You need credit to build credit, but without good credit, it’s tough to get approved for a credit card.

That’s exactly the cycle that First Phase is trying to solve. The First Phase Visa® credit card is a secured credit card designed for people who are looking to build or rebuild their credit. It promises to help you establish good credit habits and raise your credit score (with responsible use).

But does it live up to those lofty goals?

In this in-depth review, we’ll be answering that question and more. Ready? Let’s dive in!

Key Takeaways

Annual Fee: $75/year for the first year, then $48/year
Monthly Fee: $0/month for the first year, then $6.25/month
Activation Fee: $89
APR: 34.99%
Starting Credit Limit: $300
Maximum Credit Limit: $1,000

For more ways to rebuild your credit, check out our guide for credit repair.

Table of Contents

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First Phase Visa® Credit Card: The Basics

The First Phase Visa® Credit Card is an unsecured credit card issued by The Bank of Missouri that’s specifically designed for people who are looking to build or rebuild their credit.

One of the main things that makes this card different from other credit cards is that it has a lower starting credit limit. That might not sound like a good thing, but it actually is.

Why?

Because with a lower credit limit, you’re less likely to overspend and get into debt. This helps you avoid the kind of financial recklessness that leads to bad credit in the first place. Speaking of…

First Phase Visa® Credit Card Credit Limits

The First Phase Visa® Credit Card has a starting credit limit of $300. That’s pretty low compared to some other rebuilding cards on the market. That said, the card does offer the opportunity to increase your credit limit to up to $1,000.

To request this credit limit increase, you need either:

A stronger credit score than the issuer’s minimum requirement
A history of timely payments

First Phase Visa® Credit Card Fees

The First Phase Visa® credit card does have some fees. That’s pretty standard for a credit card, especially one designed for people with poor credit.

Here’s a quick overview:

Annual Fee: $75/year for the first year, then $48/year
Monthly Fee: $0/month for the first year, then $6.25/month
Activation Fee: $89
APR: 34.99%

So, how do these fees stack up against other secured credit cards on the market?

In short: they’re average. When you compare the First Phase Visa® credit card to other secured credit cards, you’ll find that the fees are pretty much identical with what other issuers are charging.

	Upfront Fee	Annual Fee (Year 1)	Annual Fee (Year 2+)	Monthly Fee	APR
First Access Visa	$95	$75	$48	$8.25	34.99%
Total Visa	$89	$75	$48	$6.25	34.99%
Revvi Visa	$89	$75	$48	$6.25	34.99%
First Digital Mastercard	$95	$75	$48	$8.25	34.99%

First Phase Visa® Credit Card Requirements

Now that we’ve covered the basics and fees, let’s take a look at the requirements for the First Phase Visa® credit card—there are actually quite a few!

Here are the requirements you’ll need to meet:

be a U.S. citizen
be employed or self-employed
have a U.S. checking account
have a credit score of more than 525
have no more than $25,000 in credit card debt
have no more than $60,000 in non-credit card debt
have a debt payment to monthly income ratio of <35%
have no bankruptcies in the last seven years
have no delinquencies in the past year

If you meet all of these requirements, you should have no problem getting approved for the First Phase Visa® credit card.

First Phase Visa® Credit Card Features

Whenever you consider a credit card, you should always look at the features and benefits that it offers. After all, a credit card is only as good as the perks and rewards that come with it.

So, what kind of features does the First Phase Visa® credit card offer?

Let’s take a look:

Comprehensive Reporting: The First Phase Visa® credit card comes with comprehensive reporting to all three credit bureaus. This means that your payments and account activity will be reported to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
Visa Account Updater: With Visa Account Updater, your account information will be automatically updated with participating merchants. This means that if your credit card number or expiration date changes, the merchants you’ve registered with will be automatically updated.
Identity Theft Protection: The First Phase Visa® credit card comes with identity theft protection. This includes things like $0 fraud liability, 24/7 fraud monitoring, and lost wallet protection.
Autopay: With Autopay, you can automatically make your monthly credit card payment from your checking account. This is a great way to ensure that you never miss a payment and damage your credit score.

These are just a few of the features that come with the First Phase Visa® credit card. As you can see, it’s a pretty comprehensive card that offers a lot of features and benefits.

First Phase Visa® Credit Limitations

Now that we’ve looked at all the great things about the First Phase Visa® credit card, let’s take a look at some of the limitations.

No International Payments: One of the biggest limitations of the First Phase Visa® credit card is that it doesn’t allow for international payments. So, if you’re planning on traveling abroad, you’ll need to find another way to pay for things.
No Balance Transfer: Another big limitation of the First Phase Visa® credit card is that it doesn’t allow for balance transfers. So, if you’re trying to pay down debt, you’ll need to look at other options.

How To Apply for the First Phase Visa® Credit Card

Applying for the First Phase Visa® credit card is pretty straightforward.

Gather the required documents. These include things like your Social Security number, proof of income, and a copy of your credit report.
Complete the online application. The online application process should take about 10-15 minutes.
Wait for a decision. You’ll usually hear back within a few days about whether or not you’ve been approved.
Pay the activation fees. If you are approved for the First Phase Visa® credit card, you’ll need to pay the $98 activation fee and the $75 annual fee.
Wait for your card. Once you’ve paid the activation and annual fees, you’ll need to wait for your card to arrive in the mail.

And that’s it! Applying for the First Phase Visa® credit card is a pretty simple and straightforward process.

Is First Phase Visa Credit Card Legit?

First Phase credit card is definitely a legit credit card. You can find good reviews of First Phase credit card everywhere. It may not be a good option for everyone, but it is a legitimate card.