Self Visa® Credit Card

Quick Snapshot

• Annual Fee: $25
• APR: 26.99% variable
• Rewards: No rewards program
• Bonus: No welcome bonus
• Best For: Self Credit Builder Account holders who want to add a credit card to their credit-building strategy
• Credit Needed: No credit check (requires Self Credit Builder Account with $100+ savings)

Overview

The Self Visa Credit Card is part of the Self credit-building ecosystem. Before you can get the card, you must first open a Self Credit Builder Account, which is a small installment loan where your payments go into a savings account. Once you have accumulated at least $100 in savings in your Credit Builder Account, you can apply for the Self Visa Card. Your savings then serve as the security deposit for the card.

This two-step approach means you are building credit from two directions: the installment loan from your Credit Builder Account and the revolving credit from the Visa card. Both report to all three major credit bureaus. Having both types of credit (installment and revolving) on your credit report can help improve your credit mix, which accounts for about 10% of your FICO score.

The card has a $25 annual fee and a 26.99% APR. There are no rewards and no welcome bonus. The credit limit is typically low, based on your Credit Builder Account savings. The primary value is the dual credit-building approach: if you are already using Self's Credit Builder Account, adding the Visa card creates a more complete credit profile faster than either product alone.

APR Breakdown

• Purchase APR: 26.99% variable
• Balance Transfer APR: N/A
• Cash Advance APR: N/A
• Penalty APR: None

Note: Variable APR of 26.99%. Requires an active Self Credit Builder Account with at least $100 in savings before you can apply. No penalty APR.

Benefits Overview

Dual Credit Building

• Credit card reports revolving credit to all three bureaus
• Combined with Credit Builder Account installment loan
• Two types of credit (installment + revolving) improve credit mix
• Credit mix accounts for approximately 10% of FICO score
• Faster credit profile building with both products

Self Ecosystem Integration

• Secured by savings in your Credit Builder Account
• No additional deposit required beyond existing savings
• Managed alongside your Credit Builder Account in the Self app
• Track both accounts and credit score in one place

Credit Building Features

• Reports to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion
• No penalty APR
• Visa network for wide acceptance
• Straightforward credit building with no hidden surprises

Rewards & Points

The Self Visa Credit Card does not offer a rewards program. The card is designed exclusively for credit building and works best as a companion to the Self Credit Builder Account.

Welcome Bonus

No welcome bonus is offered. The Self Visa is a credit-building product, not a rewards card. The value comes from establishing revolving credit history alongside your existing Self Credit Builder installment account.

Fees Summary

• Annual Fee: $25
• Foreign Transaction Fee: N/A
• Late Payment Fee: Up to $25
• Cash Advance Fee: N/A
• Balance Transfer Fee: N/A
• Returned Payment Fee: Up to $25
• Credit Builder Account: Required ($25-$150/month installment loan)

Who This Card Is Best For

Ideal For

• Self Credit Builder users who already have an account and want to add revolving credit
• Credit mix optimizers who want both installment and revolving credit on their report
• Credit newcomers who want a structured two-step credit building program
• People who prefer saving first who like building savings that become their deposit

Not Good For

• Instant gratification seekers who do not want to save $100 before getting a card
• Rewards seekers who want cash back or points on purchases
• Fee-averse users who do not want a $25 annual fee plus Credit Builder Account costs

Key Pros & Cons

Pros

• Builds credit from two directions (installment loan + revolving card)
• Reports to all three major credit bureaus
• No additional security deposit beyond Credit Builder savings
• No penalty APR
• Improving credit mix can boost FICO score
• Self app tracks both accounts and credit score together
• Visa network for wide acceptance
• Savings-first approach teaches financial discipline
• No credit check for the card (requires Credit Builder Account)

Cons

• $25 annual fee on a no-rewards card
• Requires an active Self Credit Builder Account first
• Must save at least $100 before card eligibility
• No rewards, cash back, or points program
• No welcome bonus
• Credit limits are typically very low
• 26.99% APR if you carry a balance
• Credit Builder Account has its own monthly cost

Alternatives to Consider

How the Rewards Add Up

Example Annual Value

Annual cost of $25 for the card plus the Credit Builder Account installment costs. The value is in building a diversified credit profile: having both installment and revolving credit can accelerate score improvement by 50-100+ points over 12-18 months.

Should You Get This Card?

You Should Get It If...

• You already have a Self Credit Builder Account with $100+ in savings
• You want to build credit from two directions simultaneously
• You appreciate a structured savings-to-deposit credit building program
• You want to improve your credit mix with both installment and revolving credit
• You are willing to pay $25/year for a dedicated credit-building card
• You want all your credit building tracked in one app

You Should Skip It If...

• You do not have a Self Credit Builder Account and do not want to open one
• You want cash back or rewards on your purchases
• You can get a no-fee secured card like Chime Credit Builder or Discover Secured
• You do not want to save $100 before being eligible for a card
• You want a card immediately without prerequisites
• You already have a diverse credit profile

Apply Now

Apply for Self Visa® Credit Card

Information accurate as of May 2026. Terms and conditions apply. Please visit the issuer's website for the most current information.