How soon can you get a credit card after bankruptcy?

It’s possible to get a credit card as soon as your bankruptcy is discharged, which could be as soon as 3 to 6 months with a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. You can apply for cards after your bankruptcy is discharged. If you’re fresh off a bankruptcy, it’s best to apply for secured credit cards. Though you have to make a security deposit, a secured card is easier to get approved for than an unsecured card and may offer credit-building features, such as free access to your FICO credit score and the option to increase your credit limit and upgrade to an unsecured card after several months of on-time payments.

Can you be denied for a secured credit card after bankruptcy?

Although secured credit cards typically offer easier approvals than unsecured cards, it’s possible to be denied for a secured card after bankruptcy. You may be denied if you have insufficient income or if you have outstanding delinquent accounts that weren’t dischargeable in bankruptcy, such as student loans. If you’re denied a secured card, the issuer will send you an explanation letter with details on why you weren’t approved. Check the letter and work on the factors that led to the denial, such as income or outstanding delinquencies.

Will applying for credit cards hurt your credit score?

Every time you apply for new credit, lenders perform a hard credit check. Each hard inquiry can cause a small, temporary dip in your credit score. While this is typically not a major impact, it can be tough to deal with if your credit score is already low from bankruptcy. You shouldn’t let the potential for a slightly lower credit score keep you from applying for a credit card that can help you recover your credit from bankruptcy, but it’s good to be cautious and limit how many new credit applications you submit within a short period of time. Rather than applying for multiple credit cards and hoping for approval, use a prequalification tool either on the credit card issuer’s website or with CardMatch to find out if you’re likely to be approved for a card. Prequalifying only uses a soft credit check that doesn’t affect your credit score. Once prequalified, you can limit your credit card applications to cards you should be approved for, making the hard credit inquiry worth it.

How long after bankruptcy can you get a rewards credit card?

It’s possible to get a rewards credit card as soon as your bankruptcy is discharged. Some secured credit cards, such as the Capital One Quicksilver Secured card and U.S. Bank Cash+ Secured card earn cash-back rewards. However, rewards are just icing on the cake when you’re rebuilding your credit after bankruptcy, not the main focus. As you work on improving your credit score, look for a card with no annual fee that reports to all 3 major credit bureaus and offers a pathway to upgrade to an unsecured credit card and a higher credit limit. Once you’ve locked away a year or so of on-time payments on your credit report, you may be ready to get approved for an entry-level rewards card, such as the Capital One QuicksilverOne card.

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The 8 Best Credit Cards After Bankruptcy [Rebuild Your Credit]

Updated: September 3, 2025, 8:00am CDT

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Table of Contents

Key Takeaways
The 8 Best Credit Cards After Bankruptcy — Overview
What Bankruptcy Does to Your Credit
How To Choose a Credit Card After Bankruptcy
The 8 Best Credit Cards After Bankruptcy
Rebuilding Credit With a Credit Card
Final Thoughts

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Key Takeaways

You can get a credit card even with a bankruptcy on your credit report.
A secured credit card is the best starting point for rebuilding your credit after bankruptcy.
Using a credit card responsibly with low balances and on-time payments can help you quickly boost your credit score.

Bankruptcy may feel like a financial disaster, but it’s just the start of a new chapter.

You should expect it to take some time to fully recover from bankruptcy, especially when it comes to your credit score, but you can start rebuilding right away. Getting a credit card after bankruptcy is an effective way to begin restoring your credit.

Secured credit cards may be accessible as soon as your bankruptcy is discharged, and you can use a secured card to make small purchases and pay them off in full each month by the due date. That can help you boost your credit score with an on-time payment history and low credit utilization.

In this guide, we explain what bankruptcy does to your credit, how to choose a card to help you rebuild your score, and which secured and unsecured cards are well-suited to rebuilding your credit after bankruptcy.

The 8 Best Credit Cards After Bankruptcy — Overview

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Card	Type	Annual Fee	Key Feature
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit CardInformation collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.	Secured card	$0	Low security deposit
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit CardInformation collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.	Secured card	$0	Cash-back rewards
U.S. Bank Cash+^® Visa Secured Card	Secured card	$0	Flexible security deposit
BankAmericard^® Secured Credit Card	Secured card	$0	Potential to upgrade
Citi^® Secured Mastercard^®	Secured card	$0	Credit-building support
Discover it^® Secured	Secured card	$0	Automatic upgrade review
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit CardInformation collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.	Unsecured card	$39	Unsecured cash-back rewards
Chase Freedom Rise^®	Unsecured card	$0	Easier approval with Chase checking or savings

What Bankruptcy Does to Your Credit

Bankruptcy is a legal way to manage overwhelming credit card debt and get a fresh start, but not without severely damaging your credit history.

The most common types of bankruptcy for individuals are Chapter 7, known as a liquidation bankruptcy, and Chapter 13, known as a repayment plan bankruptcy. With Chapter 7, your assets are sold to pay creditors, and you typically wipe out most unsecured debt, including credit cards. Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows you to keep your property and repay your debts under court supervision over 3 to 5 years.

Bankruptcy stays on your credit report for up to 10 years: 7 years for Chapter 13 and 10 years for Chapter 7.

Can You Get a Credit Card After Bankruptcy?

Yes, you can get a credit card after bankruptcy. However, with bad credit, your options may be limited to secured and unsecured cards for people with bad or fair credit.

With a bankruptcy on your credit report, you may find it difficult to qualify for credit cards and loans, especially immediately following bankruptcy. The impact of bankruptcy on your credit fades with time, even before it drops off your credit report — especially if you rebuild your credit with positive credit use.

Generally, you can apply for a secured credit card or credit-builder products as soon as your bankruptcy is discharged. Unsecured cards may be available to you after 6 to 12 months of positive credit history. Depending on lender policies, it may take 2 to 4 years to qualify for a mortgage and major loans.

Though you can apply for credit cards with a bankruptcy on your credit report, you shouldn’t expect to qualify for the best credit card products or low annual percentage rates (APRs). Still, getting a credit card and using it responsibly is one of the best ways to rebuild your credit after bankruptcy, so it’s worth applying.

How To Choose a Credit Card After Bankruptcy

A post-bankruptcy credit card can lay the foundation for rebuilding your credit. But not all cards available to people with bad credit are helpful, and some have predatory fees.

Secured cards are the easiest credit cards to get approved for. Though they require a security deposit, you can expect good approval odds and typically low fees.

Unsecured cards don’t require a security deposit, but they may have annual fees and are less likely to be approved.

Credit cards for good or excellent credit may offer extensive rewards and benefits, but when you’re recovering from bankruptcy, you should mostly look for features that help you rebuild your credit. Earning rewards is great, but don’t let it distract you from the main mission: improving your credit score.

Key features for a post-bankruptcy credit card include:

Reporting to all 3 credit bureaus: A credit card should report to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion so you can add positive credit use to your credit history.
Reasonable fees: Cards with application, processing, or monthly fees tend to be predatory and best avoided. Ideally, you should get a card with no annual fee so you can keep the account open indefinitely without paying to maintain the account each year.
Upgrade potential: Some secured cards have a pathway to upgrading to an unsecured card. Find out if there’s a standard timing for an account review, such as 6 months from opening the account.

Watch out for high annual or monthly fees and cards that don’t report your activity to all 3 credit bureaus. These types of cards tend to be more harmful than helpful.

Expect any card you get after bankruptcy to have a high APR. Credit cards for bad credit have to offset the issuer’s risk somehow, and a big way they do that is by charging an above-average APR to recoup some of the cost of risky lending.

Although you should check the APR, it shouldn’t be among the main factors you consider when choosing a card to rebuild your credit. Instead, plan to use your card only for purchases you can afford to pay off when your bill is due. By paying your statement balance in full each month, you can avoid paying interest charges, making the APR irrelevant. It’s best to avoid getting a credit card at all if you plan to carry a balance.

Prequalify for Credit Card Offers

When you’re recovering from bankruptcy, even minor dips in your score can have a significant impact. Unfortunately, applying for new credit cards can temporarily ding your score with a hard credit inquiry. That shouldn’t keep you from applying for a new card, because using a credit card responsibly can significantly improve your credit. Still, you should be cautious about applying for multiple new credit cards within a short period of time — and that’s where prequalifying for credit cards comes in.

When you prequalify for a credit card, you trigger a soft credit inquiry, which has no effect on your credit score. With a prequalification, you can find out whether you’re likely to be approved for a card. Once you’re prequalified for a card you want, you can apply confidently, knowing you should be approved. That way you only have to do a hard credit inquiry for cards you should actually be able to get. That’s much better than submitting applications only to be denied approval while still taking a credit score hit from hard credit inquiries.

You can use the CardMatch tool to connect with credit card offers or see our guide to the best prequalified and preapproved credit cards.

The 8 Best Credit Cards After Bankruptcy

For people rebuilding their credit history after bankruptcy, a good card offers credit-building potential, no annual fee, and the option to upgrade to an unsecured card or higher credit limit. These credit cards can help you get back on your feet.

We recommend these credit cards after bankruptcy. It’s a good idea to start with a secured credit card and move up to an unsecured card after about 6 months to a year.

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

U.P. Rating

The Capital One Platinum Secured card helps you build or rebuild your credit score with tis credit builder perks.

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

The Capital One Platinum Secured card helps you build or rebuild your credit score with tis credit builder perks.

Welcome Offer
None

Annual Fee

APR

Purchases: 29.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Bad (300-579)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card gives you the tools to control and build your credit with responsible use.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Automatic credit line reviews
Raise your credit limit with a larger deposit
No foreign transaction fees

Cons

Does not earn rewards
Requires a security deposit

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

No annual or hidden fees. See if you’re approved in seconds
Building your credit? Using the Capital One Platinum Secured card responsibly could help
Put down a refundable security deposit starting at $49 to get a $200 initial credit line
You could earn back your security deposit as a statement credit when you use your card responsibly, like making payments on time
Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months with no additional deposit needed
Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It’s free for everyone
Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with online banking to access your account from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One’s mobile app

Financial Snapshot

APR: Purchases: 29.74% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

The Capital One Platinum Secured card has a $0 annual fee, and the security deposit policies are flexible. You can qualify for a security deposit as low as $49 and get a $200 credit limit. If the security deposit is more than you can handle paying at once, you can spread it out over several payments then open the card once you’ve made the full deposit.

Make on-time payments for 6 months with this card and your account will be automatically reviewed for a higher limit. This card can be upgraded to the unsecured Capital One Platinum Credit CardInformation collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One. or Capital One QuicksilverOne card. You get your security deposit back when you move to an unsecured card.

Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

You pay a $200 security deposit and get a $200 credit line with the Capital One Quicksilver Secured card, and there’s no annual fee. This secured card earns 1.5% cash-back on all purchases, which is a nice option for earning rewards while you work on your credit.

But the best feature is that it grows with you: After 6 months of on-time payments with this card, Capital One automatically reviews your account for a credit limit increase.

U.S. Bank Cash+^® Visa Secured Card

The U.S. Bank Cash+ Secured card offers the potential for a generous credit limit. You make a security deposit of $300 to $5,000, and your credit limit matches the security deposit. If you can make a large deposit, that can give you wiggle room to keep your credit utilization low.

There’s no annual fee, and you earn 5% cash-back on the first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases in 2 categories of your choice each quarter, 2% cash-back on an everyday category, and 1% cash-back on all other eligible purchases.

BankAmericard^® Secured Credit Card

Like the U.S. Bank Cash+ Secured card, the Secured BankAmericard has a flexible security deposit and credit limit. You can deposit $200 to $5,000, and your credit limit matches your deposit amount.

There’s no annual fee, and you get free access to your FICO credit score. This card offers an upgrade to an unsecured Bank of America card after the company reviews your account for responsible card use.

Citi^® Secured Mastercard^®

U.P. Rating

A great option for those with little or no credit history and can help you build your credit.

Citi^® Secured Mastercard^®

A great option for those with little or no credit history and can help you build your credit.

Welcome Offer
None

Annual Fee

APR

26.74% Variable

Card Highlights

The Citi^® Secured Mastercard^® is a no annual fee credit card that helps you build your credit when used responsibly.
Unlike a debit card, it helps build your credit history with monthly reporting to all 3 major credit bureaus. Once available, you will also have free access to your FICO score online.
Use your card anywhere Mastercard^® is accepted – worldwide.
A security deposit is required. Once approved, your credit limit will be equal to your security deposit (minimum of $200).
Get help staying on track with Auto Pay and account alerts.
With Flexible Payment Due Dates, you can choose any available due date in the beginning, middle or end of the month.
Manage your account 24/7 online, by phone, or in our mobile app.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 26.74% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees:

The Citi Secured card has a $0 annual fee and a minimum $200 security deposit that’s equal to your credit limit.

This card offers helpful account management features, including auto pay, account alerts, and flexible payment due dates. The card has a flexible payment due date, so you can customize it to when you can reliably pay on time. The card reports your activity to all 3 major credit bureaus, and you can get free access to your FICO credit score.

Discover it^® Secured

The Discover Secured card is another secured card with no annual fee. Your credit line equals your deposit amount, which can be as low as $200 or as high as $2,500.

Discover automatically reviews your account after 7 months to determine whether you’re ready to upgrade to an unsecured card, such as the Discover it^® Cash Back Card, and get your deposit back.

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Card

U.P. Rating

Unlimited 1.5% cash-back on all purchases while you work your way up to a higher credit line. Redeem rewards for any amount at any time.

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Card

Unlimited 1.5% cash-back on all purchases while you work your way up to a higher credit line. Redeem rewards for any amount at any time.

Welcome Offer
None

Annual Fee

$39

APR

Purchases: 29.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Fair to Good (580-739)

Why We Like This Card

If you’re looking to build your credit, and earn cash-back rewards while doing so, then the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is a fantastic option. You can increase your credit line just paying your bill on time every month and you’ll earn an unlimited 1.5% cash-back on all of your purchases.

Pros & Cons

Pros

1.5% cash-back on all purchases
Automatic credit line review after 6 months of on-time payments
Unlimited access to your credit score via CreditWise

Cons

$39 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
No rotating categories or limits to how much you can earn, and cash back doesn’t expire for the life of the account. It’s that simple
Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It’s free for everyone
Check out quickly and securely with a contactless card, without touching a terminal or handing your card to a cashier. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you’re all set

Financial Snapshot

APR: Purchases: 29.74% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Recommended for fair to good credit, the Capital One QuicksilverOne card is an option once you have at least 6 to 12 months of positive payment history on your credit report.

This unsecured card has a $39 annual fee and earns an unlimited 1.5% cash-back on all purchases. It helps you build credit by growing with your good credit habits, offering a credit line increase when you pay your bill on time every month. Capital One also offers credit score monitoring with CreditWise from Capital One, which you can use to track your credit as you rebuild it.

Chase Freedom Rise^®

U.P. Rating

The Chase Freedom Rise card is the perfect option for those starting their credit journey that also want to earn cash-back rewards.

Apply Nowat Chase's secure site

Chase Freedom Rise^®

The Chase Freedom Rise card is the perfect option for those starting their credit journey that also want to earn cash-back rewards.

Welcome Offer
No offer available

Annual Fee

APR

25.99% Variable

Pros & Cons

Pros

1.5% cash-back on all purchases
5% cash-back on Lyft rides (through March 31, 2025)
No annual fee

Cons

High APR
Charges foreign transaction fees

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Increase your approval chances - Having a Chase checking or savings account with a balance of at least $250 will increase your chances of getting approved for Chase Freedom Rise^®
Earn Cash Back - With Chase Freedom Rise^®, you can start building credit while earning 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open and there is no minimum to redeem for cash back.
Earn a $25 statement credit after signing up for automatic payments within the first three months of opening your account. With automatic payments, just pick a date and dollar amount to make sure your Credit Card gets paid on time.
Credit Limit Increase - As a Freedom Rise cardmember, you'll be evaluated for a credit line increase in as soon as 6 months. Your credit line is the maximum amount of money you can spend on your Freedom Rise^® Card
Free Credit Score - Track your credit score and learn how to build it with Chase Credit Journey.
No Annual Fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Rise^® card.
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 25.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase doesn’t offer a secured credit card, but you can get the unsecured Freedom Rise card, which is designed for cardholders who are building or rebuilding credit history. You can increase your chances of approval for this card by having a Chase checking or savings account with a balance of at least $250.

This card earns 1.5% cash-back on all purchases, and you get a $25 statement credit after you sign up for automatic payments within the first 3 months of opening your account. It has a $0 annual fee. Chase offers free credit score access and evaluates your account for a credit line increase in as few as 6 months.

Hot Tip:

Not sure you’re ready for a credit card? There are alternatives, like credit-builder loans, which you can also use while building credit with a credit card. The Self Credit Builder Loan is a 12- or 24-month loan that reports to all 3 credit bureaus. But unlike a regular loan, where you receive funds to make a purchase and pay it back over time with interest, the Self Credit Builder Loan doesn’t give you money up front. Rather, you get your money back (minus interest and fees) at the end of your loan term. Think of it as a credit-building savings tool.

Rebuilding Credit With a Credit Card

Getting a credit card after bankruptcy is the first step in rebuilding your credit history. You can improve your credit score by using your credit card responsibly and specifically focusing on actions that support a healthy credit history.

The 5 factors in your FICO credit score are payment history (35%), credit utilization (30%), length of credit history (15%), new credit (10%), and credit mix (10%). Using a credit card after bankruptcy can help you improve these factors on your credit report and boost your score.

Additionally, consider the following tips:

Pay on time, every time. Always pay your credit card bill on time, as even a single late payment can set you back. Ideally, you should pay your statement balance in full each month, but you should make at least the minimum payment by your card’s due date.
Keep balances low. Aim for under 30% credit utilization (how much of your credit limit you use), but it’s best to keep it under 10%. You don’t have to use your credit card to pay for everything, especially if you have a low credit limit. Consider putting a few automatic payments on your card each month, then paying it off in full.
Keep old cards open. The longer your credit history, the better. If you closed old accounts in bankruptcy, now’s the time to start fresh with a card you can keep open forever. That’s why it’s important to look for a credit card with no annual fee so you won’t have to pay each year to keep the account open and maintain a lengthy credit history.
Limit new card applications. Opening multiple new accounts in a short time span can signal you’re getting in over your head. Only apply for cards you’re prequalified for, and don’t open numerous accounts all at once. Take it slow and stay responsible with your card usage.
Mix it up with other account types. When you’ve bounced back your credit score a bit, getting a loan can help you add variety to your credit history, which lenders like to see. Having a mix of credit cards and long-term installment loans can help you further improve your credit.

Hot Tip:

Secured credit cards may have low credit limits, which can make it challenging to maintain a low credit utilization. For example, having a relatively low $60 balance on a card with a $200 credit limit means you have a 30% credit utilization. If you have a low credit limit, don’t put much on your credit card — just a few small purchases you can easily pay off when your bill comes due.

Final Thoughts

Although bankruptcy can stay on your credit report for up to a decade, you don’t have to wait 10 years to start rebuilding your credit. Using the right credit card and maintaining responsible credit use can help you improve your credit score. Start with a secured card, make on-time payments, keep your balances low, and upgrade to an unsecured card when you’re ready.