Guide to WebBank and its credit cards

You might not have heard of WebBank. But you might know some of the credit cards it issues.

WebBank, an FDIC-insured financial institution based in Salt Lake City, Utah, issues credit cards and other financial products for a variety of brands. Many are designed for consumers with limited or weaker credit histories.

Credit cards by WebBank typically give people who haven’t built up much of a credit history or those with some dings on their credit reports the chance to qualify for an unsecured credit card. They can then use these cards to build a longer or stronger credit history by paying their bill on time each month and keeping balances low or paid in full.

But are WebBank credit cards worth adding to your wallet? They might be if you need help building credit, which will help you gain access to better credit cards and loans. And if you run a small business? WebBank offers one business card that might be a fit.

Best WebBank credit cards

WebBank currently offers three credit cards that are solid choices for consumers hoping to build a longer credit history and a business credit card that makes sense for business owners who need a higher credit limit.

Petal 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa Credit Card: Best for no-frills credit repair

The Petal 1 card is a no-annual-fee card that can help you build or repair your credit history at no cost. It’s also an unsecured credit card, so you don’t have to make a deposit to open an account.

The rewards program is interesting: Only certain retailers participate in it at any one time, meaning that most of your purchases with your card will generate no rewards. But if you charge products with participating retailers, you can earn 2 percent to 10 percent cash back on those purchases. You’ll need to check online with Petal 1 to discover which retailers are participating in the rewards program at any time, but retailers that have participated include brands such as Shake Shack, Sam’s Club and Costco.

Because this is a basic card, there is no welcome offer. Depending on your credit, your Petal 1 card will come with a credit limit of $300 to $5,000.

Pros

• No annual fee
• Limited rewards program
• Ability to steadily grow a credit history

Cons

• No welcome offer
• Not all purchases will generate rewards points
• Depending on your credit, you might be saddled with a low credit limit

Petal 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa Credit Card: Best for earning points while building credit

The Petal 2 card is a significant step up from the Petal 1, mostly because it gives you the opportunity to earn more rewards while building a credit history. Like the Petal 1, it’s a no-annual-fee card designed for people with short or weaker credit histories. But unlike the Petal 1, you’ll earn rewards on all your purchases — 1 percent cash back on every dollar you charge.

That’s not particularly generous, but if you make 12 consecutive on-time payments, you’ll earn 1.5 percent cash back on all purchases that you make with your Petal 2. You can also earn 2 percent to 10 percent cash back if you make charges at select retailers that participate in the Petal Offers program. You’ll have to check online with Petal 2 to determine which retailers are participating at any time.

Pros

• You’ll earn points on every purchase
• You can increase the amount you earn with on-time payments
• No annual fee
• Credit limit up to $10,000

Cons

• The rewards program isn’t overly generous
• No welcome offer

Avant Credit Card: Best for applicants who struggle to qualify for other unsecured credit-builder cards

The Avant Credit Card is as basic as a credit card can get. It offers no rewards program and no welcome offer. The highest credit limit it offers is $2,000. Even worse? It comes with a high 35.99% Variable variable APR, and if your credit is weak, you might pay an annual fee that ranges from $0 to $59.

But the Avant card is designed for consumers with “fair” FICO credit scores, which generally means scores as low as 580. It’s an unsecured card that can help you build a credit history or improve a weak score without having to come up with a deposit to open an account. It’s a solid option to consider if you don’t want a secured card but struggle to qualify for better options. As long as you pay your balance on time and in full to avoid the high interest rate, your credit score will steadily increase, and you can then apply for a card that offers more perks like a rewards program.

Avant offers what it calls proactive credit limit increases. If you pay your bills on time and don’t run up too much debt, Avant will inform you if you qualify for a higher credit limit, though your limit can never rise above the card’s maximum of $2,000.

Pros

• You can qualify for this card with a low credit score
• The Avant card offers credit limit increases if you make your payments on time

Cons

• No rewards program
• You’ll be charged an annual fee if your credit is too low
• No welcome offer

Capital on Tap Business Credit Card: Best for small-business owners seeking a high credit limit

The Capital on Tap Business card is a business card with a basic rewards program: You’ll earn 1.5 percent cash back on all purchases that you make. That’s a cash-back program that’s easy to understand, and as a small-business owner, you won’t have to spend time determining which spending categories will earn you the most cash back. But compared to other rewards programs found with other business credit cards, this one isn’t especially generous. Some of the best small-business credit cards offer a higher percentage of cash back.

The card doesn’t offer high rewards rates, but on the plus side, you may qualify for a credit limit as high as $50,000. That’s a generous limit and can come in handy for business owners who often struggle with their cash flow.

Depending on your creditworthiness, you can qualify for a variable APR of 17.74%. That’s one of the lower interest rates around for a business card. But if your credit features some dings? Your APR can rise as high as 35.99 percent, which could be costly if you carry a balance.

Pros

• Credit limit as high as $50,000
• No annual fee
• Rewards on all purchases

Cons

• Rewards program is simple but not especially valuable
• No welcome bonus
• Variable APR can be as high as 35.99 percent

Is a WebBank credit card right for you?

Should you apply for one of these WebBank cards? For many, this may largely depend on your financial health. If you have a weak or short credit history, a WebBank card will give you the chance to rebuild damaged credit or build a longer credit history.

That’s because your payments on these cards will be reported to the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Building a history of on-time payments will steadily improve your three-digit credit score. Just make sure to make these payments on time. A single payment made 30 days past your card’s due date will instead cause your credit score to fall, often by 100 points.

But if you have good-to-excellent credit? Then there’s little reason to apply for most of WebBank’s cards. That’s because they’re fairly basic, either offering no rewards programs or ones that aren’t as valuable as you can find with the best cash back cards, even those that also charge no annual fees.

But if you need to rebuild your credit and you are struggling to qualify for other cards? A WebBank card might be a solid choice.

How to choose a WebBank card

If you’re debating whether to apply for a credit card issued by WebBank, there are several factors you should consider. Everything from your credit score to the fees and perks offered by the cards could impact your choice.

What’s your credit score?

Many WebBank credit cards are appropriate for consumers who have not built a long enough credit history to qualify for other cards. This could happen if you haven’t taken out loans or credit in the past: Without a record of on-time payments, it can be difficult for consumers to generate a credit score. But if your score is in the good or higher category — usually considered to be a FICO score of 670 or higher — you can probably qualify for a credit card that offers more perks and a better rewards program than what you’d get with most of WebBank’s cards. If you’re considering the Capital on Tap Business card, you can probably also qualify for a business card with a more generous rewards program if you have a higher credit score.

Are there additional features?

It’s true that WebBank’s Petal 1, Petal 2 and Capital on Tap cards do offer rewards programs. But these programs aren’t especially generous when compared to the rewards offered by competing cards. And the Avant card doesn’t offer any rewards program. These cards also don’t come with many other perks. If your credit score is high enough, look for a credit card that offers a more valuable rewards program and perks such as cellphone protection, extended warranties, trip delay insurance or reimbursement for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry when flying. But if your credit score is either weak or limited, these cards, even with their limited extra features, might be a good choice until you’ve built up your credit.

Are the fees worth it?

You can avoid a lot of fees with the Petal 1, Petal 2 and Capital on Tap cards. None of these cards charge an annual fee or foreign transaction fees. The Petal 2 also doesn’t charge any late payment or returned payment fees, while the Capital on Tap card doesn’t charge ATM fees. That makes these cards more attractive if you want to spend as little as possible on your credit card. The Avant card, though, might charge you an annual fee of up to $59 depending on your creditworthiness. This card also charges a late payment fee of up to $39. If you do have to pay an annual fee, this card might not be worth it.

You’ll also have to watch out for the variable APRs. While you might be able to qualify for a low APR with some WebBank cards, you could end up with a high APR depending on your creditworthiness. If you don’t pay your balance in full each month, you may want to consider a secured low-interest card like the Merrick Bank Secured Credit Card, which can help keep interest charges to a minimum.

Are there better options available to me?

Even though WebBank credit requirements can be fairly low and accessible to people with fair credit, there are other options available if your goal is to rebuild your credit or build a credit history.

The Discover it® Secured Credit Card comes with a more robust rewards program. You’ll earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. This is a secured card, meaning that you’ll have to make a deposit to open an account. This deposit will serve as your credit limit.

The U.S. Bank Cash+® Secured Visa® Card card is another good choice to build a strong credit score. This secured card offers 5 percent cash back each quarter on purchases in rotating categories that you choose; 5 percent cash back on air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center; 2 percent cash back on one everyday category of your choice; and 1 percent on all other purchases. That’s an impressive amount of rewards for a starter card.

WebBank credit cards FAQ

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    Is WebBank safe?

    Yes. WebBank is a legitimate, FDIC-insured bank located in Salt Lake City, Utah.
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    What credit score is needed for a WebBank credit card?

    This depends on the card. You might not need any credit score at all to get approved for the Petal 1 or Petal 2 cards. Petal instead relies on what it calls a “cash score” to determine who qualifies for its cards. This score is based on your banking and financial history. The Avant card is for people with fair-to-good credit, so you’ll need at least a credit score of 580 to qualify, and the Capital on Tap Business card is geared for small-business owners with good-to-excellent credit (FICO score of 670 to 850).
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    Can I get approved for a WebBank credit card with no credit history?

    You can qualify for the Petal 1 and Petal 2 cards without a credit history. These cards are designed for consumers who haven’t yet taken out enough loans or built a long enough history of on-time payments to have developed a credit score.
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    Can I prequalify for a WebBank credit card?

    When you visit the websites of WebBank’s credit cards, you’ll likely find the ability to click a button to see if you qualify for that card. If you visit the Avant card’s online home, you can click on a “See if you Qualify” button that will take you to a new page in which you can provide your basic information. Submitting for this pre-qualification will not impact your credit score. With the Petal cards, you can click on the “See Card Offers” button to determine if you qualify. Again, doing so will not hurt your credit score.

The bottom line

Credit cards offered by WebBank are mostly attractive options for consumers who either have no credit history or a fair credit score. These cards, though, don’t offer much in the way of perks, and their rewards programs aren’t especially valuable. If your credit is even a bit better than fair, you might consider other credit-building cards that come with more generous perks and rewards.

The information about the U.S. Bank Cash+® Secured Visa® Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.