1. What Is the Quicksilver Secured?

The Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards is the collateral-based version of Capital One’s popular Quicksilver card. It mixes a flat 1.5 % cash-back rate with no annual fee, making it one of the few secured cards that actually earns rewards. Your refundable security deposit sets the credit line, and every on-time payment is reported to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, helping you build (or rebuild) credit from day one.

 

 

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2. How the Card Works

1. Pre-approval (soft pull): Check for offers online without hurting your score.
2. Full application: Generates a hard inquiry and requires a US $200–3 000 refundable deposit.
3. Credit limit = deposit: You can add more funds before activating if you want a higher limit.
4. Earning rewards:
   
   • 1.5 % cash back on every purchase, no caps.
   • 5 % cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
   • Rewards never expire while the account is open.
5. Payments: Choose statement balance, custom amount, or minimum due. Carrying a balance triggers the 29.74 % APR.
6. 6-month review: Good history can lead to a credit-line increase without extra deposit and potential upgrade to an unsecured Quicksilver—your deposit is refunded.

 

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3. Who Can Qualify?

Requirement	Details
Age	18 + with a U.S. address
Credit stage	Designed for limited, poor, or fair credit profiles
Deposit	Minimum US $200 via debit or ACH
Hard pull	Capital One typically checks all three bureaus

 

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4. Key Benefits

Category	Perks
Cash-back program	1.5 % unlimited on everything; 5 % on Capital One Travel bookings
Fee structure	US $0 annual fee, US $0 foreign-transaction fee, no fee for authorized users
Mastercard World benefits	$0 fraud liability, travel & concierge services, secondary rental-car insurance
CreditWise access	Free TransUnion score and credit-monitoring tools
Upgrade path	Refundable deposit returned once you graduate to an unsecured line 5. Costs & DrawbacksItemImpactTied-up cashDeposit is locked until upgrade or account closureHigh APR29.74 % variable—avoid carrying a balanceHard inquiryExpect a short-term 5–10 point dip in your scoreLimit equals depositNeed more spending power? Add more funds before activation 6. How to Apply – Step-by-StepStart the pre-approval on Capital One’s site (soft pull). Complete the application with income, SSN/ITIN, and desired deposit amount. Pay your security deposit via debit card or bank transfer. Receive instant approval in most cases. Activate the virtual card in the app; the physical card arrives in 7–10 business days. Set up Autopay and alerts to avoid late fees and maximize your credit-building efforts. 7. Building Credit & Raising Your LimitKeep credit-utilization below 30 % to optimize FICO factors. Automatic reviews at 6, 12, and 18 months may: Boost your limit with no additional deposit. Graduate the account to an unsecured Quicksilver and refund your security deposit. Consistent on-time payments can deliver double-digit score gains within the first year. 8. Quicksilver Secured vs. Popular AlternativesCardAnal FeeRewardsMin. DepositUpgrade to UnsecuredQuicksilver SecuredUS $01.5 % all / 5 % TravelUS $200Yes (6 mo)Capital One Platinum SecuredUS $0NoneUS $49/99/200 (variable)YesDiscover it SecuredUS $02 % on dining & gas (up to US $1 000 per quarter)US $200Yes (7 mo)

 

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9. Where to Learn More

 

 

• Official page: capitalone.com/credit-cards/quicksilver-secured
• Help Center: Capital One Learn & Grow articles on deposits, upgrades, and APRs
• Independent reviews: NerdWallet, The Points Guy, LendingTree—great for user experiences and up-to-date rate comparisons.

 

Is It Worth It?

Choose the Quicksilver Secured if you:

• Need to establish or rebuild credit without paying annual fees.
• Prefer simple, flat-rate cash back instead of complex points.
• Want a clear path to an unsecured card (and a refunded deposit) in under a year.

If you can spare the US $200 deposit and commit to responsible usage, the Quicksilver Secured is one of the fastest, cheapest ways to climb the U.S. credit ladder—and it pays you back on every purchase while you do it.