Note: Some information in this post might be outdated. For the most current documentation and updates, please refer to the product’s original page.

If you have bad or limited credit history you can use a hand to improve your credit score. A secured card is usually a good starting point. Meet the Merrick Bank Double Your Line Secured Visa credit card. Not only will this card help you improve your score, but it will also raise your initial credit limit fast. Just make at least the minimum payment for each of the first seven months from account opening, and you are set for a raise.

As a card that contributes to your credit improvement, Double Your Line provides you with free access to your FICO score. FICO scores are widely used by lenders when deciding on the level of risk a borrower represents to them.

Have a look at some key figures for this credit card.

Secured cards as a rule require an initial security deposit which is then held as your initial credit limit. With this card the initial required deposit is $200, so that is also your initial credit limit. But remember that after 7 months of on-time payments you can double that amount.

This card does carry an initial annual fee of $36, and after a year it becomes $3 monthly. This makes it a costly card to own, especially if you consider it does not offer any rewards. There are cheaper options out there with greater benefits.

Merrick Bank offers customer support by phone and also through its mobile app. Use the app to monitor your card use and to make sure you don’t make late payments. They will damage your credit score as well as incur an up to $40 late payment fee.

Now that you have read about this card at length, it’s time to simplify and put the most important pros and cons together for comparison. Check it out.

This credit card was designed with poor or limited credit individuals in mind. It does not require that you have good credit, and the application process is easy to complete.

Applying for a Merrick Bank Double Your Line Secured Visa card is a very simple process which takes only a few minutes to complete. Everything is done online, so if you are reading this you are already half-way there. Make sure you have all your personal info at hand, and let’s do this.

On Merrick Bank’s homepage, run your cursor over the “products” tab at the top of the page to reveal a dropdown menu, and then click on “Our Cards”. Scroll down and you will see their three options, of which the Double Your Line Secured Credit Card will be in the middle. Click on “Learn More”. Now you are at a page with two card options, so click “Apply Now” near our desired credit card.

Select a color for your card, and enter your personal info such as first and last names, home address, email, phone numbers, date of birth and social security number. Then you must click “continue to the next step”. Now you must enter your financial information with your gross annual income, monthly mortgage or rent payment, and answer the “yes” or “no” question about whether you will need a debit card.

Once you hit “continue to next step” you will see the e-sign disclosure. Check the little box at the bottom to confirm that you agree and click “continue to next step”. You will now be presented with a summary of the service, so after reading it click on “continue to next step”. Then, enter your card info to make your security deposit. Once the deposit has been made, you will see the application summary, and your account is ready to go. The bank should contact you with details of your new Merrick Bank Double Your Line Secured Visa card.

Still not ready to pull the trigger on this one? Here is a little help. We put the table below together with another, similar credit card offer, so that you can compare them. Which one do you think is best for you? The Merrick Bank Double Your Line Secured Visa card or the GO2bank™ Secured Visa® Credit Card?