BrightWay Credit Card Review

BrightWay credit card review: A beginner credit card that rewards on-time payments

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This offer is no longer available on our site: Petal® 1 Visa® Credit Card

Pros

No security deposit
Ability to work toward better terms
Cash back rewards

Cons

Possible low credit limit
High annual fee
High APR, as is typical for similar cards

What you need to know

If you’re working on building your credit history, the BrightWay credit card may help you get started.

While you won’t need to put down a security deposit, the card has a $65 annual fee. You might see a different annual fee offered on Credit Karma.

Ability to unlock better terms

The card offers a credit limit of up to $3,000. But among the BrightWay card’s drawbacks are the potential for a low initial credit limit of $300 and a high interest rate. But if you make six months of on-time payments, you may be eligible to qualify for a higher credit line and lower interest fees.

The BrightWay credit card offers 1% cash back on all purchases. While this is a nice-to-have perk for a beginner card or unsecured credit card, it’s not as high as the cash-back rate you can get with some other cards.

And remember, it’s not a good idea to spend just for the sake of earning rewards.

What else you need to know

If you’re thinking about getting the BrightWay card, here’s a few more things to consider.

APR is on the high side — At 30.49% for purchases, balance transfers and cash advances, if you don’t pay your balance in full every month, you could end up racking up extra debt just from interest charges.
Watch out for fees — There’s a fee of up to $40 for any late payments. Setting up autopay can help you avoid this situation.
Using the card abroad will cost you extra — A foreign transaction fee of 1% of transaction value will be applied to all transactions made outside of the United States, so it’s not the best card to use internationally.

Who this card is good for

The BrightWay credit card could be an option for people looking to establish or rebuild their credit history. Or it may make a good first credit card.

Before you decide to apply for this card though, there are other credit-builder cards that may offer better long-term value.

Not sure this is the card for you? Consider these alternatives.

Petal® 1 Visa® Credit Card: This card may be a good fit if you’re brand new to credit and are looking for a first credit card.
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card: If you can afford a security deposit, this card offers a low-cost way to build credit and earn rewards.
OpenSky® Secured Credit Visa® Card: People with no credit history might want to consider this card since it doesn’t require a credit check to apply.

About the author: Sean McQuay is a long-time personal finance nerd. He’s passionate about budgets, credit cards, and earning useful rewards with minimal effort. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and is a father to three rambunctious kids. Read more.