First Access Visa® Card Review: An Expensive Card with Limited Purchasing Power

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  First Access Visa® Card

  • Basics: Designed for bad or limited credit applicants, the First Access Visa® Card is expensive, offers low credit limits and may not be the best way to build or rebuild credit.
  • Pros: Even with bad credit, you can be approved for the First Access Visa® Card in as little as 60 seconds with an online application. The First Access Visa® Card is accepted anywhere Visa is, and is unsecured.
  • Cons: The First Access Visa® Card APR is high, even compared to other similar cards for people with bad credit. The First Access Visa® Card has several other fees associated with use, and initial credit limits are low.
  Rewards 0/10

   

  Other Perks 0/10

   

  Annual Fee (Details) 8/10

   

  Welcome Offer 0/10

   

  Ease of Approval (Details) 9/10

   

  Intro APR 0/10

   
  • WELCOME OFFER

    None

  • ANNUAL FEE

    See Terms

  • REWARDS RATE

    None

  • PERKS

    None

If you have bad credit or limited credit, getting a credit card and then making monthly payments is one of the best ways to improve your score. It can be challenging, however, to gain approval for a card. The First Access Visa® Card is geared toward applicants with no credit or bad credit, who want to build their history.

The First Access Visa® Card is issued by The Bank of Missouri. As a Visa card, you can use it anywhere Visa is accepted in the United States, including retailers and ATMs. The First Access Visa® Card can’t be used to make purchases with merchants outside of the United States, for gambling or at automated fuel pumps.

After applying online, you may be approved within 60 seconds and issued a card by mail.

The First Access Visa® Card is unsecured, meaning you aren’t required to pay a deposit. There is a one-time $95 program you have to pay for activation. The initial credit limit is only $300. The annual fee is billed right away and is $75 for the first year, further eroding your purchasing power with this card.

There are better ways to build or rebuild credit in many cases. For example, if you have a specific expense, an emergency loan may be cheaper that the First Access. If you want a card for credit-building, a secured card may be cheaper.

First Access Visa® Card Benefits

While limited in overall offerings, with no associated rewards or perks, there are a few benefits of the First Access Visa® Card.

Easy Approval

The primary benefit of the First Access card is the ease of approval. Most consumers will

be approved for the card, even with poor credit. You can apply online and receive a decision in around a minute.

Visa Acceptance

Anywhere Visa is accepted, the First Access Visa® Card is accepted. If you want to make purchases online, for example, and you don’t have the credit history for another card, First Access may be an option. You can also use the First Access Visa® Card at ATMs for cash advances, although as with other credit cards, they are expensive after the first year.

Credit-Builder

It’s tough to build or rebuild your credit because you may not be approved for many financial products.

The First Access Visa® Card is a good way to build your credit. Since the credit limit is low, it may help you better manage your spending. Then, your on-time payments are reported by the First Access issuing company to all three major credit bureaus each month.

If you only use cash or a debit card, you’re not building your credit history as you are when using a credit card.

Unsecured Card

The First Access Visa® Card is unsecured, meaning you don’t pay an upfront security deposit upon approval. With secured cards, the deposit you pay reflects your credit limit. You may not have the cash for a secured card right now so an unsecured card for poor credit may be a better alternative.

There is a one-time $95 program fee required for activation, even though First Access isn’t a secured card.

First Access Visa® Card Fees

There are numerous fees attached to the First Access card. It’s important to be aware of all of these before accepting a card offer.

Annual Fee

The annual fee for the First Access Visa® Card is $75 the first year. After that, the annual fee is $48. The initial $75 annual fee is assessed at the time you open your account, meaning your initial credit limit is reduced to $225 right away. Even if you don’t use your account after the first year, the ongoing $48 annual fee is assessed.

Program Fee

There is a one-time $95 program fee, which you have to pay when you activate your account.

Monthly Servicing Fee

After the first year of opening your account, a monthly servicing fee is assessed. The fee is $8.25 a month, for a total of $99 a year. Until the account is closed, you pay this fee.

Cash Advance Fee

In addition to the interest on cash advances, you’re also charged a transaction fee. The cash advance transaction fee may be $10 or 3% of the cash advance, whichever is the greater of the two.

Late Payment Fee

With any credit card, but particularly cards like First Access Visa® Card, it’s important that you commit to making on-time payments. Otherwise, these cards get incredibly expensive and may cause further damage to your credit. There is a late payment fee of up to $41 if you didn’t have any other late payments during the previous six billing cycles. Your late payment fee then goes to a maximum of $41 if you have a history of late payments.

Additional Card

There’s a $29 additional card fee annually for each additional card. The fee is assessed when you request an additional card. Then, it’s assessed on the anniversary date that you opened your account. It doesn’t matter if the card is used or not, the fee is still assessed.

Credit Limit Increase Fee

If you are approved for a credit limit increase, you’ll have to pay 20% of the amount of that increase. For example, if you’re approved for a $100 credit limit increase on your First Access Visa® Card, you’ll have to pay a $20 credit limit increase fee.

For limited or fair credit the First Access Visa® Card offers the opportunity to build credit history.

2/5 Rating

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Who the First Access Visa® Card Is Good For

There are a few situations where you might consider applying for the First Access Visa® Card.

Bad Credit

If you have bad credit or you’re just starting out, you need to be able to show a history of on-time payments and financial responsibility. Building your credit in incremental steps will help you make bigger purchases, such as getting a home mortgage. The First Access Visa® Card is one of only a few bad credit cards that you may be approved for.

 You Don’t Need to Make a Big Purchase

The First Access Visa® Card has an initial credit limit of only $300. After the annual fee is assessed right after account activation, your spending power goes down to $225, and is below $200 if you get a second card.

If you’re applying for credit because you have a big emergency expense, the First Access Visa® Card isn’t right for you. If you just want a card that’s easy to manage and you only want to make small purchases and pay them off quickly, this card may work for you.

You Don’t Have the Cash for a Secured Card

The premise of a secured credit card is similar to a debit card. You pay a deposit to the card issuer and that serves as your credit limit. You can build your credit, but you don’t have to worry about racking up more debt because you can’t spend beyond the deposit amount.

The First Access Visa® Card is unsecured, so it’s more expensive than most secured cards but you don’t need upfront cash to use it.

It’s important to mention, that even though First Access Visa® Card isn’t technically a secured card, you do have to pay a $95 program fee before you can use your account.

Who the First Access Visa® Card Isn’t Good For

It may be better to find a different card if you fall into any of the following categories.

You Could Be Approved for Another Card

The First Access Visa® Card is incredibly expensive and offers no perks or rewards. If you could be approved for another card, even one that’s considered middle-of-the-road in terms of perks and benefits, you should consider that instead of First Access.

You Have a Big Emergency Expense

If something comes up that you don’t have the cash to cover, such as a home or car repair, the First Access Visa® Card probably isn’t the best way to get financing. You might consider a short-term emergency or personal loan instead. In addition to being expensive, the First Access Visa® Card has a low credit limit of only $300 initially, which drops to $225 after the annual fee is assessed.

You can only qualify for a credit limit increase after 12 months and even then, a 20% fee is assessed on the limit increase, further eroding your purchasing power.

International Travelers

If you often travel out of the country or you buy from international merchants, you can’t use the First Access Visa® Card for those purchases.

Not Able to Commit to On-Time Payments

Any credit card needs to be paid on-time, but if you use the First Access Visa® Card and you don’t pay on time, it not only affects your credit but it can be extremely expensive. The APR on the card is already among the highest of any card at 34.99%. If you then factor in late payments, you could put yourself in a difficult financial situation if you missed or were late on just one payment.

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Approval

Bad or limited credit

Security Deposit

None

APR

34.99%

First Access Visa® Card Pros and Cons

There are a few pros and some cons to be aware of before you apply for a First Access Visa® Card or accept an offer.

First Access Visa® Card Pros

First Access Visa® Card Cons

First Access Visa® Card Frequently Asked Questions

The following are answers to some of the most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the First Access Visa® Card.

• How do you apply for a First Access Visa® Card?

  You can apply for the First Access Visa® Card online and receive a response within 60 seconds. If you receive an offer for a First Access Visa® Card, you can also activate it online, but you need to pay the $95 program fee first.

• What is the cash advance fee?

  If you need a cash advance, there is no additional fee for the first year. Then, after that you pay a fee of either 3% or $10 of the cash advance, whichever is greater.

• How can you avoid paying interest?

  If you have the First Access Visa® Card and you don’t want to pay the high interest charges on purchases, you will need to pay your new balance on your previous monthly statement by your statement due date. You have at least 21 days from the closing date of your billing cycle.

• When do you pay the annual fee?

  If you activate a First Access account, your annual fee is assessed at opening. The annual fee for the first year is $75 and after that the annual fee is $48. The annual fee is non-refundable, but won’t be billed to you after your card is closed. If you reopen your account, you have to pay a prorated annual fee.

• Can you get a credit limit increase?

  You can get a credit limit increase on your First Access Visa® Card, but only after it’s been open for a year. You will have to pay a 20% credit limit increase fee if you accept the increase.

Alternatives to the First Access Visa® Card

	First Access Visa® Card	First Digital Card	Reflex Mastercard	Indigo Unsecured Mastercard
	Pros and Cons Visit	Read Review Visit	Read Review Visit	Visit
Best For	No security deposit	Fast approval	Higher credit limits for a bad credit card	24/7 mobile account access and management
Welcome Offer	None	None	None	None
Annual Fee	$75 the first year and $48 after that	$75 for the first year, $48 after that	$99	$75 the first year and $99 after that
Rewards Rate	None	None	None	None
Perks	None	None	$0 Fraud Liability protection	None
Credit Score	Poor to fair	Poor to fair	Poor to fair	Poor to fair
Security Deposit Required	No, but there is a one-time $95 program fee	No	May be required for some applicants	No
Intro APR	None	None	None	None
Balance Transfer Fee	None	None	None	None
Redemption Options	None	None	None	None
Minimum Redemption Threshold	None	None	None	None
Foreign Transaction Fee	Can’t be used for foreign transactions	Can’t be used for foreign transactions in foreign currency	3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars	1% of each transaction
Maximum Late Fee	$41	$40	$40	$40
Grace Period	21 days	21 days	25 days	25 days