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Destiny Mastercard®: A Tool to Help Establish Your Payment History

Cory Santos

| Last updated on March 26th, 2024

Destiny Mastercard®

Destiny Mastercard®
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BestCards refers to a variation of FICO Score 9, which is one of many different types of credit scores. A financial institution may use a different score when deciding whether to approve you for a credit card. Please note that the range shown here is our own estimation and not a guarantee of credit needed to be approved for any given card. Recommended Credit: Fair / Poor / Good
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See terms Annual Fee

Destiny Mastercard®

  • See terms Regular Purchase APR
  • See terms Cash Advance APR

At a Glance

The Destiny Mastercard is an ideal credit card for those with bad or fair credit who want the purchasing power of Mastercard but without the security deposit requirement of a secured credit card. With a modest annual fee and manageable initial credit limit, the Destiny Card doesn’t care about your credit past – instead, it helps you focus on your everyday expenses.

  • Best Benefits
  • Rates & Fees
  • Why Should You Apply?
  • All the benefits of a Mastercard, without a security deposit
  • 24/7 access to your account, even on mobile!
  • Reports to all three major credit bureaus
  • Less than perfect credit is okay, even with a prior bankruptcy!
  • Regular Purchase APR: See terms
  • Cash Advance APR: See terms
  • Cash Advance Transaction Fee: See terms
  • Annual Fee: See terms
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: 1% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
  • Late Payment Penalty Fee: See terms
  • Return Payment Penalty Fee: See terms
  • Over Limit Penalty Fee: See terms
  • You have an imperfect credit history, which may include a past bankruptcy
  • You have less-than-perfect credit
  • You want a Mastercard but don’t want to pay a security deposit
  • You want a credit card with the versatility to make foreign purchases
  • You plan to pay your statement in full every month

In-Depth Review: Destiny Mastercard®

The Destiny Mastercard is designed for those with either bad credit or a fair credit score looking to improve their credit health.

Who Can Benefit from the Destiny Card?

The Destiny Mastercard® is a reliable option for individuals looking to build or improve their credit. You can establish a positive credit history by using the card responsibly and making timely payments. This is especially valuable for individuals who are just starting to build credit or have had past credit issues. The Destiny Mastercard® can help you on your journey to financial stability.

Pre-Qualify Before Applying

One of the key features of the Destiny Mastercard® Credit Card is its pre-qualification process. The pre-qualification process allows you to check if you’ll likely be approved for the card without affecting your credit score. This feature is especially useful if you’re worried about potential credit denials. With the pre-qualification process, you can have peace of mind knowing whether or not you’re eligible for the card before applying.

Credit Building Benefits

The Destiny Mastercard credit card program offers a unique advantage: the opportunity to build a strong payment history confidently. Unlike other issuers, Destiny welcomes consumers with various credit scores, even those with negative marks on their credit files.

Building a healthy credit profile requires time, patience, and a well-thought-out strategy. This process involves monitoring your spending, reducing expenses, and consistently paying your monthly bills on time.

Here are a few extra tips on how to do so:

  • Check your credit file: Checking your credit report is crucial for understanding your financial well-being. It helps maintain an accurate credit history, protect against identity theft, and make informed financial decisions. You can ask for a free credit report from a credit-reporting agency every 12 months.
  • Keep credit utilization low: Aim to keep your credit card balances well below your credit limit. High credit card utilization can negatively impact your credit score. A general rule is to keep credit utilization below 30% of your credit limit.
  • Pay on time: Always pay your bills on time as your payment history significantly influences your credit scores. Late payments can hurt your credit and may result in reduced credit limits or closed accounts.
  • Become an authorized user: Being added as an authorized user on someone else’s credit card account can help boost your credit growth. The card’s payment history and credit utilization are often reported on your credit report, potentially boosting your credit score if the primary cardholder manages their credit responsibly.
  • Limit new applications: Avoid applying for too many credit cards in a short timeframe. Each application results in a hard inquiry on your credit report, which can temporarily lower your score. Be selective about applying for new credit to protect your credit score.

Cash Back Benefits (for Some)

Does the Destiny Card offer cash back rewards? Yes, but only for some applicants.

The Destiny Mastercard won’t offer rewards except for some consumers who may receive a targeted offer. The Destiny Mastercard with Cashback Rewards is another version of the card, offering an unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with rewards automatically redeemed as a statement credit.

Are you looking for a credit card for average or lower credit that earns rewards? The Aspire® Cashback Rewards Credit Card is one such option, earning up to 3% cash back on select categories, including gas, groceries, and utility payments. The Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® is another option, with 1% cash back on select purchases.

Other Card Benefits

The Destiny Mastercard may not offer the same bells and whistles as a premium travel rewards card, but it is a fully-fledged Mastercard credit card. This means it benefits from the worldwide acceptance of the Mastercard payment network, which is recognized in 212 countries across the globe.

One of the advantages of using your Destiny Mastercard abroad is the modest foreign transaction fee. While most subprime credit cards charge a foreign transaction fee of 3% of the transaction cost in U.S. dollars, Destiny offers a reasonable fee of just 1%. This makes it an ideal choice for both domestic and international purchases.

Mastercard Benefits

Since Destiny is a full Mastercard product, you’ll also enjoy a suite of Mastercard purchase protections and security features. These features include:

  • Zero Liability Protection
  • Mastercard Global Services
  • ID Theft Protection

Comparison

The Milestone, Destiny, and Indigo Mastercard credit cards are three very similar offers for average or rebuilding credit. Here’s how the three cards compare across key features:

Annual Fees

All three cards charge a variable annual fee, but only the Indigo Mastercard provides a no annual fee option for particularly qualified applicants. The annual fee with Indigo ranges from $0 to $99 per year, while both Milestone and Destiny feature an annual fee of $75 for the first year and $49 thereafter, though your particular offer may vary.

Starting Credit Limits

All three cards feature similar credit limits, but the Milestone Mastercard and Destiny Mastercard offer a higher starting credit limit for most applicants. These cards both provide a starting limit of $700, while Indigo provides a starting limit of between $300 and $1,000.

Before choosing your next near-prime credit card, carefully compare all aspects of the cards. Compare the terms and conditions of different credit cards to find one that aligns with your needs. Additionally, take into account any fees associated with each card and consider whether they are worth the benefits provided.

What We Like About Destiny Card

The Destiny Mastercard can hold its own in an already busy marketplace, and it outperforms many challengers with a lower APR and modest annual fee. The Destiny Mastercard features a fixed purchase APR. Because it is not variable with the Prime Rate, applicants don’t have to worry about the interest rate going higher than it already is.

The Mercury Mastercard, another popular option in this field, has an APR that starts higher up on purchases. And because it’s variable, many applicants could receive the high end of the spectrum. Destiny offers an interest rate that’s always lower than the Mercury Card’s, even with damaged credit.

Things to Consider

Fees

However, the benefits and rewards offered by the card often offset this fee. Additionally, it’s important to note that the Destiny Mastercard® charges interest on any balance carried over from month to month. To avoid accruing interest, it’s advisable to pay off your balance in full each month. Late payment fees may also apply if you miss a payment, so it’s essential to stay on top of your payment due dates.

FAQs

Here are some commonly asked questions about the Destiny Mastercard:

  • You can make an immediate payment online through this website, call us to make a payment over the phone, make a payment through MoneyGram, or send your check or money order through the mail.
  • In some cases, the available credit may not reflect your payment for up to 14 days in order to verify funds. This is disclosed in the “Making Payments” section of Agreement that governs your account.
 
  • The Destiny Mastercard is accepted at locations nationwide where you see the Mastercard logo. 
  • US residents aged 18 and older can apply for the Destiny Mastercard. There are no geographical restrictions. 

Destiny Card Ratings

How does Concora Credit Inc., the card’s servicer, stack up? Here is a selection of expert reviews for the card:

Should You Apply for the Destiny Mastercard?

Overall, there isn’t a lot to dislike about the Destiny Mastercard. The card compares favorably to both the Indigo Mastercard and the Milestone Mastercard – and since those cards are always two of the most popular unsecured credit cards for bad credit, the Destiny is in great company.

Working your way up in your credit journey takes patience, persistence, and the right tools. While Destiny can’t force you to spend responsibly, it provides you with the right tools for the job. If you use your card to make small purchases, keep your credit utilization low, and pay your bill in full and on time each month, the Destiny Mastercard will do the rest.

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