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OpenSky® Secured Visa Card for Credit-Building Products After Bankruptcy Review

The OpenSky® Secured Visa Card is a generally good fit for consumers rebuilding credit after bankruptcy, with six of seven AI platforms rating it "good" or "strong" and one rating it "mixed." All seven platforms named it during the ranking stage. Its strongest advantage is accessibility: OpenSky does not.

Published by Credit Consensus Index Research TeamReviewed by Mark B. Huntley, J.D.

Published Updated

OpenSky® Secured Visa Card for Credit-Building Products After Bankruptcy Review

Answer Capsule

The OpenSky® Secured Visa Card is a generally good fit for consumers rebuilding credit after bankruptcy, with six of seven AI platforms rating it "good" or "strong" and one rating it "mixed." All seven platforms named it during the ranking stage. Its strongest advantage is accessibility: OpenSky does not require a credit check to apply, making it viable for applicants with a recent bankruptcy discharge who face rejection elsewhere. The main limitation is the high variable APR (reported between 23.89% and 29.24% depending on product tier and disclosure), which makes carrying a balance expensive, plus the absence of a guaranteed graduation path to an unsecured card. The no-annual-fee OpenSky Plus tier is the most frequently recommended version for this use case.

Research Snapshot

MetricValue
Platform mentions in ranking stage7 of 7 platforms
Share of included platform responses100% (7 of 7)
Average listed rank4.14
Best listed rank1 (DeepSeek)
Fit ratings1 strong, 5 good, 1 mixed
Relevant product/planOpenSky Plus Secured Visa® Credit Card
Overall use-case fitGood (with caveats)
Research date2026-09-08

Why OpenSky® Secured Visa Card Qualified for This Study

Questions This Section Answers

  • What makes OpenSky accessible to consumers with a recent bankruptcy?
  • Which product tier did platforms most often recommend for post-bankruptcy rebuilding?

The Product, Model, Plan, or Service Most Relevant to Credit Building After Bankruptcy

OpenSky qualified because it meets the core accessibility criterion for post-bankruptcy credit building: no credit check to apply. Seven platforms confirmed this feature, making it the single most consistent finding across the research [1]. OpenSky markets its cards to consumers with poor credit or no credit history, and the application process does not involve a hard credit pull [2]. The product also reports monthly payment activity to all three major credit bureaus—Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion—which platforms identified as essential for rebuilding after bankruptcy [9]. The CFPB confirms that timely payments on accounts reported to nationwide credit reporting companies are a standard way to rebuild credit [12]. Platforms most often recommended the OpenSky Plus Secured Visa tier, which carries a $0 annual fee and a $300 minimum deposit, over the standard OpenSky Secured Visa with its $35 annual fee and $200 minimum deposit [9]. Google's analysis noted that for consumers who can afford the higher deposit, the Plus card is the superior choice because it eliminates the annual fee [13].

The OpenSky Plus Secured Visa® Credit Card is the most relevant product for this use case. It combines no-credit-check approval with three-bureau reporting and no annual fee, which addresses the two biggest post-bankruptcy barriers: approval access and ongoing cost [9].

Key features of the Plus tier as reported by platforms:

  • No credit check to apply [1]
  • $0 annual fee [9]
  • $300 minimum refundable security deposit; advertised maximum of $3,000 subject to approval [1]
  • Reports to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion [9]
  • No checking account required to apply [2]
  • Variable purchase APR listed at 28.24% on the current application page [1]

The standard OpenSky Secured Visa is a secondary option with a $35 annual fee and $200 minimum deposit [5]. A third tier, OpenSky Launch, was mentioned by Google with a $2–$3 monthly fee and $150 minimum deposit, but no other platform evaluated this variant [13].

What the AI Platforms Agreed About

Questions This Section Answers

  • On which features did all or most platforms agree?
  • How consistent was the evidence on bureau reporting and approval access?

Where the AI Platforms Disagreed or Were Uncertain

Unanimous agreement: no credit check and three-bureau reporting. All seven platforms confirmed that OpenSky does not require a credit check to apply and that the card reports to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion [15]. This combination is the core value proposition for post-bankruptcy consumers. Strong agreement: high APR is the main drawback. Six platforms flagged the variable APR as a significant limitation if balances are carried. Reported figures ranged from 23.89% (standard card application page) to 28.24% (Plus card application) to 29.24% (December 2025 Plus agreement) [22]. Anthropic estimated a lower typical range of 18%–24%, while Kimi reported 25.64% for the standard card [16]. Strong agreement: no guaranteed graduation path. Six platforms noted that OpenSky does not offer automatic conversion to an unsecured card. OpenSky's FAQ states the secured card does not automatically change to unsecured; customers may instead be reviewed for a partially unsecured credit-line increase after six consecutive on-time payments, which is not guaranteed [15]. Google cited an Experian listing suggesting a graduation path exists, but this was not corroborated by other platforms [27]. Majority agreement: deposit-backed structure limits debt risk. Five platforms noted that because the credit limit equals the security deposit, the card naturally caps debt exposure, which is beneficial for post-bankruptcy consumers [16]. Majority agreement: no annual fee on Plus tier. Five platforms confirmed the Plus card carries a $0 annual fee, making it more cost-effective for long-term rebuilding than the standard tier [15].

Questions This Section Answers

  • What APR should a new applicant expect, and why is the evidence conflicting?
  • Is there a graduation path to an unsecured card, and how reliable is the evidence?
  • Which product tier is the standard OpenSky card versus the Plus card?

Use-Case-Specific Features and Capabilities

APR disclosures conflict. The current OpenSky application page lists a 28.24% variable APR for the Plus card, while a December 2025 Plus card agreement lists 29.24% [29]. Perplexity's review of a separate Plus agreement (ca-p-014.pdf) also showed 28.24%, while the standard card application page showed 23.89% [31]. Google noted that some older cardholder agreements cite a 17.39% APR, creating a wide range of possible figures [32]. The controlling APR for a new applicant is unclear from the reviewed public materials. Graduation path evidence is contradictory. OpenSky's own FAQ says the secured card does not automatically convert to unsecured [33]. Anthropic reported a claimed 6–12 month graduation timeline but noted it was not independently verified [34]. Google cited Experian's listing of a path to graduate to an unsecured OpenSky Gold card [35]. Kimi stated OpenSky lacks a graduation path compared to Discover and Capital One alternatives [36]. These accounts cannot all be correct, and the actual terms should be verified before application. Annual fee and deposit figures vary by source. Anthropic reported the standard card at $35/year and Plus at $95/year with a $200–$2,500 deposit range [34]. Other platforms reported the Plus card at $0 annual fee with a $300 minimum deposit [33]. DeepSeek reported a $0 first-year fee then $35/year for the standard card [37]. The $95 Plus fee reported by Anthropic conflicts with the $0 Plus fee reported by four other platforms and appears to reflect outdated or incorrect information. Rewards claims are unverified. OpenSky advertises rewards of up to 10% in some materials, but Google's review noted this is restricted to specific merchant-matching programs rather than flat-rate cash back [38]. No platform established the reward categories, caps, or whether rewards are economically meaningful for a cautious post-bankruptcy user. Approval rates are platform-reported only. Google cited an 89% approval rate from Experian's listing [35]. No other platform confirmed this figure, and no public data exists on approval rates specifically for post-bankruptcy applicants [37].

Questions This Section Answers

  • How does OpenSky help build credit after bankruptcy specifically?
  • What features support responsible rebuilding versus risky behavior?

Pricing, Fees, Contracts, and Ongoing Costs

Post-bankruptcy eligibility. OpenSky's no-credit-check policy is specifically valuable immediately after bankruptcy when credit scores are at their lowest [39]. The company also publishes a bankruptcy correspondence address in its card agreement, indicating awareness of bankruptcy-related account situations [40]. However, approval is still subject to issuer requirements, and no platform confirmed explicit bankruptcy-eligibility rules [41]. Credit bureau reporting. OpenSky reports monthly to all three major bureaus, which platforms identified as essential for rebuilding [42]. On-time payments are reported positively; late payments are also reported and have negative impact [46]. Deposit and credit-limit structure. The security deposit generally equals the credit limit. The Plus card is advertised at $300 to $3,000 subject to approval [42]. The standard card ranges from $200 to $2,500 or $3,000 depending on the source [46]. This structure caps debt exposure but requires immobilizing cash [46]. No checking account requirement. Unlike some competitors, OpenSky does not require a linked checking account, broadening access for applicants without stable banking relationships post-bankruptcy [46]. Payment flexibility. Cardholders can choose their deposit amount to control the credit limit and spending [47]. The deposit is held in a non-interest-bearing account and is not used toward the statement balance [46]. Potential for credit-line increase. OpenSky states customers may be reviewed for a partially unsecured credit-line increase after six consecutive on-time payments, though this is not guaranteed [42].

Questions This Section Answers

  • What does the OpenSky Plus card cost in fees and interest?
  • Which fees could undermine low-cost credit rebuilding?

Best Suited For

The OpenSky Plus Secured Visa has a $0 annual fee and a $300 minimum refundable security deposit [48]. The standard OpenSky Secured Visa has a $35 annual fee and a $200 minimum deposit [51]. Known costs for the Plus card (as reported across platforms):

Cost itemAmountSource
Annual fee$0[48], [49]
Minimum security deposit$300[52], [50]
Variable purchase APR28.24% (application page) or 29.24% (Dec 2025 agreement)[52], [53]
Cash advance fee$10 or 3%, whichever is greater[53], [50]
Foreign transaction fee3%[53], [50]
Late payment feeUp to $40–$41[53], [50]
Returned payment feeUp to $40[53], [50]
Expedited card delivery$50[53], [50]
Assisted pay-by-phone$10[53]
Paper statement$3[53]
Replacement card$10 after one complimentary replacement per 12 months[53]
Document retrieval$5[53]
Known costs for the standard OpenSky Secured Visa:
Cost itemAmountSource
---------
Annual fee$35[51], [49]
Minimum security deposit$200[51], [49]
Variable APR23.89% (application page, unverified in formal agreement)[50]
Contract terms. The security deposit is refundable upon closing the account in good standing with a zero balance [49]. No cancellation or account-closing penalty was verified [50]. The reviewed materials do not establish a guaranteed time frame for deposit release after account closure [53]. The deposit is only returned when the account is closed, which can reduce average account age when transitioning to other products [55].
Pricing confidence is moderate. The Plus card pricing is clearer than the standard card's, but the APR discrepancy between the application page (28.24%) and the December 2025 agreement (29.24%) must be resolved before application [52]. Anthropic's report of a $95 Plus annual fee conflicts with four other platforms' reports of $0 and appears unreliable [56].

Questions This Section Answers

  • Which post-bankruptcy consumers should consider OpenSky first?
  • What usage pattern makes this card affordable?

Probably Not Best Suited For

OpenSky is best suited for consumers who meet all of the following conditions:

  • Have a recent bankruptcy discharge and face automatic rejections from standard lenders. The no-credit-check policy eliminates the risk of rejection due to a recent filing [57].
  • Can afford a $300 refundable security deposit without impairing essential expenses [59].
  • Will pay the statement balance in full each month. The high APR makes carrying balances expensive; responsible rebuilding is materially safer when balances are paid in full [59].
  • Value accessibility and bureau reporting over rewards or graduation paths [62].
  • Do not have a linked checking account or prefer not to link one [62].
  • Want a no-annual-fee secured option for long-term rebuilding [60]. The Plus tier is the better choice for those who can afford the $300 deposit, as it eliminates the annual fee that the standard tier charges [64].

OpenSky is probably not the best choice for:

  • Consumers who cannot tie up $200–$300 in a security deposit. The deposit is required upfront and may be difficult to fund right after bankruptcy [59].
  • Consumers likely to carry balances or make cash advances. The high APR (28.24%–29.24% on Plus) and cash-advance fees make revolving debt expensive [59].
  • Consumers seeking a guaranteed graduation path to an unsecured card. OpenSky's FAQ states the card does not automatically convert to unsecured [60]. Alternatives like Discover it® Secured review accounts at 7 months, and Capital One Platinum Secured offers a potential graduation path [58].
  • Consumers who want cash-back rewards while rebuilding. The advertised "up to 10% cash back" is restricted to specific merchant-matching programs, not flat-rate rewards [68].
  • Consumers who can qualify for no-annual-fee secured cards with lower APRs from mainstream issuers or credit unions [59].
  • Consumers who frequently make international purchases. The 3% foreign transaction fee is above average [66].

When Another Option May Be Better

Questions This Section Answers

  • Which competing products did platforms recommend instead of OpenSky?
  • Under what circumstances should a buyer choose a different card?

Questions to Verify Before Buying

Platforms identified several situations where another product would serve the buyer better:

  • If the buyer qualifies for Discover it® Secured: This card offers no annual fee, cash back, and a graduation review at 7 months, making it a stronger long-term rebuilding tool [70].
  • If the buyer qualifies for Capital One Platinum Secured: This card may offer a lower minimum deposit (potentially $49 for a $200 limit) and a possible graduation path [70].
  • If the buyer wants zero annual fee and can qualify with a credit check: No-annual-fee secured cards from mainstream issuers may offer lower total costs [72].
  • If the buyer needs to minimize first-year costs: A local credit union secured card or credit-builder loan with lower total costs and comparable reporting may be preferable [74].
  • If the buyer frequently makes international purchases: The 3% foreign transaction fee makes OpenSky expensive for overseas use [75].
  • If the buyer expects to carry a balance: A lower-APR credit-builder loan or secured card with cheaper interest would be more appropriate [76]. Kimi characterized OpenSky as best considered a fallback option for consumers who cannot qualify for Discover it® Secured or Capital One Platinum Secured, rather than a first-choice rebuilding tool [70].

Before applying, confirm the following with OpenSky or in the final application disclosure:

  1. What APR will appear in the final disclosure? Public materials show 28.24% on the application page and 29.24% in the December 2025 agreement [74].
  2. Does the issuer approve applicants with a recently discharged Chapter 7 or an active/completed Chapter 13? No platform confirmed explicit bankruptcy-eligibility rules [74].
  3. Which bureaus receive monthly reports, and when are balances reported? OpenSky states all three, but timing should be confirmed [79].
  4. How and when is the security deposit returned after closure? No guaranteed timeline was established in reviewed materials [77].
  5. Is there any guaranteed or automatic path to an unsecured card? OpenSky's FAQ says no automatic conversion; some third-party listings suggest otherwise [79].
  6. What are the reward terms? The advertised "up to 10% cash back" is restricted to merchant-matching programs; caps and categories are unclear [82].
  7. What payment methods are free, and what are the cutoff times? Assisted pay-by-phone costs $10 [77].
  8. Are there state-specific terms or account-closure conditions? Late and returned-payment fees may vary by state [75].
  9. Is the annual fee charged on account opening or anniversary? This was not established in reviewed materials [75].
  10. Can the security deposit be increased for a higher credit limit? The advertised range is $300–$3,000 subject to approval [79].

Final AI Consensus Verdict

The AI platforms reached a consensus that the OpenSky® Secured Visa Card is a good, but not the strongest, fit for Credit Building After Bankruptcy. Six of seven platforms rated it "good" or "strong"; one rated it "mixed." The card's principal value is accessibility—no credit check, no checking account requirement, and reporting to all three bureaus—which makes it viable for consumers who cannot qualify elsewhere after a bankruptcy discharge.

The main limitations are the high variable APR, the absence of a guaranteed graduation path, and the requirement to immobilize a security deposit. The no-annual-fee Plus tier is the recommended version for most buyers. OpenSky is best used as a disciplined payment-history tool: make small purchases, pay the statement balance in full each month, and avoid cash advances and late payments. It is a fallback option for consumers denied by mainstream issuers rather than a first-choice product for those who qualify for no-annual-fee secured cards with graduation paths.

For a broader comparison of products in this category, see the Credit Building After Bankruptcy consensus index. You can also explore other options in the credit building rebuilding category directory.

How This Review Was Produced

This review was produced by aggregating fit-research responses from seven AI platforms: Anthropic, DeepSeek, Google, Grok, Kimi, OpenAI, and Perplexity. Each platform evaluated the OpenSky® Secured Visa Card against seven criteria: post-bankruptcy eligibility, credit bureau reporting, total fees and interest, payment affordability, debt risk, product accessibility, and long-term rebuilding value.

Platforms named OpenSky during the ranking stage in all seven cases. The average listed rank was 4.14, with a best rank of 1 (DeepSeek). Fit ratings ranged from "strong" (Grok) to "mixed" (Kimi), with the remaining five platforms rating the card "good."

Each platform's response included citations to company-owned sources (OpenSky product pages, card agreements) and independent sources (NerdWallet, Credit Karma, WalletHub, Bankrate, Experian, Visa, CFPB, and others). These citations were deduplicated and cataloged for this review.

Methodology Limitations

Several limitations apply to this review:

  • Platform research dates differ. Anthropic's research was dated 2026-01-15 and DeepSeek's 2026-04-09, while the remaining five platforms and the authoritative run date were 2026-09-08. Terms may have changed between these dates.
  • APR disclosures conflict. Public OpenSky materials show different APRs (28.24% vs. 29.24% for the Plus card), and the controlling rate for a new applicant is unclear.
  • Some platform-reported figures appear unreliable. Anthropic's report of a $95 Plus annual fee conflicts with four other platforms' reports of $0. Anthropic's $200–$2,500 deposit range also conflicts with other platforms' $300–$3,000 range for the Plus card.
  • Graduation path evidence is contradictory. OpenSky's FAQ states no automatic conversion, while some third-party listings suggest a graduation path exists.
  • Approval rates are platform-reported only. The 89% approval rate cited by Google comes from Experian's listing and was not independently verified.
  • No platform confirmed bankruptcy-specific approval rules. OpenSky's no-credit-check marketing does not guarantee approval for every discharged bankruptcy applicant.
  • The supplied URLs were collected from platform responses and were not independently validated by the writer stage.
  • AI-platform agreement does not prove product quality. This review reports what platforms said; it does not constitute independent testing or verification.
  • A secured card cannot remove accurate bankruptcy information. It can only help establish newer positive payment history over time [83].

Sources

Company-Owned Sources

Independent Sources

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Review the study details behind this page or download the public machine-readable verification record.

Study date
Sep 8, 2026
Platforms analyzed
7
Source records
21
Ranking mentions
7 of 7
Platform share
100%
Final consensus rank
#4

Research trail and source mix

Platforms

openai, anthropic, deepseek, grok, perplexity, kimi, google

Source mix

13 independent · 8 company-owned

Evidence support

15 direct · 6 partial

Important limitation

Use the run research_date as the study date. Platform-reported dates are provenance metadata and do not independently prove freshness.

Source snapshot SHA-256 b7f4e412abb33902f4e5c0f4b6e47ec68fe749b7a460a4858be540db15280ade

Human reviewed

Mark B. Huntley, J.D.

Mark co-founded CreditKnocks.com and authored hundreds of articles covering consumer credit, credit repair, credit scores, reports, collections, loans, debt, and credit-building strategies before the publication was later sold to FinMasters.

Mark holds a Juris Doctor degree and previously practiced law. He is not currently a practicing attorney and does not provide legal advice through Credit Consensus Index.

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