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Cerulean Credit Card Review 2024 (Continental Finance Card)

Learn everything about the Cerulean credit card.
Halina Grzeskiewicz
Author: 
Halina Grzeskiewicz
Kacper Kozicki
Editor: 
Kacper Kozicki
Deepti Nickam
Fact Checker: 
Deepti Nickam
11 mins
November 29th, 2023
Advertiser Disclosure
Cerulean Mastercard6.8Visityourceruleancard.com
$75–$120
19.65%–24.90%
N/A

If you’re looking to build or rebuild your credit, this guide will help you decide if the Cerulean credit card is the right fit for your financial journey.

This article will show you:
  • Whether the Cerulean card is worth your time (and money).

  • Its pros, cons, benefits, and fees.

  • Top alternatives.

Read more:

Cerulean Credit Card at a Glance

Full name: Cerulean Mastercard credit card

What’s the card good for: Building, rebuilding, fixing credit

Issuer: Bank of Missouri

Serviced by: Continental Finance

Required credit score: No credit score required to apply

What Is the Cerulean Credit Card from Continental Finance?

The Cerulean Credit Card (issued by the Bank of Missouri and serviced by the Continental Finance) is designed for those looking to establish or rebuild their credit.

It accepts folks with either bad, damaged, or no credit history at all.

Cerulean Credit Card: Overall Card Review

Cerulean Mastercard®

Category

Features

APR

19.65%–24.90%

Annual fee

$75–$120

Starting limit

$300–$1,000

Overall credit card rating

3.4/5

Learn more

Key Cerulean Mastercard Credit Card Fees & Rates

Now onto those pesky fees:

FEE

DETAIL

Annual fee

$99–$120*

Monthly maintenance fee

$10**

APR

19.65%–24.90%

APR for cash advances

19.65%–24.90%

Balance transfer fee

N/A

Cash advance fee

$5.00 or 5% (whichever is greater)

Foreign transaction fee

3%

Late fee

Up to $37

Minimum interest charge fee

None

Returned payment fee

Up to $37

Additional card fee

$30 (one time, if applicable)

*The annual fee for some cardholders is $75 for the first year.

**If billed monthly instead of an annual fee.

Cerulean Credit Card: Pros & Cons

  • Credit building tool.
  • Credit limit increases.
  • Reports to credit bureaus.
  • No security deposit.
  • Mastercard Zero Liability Protection.

Pros—why we like it

Credit building tool

The Cerulean card was designed specifically for those with limited or damaged credit history. It reports to all three credit bureaus, and if you use it responsibly, you can build credit fast.

Credit limit increases

Again, with responsible card use, you can qualify for credit limit increases as soon as after six months.

No security deposit

In contrast to secured credit cards often recommended for individuals with poor or no credit history, the Cerulean credit card doesn’t require any upfront deposit to open an account.

That makes it a more accessible option for credit rebuilding.

Mastercard Zero Liability Protection

You can enjoy peace of mind with this card. If anything odd were to happen, you’d be out of the loop.

Cons—things to keep in mind

High fees

The fees will depend on your creditworthiness—but the annual fee ranges from $75 in the first year to even $120 in the second year. There are some cheaper alternatives.

Read more:

Limited benefits

Cerulean lacks rewards, cashback, or significant perks compared to other cards. But then again, who thinks about earning cashback if they’re focused on building credit, right?

Possible low credit limit

The initial credit limit could be low, making it less helpful for larger expenses. The starting limit is from $300 to $1,000—but the associated fees will make it even smaller.

Remember

Always remember that to successfully build a good credit score, you need to spend way less than 30% of your limit.

High interest rate

Carrying a balance on the card may cause you to end up with high interest charges.

What You Need to Know About the Cerulean Mastercard

Cerulean credit card credit score needed

The Cerulean credit card from Continental Finance is designed for customers who need some help fixing up their credit.

To get one, you’ll probably need a credit score between 550-650 (but other finances like your income and debts matter too).

If you’re smart with it—pay on time, don’t max it out—using this card can boost your credit score over time, opening doors to more financial goodies down the road.

Application process

To apply for a Cerulean credit card: visit their website, call 1-866-513-4598, or return the offer you got in the mail.

If you go through the Cerulean credit card pre-approval process and get approved, it doesn’t mean you’ll get the card.

The issuer will do a hard pull on your credit report and assess different aspects of your financial situation to decide whether you qualify for the card.

Remember

If you want to get a credit card ASAP, Continental Finance might not be the best option for you. A lot of online reviewers mention they had to wait a long time to get their card after being officially approved for it.

You can check the application status of the Cerulean credit card using the same details you used to apply.

Continental Finance customer service

To contact Continental Finance, you can:

  • Visit their website.

  • Call them on866-665-7967.

(Office hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, ET.)

  • Shoot them the old-school mail at the Continental Finance address:

Cerulean Card

P.O. Box 3220

Buffalo, NY 14240-3220

Cerulean Customer Service Reviews Found Online

Out of 3,219 customer reviews on Trustpilot, only 71 were one-star.

Here are some of them—

“I called three times today because they froze my card for whatever reason. I called to see why that was & the first guy pretended he didn’t hear me say my name three times, so he hung up, so I called back again & another guy answered & said I needed to call back in 23 minutes because he didn’t have anyone to assist me? Then why did you answer the phone? What kind of service?”

“I spoke with someone on the phone twice about trying to register to make payments on the mobile app. I was referred to IT both times I was told someone would call me back with instructions. I’ve been waiting for about four days now.”

“I applied for the Cerulean card through Credit Karma and was approved for 1,000. To date, still no card nor no new account added to my credit. But they have my personal information.”

But then, there are 3,000 reviews like these—

“I was having problems getting registered and spoke with Michelle, who not only successfully helped me get registered, but she was super friendly, professional, and personable.”

“The agent was awesome! He was understanding of my situation and helped me get caught up on my bill. This was my first experience with customer service, as I usually take care of my payments on the app.

I am beyond satisfied with the service, the professionalism, and the personable treatment I received, despite the fact that I was past due.”

Alternatives: How Does Cerulean Card Compare to Other Credit Cards for Bad Credit?

Cerulean Mastercard®

3.4

FIT Mastercard®

2.8

Surge® Mastercard

2.5

Annual Fee

$75–$120

Annual fee

$99

Annual fee

$75–$99

No upfront fee

APR

19.65%–24.90%

APR

29.99%

APR

24.99%–29.99%

Starting Limit

$300–$1,000

Starting limit

$400

Starting limit

$300–$1,000

Learn more

Learn more

Learn more

Learn more about the FIT card by reading our honest FIT credit card review.

Need even more options? Check out these cards—

Reflex® Platinum Mastercard®

  • Annual fee: $60–$120

  • APR: 29.99%

  • Starting limit: $300–$1,000

  • Hard inquiry: Yes

Learn more about the Reflex card by reading our detailed Reflex® Platinum Mastercard® review.

Verve credit card

  • Annual fee: $99

  • APR: 25.90%–29.99%

  • Starting limit: Up to $1,000

  • Hard inquiry: Yes

Read more:

Is the Cerulean Credit Card Good for Me?

To figure out if the Cerulean Credit Card vibes with your situation, ask yourself these questions:

  1. Do you mainly want to improve your credit score?

  2. Are you cool with the annual fee and other costs tied to this card?

  3. Are you okay with no rewards or cashback as long as your credit gets better?

  4. Would you rather have a secured card with a deposit, or do you like that Cerulean doesn’t need one?

  5. Can you stay on track with payments and steer clear of high interest charges by paying your card in full each month?

Remember

Your answers will help you decide if the Cerulean Credit Card is your go-to card for reaching your financial goals.

FAQ

What credit score do you need for Continental Finance?
What is the maximum limit on the Cerulean credit card?
What credit score is needed for a Cerulean credit card?
What bank owns the Cerulean credit card?
What is the annual fee for the Cerulean credit card?
How do I contact Cerulean credit card?
How do I check the status of my Cerulean card?
How long does it take to receive the Cerulean credit card?

Sources

See all

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Contributors

Halina Grzeskiewicz
Halina is a content writer with nearly 5 years of experience. She has written about several topics, including human resources, technology, Forex, cryptocurrencies, and personal finance.
Kacper Kozicki
Kacper is an editor, writer, and multilingual translator with expertise in producing tailored content for global online brands.
Deepti Nickam
Fact Checker
Deepti Nickam
Deepti is a content writing and marketing professional with 5+ years of experience in the B2B and B2C sectors. She has written about several subjects, including finance, project management, human resources, and more.
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