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Mission Lane Credit Card Review (Best Credit Builder?)

Here’s everything to know about building your credit score with the Mission Lane Visa card.
Deepti Nickam
Author: 
Deepti Nickam
Kacper Kozicki
Editor: 
Kacper Kozicki
Lauren Bedford
Fact Checker: 
Lauren Bedford
12 mins
December 16th, 2024
Advertiser Disclosure
Mission Lane Visa Credit Card7.6Visitmissionlane.com
$0-59
26.99% - 29.99% Variable. (If you are charged interest, the charge will be no less than $0.50)
N/A
Bad (300–629)

The Mission Lane Visa card is a credit-building, low-cost credit card. It can be a great addition to your wallet if you don’t want to shell out a deposit for a secured card.

But the Mission Lane Visa comes with its own set of fees.

So, is it a great credit-building tool or just another sketchy card?

Let’s find out—

This article will show you:
  • How the Mission Lane credit card works.

  • Its fees, rewards, and benefits.

  • The pros and cons you should review.

Read more:

Mission Lane Credit Card at a Glance

Full name: Mission Lane Credit Card

Best for: Building credit history without a security deposit

Issuer: Mission Lane

Credit score needed: Poor to fair credit (300–669)

What is the Mission Lane Visa Credit Card?

The Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card is perfect for folks with bad credit (FICO scores of 629 or lower).

While it doesn’t have rewards and may charge an annual fee, it’s got some cool features.

The best part is, you don’t have to put down a security deposit like with other cards for bad credit.

Mission Lane also has a pre-qualification process that gives you a good idea if you’ll get approved—so you can dodge an initial hard inquiry on your credit report.

But if you officially apply, there’ll still be a “hard pull” on your credit.

Mission Lane also reports your activity to all three credit bureaus—which is crucial for rebuilding your credit score and building a positive payment history.

Mission Lane Credit Card: Overall Review

Here’s our quick Mission Lane credit card rating:

APR

26.99% - 29.99% Variable

Annual fee

$0

Intro offer

N/A

Standard rewards rate

1% cashback

Maximum rewards rate

1.5% cashback

Overall rating

3.8/5

Learn more

Key Mission Lane Credit Card Fees & Rates

Here are all the key fees you should consider before getting your hands on this credit card:

FEE

DETAIL

Annual fee

$0-59

APR

26.99% - 29.99% Variable. (If you are charged interest, the charge will be no less than $0.50)

Intro APR

N/A

Balance transfer fee

N/A

Balance transfer APR

N/A

Cash advance fee

3%, Min: $10

Cash advance APR

29.99% (Variable)

Foreign transaction fee

3%

Late payment fee

Up to $35

Over limit fee

N/A

Mission Lane Credit Card: Pros and Cons

Here’s a glance at all the pros and cons of getting this credit card:

  • Accepts bad credit.
  • No security deposit.
  • Potential credit limit increase.
  • Higher credit limit over time.
  • Straightforward pre-qualification process.

Pros—Why We Like It

Accepts bad credit

No worries if your credit score isn’t great—you can still bag the Mission Lane Visa® card.

The card company doesn’t just focus on your scores, but also factors in things like your income, credit usage, and debt-to-income ratio.

So you may need to show them your W2s, 1099s, pay stubs, or benefit documents when applying for the card.

Read more:

No security deposit

Unlike most credit cards for bad credit, the Mission Lane Visa card doesn’t ask for a security deposit upfront.

With secured cards, you have to cough up a deposit, and that becomes your credit limit. But Mission Lane decides your limit based on the information you provide in your application.

That’s why you don’t have to worry about tying up your cash just to get started.

Want more options? Check out our list of the best unsecured credit cards for bad credit.

Potential credit limit increase

When you first get the Mission Lane Visa, your credit limit could be as low as $300 (typical for credit-building cards without a deposit).

But here’s the good news: Mission Lane gives you a shot at boosting that limit.

All you have to do is use your card responsibly. Make sure you pay on time, stay within your credit limit, and keep your account in good shape.

Mission Lane will review your account and approve you for a higher limit if you’ve been doing well.

Plus, the issuer reports your activity to all the major credit bureaus, which is super important for increasing your credit score.

Note that cards like the Petal 2 Visa offer limits as high as $10,000 for eligible customers.

Straightforward pre-qualification process

Here’s a neat trick before you apply for the Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card: You can go through the card’s pre-qualification process first.

This way, you can find out if it’s worth taking a temporary hit on your credit scores with a hard inquiry.

If you get pre-approved, you’ll also know if you have an annual fee and a good APR rate. If you’re not thrilled with the terms, you can simply decline the offer.

The pre-qualification only triggers a soft inquiry, so it won’t impact your credit score. It’s a clever way to test the waters without any consequences.

Cons—What To Consider

Potential annual fee

Depending on the terms of your offer, you may have to pay an annual fee for this Mission Lane card. (Annual fees are capped at $59.)

Not keen on paying an annual fee? Check out the Chime Credit Card.

Remember

The annual fee is treated just like any other charge on your credit card. The catch is that it automatically reduces your credit limit. Let’s say you start with a $500 credit limit and there’s a $25 annual fee—your initial credit limit effectively becomes $475.

High interest rate

The Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card has a high variable purchase APR of anywhere between 26.99%–29.99%. But high APRs are common on credit cards geared toward people trying to build credit.

Credit Card Payoff Template for Excel

Lay out your credit card debt with the minimum payments and interest to see how long it will take to pay off!

What you will get:

  • Interactive dashboard

  • Customizable to your needs

  • Stay on track with charts and graphs

  • Suitable for up to 16 or 32 debts!

No rewards program

Earning cashback can help offset the cost of this card’s annual fee. Unfortunately, the Mission Lane Visa card doesn’t earn rewards.

If earning cashback is important to you, it may be worth exploring other options.

Look at our extensive list of the best cashback credit cards.

Alternatives: How Does the Mission Lane Credit Card Compare to Other Credit Cards for Poor Credit?

Here’s how the Mission Lane Visa card compares to credit cards for bad credit:

Group One Platinum

3.4

Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa®

4.4

Indigo® Mastercard®

3

Annual Fee

$0

Annual fee

$0

Annual fee

$75–$99

Rewards rate

N/A

Rewards

1%–10%

1% cash back on eligible purchases immediately. Up to 1.5% after 12 on-time monthly payments. From 2% to 10% at select merchants.

APR

29.99%

Intro offer

N/A

Intro offer

N/A

Starting limit

$300

Learn more

Learn more

Learn more

Mission Lane Visa Reviews

Here are some Mission Lanecredit card reviews from cardholders on the internet:

“Great card for rebuilding your credit. You get a credit increase every six months if you pay on time. Already got my first credit line increase.”

“Great card. The website is easy to use and navigate. I was impressed that I qualified for this card after filing for bankruptcy.”

“Card doesn’t ever change. Regardless of how great your score is. I have 6 Amex cards, a world elite MasterCard, and two visa signature cards, but yet this one sits in my drawer and the 600$ limit stays the same.”

Is Mission Lane Credit Card Good for Me?

The Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card could be a good choice if you’re looking for a short-term unsecured credit-building card.

With its lower annual fee, it offers a decent option to help you improve your credit.

While credit cards may seem scary—when used the right way, they’re a great tool for improving your long-term financial health. The exact formula for determining your credit score is complex and closely guarded. But if you’re up for managing your spending and making on-time payments, you’ll improve your score in no time.
Jackson Newman, Travel Reporter at Thrifty Traveler

But it’s worth considering that there are other cards out there that are less expensive to own and potentially more valuable than the Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card.

FAQ

Is Mission Lane a secured credit card?
What is the typical credit limit for a Mission Lane credit card?
How do I get a Mission Lane credit card credit limit increase?
How long does it take to get approved for a Mission Lane Visa?
Does the Mission Lane Visa require a hard credit pull?
What credit score do you need for the Mission Lane Visa card?
Does the Mission Lane Visa offer cashback?

Sources

See all

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Contributors

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.
Kacper Kozicki
Kacper is an editor, writer, and multilingual translator with expertise in producing tailored content for global online brands.
Lauren Bedford
Fact Checker
Lauren Bedford
Lauren is a published content writer and journalist. In the last five years, she has written about a range of subjects, including business, technology, and finance. She was born in June 1994 in the UK, but relocated to Barcelona five years ago. Initially covering topics like business and technology, Lauren is now dedicated to her position as a personal finance journalist and is always keen to keep learning and evolve as a finance writer.
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