Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

Quick Snapshot

• Annual Fee: $0
• APR: 29.49% variable
• Rewards: 1.5% unlimited cash back on every purchase
• Security Deposit: $200 minimum
• Best For: Building credit while earning rewards, credit rebuilders, first secured card with strong cash back
• Credit Needed: Poor to Fair (300-639)

Overview

The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card is a rare and valuable offering: a secured credit card that earns competitive cash back rewards. While most secured cards offer no rewards at all, the Quicksilver Secured delivers unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase—the same earning rate as many premium unsecured cards—while helping you build or rebuild your credit.

What makes this card exceptional is its dual value proposition. First, it provides the credit-building opportunity that secured cards are designed for, reporting to all three major credit bureaus and offering a path to unsecured credit. Second, unlike most secured cards that offer zero rewards, you're earning substantial 1.5% cash back from day one, making your credit-building journey financially rewarding.

The card requires a minimum $200 security deposit (refundable), which typically determines your initial credit line. After demonstrating responsible usage—usually 12-18 months of on-time payments and responsible credit management—Capital One may automatically upgrade you to an unsecured card and return your deposit. Some cardholders even receive upgrades to the premium unsecured Quicksilver card (no annual fee, same 1.5% earning).

Capital One is known for being generous with credit line increases, even on secured cards, and they regularly review accounts for graduation to unsecured status. Combined with free CreditWise credit monitoring tools, this card offers a complete credit-building ecosystem with the bonus of cash back rewards that most secured cards simply don't offer.

For someone building credit from scratch or rebuilding after financial difficulties, earning 1.5% back on everyday spending adds tangible value while working toward better credit opportunities.

APR Breakdown

• Purchase APR: 29.49% variable
• Balance Transfer APR: 29.49% variable
• Cash Advance APR: 29.49% variable
• Penalty APR: None specified

Critical Note: The APR is very high. This card should never be used to carry balances. Use it strategically for small recurring charges that you pay in full monthly. The purpose is credit building with rewards, not financing purchases. Interest charges at 29.49% would completely negate any cash back earned.

Benefits Overview

Rewards Benefits

• 1.5% unlimited cash back on every purchase with no caps or limits
• No minimum redemption threshold for cash back
• Rewards never expire for the life of your account
• Multiple redemption options including statement credits, direct deposit, Amazon purchases, and gift cards
• Same earning rate as premium unsecured Quicksilver card

Credit Building Benefits

• $0 annual fee means no ongoing cost beyond your refundable deposit
• Reports to all three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion)
• Potential upgrade to unsecured card with deposit refund after responsible use
• Possible credit line increases with positive payment history
• Free Credit Score Access via Capital One CreditWise with monitoring and improvement tools
• Credit simulator tools to see how different actions affect your score
• Automatic reviews for graduation to unsecured cards

Everyday Benefits

• Fraud coverage with zero liability protection
• Mobile app with account management and spending insights
• Autopay options to ensure on-time payments and avoid late fees
• No foreign transaction fees when making purchases outside the U.S.
• Alerts and monitoring to track progress and prevent missed payments

Security & Protection

• 24/7 fraud monitoring to detect suspicious activity
• Instant purchase notifications via mobile app
• Account freeze capability through mobile app for extra security
• Virtual card numbers for safer online shopping (via Eno browser extension)
• Mastercard benefits including identity theft protection

Security Deposit & Credit Line

How the Deposit Works:

• Minimum deposit: $200 (may deposit more for higher credit line)
• Initial credit line: Typically equal to your deposit amount
• Deposit refund: Returned when you upgrade to unsecured card or close account in good standing
• Not a fee: The deposit is fully refundable—it's security, not a cost
• Additional deposits: May be able to increase deposit for higher credit line

Example Scenarios:

• Deposit $200 → $200 initial credit line
• Deposit $500 → $500 initial credit line
• After 6 months: May receive credit line increase without additional deposit
• After 12-18 months: May be upgraded to unsecured card, deposit refunded

Deposit Payment:

• Deposit must be paid before card is activated
• Can be paid via bank transfer or check
• Deposit is held in a Capital One account and earns no interest
• Fully refundable when you close account in good standing or upgrade to unsecured

Rewards & Cash Back

• Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day with no caps or limits
• No rotating categories or activation requirements
• No minimum redemption threshold for cash back
• Rewards never expire for the life of your account
• Redemption options: Statement credits, direct deposit to eligible bank accounts, Amazon purchases, gift cards

Simple and straightforward: automatic 1.5% cash back on everything you buy. No categories to track, no quarterly rotations, no spending limits—just consistent rewards while building credit.

This is the same earning structure as the premium unsecured Quicksilver card, making it one of the most rewarding secured cards available.

Welcome Bonus

No welcome bonus or sign-up offer currently available.

While there's no bonus, the ongoing 1.5% cash back rewards from day one provide substantial value over time. For someone spending $10,000 annually, that's $150 in cash back while building credit—far more than most secured cards that offer zero rewards.

Fees Summary

• Annual Fee: $0
• Security Deposit: $200 minimum (refundable)
• Foreign Transaction Fee: 0%
• Balance Transfer Fee: Either $5 or 3% of the amount transferred, whichever is greater
• Cash Advance Fee: Either $10 or 3% of the amount, whichever is greater
• Late Payment Fee: Up to $40
• Returned Payment Fee: Up to $40
• Authorized User Fee: $0

Who This Card Is Best For

Ideal For

• Credit builders wanting rewards instead of zero-earning secured cards
• Those with poor to fair credit (scores 300-639) rebuilding their credit
• First-time credit users who want to earn cash back while establishing credit
• Recent immigrants establishing U.S. credit history and earning rewards
• Bankruptcy dischargees working to rebuild credit with rewards benefits
• Those denied for unsecured cards but wanting competitive cash back
• Students or young adults starting their credit journey with rewards
• Anyone seeking maximum value from a secured credit card

Not Good For

• Those with fair to good credit (640+) who qualify for unsecured cards
• Balance carriers (29.49% APR makes carrying debt extremely expensive)
• Those unable to afford the $200 minimum deposit
• People seeking premium benefits like travel insurance or lounge access
• Those needing large credit lines immediately (initial lines match your deposit)
• Category optimizers seeking 3%+ rewards in specific spending areas

Key Pros & Cons

Pros

• Rare secured card offering strong 1.5% cash back rewards
• No annual fee means zero ongoing cost (deposit is refundable)
• Same earning rate as premium unsecured Quicksilver card
• Accessible for poor to fair credit (scores as low as 300)
• Reports to all three major credit bureaus for maximum credit-building impact
• Potential upgrade to unsecured Quicksilver with deposit refund (often 12-18 months)
• Possible credit line increases with positive payment history
• Free unlimited credit score monitoring via Capital One CreditWise
• Credit simulation tools to understand how actions affect your score
• No foreign transaction fees for international purchases
• Rewards never expire for the life of your account
• Multiple flexible redemption options including direct deposit
• Mobile app with spending insights and account management
• Autopay options to ensure on-time payments
• No authorized user fees
• Virtual card numbers for safer online shopping

Cons

• Requires $200 minimum security deposit upfront (refundable but still a barrier)
• Very high 29.49% APR makes carrying balances extremely expensive
• No welcome bonus offer
• Initial credit lines are low (equal to deposit amount)
• No premium benefits like travel insurance or purchase protection
• Late fees are high ($40) and can damage the credit you're trying to build
• No introductory 0% APR period
• Deposit earns no interest while held by Capital One
• Lower earning rate (1.5%) compared to category-specific cards (though rare for secured cards)

Alternatives to Consider

Card	Best For	Annual Fee	Deposit	Rewards	Credit Needed
Discover it® Secured	Higher rotating rewards	$0	$200 min	2% rotating + 1%	Building credit
Capital One Platinum Secured	Lower deposit, no rewards	$0	$49-$200	No rewards	Poor to Fair
Capital One QuicksilverOne	Unsecured if fair credit	$39	None	1.5% cash back	Fair (630-689)
Capital One Platinum	Unsecured, no rewards	$0	None	No rewards	Fair (580-689)

How the Rewards Add Up

Example Annual Value

If you spend $12,000 per year on typical expenses:

Category	Annual Spend	Reward Rate	Earned Value
All purchases	$12,000	1.5%	$180

Annual Value: $180

With no annual fee, this entire $180 goes directly to your pocket while simultaneously building your credit. This is exceptional value for a secured card—most secured cards offer zero rewards.

Comparison to Other Secured Cards:

• Quicksilver Secured: $12,000 spend = $180 rewards
• Platinum Secured: $12,000 spend = $0 rewards
• Quicksilver Secured advantage: $180 annually

Credit Building Value: Beyond the cash back, the intangible value comes from building credit history, potential credit line increases, and possible upgrade to unsecured cards after 12-18 months of responsible use. Your $200 deposit is refunded upon upgrade, making this effectively a no-cost credit-building and rewards-earning tool.

Should You Get This Card?

You Should Get It If...

• You have poor to fair credit (300-639) and want to earn rewards while building credit
• You can afford the $200 minimum security deposit upfront
• You're committed to paying your balance in full every month
• You want to build credit without paying an annual fee
• You value earning 1.5% cash back instead of zero rewards
• You've been denied for unsecured Quicksilver but want similar rewards
• You need to establish U.S. credit history while earning cash back
• You'll use CreditWise tools to monitor and improve your credit
• You want a path to unsecured credit within 12-18 months
• You prefer simple flat-rate rewards over category tracking

You Should Skip It If...

• You have fair credit (640+) and qualify for unsecured Platinum or QuicksilverOne
• You can't afford the $200 minimum security deposit
• You tend to carry balances (29.49% APR is prohibitively expensive)
• You want category-specific rewards with 3%+ earning potential
• You're looking for introductory 0% APR offers
• You want premium travel benefits or purchase protections
• You can't commit to paying balances in full monthly
• You're seeking welcome bonuses or promotional offers
• You prefer rotating 5% categories (consider Discover it Secured instead)

Maximizing Your Card & Building Credit

Tips to Get the Most Value:

1. Pay in full every month — 29.49% APR will erase any rewards if you carry balances
2. Use for all everyday spending to maximize 1.5% cash back
3. Set up autopay for full balance to ensure perfect payment history
4. Keep utilization under 10% — with $200 limit, use less than $20
5. Monitor credit score weekly using Capital One CreditWise
6. Use credit simulator tools to understand how actions affect your score
7. Be patient — expect 12-18 months before upgrade to unsecured
8. Redeem rewards regularly to see tangible benefits of your credit building
9. Request credit line increases after 6-12 months of perfect payments
10. Keep card open long-term even after upgrade (for length of credit history)

Perfect Credit-Building Usage Pattern:

1. Use for regular everyday purchases (groceries, gas, subscriptions)
2. Set card to autopay full balance from checking account
3. Keep utilization below 10% of credit limit at all times
4. Result: Perfect payment history + 1.5% cash back + credit score improvement

Example Monthly Usage:

• $200 credit limit
• Spend $150 monthly on groceries and gas (75% utilization)
• Pay $150 in full before statement date
• Utilization reported: $0 (0% utilization)
• Earn $2.25 cash back monthly = $27 annually
• Build perfect payment history

What NOT to Do:

• Don't carry balances month-to-month (29.49% APR negates all rewards)
• Don't max out your credit limit (destroys credit score you're trying to build)
• Don't miss payments (devastating to credit building)
• Don't apply for multiple cards at once (hard inquiries lower scores)
• Don't close card after upgrade (keep it open for length of credit history)
• Don't use for cash advances (expensive fees and damages credit)

Timeline to Unsecured Credit:

1. Months 1-6: Use secured card responsibly, build perfect payment history, earn 1.5% cash back
2. Month 6-9: May receive credit line increase without additional deposit
3. Months 9-12: Continue perfect payments, credit score improving significantly
4. Months 12-18: Capital One reviews account for upgrade to unsecured
5. Upgrade: Receive notification, $200+ deposit refunded, continue earning 1.5%
6. Possible upgrade path: Some users upgraded directly to unsecured Quicksilver (no annual fee)
7. Keep card open for length of credit history benefit

Path to Premium Cards:

1. Start: Quicksilver Secured (1.5% cash back, secured)
2. 12-18 months: Upgrade to unsecured Quicksilver (1.5%, no fee) OR QuicksilverOne (1.5%, $39 fee), deposit refunded
3. 18-24 months: With improved credit, apply for Savor (3% categories, no fee) or Venture (2x miles, $95 fee)
4. 24-36 months: With good credit, eligible for premium cards like Venture X
5. Keep original Quicksilver open for length of credit history benefit

Redemption Strategy:

• Redeem for statement credits for full 1.5% value
• Use direct deposit for immediate access to cash back
• Save rewards for larger redemptions (psychologically rewarding)
• Avoid redeeming for gift cards unless there's a promotional bonus
• Redeem quarterly to see tangible progress from your credit-building journey

Monitoring Your Progress:

• Check CreditWise weekly to see score changes
• Aim for steady increases of 5-10 points per month
• Watch for "credit line increase available" notifications
• Look for "upgrade offer" communications from Capital One
• Once score hits 640+, you're entering "fair" credit territory
• At 680-700+, you're eligible for many premium rewards cards

Apply Now

Apply for Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

---

Information accurate as of December 2025. Terms and conditions apply. Please visit the issuer's website for the most current information.