Is It Worth Considering? (2023)

For those with low credit scores, the First Digital credit card can feel a bit like an empty Christmas gift. You’re thrilled to get it, only to discover that you can’t really use it because of the high APR and steep fees.

It will let you build or reestablish your credit, but it might not be the best option if you want to carry a balance and pay off big amounts of debt (we recommend getting a transfer credit card for this). 

Read our First Digital Mastercard® review and see if the card fits your needs.

New to building credit? Have a look at our guides:

The First Digital Credit Card at a Glance

Created for bad credit scores and limited credit history, the First Digital card is a full-featured Mastercard®, accepted nationwide. It has a relatively high APR and other fees, but it might be one of the easiest cards to qualify for.

What’s unusual about the card is that you need to pay 25% of any credit limit increase (if you decide to apply).

You must have an active checking account to be approved and to use the card.

First Digital Credit Card: Overall Card Rating

Who Can Apply for the First Digital Credit Card?

You don’t need a perfect credit score, long credit history, or a security deposit to get approved for the First Digital Mastercard®. 

But there are a couple of boxes to check off if you want to consider applying for the card:

• You must be a US resident over 18.
• You must have an active checking account (or be willing to open one).

Not sure what your credit score is? Click here to check your score and credit report now.

How to Apply for the First Digital NextGen Mastercard®?

You can apply for the First Digital Mastercard® using the application form here.

The application process is simple—and Synovus Bank guarantees an answer in just 60 seconds (in rare cases, it can take longer).

How to Check First Digital Mastercard® Application Status?

After applying for the First Digital Mastercard®, you should get a response straight away. If you don’t, go to the “Find My Application” section and follow the instructions.

First Digital Mastercard® Fees

If you take away one thing from our First Digital credit card review, let it be this—

The card has a high APR of 35.99%, an annual fee of $75 (decreasing your credit limit to $225) and an upfront program fee of $95. 

After the first twelve months, there’s a monthly service fee of $8.25.

Here’s a detailed breakdown:

First Digital Mastercard® Credit Limit

Credit limit on this card is $300—but bear in mind that after deducting the annual fee, it’s actually $225.

First Digital Credit Card Limit Increase—Is It Possible?

You can raise the credit limit by applying for it—but you’ll have to pay the issuer 25% of the total increase.

First Digital Credit Card Reviews

One thing we noticed when browsing hundreds of online user reviews is that only around 25% were five-star reviews. It’s not a lot, considering that around 20% were one-star reviews. 

Most reviewers agree that the application process is fast and straightforward. 

Some cardholders say the First Digital NextGen Mastercard® has helped them improve their credit scores, while others complain about low credit limit.

Many users claim that the high APR makes carrying a balance on the card expensive. Some are frustrated with the card being frequently declined.

Quite a few didn’t like the customer service—conflicting information, long waiting times, and issues with resolving the disputes (even those about unauthorized charges on their accounts, which you should sort out easily with the Mastercard® Zero Liability protection).

Our Honest First Digital Credit Card Review

Let’s look at the benefits and the downsides of getting the First Digital card—

Pros and Cons

Pros

Cons

Pros—Why we like it

Low credit score requirement

The First Digital card welcomes all applicants, no matter their current credit scores. That means you can still apply for the card even if you have a limited credit history or a poor credit score.

No security deposit

You don’t have to think about any collateral for the issuer, but you need to pay an upfront fee of $95 and an annual fee of $75 (which comes to $170 in the first year).

Mastercard® Zero Liability and ID Theft Protection

Where Mastercard® goes, the perks follow.

The First Digital card has Mastercard® Zero Liability and ID Theft Protection, both very important considering the sky-high credit card fraud rates.

They’ll save you the headache of worrying about paying someone else’s bills.

Reports to all credit bureaus

Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—all of them need to get credit reports on you for you to build your credit. Synovus Bank does a good job of reporting to all three of them.

24/7 account access

You can access your account no matter the time to check your balance, make monthly payments, change the settings, and more.

AutoPay

Building your credit, you need to make your payments on time. AutoPay is a convenient way to make that happen.

Mobile app

There’s an official First Digital Card mobile app for iOS and Android.

Cons—Things to watch out for

Exorbitant fees

While it’s true that credit cards for bad credit come with relatively high fees, this one is certainly one of the most expensive—with all the usual fees like the upfront program fee, the annual fee, or the monthly maintenance fee.

On top of that, you pay an expedited telephone payment fee, express delivery fee, premium plastic card design fee, and more.

Very high interest rate

The card has an APR of 35.99%. It’s very high, even for a card for bad credit.

Very low credit limit

In theory, the First Digital Mastercard® has a credit limit of $300. But in reality—after you pay the annual fee—it’s $225.

To keep your credit utilization ratio under 30%, you could only use around $70 a month.

Lack of a reward or bonus program

There’s no reward, bonus, or cash back program on this one. But if you want to use it only for building credit, the lack of these perks won’t be one of your concerns.

A hard pull on your credit reports

It’s common to see a hard pull on your credit when applying for a credit card designed for those with a dubious credit past. 

The good news is that it messes up your credit only temporarily. After some time of on-time payments and responsible card management, you (or rather, your credit) will be back in shape.

Some Alternatives to the First Digital Credit Card

Here’s a list of other unsecured credit cards worth considering if you have a low credit score and want to build or reestablish your credit—

Indigo Platinum Mastercard®

The Indigo Platinum Mastercard® is a good choice for those with a turbulent financial past (that includes even prior bankruptcy).

Apart from a relatively high APR, it has an annual fee of up to $99 (depending on your creditworthiness). But there are no maintenance fees, and the card is accepted worldwide.

Milestone Gold Mastercard®

If you’re looking for a cheaper option, you might consider Milestone Gold Mastercard®. The annual fee is variable (starting at $35), and the APR is visibly lower (24.99%).

What we like about the card is the 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases.

First Digital vs. Indigo vs. Milestone Gold

Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit

Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit welcomes applications with FICO scores as low as 500. 

Low entry barrier and 1% cash back make it a good choice for those who want to use it for everyday purchases while rebuilding their credit.

Credit One Bank® offers regular account reviews which are a chance to boost your credit limit. They’re granted for responsible card usage—so be sure to make in-full, on-time payments.

The APR is quite high at 28.24%—but you don’t have to worry about it as long as you pay off your credit card on time and in full.

Surge Mastercard®

The Surge Mastercard® is another unsecured card that can help you build or improve your credit. It reports to all three credit bureaus and lets you check your score every month (if you sign up for e-statements).

Backed by Continental Finance, the card has an initial credit limit ranging from $300 to $1,000 (which then gets doubled if you make first six payments on time).

The fees are relatively high, but the APR is lower than the one for the First Digital Mastercard®.

Would you like to know more? Check out the best unsecured credit cards for bad credit in 2023.

First Digital vs. Credit One Bank® Platinum vs. Surge

Secured Alternatives to the First Digital Credit Card

Here are a couple of secured cards that you can consider as an alternative to the First Digital Credit Card—

Capital Bank OpenSky Visa®

The Capital Bank OpenSky Visa® is a secured credit card available to all credit scores, with an approval rate of 87%. The issuer doesn’t do a hard inquiry on your credit reports, so there’s no risk in applying for it.

It has a low annual fee of $35 and requires a security deposit of $200 (you can get it back when you choose to close the account).  

With OpenSky Visa® you can increase your security deposit to $2,500. It immediately becomes your credit limit—which means you can freely adjust the amount depending on your current financial situation and manage your credit utilization ratio responsibly.

There are no additional fees, and the APR is significantly lower than the one for the First Digital card (21.89%).

Citi® Secured Mastercard®

The Citi® Secured Mastercard® is another secured alternative to the First Digital card. Similarly to the Capital Bank OpenSky Visa®, you’ll need to make a deposit of $200.

Again, this will become your credit limit (which can range from $200 to $2,500).

The Citi® card has no annual or maintenance fees, and it’s accepted worldwide. The variable APR on this card is 26.99%.

First Digital vs. OpenSky Visa® vs. Citi Secured Mastercard®

How Does the First Digital Credit Card Compare to Other Unsecured Cards for Those with Bad to Fair Credit?

Is the First Digital Credit Card Good for You?

The First Digital credit card is good for those who have no other (cheaper) options to choose from and who need to build or reestablish their credit.

To make it work for you—

• Make regular, timely payments (even one slip can stay on your records for years).
• Pay your balance off in full to avoid paying interest charges.
• Keep your credit utilization ratio below 30% (that means using less than one-third of your credit limit a month).
• Don’t use the First Digital card to pay off big amounts of debt.
• Don’t carry a balance on this card.