BOA just declined my request for a secured credit card. Unbelievable since I have banked with them for 3 yrs and never a problem. I went into the bank and they took $2000 from my savings acct, issued a certified check and sent it to Bank Card Services in Arizona; said it would take about 2-3wks to get the card. Yesterday I received the notice that I'm declined. I was SHOCKED... they have my money! It was not returned to my savings acct, however, they say they will MAIL it back!! However, why didn't it come in the mail with the decline letter??? Although I do have a poor credit report, all items are paid and I have a very good job making good money and decent amount of savings even after the $2k deposit. The decline letter said it was because I have past delinquency with one or more of my creditors... WELL DUH!! Why else would I be trying to rebuild my credit!! I plan to give them a piece of my mind on Monday and take my banking elsewhere!

Need help increasing that credit score for free? Email Frank at fenominon09@gmail.com

Oh and by the way... the BOA Secured Credit card is AWESOME, but you have to know how to USE it to increase your credit. Very EASY steps.-Frank

Good so far. I was approved in Jan 2009, and after reading these reviews with people getting rejected I am shocked. Two years prior I defaulted on 11 diff cards including a boa card with a balance over 5k. In addition I had a boa checking account which I overdrew and never paid the numerous overdraft fees. Still I was approved after giving them the 300 deposit. Since it is a secured card and your own money I would suggest embelishing the truth a little bit on you application (ie your occupation is in a secure high earning field, and your income is higher when they ask you your salary) these things may indicate that after you hit a rough patch you may have developed a better career and a more steady. Life... Well enough for them to take the small risk in having to give u an unsecured card in 9-12 mos. I also had the same problem with nailing down the graduation date on the phone they swear by 9 mos if you use the card and are not late.

After speaking with a my financial consultant, a mortgage lender, and an online representative from Bank of America, I applied for a Secured VISA. For thirteen months, since purchasing a new 2008 Honda Accord, I have been current on my auto payment, and have been diligent in attempting to rebuild my credit history. There are a few derogatory items on my credit report that I am presently working with a credit advisor on clearing up, mostly medical bills. There is only one line of credit on my credit report. In applying for a Secured VISA card, using money that I clearly have and that Bank of America is free to check into, I attempted to open up another trade-line, at NO RISK to Bank of America. Rather than try and build a good new customer relation, Bank of America thought it would be of more interest to them if they would just decline my application. As a certified high school teacher here in South Carolina, I will be letting many of my friends and colleagues, some of whom may already be Bank of America customers, know of this experience.

I too have been a bofa customer for a long time. I applied for a secured card and was turned down. I am debt free now and have two checking and two savings accounts with bofa. I'm trying to rebuild my credit (haven't had anything on my credit in three years). I don't get why I'm not approved if it's a secured card and I have four bofa accounts.

I am a BofA banking customer, trying to rebuild my credit after divorce/BK....have never had credit with BofA except checking/savings accounts. They turned me down for this secured credit card even though I can put the minimum (and more if required) into the secured funds. Don't get it.

The one drawback to this card, is the confusion over when it will go unsecured. If you ask an online representative, they say 9 months. If you go into a branch, they say 12 months. The person who took my application and money told me 6 months. Like everyone else, I pay balance in full each month. I just wish they provided documentation on what the procedures and time frames are for going unsecured. It would be nice to know when I could potentially get my deposit back.

This is an ok card for building credit. Unforunately due to my current money troubles I have become late on some of the payments, and have had my credit card close. Whenever I try to call customer service, all I get is a automated voice message system and no option to talk to a live person. It cost me 100$ to have a 500$ credit limit card and will not receive my money back. Although recently on their website I can view my credit card amount and status as well as my checking account.

When i got my Bank of America Visa Card I was pretty cautious because i had so much debt already. But it turned out ok. The customer service they provide is much better than most banks. They dont outsource so much so there is always an English speaker to talk to about the problems.

I was needing to establish my credit coming out of college. I started with this type of credit card. I used this card for a year making small purchases and then paying off the balance in full. Now I have stayed with the same company but switched to a different card with a lower rate and better terms. My first card did the job I was looking for. Great way to start establishing your own credit.