Lots of folks searching is Revvi a real credit card just want to know what this card actually is and if it’s legit. Yes, Revvi is a real credit card from First Savings Bank, but it’s really meant for building credit when you have bad credit. It comes with special fees and some limits though. It’s not like regular cards from big banks. This one’s for people with poor or thin credit files who need to start over or fix their credit. The CFPB said in their 2022 report that about 15 million Americans with lower scores use these credit-building cards, since they can’t get regular credit products easily.
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Let’s understand how the Revvi card actually works
Is it a regular credit card or more of a credit builder account?
Here’s the main difference: Revvi is a real credit card from First Savings Bank, but it’s not like your typical credit card in how it’s set up or who it’s meant for.
It does report to all three credit bureaus – Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion – just like regular cards. But its main goal is helping people rebuild credit, not making daily spending easier.
Revvi fits into that category of cards with lots of fees meant for people who can’t get regular credit cards. It has monthly maintenance fees and lower limits, which makes it very different from cards like USAA that serve people with good credit history.
If you want to check if Revvi is legit, you’ve got several ways to do it. Look up First Savings Bank with the Better Business Bureau, check the FDIC database to see they’re insured, or browse the CFPB’s complaint database.
Revvi is legitimate because it follows federal credit card rules, including the Truth in Lending Act that requires clear fee info. But whether it’s worth it for you really depends on your personal money situation.
Before you apply, make sure you read that Schumer Box carefully – it lists all the costs. For some people, the fees might end up costing more than the benefits you get.
How Revvi stands apart from regular credit cards
Let’s talk about fees: Regular cards make money mainly from interest and merchant fees, but Revvi uses a different approach built around monthly maintenance fees.
Looking at the card’s terms, you’ll usually pay $75 to $125 in fees that first year for just a $300 to $500 credit limit. That means your actual cost could be more than half of your available credit.
This is way different from regular cards like USAA’s, where basic cards often have no annual fee and give much higher limits to people who qualify.
Now about credit building: Both Revvi and regular cards report your payments to credit bureaus, but Revvi’s big selling point is that it’s easier to get if you have bad credit.
You don’t need to put down a security deposit like with secured cards, but that easy access comes with high fees that basically cut into your available credit that first year.
To put this in perspective, the average credit card interest rate was around 21% in mid-2023 according to the Fed. But Revvi’s actual costs can be much higher than that when you factor in the low credit limit.
Let’s break down the Revvi card’s fees and costs
Here’s what you’ll really pay for this card
First, let’s calculate your first-year costs with Revvi card – there are several fees to think about before applying You’ll pay a $75 program fee upfront, then monthly fees between $7.50 and $10.25.
adding up to around $150-$195 in your first year for just a $300 credit limit That means you’re paying 50-65% of your credit limit just in fees! That’s way more expensive than regular credit cards or secured cards where you get your deposit back.
After year one, the monthly fee drops to about $5.50-$8.25, but you’re still paying more than most cards for people with good credit Compare that to student cards like Discover it – they charge no annual fee.
give you rewards, and offer higher limits You need to decide if Revvi’s ongoing costs are worth the credit score boost, especially since you might qualify for better cards after a few months of good payments.
| Card Type | First-Year Fees | Credit Limit Range | Recommended For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revvi Card | $150-$195 | $300-$500 | Subprime borrowers with no other options |
| Secured Cards | $0-$50 | $200-$2,500 | Credit builders who can afford deposit |
| Student Cards | $0 | $500-$1,500 | Young adults with limited credit history |
| Traditional Cards | $0-$95 | $1,000-$5,000 | Consumers with good credit scores |
Comparing Value Against Other Credit Building Options
Before choosing Revvi, check out other ways to build credit like secured cards, credit-builder loans, or becoming an authorized user Secured cards cost less because you get your deposit back.
and credit-builder loans from local banks often have lower rates that don’t hurt your credit utilization A 2023 study found secured cards helped nearly half of users with poor credit boost their scores by 30 points in six months – we don’t have similar numbers for high-fee cards like Revvi.
If you do choose Revvi, make sure you have an exit plan to keep costs down long-term Use it for one year to build your payment history, then apply for better cards before canceling Keep the card open until you get better options to protect your credit history, but don’t pay those high fees for years once your credit improves and you qualify for cheaper cards.
Let’s talk about how well the Revvi card builds credit and what its limits are
So how much can the Revvi card actually improve your credit score?
The Revvi card’s biggest plus is it reports to all three credit bureaus – Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. This helps build good payment history if your credit’s limited or damaged.
First Savings Bank says they report your payments every month to all three bureaus. That’s the basic building block for boosting your credit score. But here’s the catch – the low credit limit plus fees mean your credit utilization stays high unless you keep balances super low. Since FICO scores really care about utilization, this might cancel out some of the good payment history benefits.
What can you realistically expect? Well, people on credit forums usually see 20-60 point jumps after six months of good use, as long as there aren’t other big negatives on their reports.
These gains come mainly from building that positive payment history, not from improving your credit mix or account age. The CFPB found that people with thin credit files get the biggest score boost from their first revolving account like Revvi. Adding more similar cards later gives smaller returns.
Now let’s look at common mistakes people make with Revvi and how to dodge them
Managing credit utilization gets tricky with Revvi’s low limit. You want to stay under 30% utilization since that’s huge for your credit score. With just a $300 limit, you need to keep balances under $90.
But the monthly fees alone eat up 25-35% of your available credit! Smart users make several payments each month to keep balances low. Or they just put tiny purchases on the card and pay them off right before the statement closes.
To cut down on fees – which is the biggest money risk with Revvi – don’t miss payments or carry high balances. Otherwise you’re paying fees without getting much credit benefit.
Get the most value by setting up auto-pay for at least the minimum, only using Revvi for small regular subscriptions, and checking your credit reports every few months to make sure the positive reporting is working.
People who do best with Revvi use it as a stepping stone to better cards within a year to 18 months, not as a long-term solution.
To get the Revvi card, you need to be 18 or older, have a real Social Security number, a bank account they can verify, and enough income to cover your payments.
Regular credit cards care a lot about your credit score, but Revvi is different – they work with people who have bad credit or not much credit history. Lots of people get approved with scores between 500 and 600.
But getting approved isn’t automatic. They still check your info and might say no if you’ve had a recent bankruptcy or are behind on other credit payments.
Here’s how long it takes: if you get approved, you’ll usually get a digital card you can use online in 1-3 days, and the actual plastic card shows up in your mail about 7-10 days later.
You’ll start with a credit limit around $300 to $500, and they’ll charge that first monthly fee right when you open your account. Revvi’s application is mostly about proving who you are, not about having great credit.
This makes it different from secured cards that need a deposit upfront or some other cards that do extra verification steps.
| When | What to Do | What Happens | Things to Watch Out For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day You Apply | Fill out the application online and agree to their terms | You’ll often find out right away if you’re approved | Make sure you understand all the fees they charge |
| First Week After Approval | Pay the program fee and get your digital card | Your account becomes active and you pay that first fee | Your available credit starts low because of the fees |
| First Month of Use | Buy something small and set up automatic payments | They start reporting your activity to the credit bureaus | Learning to work with that small credit limit |
| Months 2 Through 12 | Keep your balance low and check your credit regularly | Your credit score should slowly start getting better | Make sure you’re not just paying fees without seeing any benefits |
What real users are saying about their Revvi card experience
People who have good results with Revvi tend to use it carefully. They might just put a small monthly subscription on it and pay it off right away. These users often see their credit scores go up 30 to 80 points in 6 to 12 months.
especially if this is their first credit card ever. The happiest customers usually get better credit cards after a year or so, but they keep the Revvi card open for a while to help their credit history, then close it once they have better options.
The biggest complaint people have is about the high fees compared to the credit limit. Some users say that after you factor in the fees, the interest rate works out to over 100%.
People also complain about customer service being hard to reach, especially when they have billing problems or don’t understand certain fees. The Better Business Bureau has lots of complaints from people who didn’t fully understand the fees when they applied. That’s why it’s super important to read everything carefully before you sign up.
Let’s talk about better options than the Revvi card
How does Revvi stack up against other credit building products?
If you’ve got money for a deposit, secured cards give you way more value than Revvi’s fee-heavy approach Take Discover it Secured or Capital One Platinum Secured – they need deposits you get back, but no yearly fees.
plus you might get higher limits and rewards NerdWallet found secured cards cost about $25 a year, while Revvi hits you with over $150 the first year – that’s a huge difference for building credit.
Your local credit union probably has better deals than Revvi – lower fees, smaller deposits on secured cards, or credit-builder loans with set payments Credit unions care more about helping members than making money.
so you’ll pay less to build your credit People on money forums keep saying credit union options beat cards like Revvi, especially if you’ve got regular income and can join.
How to move on from Revvi to better cards
Smart Revvi users plan their exit strategy – they usually apply for better cards after 6-9 months of on-time payments This gives your score time to grow without paying Revvi’s fees forever Keep an eye on your FICO score with free tools like Experian Boost or your bank’s tracker – once you hit the mid-600s, better cards will open up.
Here’s how you move up: use Revvi for 6 to 12 months to build history, then try for a basic card like Capital One Platinum, and later go for cards with rewards Military folks can get great deals with USAA.
and apps like Chime and Current have cheaper ways to build credit The trick is to treat Revvi as a short-term stepping stone – get the credit history but don’t stick around paying high fees.
| Method | How long it takes | What it costs | Who it’s good for | Success chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Using Revvi card | 6 to 12 months | $150 to $300 | People who can’t get secured cards | Medium success rate |
| Secured credit cards | 6 to 12 months | $0 to $200 (you get it back) | If you have money for a deposit | High success rate |
| Becoming an authorized user | 1 to 3 months | Free (if family helps) | If family has good credit | Depends on situation |
| Credit builder loans | 6 to 24 months | $10 to $100 in interest | If you need different credit types | Medium success rate-High success rate |
So, here’s the bottom line about Revvi Card
Revvi is a real credit card, but it’s pretty pricey. It’s mainly for people who don’t have many other choices.
It does report to all three credit bureaus, which helps build your payment history. But those high fees mean you should only get it as a last option. Before going with Revvi, try other options first.
Look into secured cards, credit union offers, or becoming an authorized user on someone else’s account. If you do get Revvi, use it wisely to boost your credit without spending too much. Plan to switch to a better card within a year or so.
Is the Revvi card real and safe to use?
Yes, the Revvi card is legit – it comes from First Savings Bank, which is FDIC-insured. It follows federal credit rules and reports to all three big credit bureaus. But staying safe means using it responsibly and knowing it can be pricey, so read all the terms before you apply.
How fast does the Revvi card boost your credit score?
Most people see their score go up in 3-6 months if they use it right and have no other bad marks. It depends on your credit past, but paying on time regularly gives your FICO score the biggest early jump.
What are the top options instead of the Revvi card?
Better picks usually are secured cards from big names, credit-builder loans from local credit unions, or becoming an authorized user on a family member’s account. These choices often cost less and have nicer terms, plus they help build your credit the same way by reporting your good payments.
Can you get a Revvi card with really bad credit?
Yes, the Revvi card is made for folks with poor or thin credit – lots of approved users have scores between 500 and 600. But you’re not guaranteed approval – they still check your ID, income, and bank info, and look for recent bankruptcies or late payments.
