March 18, 2026
• 8 Minute Read
If you’ve ever worked on rebuilding your credit, you know it can sometimes feel like a one-step-forward, two-steps-back kind of journey. You open a secured card to build your score, you make your payments on time, you keep your balance low… and while that’s all incredibly important, it doesn’t always feel rewarding in the moment.
That’s why I’m genuinely excited about a new offer from these secured cards!
For a limited time, eligible cardholders can earn Up To 10% cash back at select merchants when you buy — and 1% cash back when you pay your bill.^^ Yes, you read that correctly. You can now earn rewards not just for spending, but also for making on-time payments.
And if you’re focused on building or rebuilding your credit, that’s a big deal.
How the Offer Works
Several secured cards — including the First Latitude Assent Secured Mastercard®, First Latitude Elite Secured Mastercard®, First Progress Prestige Secured Mastercard®, and First Progress Select Secured Mastercard® — now feature this upgraded rewards structure.
Here’s the breakdown:
- Up To 10% cash back at select participating merchants^^
- 1% cash back when you make payments^^
- Credit-building benefits with reporting to all three major credit bureaus1
- Refundable security deposits starting as low as $200*
^^The 10% rate is available at a limited number of participating merchants. Offer percentages vary by merchant and are subject to change.
But even beyond the headline number, the structure itself is what stands out to me.
Because earning cash back on payments? That’s not something you see every day.
Why This Matters for Credit Builders
Secured credit cards are designed for people with poor, limited, or no credit history. They require a refundable security deposit that becomes your credit line, making approval more accessible and reducing risk for the issuer.*
Traditionally, secured cards focus on helping you establish positive payment history — which is absolutely critical. Payment history makes up the largest portion of your credit score. So, paying on time every month is key.
Now, imagine being rewarded for doing the very thing that improves your credit.
The 1% cash back on payments adds a psychological (and financial) boost. It reinforces smart habits. It turns responsibility into something that feels a little more motivating.
And in today’s economy, every bit of cash back helps.
A Quick Look at the Card Options
While all of these cards share the new rewards structure, there are some differences worth noting:
First Latitude Assent Secured Mastercard®
- $0 annual fee
- Credit lines secured by deposits from $200 to $2,000 (with potential to grow over time)*
- Reports to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion
- Credit Recommended:
- Poor/Limited/No Credit
- Regular APR
- 27.49% (V)
- Cash Advance APR
- 27.49% (V)
- Annual Fee
- $0.00
- Credit Line
- Minimum refundable deposit of $200.00 up to $2,000.00*
- Credit Recommended
- Poor/Limited/No Credit
- Rewards Rate
- Up To 10% Cash Back on Purchases + 1% on Payments^^
Highlights
- Is Inflation Impacting Your Credit? A Secured Card Can Help You Rebuild in 2026¹ — Now offering Up To 10% Cash Back at select merchants with First Latitude!^^
- Now offering cash back rewards on select purchases & payments!^^
- Secure your credit line with your refundable security deposit – choose from $200- $2,000. With the ability to increase up to $5,000 over time!
- Designed to push you forward on your credit building journey with $0 Annual Fee.¹
- Build your credit history across 3 major credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.¹
- All credit types welcome to apply!
- ¹Cardholders who keep their balance low and pay their credit card bill on time every month typically do see an increase in their credit score.
- *See Important Disclosures for complete offer details
- ^^The 10% cash back rate is available only at a limited number of participating merchants. Offer percentages vary by merchant and are subject to change. See First Latitude Rewards Program Terms & Conditions for details.
First Latitude Elite Secured Mastercard®
- Lower annual APR than Assent
- $29 annual fee
- Soft credit inquiry when you apply (no impact to your credit score)
- Credit Recommended:
- Poor/Limited/No Credit
- Regular APR
- 23.49% (V)
- Cash Advance APR
- 28.49% (V)
- Annual Fee
- $29.00
- Credit Line
- Minimum refundable deposit of $200.00 up to $2,000.00*
- Credit Recommended
- Poor/Limited/No Credit
- Rewards Rate
- Up To 10% Cash Back on Purchases + 1% on Payments^^
Highlights
- Invest Your Refund in Your Future — Double the Rewards: Earn Up To 10% Cash Back on Purchases & 1% Back on Payments!^^
- Choose our First Latitude Elite Card for a lower annual APR!
- Apply with no impact to your credit!*
- Build your credit history across 3 major credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.¹
- No minimum credit score required for approval!
- Secure your credit line with a refundable security deposit - as low as $200 to get started!
- ¹Cardholders who keep their balance low and pay their credit card bill on time every month typically do see an increase in their credit score.
- *See Important Disclosures for complete offer details
- *We may pull a soft inquiry of your credit. Soft inquiries do not impact your credit score.
- ^^The 10% cash back rate is available only at a limited number of participating merchants. Offer percentages vary by merchant and are subject to change. See First Latitude Rewards Program Terms & Conditions for details.
First Progress Prestige Secured Mastercard®
- Competitive APR
- $49 annual fee
- Reports to all three major credit bureaus
- Credit Recommended:
- Poor/Limited/No Credit
- Regular APR
- 13.49% (V)
- Annual Fee
- $49
- Credit Line
- $2,000
Apply Now
on the First Progress secure website.
- Credit Recommended
- Poor/Limited/No Credit
- Cash Advance APR
- 22.49% (V)
- Rewards Rate
- Up To 10% Cash Back on Purchases + 1% on Payments^^
Highlights
- Turn Your Tax Refund into a Credit Building Opportunity in 2026!¹ Make Everyday Purchases = Get Rewarded. Make Payments = Get Rewarded.^^
- Now offering Up To 10% Cash Back at select merchants with First Progress! Plus, 1% back when you make payments!^^
- Apply with no impact to your credit!*
- Build your credit history across 3 major credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.¹
- All credit types welcome to apply!
- ¹Cardholders who keep their balance low and pay their credit card bill on time every month typically do see an increase in their credit score.
- *We may pull a soft inquiry of your credit. Soft inquiries do not impact your credit score.
- ^^The 10% cash back rate is available only at a limited number of participating merchants. Offer percentages vary by merchant and are subject to change. See First Progress Rewards Program Terms & Conditions for details.
- *See Important Disclosures for complete offer details
First Progress Select Secured Mastercard®
- $39 annual fee
- Flexible deposit options
- Designed for credit building across all credit types1
- Credit Recommended:
- Poor/Limited/No Credit
- Regular APR
- 17.49% (V)
- Annual Fee
- $39
- Credit Line
- $2,000
Apply Now
on the First Progress secure website.
- Credit Recommended
- Poor/Limited/No Credit
- Cash Advance APR
- 23.49% (V)
- Rewards Rate
- Up To 10% Cash Back on Purchases + 1% on Payments^^
Highlights
- Put Your Tax Refund to Work — Earn Up To 10% Cash Back on everyday shopping with your First Progress Card, plus another 1% back on payments!^^
- Apply with no impact to your credit!*
- Secure your credit line with your refundable security deposit – choose from $200- $2,000 - with the ability to increase up to $5,000 over time!
- Choose the First Progress Select Card for a lower annual fee!
- All credit types welcome to apply!
- Build your credit history across 3 major credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.¹
- ¹Cardholders who keep their balance low and pay their credit card bill on time every month typically do see an increase in their credit score.
- *We may pull a soft inquiry of your credit. Soft inquiries do not impact your credit score.
- ^^The 10% cash back rate is available only at a limited number of participating merchants. Offer percentages vary by merchant and are subject to change. See First Progress Rewards Program Terms & Conditions for details.
- *See Important Disclosures for complete offer details
Each card is structured to help consumers establish or rebuild credit, and all credit types are welcome to apply.1 Approval and terms are subject to the issuer’s criteria, but these products are built specifically with credit builders in mind.
Turning Everyday Habits Into Opportunity
Here’s what I like most about this offer: it meets people where they are.
If you’re rebuilding your credit, you’re already focused on:
- Making everyday purchases responsibly
- Keeping balances manageable
- Paying your bill on time
Now, those same habits can also generate rewards.
Up to 10% back at select merchants can make your everyday shopping work harder for you.^^ And earning 1% back on payments reinforces the behavior that helps your credit score grow over time.^^
It’s a simple concept — but sometimes simple is powerful.
Is It Right for You?
If you’re working on your credit in 2026 and beyond, a secured card can be a smart stepping stone. When used responsibly — keeping your balance low and paying on time every month — many cardholders see improvement in their credit scores over time.
Adding a meaningful rewards component makes the journey feel less like a chore and more like progress you can actually see.
As always, be sure to review the full terms and conditions, including merchant participation details and fees, before applying.
But if you’ve been looking for a secured card that not only helps you rebuild — but also gives back while you do it — this new cash back offer is definitely worth a closer look.1
¹Cardholders who keep their balance low and pay their credit card bill on time every month typically do see an increase in their credit score.
*The deposit will be refunded at account closing if the account is up to date with no outstanding fees or charges. See Important Disclosures for complete offer details
^^The 10% cash back rate is available only at a limited number of participating merchants. Offer percentages vary by merchant and are subject to change. See First Progress Rewards Program Terms & Conditions for details & see First Latitude Rewards Program Terms & Conditions for details.
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