MoneyGeek's Take

Indigo® Platinum Mastercard® Review

Celtic Bank's Indigo® Platinum Mastercard® is a short-term solution for customers with less-than-perfect credit histories. It enables you to restore your credit score without charging an exorbitant annual fee or requiring a security deposit.

Advertising & Editorial DisclosureLast Updated: 11/8/2022
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Last Updated: 11/8/2022

If you're looking to develop or rebuild your credit but lack the funds to make a security deposit for a secure card, the Indigo® Platinum Mastercard® may be worth considering. Although it won't offer you any bonuses or rewards, this card does not require a security deposit. However, people with no or poor credit histories can use the Indigo® Platinum Mastercard® to build credit history. MoneyGeek's Indigo® Platinum Mastercard® review discusses the card's benefits and drawbacks, as well as other characteristics, to help you decide if you should apply for this card.

Card Details to Know Up Front
  • Bonus, Fee or Feature
    Has or Not
  • Has Annual Fee
  • Has Balance Transfer Offer
  • Has APR Offer
  • Has Rewarding Welcome Offer
  • Recommended Credit
    Fair-Good
Click to see this card’s rates, fees and how they compare to other cards in our dataset.
OUR REVIEW AT A GLANCE

Indigo® Platinum Mastercard® at a Glance

The Indigo® Platinum Mastercard® is ideal for those with less-than-perfect credit scores who want to improve or rebuild their credit history. With a limited credit line and no security deposit, this card is a great option for those looking to establish credit rather than make purchases that they can get rewarded for.


  • Indigo® Platinum Mastercard®

    A great card with global access to rebuild your credit

    • Fair-GoodRecommended Credit
    • $0–$99*Annual Fee
    • 3# of Reporting Bureaus
    • 24.90%APR

    Terms, rates and fees apply

    Compare this credit card with other cards selected for people with average credit from our partners.

Pros & Cons Explained

As with any card, the Indigo® Platinum Mastercard® has pros and cons that are worth considering before applying. Here are some of the key benefits and downsides you should evaluate before adding this card to your wallet.

Pros

  • Benefits
    Description
  • No Security Deposit
    If your credit is bad or nonexistent, your only options typically include a secured credit card (which requires a security deposit equal to the credit limit) or having someone add you as an authorized user to their credit card account. However, you don’t need to put down a security deposit to get this card. While you may only qualify for a lower credit limit, it will assist you in establishing credit.
  • No Credit History Required
    You are eligible to apply for the card even if you don’t have a credit history. Furthermore, even if you have previously filed for bankruptcy, you might be eligible.
  • Wider Global Acceptance
    The Indigo® Platinum Mastercard® has a larger merchant acceptance network because it is a Mastercard. It can be used to make purchases at most in-store retailers, internet merchants and independent vendors.
  • Credit Bureau Reporting
    Your monthly payments and transactions are reported to the three major credit bureaus. This is critical since the reporting establishes your credit history and enables you to obtain better financial services in the future, such as personal loans and credit cards.

Cons

  • Drawbacks
    Description
  • No Rewards
    The Indigo® Platinum Mastercard® offers no rewards on purchases and no special offers to new cardholders. These exclusions are expected from a card for people with bad credit, but not from one that imposes annual fees on some of its users.
  • Smaller Credit Line
    In the absence of a security deposit, the card comes with a flat credit line of $300.
  • Annual Fee and Foreign Transaction Fee
    Some applicants are charged with an annual fee ranging from $59 to $99. Considering the low credit line, the fee is on the higher side. Plus, all foreign transactions will incur a fee of 1%.
  • High APR
    The purchase APR is 24.9% and for cash advances, it’s 29.9%. Cash advances also come with a cash advance fee for each transaction.
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INTERESTED IN COMPARING THE BEST CREDIT CARDS OF 2022?

The Indigo® Platinum Mastercard® is not one of our best credit cards for those with bad credit. You can find better options by reviewing our list of the best credit cards for bad credit.

Other Features Explained

You might also be interested in learning more about the following features of the Indigo® Platinum Mastercard®:

  • Card Feature
    Description
  • Mastercard Benefits
    The card comes with additional benefits of a Mastercard at no extra cost. These benefits include ID theft protection and zero liability protection.
  • Quick and Easy Pre-Qualification Process
    You can find out if you're pre-qualified for the card in minutes by entering a few basic details, including your Social Security number.
  • Chip Card for Fraud Prevention
    This company offers a chip card, which has a microchip integrated into it and can be used at terminals that are chip-enabled. In turn, this provides an added level of security against counterfeit fraud.
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MONEYGEEK QUICK TIP

With a restricted credit line and no security deposit, the Indigo® Platinum Mastercard® may help you establish your credit. We recommend setting up automated payments to ensure you never miss a due date and avoid incurring late fees. Your credit score will improve without you even realizing it.

Understanding the Fine Print

Before applying for a credit card, it’s important to understand how credit cards work, as well as their advantages, fees, interest rates and other features.

The following table details the fees and rates associated with the Indigo® Platinum Mastercard®.

  • Card Feature
    Amount or Rate
  • APR
    24.90%
  • Annual Fee
    $0–$99*
  • Balance Transfer Fee
    Unspecified
  • Balance Transfer APR
    Unspecified
  • Late Fees
    $40.00
  • This is an icon

    Annual Fee

    Some cardholders will be required to pay an annual membership fee ranging from $59 to $99.

  • This is an icon

    Foreign Transaction Fee

    A fee of 1% of the transaction value will be charged for each foreign transaction.

  • This is an icon

    Regular APR

    The card's regular APR is 24.9% on purchases and 29.99% on cash advances.

  • This is an icon

    Penalty Fee

    All late payments are subject to a $40 penalty. Returns are also subject to the same fee.

  • This is an icon

    Cash Advance Fee

    Along with the high APR on cash advances, you’ll have to pay a fee of $5 or 5% of the transaction amount, whichever is larger.

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WHERE TO FIND THIS INFORMATION?

It’s important to compare the fees, APRs, benefits and downsides of numerous credit cards to choose the one that best suits your needs. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's credit card agreement database contains information about most credit cards and their issuers. You can use it to compare how the Indigo Platinum card stacks up to its competitors.

Who Should & Shouldn’t Consider Indigo® Platinum Mastercard®?

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Other Considerations for Indigo® Platinum Mastercard®

It's important to familiarize yourself with your credit card and your rights as a credit card customer before applying for any card. Consider these points before applying for the Indigo® Platinum Mastercard® to know how it fares as a primary card or an add-on card in your wallet.

Things to Consider if This Will Be Your First or Only Credit Card

If this is your first credit card, you may have chosen this to begin building a credit history and eventually get a respectable credit score. The card doesn’t require a security deposit, which means you may begin establishing credit without putting your money down as a deposit. Making timely payments will help you easily achieve your goal.

It's important to pay your bills on time and rebuild your credit if this is your only credit card (assuming you previously had credit cards that were suspended because of non-payment). If you use the card responsibly and pay your bills on time, you will have a better chance of getting a traditional credit card, improving your credit and avoiding high interest costs.

Things to Consider if This Will Be an Additional Card in Your Wallet

The Indigo® Platinum Mastercard® may not be very useful as an additional card in your wallet. However, it’s great if you want to build or improve your credit score. Most of the time, people who use the card don't have another credit card that they can use.

Be aware that the Indigo® Platinum Mastercard® is not a rewards or cash back card. Only use this card as a backup if you want to improve your credit rating by being a responsible user and making on-time payments. Also, try to avoid using this card for foreign transactions as the fee for those payments can be pricey.

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WHY TRUST OUR REVIEWS

MoneyGeek uses a comprehensive rating methodology to undertake an in-depth analysis of different credit cards and companies. The process begins with data collection from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's database, standardization of data points for card comparison, estimation of average spend profiles, consideration of yearly and introductory incentives for each card and computation of the card's three-year worth. Additionally, the technique includes monthly card re-ranking and semi-annual card list updates.

How Indigo® Platinum Mastercard® Compares to Other Cards

Due to the fact that it doesn’t need a security deposit, the Indigo® Platinum Mastercard® could be an excellent option for many individuals who are looking to improve their credit score without having to put money down. However, the addition of an annual charge and a foreign transaction fee may turn some people off. The following table compares it to a secured credit card with similar features.

Quick Comparison of Indigo® Platinum Mastercard®
creditCard

Indigo® Platinum Mastercard®

  • Annual Fee: $59 - $99
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: 1%
  • Regular APR: 24.9%
  • Rewards Rate: None
  • Minimum Deposit: None
  • Credit Needed: No credit required
  • Best For: Those looking for a credit-boosting card with zero deposit
creditCard1

Citi® Secured Mastercard®

  • Annual Fee: None
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: 3%
  • Regular APR: 22.49%
  • Rewards Rate: None
  • Minimum Deposit: $200
  • Credit Needed: No credit required
  • Best For: Those trying to build credit with a no-annual fee credit card

Other Helpful Decision-Making Q&As

You probably have many questions about using a credit card that can help you improve your credit score. Here are some frequently asked questions about the Indigo® Platinum Mastercard®.

Still not sure about this card? Consider these options.

If you're still not sure about the Indigo® Platinum Mastercard®, consider its features in comparison to those of other secured credit cards. If you want a greater credit line, there are choices that have a lower deposit requirement and no annual fee.

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*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity.
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