OpenSky Credit Card Review: No Credit Check Secured Card

Getting a credit card when you have no credit history can feel like being asked for a password before you’ve set one up, but the OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card sidesteps that loop entirely — no credit check required, just a refundable security deposit of at least $200. This guide covers how the card works, who issues it, and whether it’s a smart move for building credit.

Issuer: Capital Bank, N.A. ·
Credit Check Required: No ·
Security Deposit Range: $200 – $3,000 ·
Annual Fee: $35 (OpenSky) / $0 (OpenSky Plus) ·
Reports to Credit Bureaus: Yes (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) ·
Mobile App Rating (iOS): 4.7 / 5 (App Store)

A few key specs, one pattern: the OpenSky card is designed around a simple trade-off — you provide a deposit, you get a credit line, and your payment history gets reported to the three major bureaus.

Is OpenSky a good credit card?

Pros and cons of the OpenSky card

• No credit check required — approval is based on your deposit, not your credit score (OpenSky FAQ).
• Annual fee of $35 for the standard OpenSky card, or $0 for the OpenSky Plus version (OpenSky).
• Reports to all three credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — which helps build credit history when you pay on time (OpenSky FAQ).
• Security deposit from $200 to $3,000 sets your credit limit; the deposit is refundable when you close the account (OpenSky).

Who should consider OpenSky

The OpenSky card is best suited for people with no credit history or a damaged credit score who cannot get approved for a traditional unsecured card. Because no credit check is performed, even someone with a recent bankruptcy or thin file can apply. However, the $35 annual fee and the requirement to lock up cash as a deposit mean it’s not free money — you’re essentially borrowing from yourself while paying a fee for the privilege of having your payments reported.

The implication: OpenSky is a tool, not a reward card. If your priority is building or rebuilding credit and you can front $200, the card does exactly what it promises — but cheaper secured cards with no annual fee exist.

How does the Open Sky credit card work?

Opening a secured account

To open an OpenSky secured card, you apply online at openskycc.com. You will need to provide your Social Security Number or ITIN, address, phone number, employment status, annual income, and housing costs (OpenSky blog). No credit check is run during the application process.

Making a security deposit

Once approved, you submit a refundable security deposit between $200 and $3,000. That deposit becomes your credit limit (OpenSky official product page). If you deposit $500, you get a $500 credit line.

Using the card and building credit

The card functions like a regular Visa — you can use it anywhere Visa is accepted. Your monthly payments are reported to Equifax, Experian and TransUnion (OpenSky FAQ). Pay your balance in full and on time each month to build positive credit history.

The catch: the card carries a variable APR of up to 24.64% (OpenSky). Carrying a balance will cost you — treat it like a debit card and you’ll avoid interest.

Which bank owns the Open Sky credit card?

Capital Bank N.A. as issuer

The OpenSky secured Visa card is issued by Capital Bank, N.A., a federally chartered bank based in South Carolina (NerdWallet). Capital Bank is not one of the major national issuers like Chase or Bank of America — it’s a smaller institution that focuses on credit-building products.

Bank regulation and FDIC insurance

What is the limit on an Open Sky credit card?

Minimum and maximum deposit amounts

The minimum deposit for the OpenSky secured card is $200. The maximum is $3,000 (OpenSky). You cannot exceed a $3,000 credit limit with this card.

How the limit is set

Your credit limit equals the amount of your security deposit. There is no income-based underwriting or credit score adjustment — what you deposit is what you get. If you want to increase your limit later, you can add more funds to your deposit up to the $3,000 cap.

The trade-off: the limit is fixed by how much cash you’re willing to lock up. That makes OpenSky less flexible than unsecured cards where limits can grow with responsible use, but it also means you control how much credit you can access.

Does Open Sky approve everyone?

No credit check policy

OpenSky does not perform a credit check for its secured card application — that’s its main selling point (OpenSky FAQ). According to OpenSky, the average approval rate for the secured Visa card was 86.14% in Q1 2025 (OpenSky blog).

Potential reasons for denial

Even without a credit check, approval is not guaranteed for absolutely everyone. You must meet identity verification requirements and have a valid U.S. bank account to fund the deposit. Some applicants may be denied if they cannot satisfy Know Your Customer (KYC) checks. OpenSky also offers an unsecured version of the card that does require a credit check (OpenSky FAQ).

The pattern: OpenSky’s secured card is about as close to a guaranteed approval as you can find in the credit card world — but “no credit check” doesn’t mean “no scrutiny at all.”

Spec table: OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card

Six core specs, one takeaway: the card is built around a simple deposit-and-report model, with fees that are moderate for the secured card category.

The pattern: OpenSky’s spec sheet reflects its straightforward deposit-for-credit model, making it easy to understand exactly what you’re getting.

Steps to apply for the OpenSky credit card

1. Step 1: Visit openskycc.com and choose the secured Visa card or the OpenSky Plus version.
2. Step 2: Complete the online application with your personal details (SSN/ITIN, income, housing costs). No credit check is performed.
3. Step 3: Upon approval, fund your account with a refundable security deposit between $200 and $3,000.
4. Step 4: Start using your Visa card anywhere Visa is accepted. Make on-time monthly payments to build credit history.
5. Step 5: Monitor your credit reports — you should see the account appear within 60 days.

What this means: following these steps gives you a clear path to using OpenSky to build credit.

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

The pattern: OpenSky’s terms are transparent, but some details like exact denial reasons remain unclear.

What real users and experts say

“OpenSky offers a secured Visa credit card that requires a refundable security deposit to set the credit limit. No credit check is needed to apply.”

— OpenSky (official product page)

“The OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card is a legitimate secured card that reports to all three credit bureaus. It’s a good option for building credit if you can’t get an unsecured card.”

— Experian (credit bureau listing)

“I was able to get approved with terrible credit because no credit check was done. The deposit was easy and the app works well.”

— Trustpilot reviewer (user experience quote)

The pattern across official and user sources is consistent: OpenSky delivers on its promise of a no-credit-check secured card, but the annual fee and deposit requirement mean it’s not the cheapest path to rebuilding credit.

Summary

OpenSky’s secured Visa card fills a real gap in the market: it gives people with no credit or bad credit a way to start building a credit history without a credit pull. The deposit is refundable, and the card reports to all three major bureaus. But the $35 annual fee and variable APR around 24% mean it’s not free. For someone rebuilding credit after bankruptcy or starting from scratch, the choice is clear: OpenSky offers a genuine on-ramp — but you should plan to move to a no-fee secured card or an unsecured card within 12–18 months.

Related reading: OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card · OpenSky credit card FAQ

For a detailed look at features and deposit limits, our OpenSky credit card review breaks down everything you need to know.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading: OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card · OpenSky credit card FAQ