 TITLE: How One “Credit Invisible” Went From No Credit Score to 745 in Less Than Two Years CONTENT: Get a Secured Credit Card\n-------------------------\nThe advice Campbell received from a co-worker was spot on. She opened a local bank account and, with that same bank, applied for a secured card. A secured credit card is one that requires you to place a deposit as collateral for the card. That deposit typically serves as your credit limit.\nCampbell's card was secured with a deposit of $300, which is how much she could spend on the card. That wasn't much, especially because she had a lot of expenses setting up a new apartment in a new country. But she employed a smart strategy: She put most of her purchases on the secured card, and then paid off the card every few days, she says. This demonstrated to the card issuer that she was responsible with the card and was able to pay it off on time.\nWhen you apply for a secured card, make sure you confirm with the issuer that they are reporting your payment history to at least one of the three credit reporting bureaus. You can find secured cards in Experian's CreditMatch™ marketplace. Also see Experian's review of the Best Secured Cards.\nYou should also check whether the secured card you're considering will automatically graduate you to an unsecured line of credit after you've proven yourself with a good track record. That's the type of card Campbell had: After just eight months, her card issuer extended her credit line by $100 without requiring an additional deposit. The credit line wasn't much, but it was enough for her to continue building a solid credit history. She made sure to pay her bills on time and even in advance. And four months after that, the card issuer refunded her $300 security deposit and granted her additional unsecured credit up to $2,600. END