Step by step guide to using the Build Card from Current

Building credit can feel like a challenge, especially when you're just starting out. A good credit score is your key to unlocking better financial opportunities, but how do you build one quickly? It’s simple. With Current’s Build Card, you can build your credit history from making payments on your everyday purchases.* The Build Card is designed to make credit building easy and accessible. It is a secured charge card, which means you can only spend the amount of money you have available in your account. There are no credit checks to get started, no annual fees and the Build Card has proven results. Members on Current have increased their credit scores by an average of 81 points within six months of using the Build Card.**

This guide will show you exactly how to use the Build Card to take control of your credit journey. 

How the Build Card Can Help

Your credit score is more than just a number. It’s an important measure of your financial health. A strong credit history can help you qualify for loans, rent an apartment, access better interest rates on mortgages and car loans, and even lower your insurance premiums. 

The Build Card can help. It’s designed to make building credit history accessible while minimizing risks of debt.

• Accessible to Everyone: No credit check is required to get started. It has 100 percent approval rates.
• Single balance to manage: With Current’s Build Card, members have a single balance to view and manage on the platform. There is no need to transfer funds between a spending and a secured credit account. 
• Minimal risk of debt: As a secured charge card, your available balance is the money you have in your Current account. As you spend, we automatically hold the funds in reserve to cover your bill at the end of each month.
• Automatic & Simple Payments: You can set your monthly bill to autopay and it will automatically be paid at the end of each month so you never miss a payment. We then report these on-time payments to the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion), which can help build your credit.*
• Earn points on essential purchases^: Another benefit of the Build Card is members can earn points on eligible dining and grocery purchases. Points are then redeemable for cash in your Current account. 

How to Get Started with the Build Card

We designed the Build Card to make building credit history accessible for everyone. The entire process happens right in the Current app, giving you a seamless way to start building your credit history. 

Step 1: Open a Current Account

To get the Build Card, you first need to sign up for Current. If you're not a member yet, it only takes a few minutes to sign up. You can choose to sign up for the Build Card during the onboarding process.

Step 2: Fund your Current Account

The Build Card is a secured card, which means your spending is backed by the money you have. Before you can use the card, you’ll need to add money to your Current account, either from direct deposit from your paycheck or transferring funds from an external account. You can only spend what you’ve put into the account. 

Step 3: Spend Anywhere Visa® is Accepted

Once you’ve funded your Build Card account, you can start spending! Use it for your everyday purchases, from your morning coffee to your weekly groceries. Every purchase you make is a step toward your monthly payments, which can help build your credit history.*

Step 4: We Can Handle the Payments for You

This is where the magic happens. As you spend, we automatically hold the funds in reserve to pay your bill at the end of every month. You don’t have to worry about making sure you have enough money to pay your bill. You can set your account to AutoPay and then you can also be sure your payments are on-time every month. You can also choose to pay them manually.

These on-time payments are reported to the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). A consistent history of on-time payments is one of the biggest factors in building a good credit score. Members on Current have increased their credit scores by an average of 81 points in the first six months of using the Build Card.**

Step 5: Monitor Your Credit Score

As you use your Build Card and make your on-time payments, you can track your own progress directly in the Current app.

With Build Card, you have an accessible way to build the credit history* you need to help build an overall better financial future. Turn your everyday spending into real progress. It's your money, working harder for you.




*Individual results may vary. Using your credit card responsibly may allow you to improve your credit score. Credit building depends on various factors, including your payment history, credit utilization, length of credit history, and other financial activities.

**Based on Build Card users, as of December 2024, who opted in to Credit Score Insights and have remained active for at least six months. Scores are calculated based on the TransUnion® VantageScore® 3.0 model, which is one of many credit scoring models and may not be the same model your lender uses. Credit scores depend on various factors, including your payment history, delinquencies, credit utilization, length of credit history, types of credit, total number of accounts, inquiries, and other financial activities. Individual results may vary, and a credit score increase is not guaranteed.

^To earn Points, you must receive at least one Eligible Payroll Deposit equalling a minimum of $200 over a 35-day period (unless you are a Current Max subscriber), make Build Card purchases at retailers whose merchant code is classified as Dining (e.g., restaurants) and Groceries (e.g., supermarkets), and complete other actions that Current may designate. After qualifying, allow 3-5 business days for Points to post to your Current account. Points expire 365 days after they settle. To learn more, read the Current Points Terms and Conditions.