A show credit card is a card you present to prove you have credit, but you cannot actually use it to make purchases
A show credit card is a physical card issued by a credit card company that displays your name, a card number, and an expiration date — but the account behind it has a zero balance and zero credit limit. You cannot swipe it, insert it into a chip reader, or use it online. Its only purpose is to show someone that you hold an active credit card account.
Show cards are most commonly issued to people who are rebuilding credit after a period of missed payments, defaults, or bankruptcy. The card itself proves to landlords, employers, or other creditors that you have taken a step toward financial responsibility. Some people also receive them as part of a secured credit card program, where you deposit money with the bank but the card remains unusable for transactions.
The card does not help you build credit through use, because there is nothing to use. However, the account itself — the fact that it exists and remains open — may appear on your credit report and show lenders that you have an active credit relationship, even if you are not actively charging purchases to it.
Key Takeaways
- A show credit card is issued but cannot be used to make any purchases or withdrawals.
- Show cards are typically given to people rebuilding credit or as part of a secured card program where funds are held in reserve.
- The card itself does not build your credit score through use, but the open account may appear on your credit report.
- Some show cards come with annual fees even though you cannot use them, so read the terms before accepting one.
- A show card is different from a regular secured card, which you can actually use to make purchases and build credit through payment history.
Why a bank or credit card company issues a show card
Banks issue show cards as a middle step for people who have damaged credit but are working to repair it. If you have recently emerged from bankruptcy, settled a collection account, or paid off a period of delinquency, a show card signals to future creditors that you are actively managing credit accounts — even if you are not using them yet.
Some credit card companies issue show cards as part of a secured credit card program. You deposit money — often $200 to $2,500 — into a savings account held by the bank. The bank then issues you a card with a credit limit equal to your deposit. However, some issuers restrict the card so heavily that it functions as a show card: you cannot use it for transactions, but the account appears on your credit report and the deposit sits untouched in the bank's account.
The issuer benefits because they hold your deposit as collateral and collect an annual fee from you for the privilege of holding the card. You benefit only if the open account helps your credit report, which depends on whether the card issuer reports the account to the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
How a show card differs from a usable secured card
The key difference is function. A usable secured card works like a regular credit card: you make a deposit, receive a card with a matching credit limit, and then use the card to make purchases. You receive a monthly statement, make payments, and build credit history through on-time payment. After 6 to 18 months of responsible use, the issuer may convert the card to an unsecured card and return your deposit.
A show card does none of this. You cannot make purchases, so there is no monthly statement and no payment history to build. The deposit (if there is one) never moves. The card exists only to prove you hold an active account.
If you are offered a show card, ask the issuer directly: "Can I use this card to make purchases?" If the answer is no, you are holding a show card. If the answer is yes, you have a usable secured card, which is far more valuable for rebuilding credit because it creates a record of on-time payments.
Whether a show card helps your credit score
A show card may help your credit score only if the issuer reports the account to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Many do, but not all. Before accepting a show card, ask the issuer: "Will this account appear on my credit report?" Get the answer in writing if possible.
If the account does report, it can help in two ways. First, it adds an active account to your credit mix, which makes up about 10 percent of your credit score. Second, if the account has a zero balance (which it will, since you cannot use it), it shows lenders that you are not carrying debt on this particular line of credit.
However, a show card does not build payment history, which is the largest factor in your credit score (about 35 percent). Payment history requires actual transactions and actual payments. A show card sitting unused does nothing for this category.
Annual fees and other costs of a show card
Many show cards come with an annual fee, even though you cannot use them. This fee typically ranges from $25 to $100 per year, though the exact amount varies by issuer. You pay the fee straightforward to keep the account open and the card in your wallet.
Some show cards also charge a deposit fee (a one-time charge when you open the account) or a monthly maintenance fee. Read the terms and conditions before you accept the card. If the issuer charges an annual fee but does not report the account to the credit bureaus, you are paying money for a card that does nothing for your credit.
If you are considering a show card, compare it to a usable secured card from the same or a different issuer. A usable secured card typically costs the same or less and actually builds your credit through use. Unless you have a specific reason to hold a show card (such as an employer or landlord who requires proof of an active card account), a usable secured card is almost always the better choice.
When you might actually receive a show card
Show cards are less common than they used to be, but they still exist. You might receive one if you are rebuilding credit after bankruptcy and a creditor offers it as a way to demonstrate financial responsibility. Some employers or landlords ask to see proof of an active credit card account before hiring or renting to you, and a show card satisfies that request.
You might also receive a show card if you explore for a secured card but the issuer's system flags your process as high-risk. Instead of issuing a usable card, they issue a show card and hold your deposit. This is a sign that the issuer does not trust you to use credit responsibly yet, even with collateral.
In most cases, if you receive a show card, you should ask whether the issuer will upgrade you to a usable card after a period of time (usually 6 to 12 months). Some issuers will; others will not. If they will not, and the card charges an annual fee, you may want to decline it and look for a usable secured card elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a show credit card to buy things online?
No. A show card has a zero credit limit and cannot be used for any transactions, online or in person. If you need a card you can actually use, you need a usable secured card or a regular credit card, not a show card.
Will a show card help me rebuild my credit?
Only if the issuer reports the account to the credit bureaus. Even then, it helps less than a usable secured card, because it does not create payment history. A show card adds an open account to your credit mix, but payment history (which requires actual payments) is a much larger factor in your score.
What happens if I don't pay the annual fee on a show card?
The issuer will likely close the account and may report the non-payment to the credit bureaus, which will hurt your credit score. If you accept a show card, budget for the annual fee. If you cannot afford it, do not accept the card.
Is a show card the same as a prepaid card?
No. A prepaid card is funded with your own money and works like a debit card — you load money onto it and spend that money. A show card is issued by a credit card company, may have a deposit held by the bank, but cannot be used for any purchases at all.
Should I accept a show card if it's offered to me?
Only if the issuer reports it to the credit bureaus and you cannot get a usable secured card elsewhere. Ask the issuer in writing whether the account will appear on your credit report. If it will not, decline the show card. If it will, compare the annual fee to the cost of a usable secured card from another issuer before deciding.