@octavia wrote:Thanks Jaybird.I have checked the preapproval page for BOA and it had no special offers for me. I figured maybe I'd try BOA since they just bought out my long time bank of 20 years (LaSalle Bank).I'm thinking that if I start out with secured cards at first, then after some time they'll convert to unsecured. I don't think I will be approved for any unsecured prime cards at this time.I need to start getting rid of the 3 builder cards that I've had for about 4 years.Are there any prime HSBC cards?
HSBC has some prime cards...such as their cobranded Amex and a couple Rewards cards, as well as some co-branded cards they offer through a store or two. They also offer a "rewards" card that targeted toward rebuilders, and seems to be nothing more than their old platinum brand that's been repackaged for marketing purposes. But at least it's a rewards card vs. what they used to offer...still has a fee, though.
There's also a distinct difference in cards between what "Household Bank" and "HSBC Bank" offers to the public. Different websites and different target market for their cards, from what I see, but same overall company. Orchard is another arm of the company that was bought by them and primarily targets rebuilders.As Jaybird said, go for a credit union if you can. They'll treat you right.
BoA is NOT bankruptcy friendly, and very few ever get in with a BK on their reports from what I've seen...even if applying for a secured, but you can try. I recently encouraged a friend to apply for their rewards card based on what I saw on these forums. He was a prior BoA CC customer before a BK 8 years ago, but he was denied with good scores in the 700s and no baddies since. He was not a BoA customer when he filed BK, so they weren't IIB, but they didn't care. He went for a reconsideration, and was still denied flat out because of the BK, with no secured available to him, either.
I have read about a couple exceptions. Good luck!