Jlozano7,
You are off to a good start. You need to focus on getting your FICO score up to 650, so you can start getting some decent credit card offers. I would look at credit unions, like NavyFederal(if you are eligible to join), local credit unions, or even a credit union, like SDFCU, that have secured cards and loans.
After bankrupcty, your credit file is very thin. You have that store card, secured card, and your student loan. You definitely need to add some more tradelines that do three things, beef up your credit report, improve your post bankruptcy payment history, and demonstrate that you can handle new credit post bankruptcy. I personally would look around your area for a credit union that offers secured credit cards that will automatically graduate first. If you don't find any, then I would use the Merrick offer. Make sure your balances are at 10% or less then your statements cut.
Another thing I would do is add another secured personal oan from a bank r credit union, not a finance company. I get a loan for a $1000 for a 12 month term and pay it off in 6 months. I understand that you have student loans that are reporting, but this will help had a new post bankruptcy tradeline, improve your payment history, and proves you can handle new credit after bankruptcy. I know that there are differing views on this, but I feel it helped me in my rebuild. Also I have had loan offiers tell me this does help when reviewing apps and doing recons.
Just remember that it's a long road to rebuilding your credit and we have been in th exact same place you are right now. After 7 years post bankruptcy, I have 2 car loans, $300k in unsecured credit, and $500k in a business line of credit, my FiCO scores are between 730 and 745. You will recover and you will be fine, it just takes time.
Hope this helps.
Guyatthebeach
