The total visa credit card sits in the credit-building segment—it is designed for people with poor or limited credit history who have been turned down by mainstream issuers. That is a real need. The question is whether this particular card meets it at a cost that is reasonable, or whether the fee structure makes it a trap dressed up as an opportunity.
The Total Visa Credit Card is an unsecured Visa card issued by Bank of Missouri and serviced by Continental Finance. It reports to all three major credit bureaus, which is the primary benefit. However, it carries a one-time program fee of $89 (charged before account opening), a $75 annual fee for the first year (then $48/year), a $6.25 monthly servicing fee after year one, and a 35.99% APR. Carrying a balance on this card is genuinely expensive.
Total Visa Credit Card: Key Facts
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Card Type | Unsecured credit card for bad/limited credit |
| Issuer | Bank of Missouri (serviced by Continental Finance |
| Regular APR | 35.99% variable |
| Program Fee (one-time) | $89 – charged before account opening, not from credit limit |
| Annual Fee – Year 1 | $75 |
| Annual Fee – Year 2+ | $48/year |
| Monthly Servicing Fee (Year 2+) | $6.25/month ($75/year) |
| Initial Credit Limit | $300-$750 (typically $300 for new applicants) |
| Credit Bureau Reporting | All three: Equifax, Experian, TransUnion |
| Rewards | None |
| Minimum Monthly Payment | Greater of $25 or 5% of balance |
Who Is This Card Actually Designed For?
Total Visa targets people with FICO scores below 580 – the ‘Very Poor’ credit tier – who need an unsecured card to begin rebuilding. For this audience, the main alternative is a secured credit card, which requires a cash deposit as collateral. Total Visa’s appeal is that it does not require that upfront deposit.
That said, the appeal is somewhat illusory: the $89 program fee paid before account opening is effectively a deposit that you never get back. A secured card would return that money to you when you close the account or upgrade.
The Full Fee Structure: What You Actually Pay
| Fee | Year 1 | Year 2+ | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program fee | $89 (one-time) | – | Paid before account is opened – not credited to your balance |
| Annual fee | $75 | $48/year | Charged to your credit limit on account opening |
| Monthly servicing fee | $0 | $75/year ($6.25/month) | Kicks in after first year |
| Total fixed fees | $164 in year 1 | $123/year (yr 2+) | Before any interest charges |
| APR on purchases | 35.99% | 35.99% | One of the highest APRs in the market |
| Late payment fee | Up to $40 | Up to $40 | Adds quickly if payments are missed |
| Cash advance APR | 35.99% | 35.99% | No grace period on cash advances |
Real Cost Over 12 Months: A Worked Example
Here is what Year 1 actually looks like for a typical new cardholder with a $300 credit limit:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Program fee (before opening) | $89 |
| Annual fee (charged to card at opening) | $75 – leaving only $225 of available credit |
| If you carry $225 balance all year at 35.99% APR | ~$81 in interest |
| Total cost of holding this card (Year 1) | $245 in fees + any interest accumulated |
| Effective credit available at account opening | $225 (after annual fee posted to $300 limit) |
Does It Actually Help Build Credit?
Yes – if you use it correctly. The card does report to all three bureaus monthly, which is the core requirement for credit building. Paying on time and keeping utilisation below 30% of your credit limit (ideally below 10%) will produce measurable score improvement over 12-18 months for most people.
The challenge is that with a $300 limit, keeping utilisation below 30% means never having more than $90 charged to the card at any statement cycle. For a card you are paying $164 in fees to hold in Year 1, that is a tight operational constraint.
Total Visa vs. Better Alternatives for Credit Building
| Card | Type | Key Fees | APR | Initial Limit | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Visa | Unsecured | $89 program + $75 annual + $75/yr servicing (yr2) | 35.99% | $300 | Expensive – only if secured cards unavailable |
| Discover it® Secured | Secured | $0 | 28.24% variable | $200+ (deposit) | Best option – refundable deposit, rewards, upgrade path |
| Capital One Platinum Secured | Secured | $0 | 29.99% variable | $200 (deposit) | Strong – low deposit, possible credit limit increase |
| OpenSky® Secured Visa | Secured | $35/year | 25.64% | $200+ (deposit) | No credit check needed – deposit returns when closed |
| Petal® 2 Visa | Unsecured | $0 | 18.24%-32.24% | $300-$10,000 | Best unsecured – for those with thin credit files |
Red Flags to Know Before Applying
- The $89 program fee is non-refundable and does not count toward your credit limit – you pay it before the account is even open
- Your effective credit available on day one is typically $225 ($300 limit minus $75 annual fee already posted)
- 35.99% APR means any balance carried even one month generates substantial interest charges
- The monthly servicing fee in Year 2 ($6.25/month) effectively replaces the annual fee but costs the same amount – it is structured to be less visible
- No rewards, no upgrade path clearly stated, no cash back – this is a pure credit-building tool, nothing more
Final Verdict
If you genuinely cannot get approved for a secured card and need an unsecured product to begin building credit, the Total Visa is a functional if expensive option. It reports to all three bureaus, it works as a Visa anywhere Visa is accepted, and used responsibly it will help your score.
If you can put together $200 as a security deposit, the Discover it® Secured or Capital One Platinum Secured is a significantly better deal: lower fees, lower APR, cash-back rewards on Discover, and a path to upgrading to an unsecured card when your score improves. The deposit returns to you. The Total Visa’s fees do not.
