Extra Debit Card Review: How to Build Credit with a Debit Card

Extra is a debit card to build credit by reporting monthly to Experian and Equifax credit bureaus. Debit cards typically don't help build credit, but after reading this Extra Debit Card review, you'll get a better understanding of how to build credit with a debit card.

The Extra Debit Card Review

Here's a quick look at how the Extra Card helps build a positive credit history.

• No Credit Check. The Extra Debit Card makes it simple to start building credit with no credit check. Extra works like any other debit card with the exception of reporting monthly to credit bureaus. There’s no interest on your purchases.

• No security deposit required. The Extra Debit Card is not like a secured credit card, as it does not require a security deposit.

• Link to your existing checking account. Start by connecting your bank account to your Extra account. Your spending limit is based on your bank balance. When you make a purchase, that money will automatically be pulled out of your associated checking account.

• Debit card transactions reported to credit bureau. At the end of each month, Extra will total up all of your debit card transactions and report them as on-time payments to two major credit bureaus – Experian and Equifax.

• 35% of your credit score is payment history. Because the Extra Debit Card temporarily extended credit for the purchases, you build a positive credit history showing payments made in full on Experian and Equifax credit reports.

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What's the difference between a credit card and the Extra Debit Card

Credit cards allow you to borrow money against your credit card limit. When you swipe, purchases will be added to your bill.

If you don’t pay off your balance within 30 days, you'll owe interest on your purchases. Credit cards can help improve your credit score over time, especially if you make frequent purchases and pay off the balance in full each month.

The Extra Debit Card is not a credit card but much like paying off a credit card balance in full each month, the paid in full debit card purchases are totaled each month and reported to two major credit bureaus as positive payment history. You don’t have to worry about any interest or hidden fees.

It’s clear that building a positive credit history is an essential part of financial stability. But there are some people that want to avoid racking up debt while building credit.

The Extra Debit Card provides one of the few ways to build credit without piling on debt. While most debit cards, even if you’re using them responsibly, won't help to build credit, the Extra Debit Card is different.

Is the Extra Debit Card like a secured credit card?

The Extra Debit Card is not a credit card at all. But the Extra Card can build credit and earn rewards points just like a credit card. No security deposit is required like with a secured credit card to establish a credit limit.

With Extra, your spending limit (Spend Power) is based on your bank balance and other factors with no credit check. The more purchases you make with Extra, the more chances you have to increase your Spend Power. At the end of every month Extra totals up all of your purchases and payments and reports them to credit bureaus to build your credit.

Who issues the Extra Debit Card?

Your money is safe with the Extra Debit Card. They partner with Evolve Bank and Trust, which is FDIC insured. Extra is not a bank, they are only linked to your bank account using the Plaid technology.

The Extra Debit Card carries the Mastercard logo and works anywhere Mastercard does (except outside the United States, Extra only works within the US).

Extra Debit Card has rewards

Extra offers 1% rewards points on everyday purchases like rideshares, coffees, and your phone bills. Spend your points on a variety of products from AirPods to meal kits from Blue Apron.

How to qualify for the Extra Debit Card

Practically any adult with a United States bank account can qualify for the Extra Debit Card.

Here is what you'll need to apply:

• Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.
• Physical address in the United States that they can send your card to. They will not send it to a Post Office box.
• A bank account that supports the Plaid platform. Plaid makes it easy to securely connect your bank to the apps you want to use. Extra never stores any of your banking information, ever. Plaid is used to securely connect to your bank account (just like Venmo), so your banking information stays your business.
• There is no credit check required (no impact to your credit score).

The benefit of paying back the card daily is that there is zero percent interest. You can’t carry a balance beyond the one day so you’re never at risk of paying interest.

The Extra Debit Card does not charge interest but there is a fee that depends on the level of service that can be paid monthly or annually for a discounted fee.

Extra Debit Card Pricing

Extra provides two plans, one with rewards and one without rewards:

Extra Card Pros and Cons

Can a debit card help build credit? The short answer was formerly no. That's because debit cards don't have a credit line attached to them like a credit card.

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Final thoughts

Good credit not only determines the price of major borrowing needs like getting a mortgage or car loan but being able to choose where you want to rent also depends on your credit history. Whether you can get the job you want, and getting good rates on car insurance can also be determined by your credit history.

It’s getting harder to live a life without a credit score. If you want to build credit but not incur debt, the Extra Debit Card is worth taking a further look. For people with poor credit, finding a credit card can be difficult. The Extra Debit Card can fill the need of building a positive credit history with no credit check required.