FIT Mastercard: unsecured credit building at a steep price

The FIT™ Mastercard® is an unsecured credit card for people rebuilding or establishing credit. It’s issued by The Bank of Missouri and serviced by Continental Finance. There’s no security deposit, the starting credit limit is $400, and your payments are reported monthly to TransUnion, Experian and Equifax.

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The card is also one of the more expensive ways to build credit. Before you can use it, you pay a one-time processing fee, and from the second year you pay both an annual fee and a monthly maintenance fee. Below, we break down what the card offers, what it really costs and who might consider it.

How the FIT™ Mastercard® works

If you’re approved, you pay a $95 processing fee before your account is activated and you can access your credit. After that, the card works like a regular Mastercard wherever Mastercard is accepted. Continental Finance reports your payments to the three major credit bureaus each month, so paying on time and keeping your balance below your limit can help you build a positive record. Late payments are reported too.

The card includes Mastercard Zero Liability protection, so you’re not responsible for unauthorized charges. It doesn’t offer rewards, a welcome bonus or balance transfers.

What the card really costs

The fees add up quickly compared with the $400 credit limit:

• First year: a $95 processing fee paid before activation, plus a $99 annual fee charged to the card when the account opens. That’s $194 in the first year.
• From the second year: a $125 annual fee plus a $12.50 monthly maintenance fee ($150 a year). That’s $275 a year to keep the card.

Because the first-year annual fee is charged to your card, you start with less credit than your limit. The issuer’s own example shows that with a $400 limit, your initial available credit is $301. That also means your balance starts at $99 before you buy anything, which counts toward your credit utilization.

Pros of the FIT™ Mastercard®

• No security deposit required
• Monthly reporting to all three major credit bureaus
• Accepts applicants with less-than-perfect credit
• Mastercard Zero Liability protection

Cons of the FIT™ Mastercard®

• $95 processing fee before you can use the card
• Annual fee plus a monthly maintenance fee from the second year, totaling $275 a year
• 35.90% APR on purchases and cash advances
• Low $400 limit that fees reduce from day one

FIT™ Mastercard® rates and fees

• Processing fee: $95, one time, paid before activation
• Annual fee: $99 the first year, then $125
• Monthly maintenance fee: $0 the first year, then $12.50 a month ($150 a year)
• Purchase APR: 35.90%
• Cash advance APR: 35.90%
• Cash advance fee: $0 the first year, then $10 or 3%, whichever is greater. No cash advances are allowed in the first 95 days.
• Foreign transaction fee: $0 the first year, then 3% of each transaction in a foreign currency
• Additional card fee: $30, one time
• Late payment, returned payment and overlimit fees: up to $41 each

The overlimit fee only applies if you opt in to the overlimit privilege. Paying by phone with a live representative for same-day credit can also carry an expedited service fee, while paying online, in the app, by automated phone or by mail is free.

Terms checked in September 2026 from a sample FIT™ cardholder agreement published by Continental Finance. Your terms are shown before you accept the card.

About The Bank of Missouri and Continental Finance

The Bank of Missouri issues the FIT™ Mastercard and accepts applicants with less-than-perfect credit. Continental Finance services the account, handling customer service, payments and credit reporting. Continental Finance isn’t a bank, and it also services other credit-building cards issued by partner banks.

Managing your account

You can manage the card through Continental Finance’s Online Account Management system or the CFC Mobile Access app for iOS and Android. There you can view statements and transactions, check your balance and due date, and make payments without an expedited service fee.

Continental Finance also offers an optional Credit Protection program. It’s a separate product, so check what it costs and covers before enrolling.

Our take on the FIT™ Mastercard®

The FIT™ Mastercard can give someone with damaged credit access to an unsecured card that reports to all three bureaus. For people who’ve been turned down elsewhere and can’t afford a deposit, that access can be the reason to consider it.

The cost is the problem. You pay $194 in the first year and $275 a year after that for a $400 limit. A secured card with no annual fee builds credit the same way, and you get the deposit back when you close the account in good standing or upgrade. If you can put down a deposit, compare those options first.

If you do get the FIT card, pay in full and on time every month, keep your balance low, and plan to move to a lower-cost card once your credit improves. Approval isn’t guaranteed.

In the next article, we walk through how to apply for the FIT™ Mastercard®.

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