Build credit with a loan — and get the money back.
Credit Strong reports installment history from $15–28/month — your principal comes back at the end of the plan.
Get Started — Step by Step →
You will continue on our website
Reports to 3 bureaus
Equifax, Experian, TransUnion.
Deposit from $0 (loan-funded)
Savings returned at plan completion — plans up to $25k.
Fee $15–28/mo
Shown up front — no surprises.
Credit check
None — approval is not score-based
Build credit with a loan — and get the money back.
Credit-builder loans are the underrated sibling of secured cards: no deposit upfront, no card to misuse — just fixed monthly payments into savings that get reported as installment history.
Credit Strong is the strongest option in the category after Self: plans from $15/month, principal returned at completion, plans scaling to $25,000.
How it works
Pick a plan; Credit Strong places the loan amount in a locked savings account. Monthly payments report to all 3 bureaus as installment history. At completion, the savings are yours. No credit check.
Who it's for — and who should look elsewhere
- No deposit for a secured card
- Want installment history (mix = 10% of score)
- Saving discipline alongside credit building
- Need spending power now (cards give a line immediately)
- Want the absolute cheapest (Kikoff is $5 but no money back)
How it compares
Versus Self: Self doubles as a secured card once savings progress (hybrid); Credit Strong is loan-only with longer/bigger plans. Versus Kikoff: Kikoff is $5 but nothing comes back — Credit Strong returns your principal.
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fee | $15–28/mo | See issuer terms |
| Deposit | $0 (loan-funded) | Savings returned at plan completion — plans up to $25k |
| Credit reporting | 3 bureaus | Equifax · Experian · TransUnion |
| Graduation data | Oct 2026 | Issuer-published data |
See also: when does a secured card graduate? — data per issuer →
Frequently asked questions
Does this loan hurt my credit score?
What credit score do I need?
How long does it take to build credit with this loan?
What happens to my deposit?
Can I be denied?
You will continue on our website
Not sure? Take the 60-second quiz →