Surge® Platinum Mastercard® Review 2024

If you are on a hunt for a credit card that doesn’t require a perfect credit score, the Surge® Platinum Mastercard® might be an excellent choice for you. Not only will you be able to qualify for this credit card even if you have a poor credit score, but you’ll also get a chance to rebuild your credit if you pay your balance on time each month.

Moreover, the Surge® Platinum Mastercard® is an unsecured credit card, meaning that you don’t need to put any deposit to obtain it. 

However, the card is not the most affordable credit card to rebuild your credit score, as it comes with steep fees.

Surge® Platinum Mastercard® Overview 

The Surge® Platinum Mastercard® is an unsecured credit card for consumers with poor to fair credit scores. The credit card is issued by Celtic Bank, a financial institution under Continental Finance. Continental Finance was founded in 2005, and it’s one of the US leaders for providing credit cards for consumers with poor or no credit scores.

It has issued over 2.6 million credit cards aimed at helping consumers rebuild their credit scores. The company boasts an A+ rating on BBB, and it’s praised for its consumer-oriented financial services. 

You can apply for a Surge® Platinum Mastercard® without placing any deposit, which is one of the main benefits that this credit card offers. Another essential advantage that this card provides is a high credit limit.

Regardless of your credit score, you can qualify for a credit limit up to $1,000. Both zero-deposit limits and above-average credit limits make this card an attractive solution for consumers with a less-than-perfect credit score. 

The Surge® Platinum Mastercard® is rated with an impressive 4.9  score on Trustpilot and has many positive reviews. Nevertheless, this credit card comes with above-the-average high annual and monthly maintenance fees, which makes it a less desirable option for many consumers. 

Before we make our final verdict, we’ll explore the features in detail and see where this credit card stands out and where it falls short.

How To Apply for the Surge® Platinum Mastercard®

Like most other credit card providers, Continental Finance enables people to apply for its products online. You need to visit the Surge Mastercard website, go to the sign-in page, and apply for the card. 

Eligibility Requirements

The credit card requirements are minimal, but you’ll still need to meet specific criteria in order to get your card. First of all, you need to be an American citizen and have a Social Security number.

Secondly, you’ll need to provide information about your monthly income, including your earnings and other types of income (alimony, child support, etc.). Of course, you’ll need to give basic information, such as your name, date of birth, address, ZIP code, email, and phone number. 

Additional requirements include information about your checking account or debit card (if you have any), as well as whether you plan to use the credit card for cash advances or not.

You can also apply for multiple Surge credit cards. 

Pre-Approval 

Like many other similar financial products, this credit card offers pre-approval, during which the bank will check your application and credit history, but without any negative impact on your credit score.

You can follow the progress of your application through the website. Additionally, you can check your application status by contacting customer support. 

Additional Requirements  

The Surge® Platinum Mastercard® is an unsecured credit card for consumers with bad credit. However, in some cases, the bank might require a security deposit in the amount of the credit limit you’ve been approved for.

This is not unusual since many banks require some type of collateral to reduce the risks associated with consumers’ accounts.  

Surge® Platinum Mastercard® Fees and APR 

The Surge® Platinum Mastercard® seems like a perfect option for consumers with bad credit, but its pricing list might deter some customers from applying for this credit card. Although there is no credit score requirement, the card does come with steep annual and monthly fees. 

The annual fee is $75 - $125 for the first year, after that it's $99 - $125. There is also a monthly maintenance fee that ranges between $0 and $10. That means your credit card cost could accumulate to over $200 per year without interest charges.

With a fixed 35.90% APR, the Surge® Platinum Mastercard® APR is above the national average, so you should really pay your balances on time every month if you don’t want to end up with high monthly interests. 

Surge® Platinum Mastercard® Credit Limit 

One of the main reasons consumers opt for this credit card is the high credit limit. Every applicant can qualify for a credit limit of up to $1,000.

However, the $1,000 credit limit shouldn’t be the only reason to apply for this credit card, especially because you’ll need to place an additional security deposit for it, and the credit card fees will remain the same.

Instead, you can qualify for a secured credit card that comes with more affordable fees and also offers a high credit limit.  

Online and Mobile Banking 

Once you get your Surge® Platinum Mastercard®, you’ll be able to use Celtic Bank’s credit tools and resources, including its online management system and mobile banking. The app is available for Android and iOS devices. 

Using those online and mobile banking tools, you can check your account anytime you want, review your monthly statements, and stay up to date with all upcoming payments. 

Customer Support

Should you have any doubts regarding the card, customer support is there to answer all your questions. The support is available via phone during business days from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (E.T.) and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (E.T).

Unfortunately, there’s no live chat support or email support, but you can still find a lot of useful information on the bank’s site. 

Customer Satisfaction

For the purpose of this review, we’ve also checked what existing Surge cardholders say about this product. The reviews on Trustpilot are predominantly positive. Clients praise its customer care agents for their efficiency, politeness, and availability.

Most clients say that they chose this card because it allows them access to high credit limits, even though they don’t have good credit scores. Also, many clients mention they’ve succeeded in rebuilding their credit scores in a very short time.  

Why Should You Apply for the Surge® Platinum Mastercard®? 

There are several reasons you should consider applying for the Surge® Platinum Mastercard®: 

• Reports to all three credit bureaus

One of the most important things to have in mind when choosing a credit card to rebuild your credit score is whether the issuer reports payments to the three major credit bureaus - TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. It’s an important feature because those companies use this information to calculate your credit score.

With Surge, every credit card payment will be reported on time and to all three credit agencies, so you may rest assured that this bank works in your best interest when it comes to credit score rebuilding. 

• Credit score report every month 

Another great thing about the Surge® Platinum Mastercard® is that clients get a monthly credit score report. Once you activate your accounT, you’ll be able to check your credit score online and track its improvement on a monthly basis. You can also track how your monthly payments impact and change your credit score.

• Zero fraud liability 

Much like any other Mastercard, the Surge® Platinum Mastercard® comes with zero fraud liability. If your credit card gets stolen, you won’t be responsible for unauthorized transactions. However, you need to report the theft or loss to your bank in the shortest possible time.  

Downsides of the Surge® Platinum Mastercard®

There’s no doubt that Surge® Platinum Mastercard® benefits are a good reason to apply for this credit card, but there are also reasons for considering other options.

First of all, the card comes with relatively high annual and monthly fees. Add to this an above-average APR, and there are already many reasons to skip the Surge® Platinum Mastercard® and look elsewhere. 

Besides, the Surge® Platinum Mastercard® doesn’t offer a sign-up bonus or rewards program, so you won’t collect any points or earn money on your purchases. 

Final Thoughts

This card is a good option for consumers with very poor or fair credit scores and those who don’t have any credit history yet.

Due to the high fees and other costs it imposes, this card is a decent choice only as a temporary solution for rebuilding your credit. That means using it for a limited period to improve your credit score and then replacing it with some other, more affordable credit card is the best way to use it to your advantage.