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The Surge Platinum Mastercard is offered by Continental Finance and issued through Utah-based Celtic Bank. Continental Finance has issued more than 2.6 million credit cards, including several other cards designed for individuals with poor credit. The company has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
You can use the Surge Platinum Mastercard to help build up your credit since Continental Finance reports your monthly payments to the three major credit bureaus. Another thing about this card is that it rewards on-time payments. Your credit limit automatically doubles when you make your first six payments on time.
If you’ve been rejected for other unsecured credit cards due to subpar credit history, you may be suitable to qualify for the Surge Platinum Mastercard. Continental Finance considers not only your credit score, but also your monthly income, bill payment history, and other alternative credit data.
Mastercard reports your payments to the three major credit bureaus, so you can use it to build credit history and increase your credit score. You’ll also get a free credit score report each month when you sign up for e-statements. So, it’s easy to monitor your score for increases over time.
Unlike secured credit cards, which may also be used to build your credit, the Surge Platinum Mastercard doesn’t require a deposit. You also don’t need to pay off your purchases immediately. So, it can be a better option for individuals who want to pay on credit or who don’t have cash on hand for every purchase.
The Surge Platinum Mastercard has an interest rate of 29.99% (variable) APR.
The card carries an annual fee of $75-$125 for the first year, then $99-$125 per year after that. The card also has a monthly maintenance fee that varies from $0-$10 per month, but this is waived for the first 12 months. Your annual and monthly fees will depend on your credit data, credit limit, and income.
Other fees include a 3% foreign transaction fee and a $41 late and returned payment fee. Cash advances cost $10 or 3% of the advance amount.
| Annual fee | Monthly maintenance fee | Interest rate | Foreign transaction fee |
| $75-$125 for the first year, then $99-$125/year | $0-$10/month (waived for first 12 months) | 29.99% (variable) APR | 3% |
The Surge Platinum Mastercard doesn’t offer any rewards or cashback bonuses.
You can apply for the Surge Platinum Mastercard online or over the phone. You’ll need to provide your name, address, date of birth, contact details, and social security number. You must also estimate your monthly income. The online application takes less than five minutes.
Continental Finance will then conduct a soft credit check to see if you pre-qualify for the card. This doesn’t impact your credit score, and the company will inform you of the pre-qualification decision immediately.
If you pre-qualify, you can complete your application by consenting to a hard credit check, which may impact your credit score. As with pre-qualification, you’ll know the outcome immediately.
Once you’re approved, Continental Finance will send your new card in the mail. It typically takes three days to arrive.
You can contact Continental Finance by phone from 7am-12am (ET), Monday-Friday, and 8am-8pm on weekends.
Continental Finance also offers a 24/7 fraud hotline for reporting your card lost or stolen.
The company’s website offers only basic information about the Surge Platinum Mastercard. There are plenty of details about rates and fees, but the statement and bill pay portal isn’t available unless you have an active credit card account. Continental Finance does have several educational articles explaining how to use your card to build credit.
Phone: 866-449-4514
Your online application for the Surge Platinum Mastercard is protected by 128-bit SSL encryption. The company uses the same encryption to protect your online account, although two-factor authentication is not supported. Continental Finance has a very clear privacy policy that explains what data it collects about you and how it shares it.
The Surge Platinum Mastercard comes with Mastercard’s Zero Liability Protection, so you’re never responsible for paying for fraudulent charges on your card. The card also contains an EMV chip for added security.
The Surge Platinum Mastercard carries an annual fee of $75-$125 for the first year, then $99-$125 for every year after that. The card also has a monthly maintenance fee that ranges from $0-$10 per month (up to $120 per year) starting after your first year.
The Surge Platinum Mastercard offers an initial credit limit of $300-$1,000. This will depend on your credit score and your monthly income. If you make your first six payments on time, your credit limit will automatically double.
Continental Finance reports payments toward your Surge Platinum Mastercard to the three major credit bureaus. This can help you build credit if you consistently make on-time payments. You’ll also receive your credit score for free when you sign up for e-statements, making it easy to monitor improvements.
The Surge Platinum Mastercard comes with Mastercard’s Zero Liability Protection policy. This means that you won’t be responsible for paying for any unauthorized use of your card. In addition, Continental Finance, the card issuer, has a 24/7 fraud hotline.
The Surge Platinum Mastercard is an unsecured credit card for individuals with below-par credit. You can use the card to build your credit since Continental Finance reports payments to the three major credit bureaus. In addition, when you make your first six payments on time, your credit limit will automatically double. Despite the hefty fees, the initial $300-$1,000 credit limit is higher than with many similar unsecured cards.
This review was completed using information on the Surge Platinum Mastercard and Continental Finance websites, and a call to the Continental Finance’s customer support team.
