Total Visa is one of the most aggressively marketed credit cards for people with bad credit, and one of the most expensive. Before your card even arrives in the mail, you can owe almost $90 in program fees. Add the annual fee and you may be looking at a balance the second your card is activated.
This review covers the full Total Visa fee schedule for 2026, the APR, the credit limits, and which secured card costs a fraction of the price for the same credit reporting benefit.
What Is the Total Visa Credit Card?
Total Visa is an unsecured Visa card issued by The Bank of Missouri. Like the Fortiva Credit Card, it targets applicants with poor to fair credit, generally FICO 500 to 620, with no security deposit required. The card reports to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. If your score is sitting near the bottom of that 500 to 620 band, our practical plan for getting your credit score up from 500 walks through the moves that usually put applicants into cheaper card buckets within a year.
Starting credit limits are usually $300. You can request an increase after six months, but raises are not guaranteed and may come with another fee.
Total Visa Fees in 2026
The pricing is where Total Visa loses points. As of May 2026, here is what cardholders typically pay:
- One time program fee: $89 (charged before the card activates)
- Annual fee: $75 the first year, then $48
- Monthly servicing fee: $0 the first year, then $6.25 per month ($75 per year)
- Purchase APR: 35.99%
- Credit limit increase fee: 20% of the increase amount
- Additional card fee: $29
On a $300 credit limit, the $89 program fee and $75 annual fee eat up $164 of your line on day one. That is 55% utilization before you swipe the card. High utilization on a new card can actually drag your score down, which defeats the point.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- No credit history needed to apply
- No security deposit
- Reports to all three credit bureaus
- Online account access and bill pay
Cons
- Program fee charged before the card works
- High annual and monthly fees
- 35.99% APR
- Low starting limit eaten up by fees
- Credit line increases cost 20% of the new amount
A Better Match for Credit Building: OpenSky
If you want a card that reports to all three bureaus without burning $164 in fees, look at OpenSky. OpenSky is a secured Visa with no credit check, no program fee, and a $35 annual fee. Your deposit starts at $200 and becomes your credit limit.
The difference adds up fast. A $300 limit with OpenSky costs $35 in year one fees and refunds your deposit when you close in good standing. A $300 limit with Total Visa costs about $164 in year one fees, none of which come back. Same credit reporting, very different price tag.
How the Total Visa Fees Compound
It helps to see year one and year two side by side on a $300 limit.
Year one with Total Visa: $89 program fee plus $75 annual fee equals $164. Add a single $41 late fee and you are at $205 before any purchase.
Year two with Total Visa: $48 annual fee plus $75 in monthly servicing fees equals $123. Your $300 limit is now permanently weighed down by these recurring charges.
For comparison, year one with OpenSky is $35. Year two is $35. Your $200 deposit stays available to refund if you graduate or close the account.
Who Should Skip Total Visa?
Most people should skip it. The card makes the least sense if you have at least $200 to fund a secured card. It also makes little sense if you carry any balance, since 35.99% APR turns small balances into expensive ones fast. If you are even on the edge of the fair-credit band, our roundup of the best credit cards for people with fair credit lists no-fee unsecured options that beat Total Visa on every cost line.
Total Visa might be a last resort if you cannot afford any deposit and you need a tradeline within days. Even then, save first and apply for a secured card next month. The savings on fees alone usually cover the deposit within a year.
Tips If You Already Have a Total Visa
If the card is already in your wallet, you can still use it without making things worse.
Keep the balance below 10% of your limit each month. That means under $30 on a $300 line.
Pay in full to avoid the 35.99% APR. Carrying even $100 costs about $3 per month in interest, on top of the existing fees.
Mark your calendar for the fee anniversary. Many cardholders close Total Visa after one year, once they qualify for a better card.
Apply for a stronger card after six to twelve months of on time payments. Once you have a card without monthly fees, you can keep Total Visa open with a small recurring charge to preserve the tradeline, or close it once your score is in the 640+ range.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Total Visa a real credit card?
Yes. Total Visa is a real unsecured Visa credit card issued by The Bank of Missouri and serviced by MRV Banks. It reports to all three major credit bureaus, so on time payments do help your score.
Why is there a program fee on Total Visa?
The $89 program fee is a one time charge applied to your account before the card is activated. It is unusual in the credit card world and is one of the biggest reasons reviewers rate Total Visa poorly compared with secured alternatives.
Does Total Visa do a hard pull?
Yes. Applying for Total Visa triggers a hard inquiry on your credit report, which can temporarily lower your score by a few points. There is no pre qualification soft pull on this product.
What is a cheaper alternative to Total Visa?
Secured cards like OpenSky cost a fraction of Total Visa in fees and refund your deposit when you close the account. Credit builder loans from a local credit union are another low cost option that report to all three bureaus.
