Our verdict: The Milestone Mastercard approves people other unsecured cards decline, at a high disclosed cost: $175 in fees the first year, then about $199 every year after, on a $700 credit limit. Every number is disclosed. For most people, a secured card builds the same credit for a refundable deposit instead of nonrefundable fees; get this card only if a deposit is truly impossible for you.
Looking for your account? Cardholder login is at milestonegoldcard.com; this page is our independent review.
| Annual fee | $175 first year, then $49/year |
|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $0 first year, then $150/year billed at $12.50/month |
| Real cost per year | Year 1: $175 · Year 2 onward: ~$199 |
| Purchase APR | 35.9% |
| Credit limit | $700 initial — about $525 actually available after first-year fees |
| Deposit | None (unsecured) |
| Reports to | “All three major credit bureaus” (their wording; bureaus not named) |
| Issuer | The Bank of Missouri, serviced by Concora Credit Inc. |
Terms verified August 25, 2026 against the Schumer box on Milestone’s own application page and FAQ. Mailed offers can carry different pricing; the numbers above are the public online offer.
The fee math, in plain sight
Milestone’s Schumer box discloses every charge; the totals are worth adding up. Year one costs $175, charged to the card at opening, so your $700 limit opens with about $525 available and 25% utilization before any purchase. From year two, the $49 annual fee is joined by a $150 “monthly fee” billed at $12.50 a month. Three years of ownership: roughly $573 in fees on a limit that never grows past $700 without a new offer. For comparison, three years of OpenSky Plus costs $0 in required fees with a $300 deposit that is returned; see the OpenSky Plus review.
What you’re paying for
You’re paying for two real things. First, approval without a deposit: this is an unsecured card aimed at deep-subprime files, and the application will not leave a hard inquiry if you are declined (their disclosure: a hard inquiry appears only if approved). Second, reporting: payment history goes to all three major bureaus, so on-time months build your file the same as any card. The 35.9% APR is not a factor for balances paid in full each month; our card interest calculator shows what carrying even $500 costs.
Who this card is for
- You cannot fund even a $200 deposit, and building credit can’t wait until you can
- You’ve been declined for underwritten secured cards and want no deposit tied up
Who should skip it
- Anyone who can put together $200–$300: the OpenSky Secured Visa review (no credit check, $35/year) and Capital One Platinum Secured review ($0/year) both build the same credit for a fraction of the cost
- Anyone who might carry a balance at 35.9%
Milestone’s sibling card is the Indigo, with the same servicer, nearly identical terms, and a different bank behind it: Indigo card review, and the full side-by-side in Milestone vs. Indigo. The full field is in our roundup of unsecured cards for bad credit.
Check the current offer at Milestone
Milestone’s CFPB complaint record
We track the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s complaint database for CLGF Holdco 1, LLC — the entity Concora Credit complaints are filed under, covering both Milestone and its twin card Indigo. In the 12 months ending August 26, 2026: 2,468 complaints, led by “Incorrect information on your report” (615), followed by “Improper use of your report” (245) and “Fees or interest” (223). When we first pulled this data (August 2026), the leading issue was credit reporting accuracy rather than fees, a relevant pattern for a card held to build a credit report; monitor your own reports while you hold it (free dispute letter templates if something reports wrong).
Methodology: raw complaint counts from the CFPB Consumer Complaint Database; figures on this page refresh automatically each week. Counts aren’t rates — the CFPB publishes no customer-base denominator, so don’t compare totals across issuers of different sizes. This entity’s data can’t be split between Milestone and Indigo.
Frequently asked questions
What bank issues the Milestone Mastercard?
The Bank of Missouri (FDIC-insured, based in St. Robert, MO), with the program serviced by Concora Credit Inc., per Milestone’s own site.
Does applying for Milestone hurt my credit?
Their disclosure says a hard inquiry will not appear if your application is declined; only approved applications produce one. A declined application does not add an inquiry to your credit report.
Is the Milestone card secured or unsecured?
Unsecured; there is no security deposit. You pay fees instead of a deposit. Deposits are refundable; fees are not.