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Self Credit Builder Account — Build Credit While You Save

A credit-building loan where your payments go into an FDIC-insured savings account. Make fixed monthly payments for 24 months, and every payment is reported to all three credit bureaus.

How the Credit Builder Account works

Unlike a traditional loan, you don't get the money upfront. Instead, the loan amount is deposited into a Certificate of Deposit (CD) held at one of Self's FDIC-insured partner banks. You make fixed monthly payments for 24 months, and each on-time payment is reported to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. When the term ends, you get your savings back minus interest and fees.

The steps

  • Choose a monthly plan — no hard credit check to start
  • Self opens a CD in your name at a partner bank
  • Make on-time payments for 24 months
  • Every payment is reported to all 3 credit bureaus
  • Get your savings back at the end, minus interest & fees

Credit Builder Account plans

PlanMonthlyTermAPRTotal PaidReturned
Small Builder$25/mo24 mo15.92%$600~$520
Medium Builder$35/mo24 mo15.69%$840~$724
Large Builder$48/mo24 mo15.51%$1,152~$530
Extra Large$150/mo24 mo15.82%$3,600~$1,663

*Based on a 2025 TransUnion study, customers who opened a 24-month Credit Builder Account and made on-time payments saw an average VantageScore 3.0 increase of 47 points in 12 months. Results vary. A $9 admin fee applies.

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