One Credit Builder Review [2025]: Build Credit Automatically
New to credit or rebuilding your credit? One Credit Builder is a credit-building tool that doesn't require an application, credit check, or large security deposit.
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Founded in 2019 and based in California, One is a fintech company that offers deposit accounts and financial tools to help you better manage your money.
With a One account, you can receive your paycheck by direct deposit up to two days earlier. You can also separate funds into "pockets" to help you designate money for everyday expenses and fun stuff such as saving for a vacation.
For people building credit, One also offers free credit scores and the One Credit Builder pocket which works like a secured card without interest. Here, we share the ins and outs of how One Credit Builder works so you can decide whether it's right for you.
Quick Summary
Start building credit automatically with no application or credit check required.
Works even if you don't have credit history
No hard credit check, no fees, no minimums
Applying won't affect your credit score
Build credit, spend, save and share, all in one account
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Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Up to $300New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.60% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 11/12/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found athttp://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
Minimum Opening Balance
$0
Monthly Fee
$0
Why We Like It
Earn a $50 or $300 bonus and up to 4.30% APY1 <p>New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.</p><p>SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.60% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 11/12/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at<a href="http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet" >http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>.</p> on your money with eligible direct deposit
Limited-Time Offer: +0.70% Boost on Savings APY for 6 months on new accounts with eligible Direct Deposit. Terms Apply.2 <p>Earn up to 4.30% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.60% APY as of 11/12/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 1/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p>
No account, overdraft, or monthly fees3 <p>We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at <a href="http://sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/">sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/</a></p>
Get your paycheck up to two days early with direct deposit4 <p>Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.</p>
Access additional FDIC insurance up to $3 million5 <p><b style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;">SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms</a>. See list of participating banks at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks</a>.</b></p>
One Credit Builder is an account or pocket within a One account that works similar to a line of credit. You can make purchases up to the amount that you deposit into the pocket, and payments on this account are reported to the credit bureaus to help you build credit history. There's no application, fees, or interest involved, and opening up a One Credit Builder account won't hurt your credit score.
How does One Credit Builder work?
One Credit Builder accounts are made available to One customers based on their credit history. Qualifying customers will see an option to add the One Credit Builder pocket in your account dashboard.
How to add money
After opening your One Credit Builder pocket, you can transfer a minimum of $20 to it from other pockets. This is your purchase limit. You can't transfer money back, however, so you should only move cash you won't need in your other spending or savings accounts.
How to use the One Credit Builder account
To make purchases, you can assign your One card to your One Credit Builder pocket or use a virtual card that you create. After transactions are authorized, the money will be removed from your account balance and One automatically uses that money to make monthly payments.
The automatic payments are then reported to the credit bureaus as on-time to help you build a positive payment history. Your account usage — how much of the One Credit Builder pocket cash you use — is not reported, so you can use up to what you've transferred to the pocket without impacting your score.
One Credit Builder vs. a credit builder loan
One Credit Builder and credit builder loans work differently. One Credit Builder has no fees, whereas credit builder loans may have administrative fees. A credit builder loan is also a loan where you're borrowing a lump sum but don't get that money in cash right away.
Instead, your loan funds are held in a separate savings account that secures the loan. You only get the lump sum in cash after you pay off your lender.
Both One Credit Builder and credit builder loans can help you build credit. With One Credit Builder, however, you can make purchases right away, whereas a credit builder loan doesn't give you cash until the end of the loan term.
One Credit Builder vs. a secured credit card
A key difference between a secured card and a One Credit Builder account is the credit check process. Applying for a secured card could trigger a hard inquiry that could affect your score while setting up a One Credit Builder account won't impact your credit. Security deposit requirements for a secured card could also be higher, with some requiring a deposit of $49 or more compared to One Credit Builder's $20 minimum.
With a One Credit Builder account, what you charge will automatically be paid off each month. With a secured card, you may have the option to make a minimum payment and carry a balance. If you don't pay off the secured card each month, you'll likely have to pay interest.
There are some advantages to taking out a secured card, however. For one, your card account may be reviewed periodically to see if you qualify for an unsecured card. If approved, you could get upgraded to an unsecured card, and your deposit may be returned. You may also get access to a higher credit line and other card perks.
What we like about One Credit Builder
Using One Credit Builder could be a hassle-free way to start building credit. Here's what we like about it.
It's free. There are no fees to open this account and no interest charges.
No hard inquiry is required. You don't have to undergo a hard credit inquiry to open this account.
Get started with a small amount. If you don't have a large amount of money to transfer into your One Credit Builder account, you can start with just $20.
Payments are made automatically. One reduces your available cash in the One Credit Builder auto-save pocket when you make purchases and stashes that money away to make your automatic monthly bill payment. This helps make sure your bills are paid on time and could help you build good credit.
What One Credit Builder could improve
There are a lot of positives about One Credit Builder, but these features could make it even better:
Clear credit requirements: More transparency on the credit eligibility criteria could make it easier to identify whether you might qualify.
Specifics on where payments are reported: One Credit Builder doesn't specify which credit bureaus payments are reported to. The company says your payments will be reported to the major credit bureaus but doesn't say if that includes, TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax.
Who can get a One Credit Builder account?
You must first get a One checking account to open up a One Credit Builder account. To open a One account, you must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident 18 years or older. The application for a One account involves a soft credit inquiry, and you'll need to share your Social Security number to confirm your identity.
The company states that One Credit Builder accounts are "automatically available to most One customers who are (re)building their credit." Your credit history is considered to see whether you qualify, but the website doesn't outline the specific credit requirements.
How to sign up for One Credit Builder
If you already have a One account, you may see the option to sign up for the One Credit Builder pocket in your account dashboard. From there, you can transfer money from other One accounts to One Credit Builder, and then you can make transactions.
If you don't already have a One account, you'll need to sign up for One through the website or app. Be sure to have your Social Security number and government-issued ID handy because you may be asked for them. After your One account is ready to go, you may get the option to set up the One Credit Builder pocket.
Learn how to sign up for a One account in our One review.
One Credit Builder customer service
One customer service is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST by phone, chat, or email. You can also access the One knowledge database online for Credit Builder help 24/7.
5.0
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Our partners do not influence our ratings.
2025 award winnerBest Checking and Savings Combo
SoFi Checking & Savings - Earn Up to $300 When You Set Up Direct Deposit
Limited-Time Offer: Earn a $50 or $300 bonus and up to 4.30% APY on Savings (3.60% APY1 <p>New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.</p><p>SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.60% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 11/12/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at<a href="http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet" >http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>.</p> with +0.70% APY Boost) for 6 Months on new accounts with eligible direct deposit. Terms Apply.2 <p>Earn up to 4.30% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.60% APY as of 11/12/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 1/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p> FDIC Insured.5 <p><b style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;">SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms</a>. See list of participating banks at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks</a>.</b></p>
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Use Cash App As Your All-in-One Financial Services Platform
Bank6 <p>Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Savings provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand.</p><p class="">Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Direct Deposit provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand.</p> without all the fees—save, send, and spend your money the way you want.7 <p class="">Your balance is eligible for FDIC pass-through insurance through our Program Banks Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and/or Sutton Bank, Members FDIC for up to $250,000 per customer when aggregated with all other deposits held in the same legal capacity at each Program Bank above, if certain conditions are met. Cash App is a financial services platform, and not an FDIC-insured bank. Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See <a href="https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement">terms and conditions</a>. </p> Get paid up to 2 days early – up to 2 days earlier than most banks8 <p>Your first deposit may take longer depending on your employer.</p>
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Enjoy $300 as a new Chase checking customer
When you open a new Chase Total Checking® account with qualifying activities.9 <p>Offer not available to existing Chase checking customers, or those whose accounts have been closed within 90 days or closed with a negative balance within the last 3 years. You can receive only one new checking account opening related bonus every two years from the last coupon enrollment date and only one bonus per account. Coupon is good for one-time use. To receive the bonus: 1) Open a new Chase Total Checking account, which is subject to approval; AND 2) Have your direct deposits totaling $500 or more made to this account within 90 days of coupon enrollment. Your direct deposit needs to be an electronic deposit of your paycheck, pension or government benefits (such as Social Security) from your employer or the government. Person to Person payments (such as Zelle®) are not considered a direct deposit. Micro-deposits do not qualify as a direct deposit for the bonus. Micro-deposits are small deposits, typically less than $1, that are sent to your account to verify it is the correct account. After you have completed all the above requirements, we'll deposit the bonus in your new account within 15 days. To receive this bonus, the enrolled account must not be closed or restricted at the time of payout. Eligibility may be limited based on account ownership. Bonus is considered interest and will be reported on IRS Form 1099-INT (or Form 1042-S, if applicable). Offer availability subject to change. Other Chase checking bonus offers may exist concurrently.</p> FDIC Insured. Offer valid through 1/21/2026.
One isn't a bank — it's a fintech company that offers money management and credit-building tools. The cash you deposit into accounts at One is held with its partner bank, Coastal Community Bank. Coastal Community Bank is FDIC-insured up to $250,000 should the company fail. If you're shopping around for a new account, it's always important to look for deposit insurance, and the best banks clearly outline how your money is protected.
How is One Credit Builder different from a credit card?
Credit card accounts typically require a hard inquiry to apply for and they are separate credit line accounts. One Credit Builder is not a separate credit line; instead, it's part of your One account.
There's no interest with One Credit Builder because what you charge to the account is automatically repaid each month for you from what's in your account balance. In comparison, you're responsible for making each payment on your credit card, and interest may be charged if you don't pay off the bill in full each month.
Does One Credit Builder really work?
On-time payments that appear on your credit report using One Credit Builder could be positive for your score, but the exact results you'll see may vary.
Keep in mind that factors beyond payment history also affect your score, such as your debt balances and whether you have any negative account or late payment history. Although on-time payments could help you build history over time, negative records already on file could still impact you as well.
The bottom line on One Credit Builder
One Credit Builder is a set-and-forget approach to building credit. You make purchases and then sit back as payments are made for you. In turn, those payments build your on-time payment history with credit bureaus.
Because of its convenience, One Credit Builder could be a good option to consider if you need to build credit quickly. Signing up for One is easy and free. After setting up the One Credit Builder feature, you could be on a faster track to improving your credit to meet your financial goals.
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
2025 award winnerBest Checking and Savings Combo
High APY of up to 4.30% on Savings (3.60% APY1 <p>New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.</p><p>SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.60% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 11/12/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at<a href="http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet" >http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>.</p> with +0.70% APY Boost) for 6 Months on new accounts with eligible direct deposit. Terms Apply.2 <p>Earn up to 4.30% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.60% APY as of 11/12/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 1/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p>
Paycheck access up to 2 days early with direct deposit4 <p>Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.</p>
No monthly maintenance or overdraft fees3 <p>We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at <a href="http://sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/">sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/</a></p>
Streamlined savings and savings goals with Vaults
Access to a large ATM network10 <p>We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees may be incurred when using out-of-network ATMs. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.</p>
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