Milestone® Mastercard®
A $99-a-year credit-building card from Bank of Missouri.
Rates, fees, and full terms are set by Bank of Missouri and can change; check Bank of Missouri’s official terms for current rates and fees before applying.
Our review
The Milestone Mastercard is a heavily marketed subprime card that exists to charge an annual fee for a small unsecured limit, with no rewards to show for it. You see it advertised constantly to people with poor credit.
There is nothing inherently predatory about a card for bad credit, the problem is paying $75 to $99 a year for one when a no-fee secured card builds credit just as well for free.
Think twice if: you can put down a small refundable deposit, because a no-fee secured card is then the smarter move.
Our 3.5 out of 10 rating
Each score weighs the rewards rate, value after the annual fee, welcome offer, points flexibility, and perks, with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. This is our editorial assessment to help you compare cards, not a guarantee of approval or of the value you will get.
Earning rates at a glance
Rewards: how it earns
There are no rewards. This card is purely about access to credit, not earning anything.
| Category | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dining and restaurants | 0x | Base rate |
| Groceries | 0x | Base rate |
| Gas | 0x | Base rate |
| Travel | 0x | Base rate |
| Streaming | 0x | Base rate |
| Everything else | 0x | Everything else |
The fine print on rates: A heavily marketed subprime card with an annual fee (often $75 the first year, then $99), a ~35.9% APR, and no rewards. It exists to charge fees for a small unsecured limit. A no-fee secured card builds credit better and cheaper.
Every point and mile above is valued at a flat 1 cent, the same honest standard we use for every card. Run your own spending through the calculator to see what this card would actually return for you.
Best ways to earn & redeem
Use it as a flat-rate everyday card, since it earns the same on every purchase, and pair it with bonus-category cards for groceries, dining, and travel.
When you cash in, take the rewards as cash back or a statement credit, worth a flat 1 cent each. We value every point at a flat 1 cent, so treat any transfer upside as a bonus rather than the baseline — see what your points are really worth.
Pros and cons
- No security deposit required
- Reports to all three credit bureaus
- $75-to-$99 annual fee (sometimes plus a monthly fee) and no rewards
- About 35.9% APR
- A free secured card builds credit just as well
The welcome bonus
No welcome bonus. Just the annual fee.
Is it worth the annual fee?
The annual fee is the sticking point, often $75 the first year then $99, and some offers add a monthly fee on top, at about 35.9% APR. You are paying real money every year for a small limit and zero rewards.
First-year value vs ongoing value
| Welcome bonus | None |
| To earn it | No minimum spend |
| Est. first-year value* | $-99 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $-99 |
There is no lump-sum welcome bonus, so first-year and ongoing value are about the same, roughly $-99 a year on typical spending after the fee. What you see is what you get from day one.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent, on average spending.
Benefits and protections
Beyond the rewards, the perks and protections worth knowing about include:
- No rewards of any kind
- Annual fee often $75 the first year, then $99 (some offers add a monthly fee)
- About 35.9% APR
- Small unsecured credit limit, typically around $300 to $700
- Reports to all three credit bureaus
Statement credits
This card does not come with recurring statement credits. Its value is in the rewards rate and welcome offer.
Who should get it, and who should skip it
If you can swing a refundable deposit, get a no-fee secured card instead, the Discover it Secured or Capital One Platinum Secured build credit the same way, charge no annual fee, and give your deposit back when you upgrade.
Milestone is not a scam, but it is an expensive way to do something you can do for free. Reach for a secured card first.
Alternatives to the Milestone® Mastercard®
Pairs well with
The Milestone® Mastercard® earns a flat rate on everything, so pair it with a category card or two to earn more where you spend the most.
Frequently asked questions
Best-card guides featuring this card
Learn more
How does it rank for your spending?
Every card is ranked by what it actually returns on the way you spend. Run your numbers and see where the Milestone® Mastercard® lands.
Calculate My CardOffer details verified against issuer sources as of October 2026. Editorial opinions are our own. Cardocrat values all points at a flat 1 cent and never inflates redemptions.
