text: One way would be to go to a local bank and ask them if they issue secured credit cards.  That would mean you deposit a sum of money in an account at their bank.  Typically the account you would open would be a CD.  It would earn interest.  They would "lock up" that account and offer you a credit card with a credit line of a percentage of the amount on deposit.  If you default on the credit card, they take the amount you have on deposit.