Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card * If given the option to apply for the American Express Optima card, it makes sense to review the terms of the card and compare to other available options.
That said, those who have the opportunity to repair their status with American Express may be able to do so faster through the American Express Optima Card, if given the option, than by rebuilding through other banks. The Discover it Secured is a gold standard for secured cards. The Discover it Secured, unlike what we know about the Amex Optima, offers cash back rewards and a number of standard Discover perks, like Discover’s Cashback Match, access to FICO scores, $0 fraud liability and more. Where the general public can apply for the Discover it Secured, only those who’ve defaulted upon and settled accounts with American Express might be invited to apply for the Amex Optima.
The Amex Optima is an unsecured card, where the Discover it Secured offers a card requiring a deposit as cash collateral.