Yes.
The best way to rebuild credit is to do just what you propose. Establish a relationship with a bank, or preferably credit union, officer. Make an appointment, explain your situation, and ask for assistance. Keep doing this until you find someone who will help you -- there will always be one, but it may not be the first person you ask (it depends how much joy the officer gets from the power of saying "no" over the power of helping someone).
Get a secured, short-term loan (6 months). Pay it back with full payments on time. This can be a line of credit at the bank, if nothing else, but you are better off with an actual loan. Recognize that the security amount cannot be used to pay the loan - the institution will hold the security until the loan is paid in full. With today's interest rates, it won't be too costly (certainly far less than carrying a balance on a credit card) and you aren't likely to have made much with that money elsewhere anyway.
If you have regular income but have just dealt badly with your money in the past, you need to demonstrate that you have "learned your lesson" and can handle things differently now. If you can't talk your way into a loan with your security then you can always go for direct deposit and automatic loan payments. It is really unlikely that this will be refused.
Continue until you can obtain a credit card. Once you have established the relationship with the finance officer, they will assist your application for credit. If you make good on the loans and keep in touch with the officer, this will go quite easily.
Then, buy everything on credit. Pay every bill in full by the payment due date. After six months, your limits will be lifted.
Apply for new cards now. Do the same. Pay for everything on card, pay the bills in full by the payment due date.
REMEMBER -- CREDIT CARDS ARE ONLY HOLDERS FOR MONEY. IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT BY THE END OF THE MONTH, DON'T BUY IT.
If you pay bills in full consistently for 6 months to 1 year, you will not have any problems at all obtaining credit. Every six months, call and ask for credit increases. If you have been using the card and paying it in full, they will do this without exception, regardless of other "marks" on your credit history. Each company will base it decisions on how you behave with them.
Good Luck.
