The Ultimate Guide to Credit Cards
Thursday, March 28, 2024

How to Check Your Capital One® Application Status + 12 Denial Options

Capital One Application Status
Brittney Mayer

Written by: Brittney Mayer

Brittney Mayer
Brittney Mayer

Brittney is a Credit Strategist and Finance Expert who has spent years honing her knowledge of the credit industry both personally and professionally. Brittney applies her more than a decade of research experience to crafting in-depth consumer guides designed to help CardRates readers make better, more informed financial decisions.

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Edited by: Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro
Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro brings more than 30 years of editing and journalism experience to the CardRates team. She has written and edited for major news organizations, including The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the New York Times, and she previously served as an adjunct journalism instructor at the University of Florida. Today, Lillian edits all CardRates content for clarity, accuracy, and reader engagement.

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Advertiser Disclosure

One of the five largest card issuers in the world, Capital One is likely most recognizable by its longtime tagline, “What’s in your wallet?” For those who have recently applied for a Capital One credit card but did not receive an immediate decision, this article will bring you up to speed on how to check your Capital One application status.

Capital One has made its mark on the credit card rewards space with its blackout-free travel rewards program and is changing the way we bank with its Capital One Cafés. Indeed, whether you want to fly without limits or talk money over mochas, there are many reasons to join the millions of Capital One cardholders.

Whatever your motivation, when you apply for a Capital One credit card through the online application, your approval status will often be determined in 60 seconds or less. Whether you are approved or denied, the decision will be displayed right on the screen. However, sometimes the automated algorithms used to quickly analyze applicants can’t reach a decision. In these cases, your application is considered to be “pending” until it can be reviewed by hand. In the following article, we’ll take a look at what you can do when you don’t receive an instant decision, including calling Captial One and visiting the issuer’s website. If you are denied, we’ll also provide a few potential alternative cards worth considering.

Over the Phone | Online | Denial Alternatives

Call the Application Status Phone Number: 1-800-903-9177

In the normal scheme of things, it usually takes around 7 to 10 days for your pending application to go through review and a decision to be mailed out, but it could be several weeks depending on the additional documentation needed. And yes, your decision will be mailed. You’ll need to check your mailbox for the results.

Screenshot of Pending Credit Card Application Message

In some cases, issuers need to verify your information or collect additional data to come to a decision on a credit card application.

You can potentially speed up the decision timeline by cutting out the postal middleman and going straight to the source at Capital One. Applicants can get a status update at any time by calling the application status line at:

1-800-903-9177

One of the most common reasons for having an application sent to “pending” limbo is the need for verification of some of the information on your application. This can be as simple as clearing up mismatched addresses due to a recent move, or may require sending in additional documentation to verify income or employment status. Those who apply for credit cards frequently may simply need to confirm the application is valid and not fraud.

When you call, be sure to have your application ID number or your Social Security number on hand to make it easier for the representative to find your application. You’ll also want to remember that the person on the other end of the line is a person — treat them as such. Being polite can often go a long way toward hastening the process.

You Can’t Check the Status of Your Application Online

Unfortunately, if you don’t want to wait for a snail-mail response, the phone number above is your only real option. While odd in today’s digital era, Capital One doesn’t actually offer an online option to check the continuing status of a pending application. Furthermore, Capital One doesn’t offer an online contact form or email address for checking your application status, either.

If Your Application is Denied, Try These Alternatives

No matter how you get the news, finding out your Capital One application was denied can be disappointing — and, sometimes, a shock. It isn’t always those with poor credit who are denied a Capital One credit card, either. If your credit history is good but not very long, you may be denied a Capital One card. Some applicants also report being denied for submitting more than three Capital One credit card applications within a 30-day period.

Whatever the case, your best bet may be to try getting credit from another issuer entirely, as each credit card issuer has its own standards for extending credit. If you are concerned about your approval chances and want to avoid a futile hard credit pull, check to see if you pre-qualify before applying. No matter what type of credit you have — or don’t have, for those just starting out — there is likely a credit card designed for you. See our top-rated cards below to start your search.

Good Credit (700+) | Fair Credit (650-699) | Bad Credit ( | No/Limited Credit

Alternatives for Good Credit (FICO Score 700+)

With a FICO score of 700 or above, you’re considered to have “good” credit by most credit card issuers, and it’s unlikely that your score was the reason for being denied a Capital One card. More likely, your credit history is not long enough, or you have already applied for a Capital One too many times in too short a time period. Either way, you’ll probably have better luck by trying for a different card from another issuer.

Discover it® Cash Back Review

at Discover Card'ssecure website

GOOD CREDIT RATING
★★★★★
4.9
OVERALL RATING
  • INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
  • Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
  • Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
  • Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
  • Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.24% to 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
  • No annual fee.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 15 months
0% Intro APR for 15 months
17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
$0
Excellent/Good
GOOD CREDIT RATING
★★★★★
4.9
OVERALL RATING
  • $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
  • Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% for 15 months
0% for 15 months
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
$0
Excellent, Good
GOOD CREDIT RATING
★★★★★
4.9
OVERALL RATING
  • Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
  • $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
  • Enjoy up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
  • Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
  • No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% for 15 months
0% for 15 months
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
$0
Excellent, Good

+See More Cards for Good Credit

Alternatives for Fair Credit (FICO Score 650 – 699)

If your FICO credit score falls between 650 and 699, your credit is generally considered to be “fair” or “average.” Depending on which Capital One card you applied for, your credit score may have been the reason you were denied, as many of Capital One’s credit cards require good to excellent credit to qualify. When you have fair credit, your best option is likely to apply for a card aimed at those building — or rebuilding — their credit scores.

FAIR CREDIT RATING
★★★★★
4.9
OVERALL RATING
  • No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
  • Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
  • Help build your credit through responsible use of a card like this
  • Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
  • Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
  • Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with online banking from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One's mobile app
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
30.74% (Variable)
$0
Average, Fair, Limited
Discover it® Student Cash Back Review

at Discover Card'ssecure website

FAIR CREDIT RATING
★★★★★
4.8
OVERALL RATING
  • INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
  • Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
  • Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
  • No credit score required to apply.
  • Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
  • No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 18.24% - 27.24% applies.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 6 months
10.99% Intro APR for 6 months
18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR
$0
Fair/New to Credit
FAIR CREDIT RATING
★★★★★
4.8
OVERALL RATING
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
  • No rotating categories or limits to how much you can earn, and cash back doesn't expire for the life of the account. It's that simple
  • Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
  • Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
  • Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
  • Enjoy up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
30.74% (Variable)
$39
Average, Fair, Limited

+See More Cards for Fair Credit

Alternatives for Bad Credit (

The lower your credit score, the greater the credit risk you represent. When your FICO score falls below 650, you represent a bad credit risk for many prime credit cards — including most unsecured Capital One cards. To improve your chances of being approved, try applying for a credit card specifically designed for those whose credit is less-than-perfect, like our top-rated picks below.

Secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card Review

at the issuer'ssecure website

BAD CREDIT RATING
★★★★★
4.8
OVERALL RATING
4.5/5.0
  • No credit check to apply
  • Adjustable credit limit based on what you transfer from your Chime Checking account to the secured account
  • No interest* or annual fees
  • Chime Checking Account and qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more required to apply. See official application, terms, and details link below.
  • The secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Card is issued by Stride Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted.
  • *Out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees may apply. See here for details.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
N/A
$0
None
FIT™ Platinum Mastercard® Review

at Continental Finance'ssecure website

BAD CREDIT RATING
★★★★★
4.7
OVERALL RATING
  • $400 credit limit doubles to $800! (Simply make your first 6 monthly minimum payments on time)
  • All credit types welcome to apply
  • Monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus
  • Initial Credit Limit of $400.00 (Subject to available credit)
  • Fast and easy application process; results in seconds
  • Use your card at locations everywhere Mastercard® is accepted
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
29.99%
$99
Fair/Poor/Bad
BAD CREDIT RATING
★★★★★
4.7
OVERALL RATING
  • Earn 1% cash back rewards^^ on payments made to your Revvi Credit Card
  • Perfect credit not required
  • $300 credit limit (subject to available credit)
  • Checking account required
  • Opportunity to request credit limit increase after twelve months, fee applies
  • *See Rates, Fees, Costs & Limitations for complete offer details
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
See website for Details
N/A
35.99%
$75.00 1st year, $48.00 after
Fair

+See More Cards for Bad Credit

Alternatives for No or Limited Credit

Anyone who has tried to start a new career is probably familiar with the common Catch-22 of, “you need experience to get a job, and a job to get experience.” A similar truth exists in finance: you need credit to get credit. To starting building your credit history, you need to establish some kind of credit — and to qualify for most types of credit, you need to have an established credit history. Luckily, issuers are not unsympathetic to the plight of the creditless; a number of options exist for those who are just starting on their credit journey.

Secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card Review

at the issuer'ssecure website

NO/LIMITED CREDIT RATING
★★★★★
4.7
OVERALL RATING
4.5/5.0
  • No credit check to apply
  • Adjustable credit limit based on what you transfer from your Chime Checking account to the secured account
  • No interest* or annual fees
  • Chime Checking Account and qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more required to apply. See official application, terms, and details link below.
  • The secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Card is issued by Stride Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted.
  • *Out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees may apply. See here for details.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
N/A
$0
None
NO/LIMITED CREDIT RATING
★★★★★
4.7
OVERALL RATING
  • No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
  • Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
  • Help build your credit through responsible use of a card like this
  • Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
  • Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
  • Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with online banking from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One's mobile app
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
30.74% (Variable)
$0
Average, Fair, Limited
NO/LIMITED CREDIT RATING
★★★★★
4.7
OVERALL RATING
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
  • Early Spend Bonus: Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months
  • Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
  • Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
  • Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees
  • Lock your card in the Capital One Mobile app if it's misplaced, lost or stolen
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
$0
Average, Fair, Limited

+See More Cards for Limited Credit

Choose the Right Card for You

From blackout-free travel to super-modern bistro-banks, there are many great reasons to apply for a Capital One credit card. Not to mention the company’s longstanding reputation among credit card issuers and the fact that it is one of the largest issuers in the world. While it can be nerve-wracking to see the message that your application needs further review, a pending application is better than an instant denial.

Many people have reported being approved after calling their issuer to provide missing information or otherwise clarify or verify application data. If you do end up being denied for the Capital One card you were after, changing issuers might be all you need to successfully qualify for a great card. Whichever route you take, always compare your credit options to ensure you get the best terms and options that fit your personal spending habits.

Advertiser Disclosure

CardRates.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free, we receive compensation for referrals for many of the offers listed on the site. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear across CardRates.com (including, for example, the order in which they appear). CardRates.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. Editorial opinions expressed on the site are strictly our own and are not provided, endorsed, or approved by advertisers.