Writer: Brittney Mayer
Editor: Lillian Guevara-Castro
Reviewer: Ashley Fricker
Checking to see if you qualify for Credit One pre-approval can be easily accomplished by following the steps detailed below. When companies check your credit report, there are two ways it can be done: through a hard inquiry or a soft inquiry.
A hard inquiry, or pull, generally involves a lender (or another party) requesting your complete credit report. A hard pull will usually leave a small negative mark on your report that comes with a matching decrease in your credit score for up to 12 months.
A soft inquiry, on the other hand, does not affect your credit score or report, but it doesn’t provide the lender as much information as a hard pull. Soft inquiries are often made during background checks, but can also be used by credit card companies to pre-qualify, or pre-approve, a credit applicant.
Pre-qualification is a smart way to test the waters and see how likely you are to be approved by an issuer. With a Credit One Bank credit card, the quick pre-approval process can be completed entirely online.
1: Go Online | 2: Enter Information | 3: Get Offers | 4. Alternatives
Step 1. Go Online to the Credit One Bank® Website
Everyone who applies for a Credit One credit card goes through pre-approval, particularly in light of the fact that Credit One specializes in subprime — bad credit — consumers. This helps ensure that everyone who applies for a credit card meets at least the minimum standards for approval. The pre-qualification process starts by heading to the Credit One website.
You can start the pre-approval process by clicking the link above, then moving on to Step 2. If you’ve already received a Credit One credit card pre-approval offer in the mail, you can skip the next step and instead use this link to enter your approval code.
Step 2. Enter Your Information Into the Pre-Approval Form
The pre-approval form is simple and usually takes only a few minutes to finish. You’ll enter basic details such as your name, address, phone number, annual income, and Social Security number.
Be sure the information you enter is accurate; missing or incorrect details can trigger a false rejection and make it seem like you don’t qualify for a card when you actually do.
It could also lead to an incorrect pre-approval, causing you to apply for a credit card — and endure a hard credit pull — for which you don’t actually meet the minimum requirements.
Step 3. See Your Pre-Qualified Credit Card Offers
Once you’ve finished the pre-qualification form, click the “See Card Offers” button to view your available options. The process usually takes just a few minutes and shows which Credit One cards may fit your credit profile.
Credit One has unsecured credit card offers with cash back rewards on all purchases as well as a secured card with 1% cash back on select eligible purchases. It does not offer any business credit cards.
Once you’ve selected the pre-approval offer that suits your needs, you can complete the official application. Keep in mind that this application will result in a hard credit check, which may affect your credit score.
Top Credit One Alternatives
If you decide that Credit One isn’t the right credit card company for you, we have chosen similar cards for less-than-perfect credit scores that can help with building credit (or rebuilding credit). Among the options are a secured credit card that requires a deposit for approval and a student credit card for anyone enrolled in school.
Each credit card has different terms and fees associated with it, so make sure you read the cardholder agreement before choosing the best credit card for you.
Things to Keep in Mind Before You Apply
While pre-qualification can be a great way to check whether you’ll be approved for a credit card without affecting your credit score, you should always remember that pre-approval does not guarantee approval once you apply. Your complete report may reveal additional risk factors, or your income may not meet the qualifications.
Additionally, keep in mind that the Credit One Bank credit cards are generally designed for those with poor credit or fair credit, so the fees and interest rates will be higher than those for cards that require higher credit scores. The specific terms you are offered will depend on your credit score and income level.
Nevertheless, if you use the card responsibly, it can be a good way to rebuild your credit.
Editorial Note: Our site content is not provided or commissioned by any credit card issuer(s). Opinions expressed on CardRates.com are the author's alone, not those of any credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by credit card issuers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information; however, all credit card offer details, including information about rewards, signup bonuses, introductory offers, and other terms and conditions, is presented without warranty. Clicking on any offer on CardRates.com will direct you to the issuer's website, where you can review the current terms and conditions of the offer.
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