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

How to Check Your Discover Application Status + 7 Best Cards

Discover Application Status
Eric Bank

Written by: Eric Bank

Eric Bank
Eric Bank

Eric Bank is an M.B.A. who has covered financial and business topics since 1985, appearing regularly on Credible, eHow, WiseBread, The Nest, Zacks, Chron, BadCredit.org and dozens of other outlets. Eric specializes in taking complex subject matters and explaining them in simple terms for consumer audiences, particularly in the world of personal finance. Eric holds a Master's in Business Administration from New York University and a Master's in Finance from DePaul University.

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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

Discover issues several types of credit cards, and applying for a Discover credit card — and knowing your Discover application status — couldn’t be simpler. The Discover it® Cash Back card is one of our most sought-after offers and stands out from the competition because of its year-end bonus and many consumer-friendly features. This card lets you redeem your rewards for cash whenever you want, in any amount, and the cash-back percentage on quarterly rotating categories is one of the most generous rewards programs in the industry. While many people apply for the card, only some are left wondering about their pending status.

The online process moves quickly and you get your status right away – accepted, denied, or pending. In the latter case, a human analyst is required to complete the process, which naturally takes longer. You can check your status in a couple of ways if you are awaiting a final decision.

Online | Phone | DenialsBest Discover Cards (7)

Check Online with Your SSN & ZIP Code

Discover makes it easy to check your approval status online. Simply go to the Check Status page and enter your Social Security number and your ZIP code. It only takes a few seconds to get your update, and you can check as often as you like.

Screenshot of Discover Card Application Status

Check the status of your pending Discover card application online as often as you like.

This method is the quickest way to check your pending application status and the process is completely secure.

Call 1-800-DISCOVER to Connect with an Agent

If you prefer, you can call 1-800-DISCOVER to get your current application status. After dialing, press # and then 4. This shortcut lets you avoid listening to all the tedious options available to callers.

Reasons Your Application Could Be Denied

Pending status usually denotes that some of your information needs further verification. Often this can arise due to differences in an address, misspellings, or perhaps a transposed number. The credit card issuer is doing you a favor by rechecking information because it helps prevent identity theft. If Discover cannot confirm your identity, it can’t issue you a credit card.

Unfortunately, a percentage of Discover applicants will be denied. You can look to your credit history and credit scores as the main culprit. Every major credit card issuer has minimum standards for acceptance that can trip you up, be it a low credit score, certain derogatory marks (bankruptcy, foreclosure, defaults, etc.), or a scant credit history. Before you apply for credit, check your credit reports and scores issued by the Big Three credit bureaus, Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. Correct any incorrect information and add comments when necessary to explain negative data.

Credit Score Pie ChartYou can improve your credit scores in several ways. One is not to apply to multiple creditors within a short time period – piling up creditor inquiries drives down your credit score, although the impact is usually small. Simply opening too many new accounts in rapid succession can also hurt your score by reducing your average account age. Also, check your credit utilization ratio – the amount of credit you are using versus the amount approved.

Generally, values above 30% hurt, while ratios below 10% to 20% help. If you first pay down your existing balances, you have a much better chance of qualifying for a new credit card.

Whatever the cause, a denial from Discover will not necessarily prevent you from obtaining a credit card from another issuer. Each card comes with its own standards, and some are more forgiving than others. Most issuers allow you to pre-qualify before they hard-pull your credit and drive down your score. Whether your credit is good, bad, or non-existent, there is a credit card perfect for you.

7  Best Discover Cards to Apply For

With Free FICO Score tracking, fraud protection, superior customer service, and top-notch rewards, it’s no wonder Discover cardholders have rated their experience with the issuer a 4.8 out of 5 based on more than 25,000 reviews. Below are our expert’s seven favorite Discover cards to apply for, with options for every credit standing.

Good Credit (4) | Student Cards (2) | No/Limited/Bad Credit (1)

Cards for Good Credit (FICO Score 700+)

FICO scores range from 300 to 850. If your score is excellent, (i.e., above 750), you can pick just about any credit card on the market. You also have many alternatives if your credit score is good, between 700 and 750. Discover offers four great options for those with good credit, whether it’s cash back, air miles, or an extended balance transfer period you’re after.

Discover it® Cash Back Review

at Discover Card'ssecure website

EXPERT'S 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
Discover it® Balance Transfer Review

at Discover Card'ssecure website

EXPERT'S 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.
  • Your account may not always be eligible for balance transfers. Balance transfer eligibility is determined at Discover’s discretion.
  • 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.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 6 months
0% Intro APR for 18 months
17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
$0
Excellent/Good
Discover it® Miles Review

at Discover Card'ssecure website

EXPERT'S RATING
★★★★★
4.8
OVERALL RATING
  • UNLIMITED BONUS: Unlimited Mile-for-Mile match for all new cardmembers - only from Discover. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
  • Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase
  • No annual fee
  • Turn Miles into cash. Or redeem as a statement credit for your travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants and more.
  • 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.24% - 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR will 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.
  • Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards.
  • 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
Discover it® Chrome Review

at Discover Card'ssecure website

EXPERT'S 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! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
  • Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • 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

+See More Cards for Good Credit

Cards for Students

Discover has some of the most desirable student cards on the market. This is due to its solid cash back rewards program that rivals many non-student cards available to those with good credit. This is a big deal because these student offers are most applicant’s first credit card.

Use it responsibly to build upon your credit history so when you’re no longer a student, you can still qualify for cards with the best rewards programs — it wouldn’t be ideal to go from a card like one below to another with lesser benefits!

Discover it® Student Chrome Review

at Discover Card'ssecure website

EXPERT'S RATING
★★★★★
4.5
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 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • 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
Discover it® Student Cash Back Review

at Discover Card'ssecure website

EXPERT'S RATING
★★★★★
4.5
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

+ See More Cards for Students

Cards for No/Limited/Bad Credit (FICO Score <650)

Bad credit is associated with black marks, such as defaults, bankruptcies, foreclosures, late payments, or scant credit history. But take heart, Discover still offers a credit card for consumers with imperfect credit. Here is our top-rated Discover card for folks who fall into this category. Secured credit cards are a great way to establish credit if you’re just starting out, and they also provide a path to begin rebuilding credit following some financial missteps.

Discover it® Secured Credit Card Review

at Discover Card'ssecure website

EXPERT'S RATING
★★★★
4.0
OVERALL RATING
  • No credit score required to apply.
  • No Annual Fee, earn cash back, and build your credit history.
  • Your secured credit card requires a refundable security deposit, and your credit line will equal your deposit amount, starting at $200. Bank information must be provided when submitting your deposit.
  • Automatic reviews starting at 7 months to see if we can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.
  • Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • 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 an alert if we find your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites. Activate for free.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
10.99% Intro APR for 6 months
28.24% Variable APR
$0
New/Rebuilding

+See More Cards for No/Limited/Bad Credit

Discover the Best Card for Your Wallet

Applying for one of the many Discover credit cards is very much worth your while, as their flexible rewards program is just one of the many perks cardholders enjoy. If your application was denied, you can call Discover to discuss why. Sometimes, the problem may be resolved by clarifying or correcting some data. If you can’t get to ‘’yes” with Discover, another issuer might fit the bill a lot better. By understanding your credit score and choosing among our top picks, you’ll be able to identify the card that best fits your lifestyle.


Photo credits: Thebalance.com

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.