5 Tips: How to Get Approved for a Credit Card

Getting approved for a credit card is easy for some people. But for others, the approval process can be fraught with roadblocks. This article will explain what you need to know if:

• You’re applying for your first card, you need to rebuild your credit, or you have one or more cards and want to obtain another.
• You want to learn more about how to apply and improve your chances of being approved.
• You’ve faced challenges being approved, or you’ve applied and been denied.

Before you apply, you should educate yourself about your options so you can choose a card that fits your situation and for which you’re likely to be approved.

Cards come with different rates, fees, and features. Some are designed for people with excellent credit; others target consumers with middle-of-the-pack credit scores, and still, others are intended for people who’ve had credit problems.

You can complete an application for a credit card online, in-person at a bank or credit union, or by calling the card issuer. You’ll need to provide your name, address, and other personal and financial information. If you don’t have a Social Security number, you may be able to use another form of identification.

Being approved for a card depends primarily on your credit score and your monthly income compared with your monthly minimum debt payments.

Your credit score is a three-digit number that represents the information in your credit reports. The most commonly used score is the FICO, developed by Fair Isaac, Corp.

There’s no one score that you have to have to get credit card approval. As a general guideline, a score of 800 or higher is considered exceptional; 740 to 799 is considered excellent credit; 670 to 739 is considered good, and 580 to 669 is considered fair credit. A score of 579 or lower is considered poor.

If you’ve never used credit or you’ve had problems with credit, your score could be low or even zero. In that case, you may want to apply for a starter, student, or secured card before you apply for a more sophisticated one.

See Cards For: No/Limited Credit (0 Score) | Bad Credit (300 – 579) | Fair Credit (580-669) | Good Credit (670-739) | Excellent Credit (740+)

Cards for No/Limited Credit

These types of cards tend to have lower limits, higher annual percentage rates (APRs), and fewer benefits. The advantage is that they can help you build your credit so you can be approved for other cards in the future. A low limit can help you learn to use credit responsibly and not incur more debt than you can manage.

 

Cards for Bad Credit

A card for bad credit may sound like a punishment, but some cards in this category are designed to help you rebuild your credit so you can qualify for more preferred cards. You won’t get a high credit limit, low APR, or awesome rewards and benefits, but you will get a chance to make your payment on time and beef up your credit score.

 

Cards for Fair Credit

Fair is neither good nor bad – it’s right in the middle – meaning the cards you’re likely to qualify for are also “right in the middle” in terms of APRs and rewards offered. Use the card responsibly to boost your credit score and eventually graduate to a card for good or excellent credit.

 

Cards for Good Credit

A good credit score, generally 670 or higher, will get you approved for many great credit cards. Whether you want travel rewards, cash back, or a low APR, you’ll have your pick among some of the best offers.

 

Cards for Excellent Credit

An excellent credit score will allow you to choose among the very best card offers available, including exclusive cards with expensive annual fees. These come with top-tier rewards, special cardholder privileges, and low APRs for those who qualify.

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

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Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

4.9/5.0

About this rating

Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.

See Our Review»

Ashley Fricker Senior Editor

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★★★★★ 4.9/5.0

at Bank Of America'ssecure website

Our Review »

• $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
• Earn 6% cash back for the first year in the category of your choice. You’ll automatically earn 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. After the first year from account opening, you’ll earn 3% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
• Earn 6% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category, and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then earn unlimited 1% thereafter. After the 3% first-year bonus offer ends, you will earn 3% and 2% cash back on these purchases up to the quarterly maximum.
• No annual fee and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
• Select your card design option when you apply – the Customized Cash Rewards design, or the limited-time FIFA World Cup 2026™ design.
• 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 17.49% - 27.49% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 5%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
• This offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Show MoreShow Less See application, terms and details »

Intro (Purchases) 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Intro (Transfers) 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (Balance Transfer Fee 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 5%)

Regular APR 17.49% - 27.49% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

Annual Fee $0

Credit Needed Excellent/Good

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

CardRates Expert Rating

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

4.7/5.0

About this rating

Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.

See Our Review»

Ashley Fricker Senior Editor

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★★★★★ 4.7/5.0

Our Review »

• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge and Landing locations and participating Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
• Top rated mobile app

Show MoreShow Less See application, terms and details »

Intro (Purchases) N/A

Intro (Transfers) N/A

Regular APR 19.49% - 28.49% (Variable)

Annual Fee $395

Credit Needed Excellent

See Rates & Fees »

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

CardRates Expert Rating

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

4.9/5.0

About this rating

Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.

See Our Review»

Ashley Fricker Senior Editor

Close

★★★★★ 4.9/5.0

at Bank Of America'ssecure website

Our Review »

• 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
• Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on everyday purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
• Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center.
• Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
• Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants, including takeout.
• 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 17.49% - 27.49% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 5%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
• This offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Show MoreShow Less See application, terms and details »

Intro (Purchases) 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Intro (Transfers) 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (Balance Transfer Fee 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 5%)

Regular APR 17.49% - 27.49% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

Annual Fee $0

Credit Needed Excellent/Good

+ See More Cards for Excellent Credit

If you don’t know your score, you can find out online. Some websites offer scores free. Others charge a fee. Before you use a specific website, you should read the fine print because some websites use your personal information to market financial products to you or share your personal information with other companies for their marketing purposes.

To understand your score, it may be helpful to look at your credit reports from the three main credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Your reports are important because the information they contain is used to create your scores.

You can get your reports free from AnnualCreditReport.com. If you find any errors in your reports, notify the credit bureau and ask to have the error corrected. An accurate report may improve your scores.

The most important factor in your score is whether you make your payments on time. Setting up alerts and putting reminders on your calendar can help you remember when your payments are due.

Other factors that affect your score include the types of credit you use, your credit utilization rate, and how long you have used credit. Retail store cards, auto loans, and other types of debt can also help you build your credit history.

The best way to improve your score is to make all your payments on time.

You’ll be asked to disclose your monthly income when you apply for a card. You don’t have to have a high income or full-time job, but you usually will need to have at least some steady income from somewhere or someone.

Card issuers have different rules to determine what type of income you can use to qualify, but there are some general guidelines:

• You must be at least 18 years old to apply for a card on your own. If you’re younger than that, you can become an authorized user on someone else’s card to establish your own credit history. That someone else may be your mom, dad, or another family member.
• If you’re 18, 19, or 20, you can apply for a card on your own. But to be approved, you’ll need to show that you have a reliable monthly income, or you’ll need a cosigner who has good credit and is willing to be responsible for your card debt along with you.
• You may be able to use financial aid, such as a scholarship, grant, stipend, or work-study, as income to qualify if you receive the income on a regular basis (i.e., not just once) and you can use the funds to pay for daily living expenses (i.e., not just tuition).
• If you’re 21 or older, you can use your own income or your spouse’s, partner’s, or parent’s income to apply if you have access to that income, such as if it’s deposited into a shared account, or a portion of it is transferred to you (e.g., as an allowance) every month. Student loans are debt and should not be used as income to qualify for a card.

By the way, you’ll never be too old to be approved for a card. That’s because lenders aren’t legally allowed to discriminate against you on the basis of your age once you’re at least 21.

When you apply for a card, the income you earn isn’t as important as your ability to repay what you charge on your card and pay back any other debt you have.

To figure out whether you have enough income to handle your debt, card issuers look at your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, which compares your monthly income to your monthly minimum debt payments. There’s no hard-and-fast DTI ratio to be approved, but all else being equal, a lower DTI ratio is better than a higher DTI ratio.

You will need more income, less debt, or both to lower your DTI ratio.

 

Card issuers have different standards for DTI so if you don’t qualify for one card, you may qualify for another, or you may qualify for the card you want, but with a lower limit.

You shouldn’t lie about your income when you apply for a card because it’s illegal, and you could get approved with a limit that’s too high for you. That could snowball into a number of financial problems, including too much debt, bad credit, or even bankruptcy.

Some card issuers will consider such factors as your employment, student status, and checking account balance when you apply for a card.

Some cards are designed for people who have a short — or no — credit history. These cards are sometimes called starter or no-credit cards.

Starter cards are great options to help you learn to manage credit responsibly and eventually graduate to cards with richer rewards and lower APRs.

Starter Cards: If you’ve had problems with credit, a true starter card — designed for people who have a limited credit history — may not be the best fit for you. But if you’re young, recently divorced, or new to credit for another reason, a starter could increase your chances of approval. The card below is a great option for anyone looking to build credit.

Student Cards:

If you’re a student, you’re in luck because there are a lot of cards designed for people like you. Student cards may have a lower credit limit and most generally come with a few perks and benefits. Consider a student card training for the real world. Paying your credit card bill on time and in full every month will help build your credit history so you can qualify for cards with higher limits and more attractive benefits. See our top student selection below.

Secured Cards:

If you don’t have much experience with credit or you’ve had some problems with credit, another option is a secured card. This type of card requires an upfront deposit, which may be refunded once you’ve established a good payment record or if you close your account without an outstanding balance. Our top secured card has no annual fee and the issuer will review your account for credit limit increases after you make five consecutive on-time payments.

It’s easier to be approved for a secured card because if you don’t make your payment, your card company can use all or part of your deposit for that purpose. If that happens, that portion of your deposit will not be refunded even if you close your account.

A credit card is a form of debt. Each time you use your card to make a purchase, you’re borrowing that amount of money from the card issuer. The maximum you’re allowed to owe at any one time is known as your credit limit.

Each month, you receive a statement that shows how much you owe and a due date by which you must make a minimum payment. If you pay off your card balance every month, you’ll never have to pay any interest. If you carry over a balance, you’ll be charged interest for that amount and any new purchases you make.

Cards are a type of revolving debt. Revolving means that, if you hit your limit and then pay off all or part of the amount you owe, you can borrow that amount again.

You don’t have to have a credit card, but there are good reasons to get one — or a few — if you qualify:

• Cards are more convenient than cash or checks.
• If your card is lost or stolen, your losses will be limited. If cash is lost or stolen, it’s gone.
• Cards can help you track your expenses.
• Cards are free to obtain and use if you avoid fees and pay your full balance every month.
• Cards allow you to make rental car and hotel reservations and shop online.
• Many cards give you rewards, such as cash back, travel benefits, or points toward merchandise purchases.
• Cards can help you build your credit history so you can qualify for other types of loans with lower rates and better terms later.

Read on for the advantages of having multiple credit cards.

Once you’ve been approved for one or more cards, you may want to get additional cards.

More cards could let you earn signup bonuses and give you access to other perks like cash back, air miles, and gifts. You may also be able to transfer a balance and get a 0% introductory APR offer or upgrade from a secured card to an unsecured card. Additionally, having more credit cards in good standing can lead to higher credit limits.

You may also want more cards in case your favorites are lost, stolen or temporarily unusable due to fraud on your account. Or you may want multiple cards for different purposes, such as online shopping, travel or dining. Some cards offer company-specific rewards that may appeal to you. If you own a business or you have a side gig, you might want to have business cards as well as personal cards.

To get approved for additional credit cards, you’ll need to use your credit responsibly, make your payments on time to secure a high credit score, and keep your card utilization relatively low. Now that you know how to get approved, you can shop and apply for the cards you want with confidence.