What is the rejection rate for credit cards?
The overall rejection rate for credit applicants declined to 18.7 percent in February 2024, down from 21.1 percent in October 2023. The decrease was broad-based across credit score groups but driven by those over age 40.
The average rejection rate for credit card applications during 2023 increased by 1.1 percentage points to 19.6%.
A new note from the Federal Reserve shows that the credit rejection rate is at 21.8%. If you've recently hoped to take advantage of a few months of 0% APR and applied for a credit card only to get a rejection, you're not alone.
Being denied for a credit card doesn't hurt your credit score. But the hard inquiry from submitting an application can cause your score to decrease.
Yes, you can reapply for the same credit card or a different one if your application is denied. However, it is essential to understand the reasons why your application was denied and work towards fixing them before reapplying. It is also advisable to wait for at least six months to increase your chances of approval.
The best way to get approved for your next credit card is to use your current credit cards responsibly. Make on-time payments on every card, and try to keep your credit card balances below 30 percent of your available credit to maintain a good credit utilization ratio.
1. Wait to reapply. How long you should wait to reapply for a credit card after an application is denied varies with each person's situation, so there's no hard-and-fast timeline to follow. The typical recommendation is that you should wait six months between credit card applications.
What is a bad credit score? Well, there are several credit score ranges. For instance, 780–850 may be considered "excellent" while 720–780 may be seen as "good." But when it comes to a range that may be seen as bad, a score between 300 (the lowest) and 660 fits into the “poor” category.
There is no limit to the number of credit applications you can make, but not all of them will get accepted. Here is what you need to know before making multiple applications.
A rejection won't worsen your credit score
Any time you apply for a loan or credit card, a hard inquiry is done on your credit report. And that will usually result in a modest drop in your score -- somewhere in the ballpark of five points or so. A hit that small generally won't have much of an impact.
How many hard inquiries is too many?
Since hard inquiries affect your credit score and what is found may even affect approval, you might be wondering: How many inquiries is too many? The answer differs from lender to lender, but most consider six total inquiries on a report at one time to be too many to gain approval for an additional credit card or loan.
How long should I wait between applying for credit cards? According to Experian, you should try to avoid applying for new credit more than once every six months. Each credit card issuer may also have their own rules about how often you can open a new credit card account with them.
In most cases, it's one of the following: Your credit score is too low. You don't have enough income. You have too much debt relative to your income.
Credit card companies can deny your application if you have too many recent inquiries. They might also be hesitant if your annual spending is relatively low, but you already have multiple credit cards.
- Axis Ace Credit Card. ...
- SBI Card Elite. ...
- Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card. ...
- HSBC Visa Platinum Card. ...
- Citibank cashback Credit Card. ...
- Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card. ...
- Standard Chartered Super Value Titanium Credit Card. ...
- Simply CLICK SBI Card.
How do hard inquiries impact your credit score? A hard credit inquiry could lower your credit score by as much as 10 points, though in many cases the damage probably won't be that significant. As FICO explains: “For most people, one additional credit inquiry will take less than five points off their FICO Scores.”
- Best for students: Discover it® Student Cash Back.
- Best for no annual fee: Citi Double Cash® Card.
- Best secured credit card: Discover it® Secured Credit Card.
- Best for cash back: U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Secured Card.
- Best for no credit: Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card.
Too much debt: If you have a lot of outstanding credit obligations — loans, mortgages and high credit card balances — issuers will view you as a higher-risk borrower. Too young: You'll be denied credit if you're under 18, and likely if you're under 21 and don't earn an independent income.
Your credit history is limited.
If you have just started your credit journey, chances are you don't have a lot of proof of your creditworthiness. This is called a “thin credit file” or “limited credit history,” and it's a common reason for a card issuer to deny a credit card application.
You will probably still be able to get a credit card after a charge-off, but you may receive a higher interest rate, and your options may be limited depending on how low your score is. There is no law requiring creditors to offer you credit.
Is it bad to apply for the same credit card twice?
It's usually a temporary drop of about five points. But some creditors may reject your application if your credit report shows too many recent inquiries. Issuers won't make it easy. Having two of the same credit card is generally discouraged by issuers.
Owning more than two or three credit cards can become unmanageable for many people. However, your credit needs and financial situation are unique, so there's no hard and fast rule about how many credit cards are too many. The important thing is to make sure that you use your credit cards responsibly.
- Review Your Credit Report. ...
- Pay Your Bills on Time. ...
- Ask for Late Payment Forgiveness. ...
- Keep Credit Card Balances Low. ...
- Keep Old Credit Cards Active. ...
- Become an Authorized User. ...
- Consider a Credit Builder Loan. ...
- Take Out a Secured Credit Card.
- Be a Responsible Payer. ...
- Limit your Loan and Credit Card Applications. ...
- Lower your Credit Utilisation Rate. ...
- Raise Dispute for Inaccuracies in your Credit Report. ...
- Do not Close Old Accounts.
- Very Poor: 300-499.
- Poor: 500-600.
- Fair: 601-660.
- Good: 661-780.
- Excellent: 781-850.
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