Applying for a great new credit card isn’t always a slam dunk for approval, I’m sad to say. I’ve been turned down for new cards, and it’s always a bummer when it happens. Thankfully, by making the following moves, you can turn today’s “no” into a “yes” in the future. Here’s how.
Pay down some existing debt
Maybe you were rejected due to how much credit card debt you already have — this is a common reason to be denied a new card. Credit utilization, or the amount of debt you have relative to your total credit limit, is a major part of your FICO® Score (more about credit scores below).
Ideally, you should aim to keep it below 30%. If you have a credit limit of $10,000 across all your credit cards, try to keep your total balance to less than $3,000 at any given time.
If you already have high balances on your current cards, focus on paying them down (the best way I found to do this was by increasing my income via a side hustle, but your mileage may vary). As a bonus, you’ll have more breathing room in your budget by the time you’re ready to apply for a new card.
Peek at your credit score and reports
Credit scores aren’t sexy, but they have a major impact on your financial life. The better your credit score (they run from 300 to 850), the cheaper it will be for you to borrow money. But you could also save on auto insurance, rent an apartment more easily, or even get hired if a prospective employer conducts a credit check as part of a background investigation.
You can likely see your credit score (ideally, your FICO® Score, as this is the one used by most lenders) for free via a bank account or credit card you already have. Most of the best credit cards require a score of 670 or over, so if yours is less than that, you’ve got some work to do. Focus on making on-time payments, and like we discussed above, see if you can pay down some current debt.
Already have a high credit score? You can enjoy excellent rewards and other perks from a credit card. Click here to check out the best credit cards for good credit.
You should also get copies of your credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com to see what could be dragging your credit score down. If you spot errors, like a delinquent account that isn’t yours or a late payment you never made, you can have the credit bureau remove them, which will boost your credit score.
Consider pre-approval
Want more assurance that you can be approved the next time you apply for a credit card? Some card issuers offer a pre-approval tool on their websites, where you can enter your information and see which cards could be a fit for you.
Using these tools doesn’t come with a hard credit check, just a soft credit check, which doesn’t impact your credit score. And if you see that you’re likely to be approved for the card you have your eye on, hooray! If not — focus on making the other moves on this list and try again in a few months.
Exercise patience
If you were turned down for your last credit card application because you’ve opened too many new credit accounts lately, you may just need to be patient. I know this is hard — patience isn’t one of my virtues, either. But according to Equifax, hard credit inquiries fall off your credit report after two years (and stop impacting your credit score after a year).
Aim to wait six months or a year between credit card applications. As a bonus, this also gives you time to research all your credit card options and pick the right one for you.
I took a year-long break from applying for new cards while I was in the process of paying off all my debt and getting my finances in better shape. As soon as my debt balance hit $0, I applied for a fantastic grocery rewards card that I was genuinely excited about. If I hadn’t had the time to learn about this card, I might not have applied for it — and wouldn’t currently be enjoying the $400 in cash back I earn from it every year.
It’s never fun to be denied a new credit card. But instead of taking this rejection personally, take a beat and dig into your finances. By ensuring your credit score is in good shape, paying down debt, and researching your card options, you’ll be in a better position to get the yes next time.
