10 Things To Do Before Applying For A Credit Card

June 10, 2024

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10 Things To Do Before Applying For A Credit Card

10 Things To Do Before Applying For A Credit Card: Taking These Steps Can Help You Make A Smart Choice And Keep Your Finances In Check.

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Before applying for a credit card, it’s important to take a few steps to ensure you’re making the best decision for your financial health. Here are some key things to do:

1. Check Your Credit Score

Why: Your credit score influences the types of credit cards you can get and the interest rates you’ll be offered.
How: You can check your credit score for free through various online services or your bank.

2. Review Your Credit Report

Why: Checking your credit report helps you spot any errors or issues that could impact your application.
How: Obtain a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) at AnnualCreditReport.com.

3. Determine Your Credit Needs

Why: Knowing what you want from a credit card helps you choose the right one for your needs.
How: Decide if you need a card for building credit, earning rewards, transferring a balance, or making a big purchase.

4. Compare Credit Card Offers

Why: Different cards offer different benefits, fees, and interest rates.
How: Use comparison websites to look at various credit card options. Pay attention to interest rates (APR), annual fees, rewards programs, and other features.

5. Understand the Terms and Conditions

Why: Knowing the terms helps you avoid surprises and manage your credit card responsibly.
How: Read the fine print to understand the interest rates, fees, penalty rates, and other important details.

6. Consider Your Debt-to-Income Ratio

Why: Lenders use this ratio to determine your ability to manage monthly payments and repay debts.
How: Calculate your monthly debt payments and divide them by your monthly income to get your debt-to-income ratio.

7. Prepare Your Financial Information

Why: Having your financial details ready makes the application process smoother.
How: Gather your Social Security number, income information, and employment details.

8. Avoid Multiple Applications

Why: Applying for several credit cards in a short period can hurt your credit score.
How: Choose the best card for your needs and apply for it, rather than applying for multiple cards at once.

9. Plan How You’ll Use the Card

Why: Having a clear plan helps you use the card responsibly and avoid debt.
How: Decide if you’ll use the card for everyday purchases, emergencies, or specific expenses, and plan how you’ll pay off the balance each month.

10. Know Your Rights

Why: Understanding your consumer rights can protect you from unfair practices.
How: Familiarize yourself with the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act and other consumer protection laws.

By following these steps, you can make a more informed decision and choose a credit card that fits your financial situation and goals.

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June 10, 2024

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Sample Caption
Bank Name	Reports	Back Dates
Amex	✅	❌
Barclay	✅	✅
Bank of America	✅	✅
Chase	Sometimes	✅
Citi	✅	✅
Capital One	✅	✅
Discover	✅	✅
HSBC	❌	❌
US Bank	✅	✅

This is some text inside of a div block.

Sample Caption
Bank	Minimum Payment Calculation
American Express Personal	The greater of these: $40, 2% of the balance excluding interest and fees, 1% of your balance plus interest and fees
American Express Business	The greater of these: $35, For a balance of $0-$25,000: 1% of the balance plus monthly interest and fees, For a balance of $25,000-$75,000: 5% of the balance plus monthly interest and fees, For a balance over $75,000: 10% of the balance plus monthly interest and fees*
Bank Of America	The greater of these: $25, or 1% of the full balance plus the monthly interest and fees
Barclay Bank	The greater of these: $27, or 1% of the full balance plus the monthly interest and fees
Capital One	The greater of these: $25, or 1% of the full balance plus the monthly interest and fees
Chase	The greater of these: $25, or 1% of the full balance plus the monthly interest and fees
Citi	The greater of these: $25 or 1% of the full balance plus the monthly interest and fees, or 1.5% of the full balance
Discover	The greater of these: $35, or 2% of the full balance or $20 plus the monthly interest and fees
Santander	The greater of these: $25, or 1% of the full balance plus the monthly interest and fees
Synchrony	The greater of these: $25, or $35 if you had any late payments within the last six months, or 1% of your full balance plus the monthly interest and fees
Us Bank	The greater of these: $30, or 1% of your full balance plus the monthly interest and fees
Wells Fargo	The greater of these: $15, or 1% of the full balance plus the monthly interest and fees

Sample Caption
RATIO	TRANSFER PARTNER	TRANSFER TIME	ENDS	TYPE
1:1	Aeroplan Loyalty Program	Instant	July 31, 2024	Airlines
1:1	Air France-KLM Flying Blue	Instant		Airlines
1:1	Avios	Instant		Airlines
1:1	Emirates Skywards	Instant		Airlines
1:1	IHG One Rewards	1 Day		Hotels
1:1	JetBlue TrueBlue Rewards Program	Instant		Airlines
1:1	Marriott Bonvoy	2 Days		Hotels
1:1	Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer	12-24 Hours		Airlines
1:1	Southwest Rapid Rewards	Instant		Airlines
1:1	United MileagePlus	Instant		Airlines
1:1	Virgin Atlantic FlyingClub	Instant		Airlines
1:1	World of Hyatt Loyalty Program	Instant		Hotels

Bank	Credit Bureau	Notes
Amex	Experian	For existing Amex cardholders, Amex does not pull your credit for new credit card applications.
Avianca	TransUnion
Apple Card	TransUnion	They will first only do a soft pull to check if you qualify. If you qualify and accept the offer, then they do a hard pull. Some have had success avoiding the hard pull by freezing TransUnion after the preapproval but before the final decision.
Barclays	TransUnion
Bank of America	Experian	If you freeze your Experian report, they will pull your TransUnion credit report.
Capital One	Experian, Transunion, Equifax	If you freeze one credit bureau, you can still get approved (the credit bureau you freeze cannot be TransUnion).
Chase	Experian
Citi	Experian/Equifax	Citi will usually pull your Experian credit report, sometimes Equifax, and sometimes both Experian and Equifax. If you freeze your Experian credit report, you can sometimes request the reconsideration department to pull your Equifax credit report.
Citizens	Equifax
Discover	Experian/Equifax	Discover will usually pull your Experian credit report, sometimes Equifax. If you freeze your Experian credit report, Discover will be glad to pull from either TransUnion or Equifax. Chat with a rep after submitting the application.
Elan Financial	Experian
HSBC	Equifax
Key Bank	Equifax
Synchrony	TransUnion
TD Bank	Experian
US Bank	Experian	If you frequently apply for credit cards, first freeze your IDA/ARS bureaus before applying for a US Bank credit card.
Wells Fargo	Experian/Equifax	In some states, they pull Experian and Equifax.

Order	Credit Card	Bank	Credit Bureau	Notes
1	Chase Sapphire	Chase	Experian	Chase is very sensitive to recent inquiries.
2	Citi Premier	Citi	Experian/Equifax	Citi is also sensitive, but you can sometimes request to pull Equifax if Experian is frozen.
3	Amex Gold	Amex	Experian	Amex is less sensitive, and they don't pull credit for existing cardholders.
4	Barclays Arrival	Barclays	TransUnion	Less sensitive, but be mindful of one or two recent inquiries.

Sample Caption
Bank Name	Reports	Back Dates
Amex	✅	❌
Barclay	✅	✅
Bank of America	✅	✅
Chase	Sometimes	✅
Citi	✅	✅
Capital One	✅	✅
Discover	✅	✅
HSBC	❌	❌
US Bank	✅	✅

Sample Caption
Bank	Reports Business Cards?
Amex	No
Bank Of America	No
Barclays	No, Barclays business cards generally don’t report
Capital One	Yes, except the Capital One Spark Cash Plus and Capital One Venture X Business
Citi	No
Chase	No
Discover	Yes
M&T Bank	No
US Bank	No
TD Bank	Yes
Wells Fargo	No

Sample Caption
Issuer	Dun & Bradstreet	Small Business Financial Exchange (SBFE)	Experian Business	Equifax Business
Amex	Conflicting data points	Yes	No	No
Bank of America	No	Yes	No	No
Barclays	No	No	No	No
Capital One	Yes	Yes	Yes	Conflicting data points
Citi	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Chase	Yes	Yes	Yes	Conflicting data points
Discover	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
US Bank	Yes	No	No	Yes
Wells Fargo	No	Yes	No	No

Sample Caption
	Minimum Age
Amex	13 years old
Barclay	13 years old
Bank of America	No minimum age
Chase	No minimum age
Citi	No minimum age
Capital One	No minimum age
Discover	15 years old
US Bank	16 years old
Wells Fargo	No minimum age

Sample Caption
Rating	Credit Score Range	Description
Poor	<580	This credit score is well below the average score of U.S. consumers and demonstrates to lenders that the borrower may be a risk.
Fair	580-669	This credit score is below the average score of U.S. consumers, though many lenders will approve loans with this score.
Good	670-739	This credit score is near or slightly above the average of U.S. consumers and most lenders consider this a good score.
Very Good	740-799	This credit score is above the average of U.S. consumers and demonstrates to lenders that the borrower is very dependable.
Exceptional	800+	This credit score is well above the average score of U.S. consumers and clearly demonstrates to lenders that the borrower is an exceptionally low risk.

Sample Caption
Very Poor	Poor	Average	Good	Very Good	Excellent
579	619	679	719	779	800+
578	618	678	718	778	799
577	617	677	717	777	798
576	616	676	716	776	797
575	615	675	715	775	796
574	614	674	714	774	795
573	613	673	713	773	794
572	612	672	712	772	793
571	611	671	711	771	792
570	610	670	710	770	791
569	609	669	709	769	790
568	608	668	708	768	789
567	607	667	707	767	788
566	606	666	706	766	787
565	605	665	705	765	786
564	604	664	704	764	785
563	603	663	703	763	784
562	602	662	702	762	783
561	601	661	701	761	782
560	600	660	700	760	781
559	599	659	699	759	780
558	598	658	698	758
557	597	657	697	757
556	596	656	696	756
555	595	655	695	755
554	594	654	694	754
553	593	653	693	753
552	592	652	692	752
551	591	651	691	751
550	590	650	690	750
549	589	649	689	749
548	588	648	688	748
547	587	647	687	747
546	586	646	686	746
545	585	645	685	745
544	584	644	684	744
541	583	643	683	743
540	582	642	682	742
539	581	641	681	741
538	580	640	680	740
537		639		739
536		638		738
535		637		737
534		636		736
533		635		735
532		634		734
531		633		733
530		632		732
529		631		731
528		630		730
527		629		729
526		628		728
525		627		727
524		626		726
523		625		725
522		624		724
521		623		723
520		622		722
519		621		721
518		620		720
517
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515
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511
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500

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