Every time you apply for a credit card, do you end up with a low limit like $2,000 to $2,500? It can be pretty frustrating, right? Having a higher credit limit can give you more spending power and even help you save on interest by moving your debt to a 0% APR card.

Getting a higher limit isn’t just about having a great credit score or a big income. There are some smart, simple ways to increase your chances. In this article, I’ll share easy tips to help you get a higher credit limit, giving you more financial freedom and flexibility.

First increase your current credit lines

Card issuers, before approving you for a high credit line, will look at how much of a credit line other banks are giving you (no one wants to be the first one to give high limits.) Therefore, before applying for a new card, it is recommended to first try to raise the credit lines of your older credit cards.

This can often be done without even making a new credit pull (find a list here). Please note that once your credit limit is raised, you will need to first wait for the credit card issuer to report the higher limit to the credit bureau, and then you can apply for the new card. The information is usually updated on the date that your statement closes, but you can double-check on WalletHub for free and see if your credit file was actually updated (WalletHub gives you a free updated credit report every single day).

Or combine your credit limits

Another way to get higher credit limits on one of your existing cards is by combining credit limits from a few credit cards to one. If you have two or more credit cards from the same card issuer, then you may want to try to ask that the bank combine the credit lines so that you can have one card with a higher credit limit instead of two or three cards with lower credit limits.

You can find a full list of which banks allow combining credit limits and the rules to know about here.

Choose the right bank

There are banks that are known to be easier and more likely to approve applicants for a high credit limit. Chase, American Express (with an existing relationship) and Capital One (especially on their business cards) are all known to approve applicants for a high credit limit (My personal experience was always best with Chase). Also, Barclays is great at matching the current limits you have with other issuers, (if you were not matched then call the reconsideration line and ask them to match it).

You can research real-time data points on which banks are currently approving for the highest credit limits in our credit card database. Just search by bank and see what credit limits fellow users recently got approved for.

Make sure your relationship with banks are perfecto

It is also recommended to choose a bank that you already have open credit card accounts with for a couple of years with a perfect payment history. These banks are more likely to approve you for a higher credit limit. For this reason, I always recommend people who are starting out to build their credit, to apply for credit cards with a few of the big credit card issuers instead of getting two, three credit cards from the same issuer. This helps them spread out their basket and will later help them at having a better chance of getting approved for better credit cards from all those issuers.

A perfect payment history will mean no late payments. No recent late payment fees. No recent returned checks. etc

Choose the right card

Once you choose a good bank, you will need to choose the right credit card. Travel credit cards or credit cards that have a high annual fee usually will approve you for a higher credit limit than cashback or free or low annual fee cards.

There is also a cut off line on every card from which and until which amount the credit line can possibly go. You can try to research the cut off line on each card by searching the data points found in our credit card database. Check out what credit limits fellow users got approved for and based on that you can see if anyone was ever approved for the credit line you’re looking to get approved for (and how often that happened).

Do not have many recently opened accounts

If you’re running around from bank to bank and constantly looking for new credit, then banks will see you as a higher risk consumer, and hesitate to approve you for a high credit line.

If you have a lot of new credit card accounts opened within the past 24 months, then that can be a reason why banks will not approve you for a high credit line.

If you are looking to get approved for a high credit limit then think twice before you apply for a new credit card at Macy’s, etc. Too many recently opened accounts will hurt your chance to strike big with the proper credit card application.

Beg and Beg

Sometimes, good old fashioned begging does the trick (it worked with your mother, why not here?). Do not give up after your first denial, try again and again (did that work with your mother?). Call the bank’s underwriting department and explain to them why you need the high credit line (don’t say it’s because you want to be able to max out your card tomorrow, rather say it’s in order to keep your credit utilization low, etc ). Make sure to point out to the bank how long you’ve already been a customer. Ask them to at least match your current credit limits. Try and try until you succeed!

In my experience, begging worked best with Barclays bank by calling their underwriting department at 1-866-408-4064.