There is no exact credit score you need to get approved for a credit card. If I had to pick a number, I’d say you may run into trouble getting a credit card if you have a FICO score or VantageScore below about 580, but it’s more complicated than that.
If you’re asking this question, there are some important things to understand first:
Keep reading to learn more about each of these and to see what kinds of cards you may qualify for with your credit history.
Credit decisions are based on more than a credit score
There’s no magic “credit card score” where you’ll be approved for all credit cards if you’re above it and denied for all cards if you’re below it. A lender is going to consider several key factors when you apply for credit. These may include:
It’s important to understand the difference between a credit score and a credit report. (Watch the video for a full explanation.)
Cara overclock msi afterburner. Here’s one example where that difference is important: Most credit scoring models only consider hard inquiries from the past year. However, credit inquiries from the past two years are included on your credit reports. Some lenders have rules for denial based on the number of new accounts you’ve opened in the past two years. So, even if you have credit inquiries that are over a year old and not being counted in your credit scores, a lender might still deny you based on how many inquiries you have.
Even if your credit scores look great, a single late payment or lots of inquiries on your credit reports could be a reason you’re denied. Remember, a late payment can stay on your credit reports for seven years, so it’s important to pay all your bills on time every month.
Or, maybe you have great payment history, but not much income. In that case, you may be approved for a card, but granted a low credit limit.
You don’t have just one credit score
You may have heard people talk about how important “your credit score” is. But really, they’re talking about “your credit scores.”
When you see “your credit score” somewhere, like on your credit card statement, it’s really “one of your credit scores.”
There are many different credit scoring models out there, with several that are the most popular and most commonly used. The most popular credit scoring models are created by Fair Isaac Corporation and are known as FICO scores.
Another popular brand of credit score is VantageScore. These scoring models were developed by the three major credit bureaus in the United States: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
The score ranges can vary from one credit scoring model to another, but many of the more popular ones have adopted a range of 300–850, where higher is better. This is the credit score range we assume for the rest of the page. With these models, a “good credit score” is roughly anything above 670, although this is subjective.
When you’re looking at a credit score, there are two important things to consider:
Credit Karma, for example, provides you with two VantageScore 3.0 scores: one based on your TransUnion credit report, and the other based on data from Equifax.
Watch video below to learn more about the variety of credit scores you have based on different credit scoring models. There are several places you can get free credit scores online, like credit card issuer websites or free credit monitoring services. You can also get a free credit report from each of the three credit bureaus once per year.
Q&A Video: What’s the most important lesson to learn about credit scores?Credit requirements vary
Different credit cards have different credit requirements. You may be approved for one card, but denied for another.
Generally, the lower your credit card debt and longer your history of on-time payments with other accounts, the more likely it is you’ll be approved for credit cards with the lowest interest rates, highest credit limits, and best rewards. Statplus excel add in mac.
Retail store credit cards can be relatively easy to get, even with bad credit, but have their downsides. Higher end credit cards, like the best travel credit cards, can provide the most benefits and rewards, but require excellent credit history.
The only way to really know if you will get approved for a credit card is to apply. If you are denied, you will get a letter within 7–10 days that tells you why. Many issuers also provide a way to check whether you’re pre-qualified for any of their cards.
As long as you build credit responsibly, you will maximize your chances of getting approved for a wider variety of cards. For help with that, including finding the right credit card for you, check out our guide to building credit.
What cards can I get?
This table breaks down the types of cards you might be able to get depending on your FICO scores, but keep in mind your income and the specific credit history on your credit reports can play a big role. Remember, the only way to know for sure whether you’ll be approved for a card is to apply.
Excellent Credit
In this category, you have high credit scores in all major credit scoring models. You have at least 5–10 years of credit history on your credit reports. You may also have a good “credit mix,” or combination of credit cards and installment loans, like car loans, that indicate your ability to manage different types of debt responsibly.
Your goal is probably to get a card or cards that best fits your spending habits and lifestyle to give you the best reward and benefits, while providing you with enough value to cover any annual fees.
Credit card companies may present you with special introductory offers, like bigger point bonuses if you spend a certain amount on a card soon after opening it.
At this level, you’ll likely have your pick of premium cards, including the best American Express cards, like the Platinum Card (Review), and high-end Chase cards like the Sapphire Reserve (Review). You’ll likely qualify for almost any card from major issuers like Bank of America, Barclaycard, Capital One, Citi, and Discover.
Very Good Credit
This category is basically the same as the excellent credit category. There may be some rare situations where this difference could make an actual difference, but it’s unlikely.
Good Credit
In this category, it’s likely your FICO and VantageScores are around the 670–739 range, or maybe a little lower. You probably have at least 2–3 years of credit history established on your credit reports with no late payments.
At this level, you may be able to qualify for many cards from Bank of America, Barclaycard, Capital One, Chase, Citi, and Discover, but your income and other factors may play a bigger role in the issuer’s approval decision. If credit scoring models give you scores near this range, banks may take a closer look at how much debt you have on existing credit accounts and other details about your relationship as an existing customer of the bank.
You’ll likely be able to get cards with decent rewards at this level, and as long as you use your cards responsibly you’ll build up more positive credit history over time until you have excellent credit.
Fair or Average Credit
In this category, you probably just started building credit within the past year or two, or you’re recovering from a few negative items, like missed payments. It’s possible you have very high credit card balances relative to your credit limits, which can be a negative signal to credit card issuers.
If you’re at this level, your goal in getting a card is probably to build credit so you can qualify for better cards and terms in the future. To learn more about how to build credit with credit cards, read our guide.
At this level, your options are a little more limited. You’ll want to be smart by not applying for too many cards that are designed for better credit levels since you’ll get a hard inquiry every time you apply for a card. Too many hard inquiries could make it harder to get approved for cards in the next 1–2 years, and they’ll also generally decrease your credit scores.
Depending on your exact credit history, you may have mixed results when applying for cards at this credit level.
Capital One offers several products for people in this range, as well as cards for people with better credit. Starting with a Capital One card may give you a path to upgrade to better cards with them as you build your credit. You may be able to start with a card that earns some rewards, like the Capital One QuicksilverOne card (Review) that earns 1.5% cash back with a $39 annual fee. Or, you may only be able to get approved for a card that doesn’t earn rewards, like the Capital One Platinum card, which doesn’t earn rewards, but also doesn’t have an annual fee. Shelob's lair evil campaign the battle for middle earth. It’s designed for people with fair credit to build up their credit by using it responsibly.
If you’re closer to the bad credit end of the credit spectrum, you may not get approved for a regular unsecured credit card, and you may want to consider applying for a secured card, which requires a deposit in case you don’t pay your bill. If you can’t get approved for unsecured cards designed for fair or average credit, cards like the Discover it Secured (Review) and Capital One Secured Mastercard (Review) may make sense as a place to start building credit, then you could graduate to an unsecured card later.
Retail store cards tend to have worse terms that cards issued by big banks or credit unions, but sometimes they have lower approval requirements, so a store credit card may be another option for you to start building credit if you can’t get approved for other cards. Just make sure you’re paying your bills on time and in full every month.
See our picks for best credit cards for people with fair credit here.
Bad Credit
You may be in this category if you have some significant negative information on your credit reports, like collection accounts, bankruptcies, or lots of recent late payments.
Having poor credit history can affect you in many ways, so your goal at this level is probably to re-build your credit so you can qualify for better cards and better loan terms in the future.
At this level, banks may see you as a credit risk, or someone who might not pay off debt. You’ll likely need to start with a secured credit card or other credit card for people with bad credit. Secured cards require that you pay a deposit, which the bank holds on to in case you don’t pay your bill. Even though there’s a deposit, you can still get denied for secured credit cards. See our picks for best secured cards here.
There are also several unsecured credit cards designed for people with bad credit, but read the reviews before you apply — some of these cards have bad customer service and bad terms.
No Credit
If you don’t have any credit established, you may be able to qualify for cards in the fair credit category above. If you’re a student, a credit card designed for students could be a good place to start. Since you’re new to credit cards and credit history, we recommend you start by reading our guide to building credit with credit cards.
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What are the credit card companies that use TransUnion only? This is important because knowing which creditors use TransUnion may put you in a better position to get a good credit card. We have the list of options — from the Barclaycard Ring Mastercard to the Capital One QuicksilverOne — to help you find the best credit card for your needs.
In This ArticleWhat Is TransUnion?
TransUnion is one of three credit reporting companies that offers its services to individuals and companies. The two other credit services are Equifax and Experian. Each agency may grade your credit a little differently based on the method used to calculate your credit rating, as well as the access the company has to your financial history. Because of this, you may have three different credit scores. When you apply for a credit card, the credit card company can pull from one, two, or all three of these credit agencies. If you’re someone whose most favorable credit score comes from TransUnion, you may want to apply for a credit card from a company that only uses TransUnion to approve its customers.
So, which credit card companies only use TransUnion? The TransUnion website lists numerous credit card options from partner companies who tend to primarily use TransUnion. We’ve cross-referenced that list with reports from customers on online forums and social media to bring you the following list of credit card companies that commonly use TransUnion as the only credit bureau for reviewing applications.
Note: Although we’ve done extensive research and we continue to update this article as new information becomes available, it’s not possible to determine exactly how companies will handle every application for a particular credit card. Credit card issuers do not release their policies for contacting credit bureaus, so it’s necessary to rely on consumer reports of which bureaus were contacted for specific cards — but, those results vary widely, so keep in mind that your experience may be different from someone else’s.
The List of Credit Cards That Only Use TransUnion (Reportedly)1. Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard
2. Barclaycard Ring MastercardLow Fico Score Credit Cards
3. Capital One Quicksilver Card
4. Capital One QuicksilverOne
5. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
6. Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
7. Simmons Visa
Suggested Articles: The List of Credit Cards That Used Experian Only and The List of Credit Cards That Use Equifax Only
In Summary
While we can’t say with 100% certainty that these cards will only ever pull from TransUnion to review your credit history, this list includes the credit card companies that are most widely reported to do just that. Each card listed above has its own pros and cons. Take the time to review the benefits and drawbacks of each so you can make the best possible decision.
Suggested next read: Loan Companies That Use TransUnion Only
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At NerdWallet, we strive to help you make financial decisions with confidence. To do this, many or all of the products featured here are from our partners. However, this doesn’t influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own.
Paying off credit card debt is smart, whether you do it every month or finally finish paying interest after months or years. And as you might expect, it will affect your credit score.
If you pay on time and are chipping away at a balance or eliminating it with one big payment, your score will likely improve.
Here’s how various credit card payoff scenarios are likely to play out.
Your new score:Credit Card Utilization On Credit ScoreShould I carry a balance or pay in full?![]()
Carrying a balance does not help your credit score. There is a persistent myth that paying off your entire balance is a mistake when you are trying to build credit. That’s not true.
It’s best for your wallet and for your score to pay balances in full and on time.
It’s best for your wallet and for your score to pay balances in full and on time. Second-best? At least the minimum payment, on time.
If you carry a balance, keep it below 30% of your available credit — and much less is better. That’s because credit utilization — or how much of your credit limit you’re using — is an important factor in calculating your credit score. VantageScore calls this ratio “highly influential,” and FICO says it accounts for about 30% of your score.
On the flip side, not using a card at all can lead to the card being canceled for inactivity.
How much will paying off my credit card improve my score?650 Credit Score Credit Cards
The closer you were to your credit limit(s), the more a paid-off card is likely to lift your score, all other things being equal.
Keep an eye on your progress
As you pay down your balance, your credit utilization ratio improves. You can use NerdWallet’s free credit score to monitor both your score and your credit utilization.
Most major card issuers also allow you to set up alerts to let you know when you are nearing a limit you choose.
Maintaining the gains
Once you whittle down your credit card balances and see an improved credit profile, you likely want to maintain that progress.
If you think you can control your spending, keep paid-off credit cards open and use them occasionally. Closing a card can hurt your score by reducing the average age of your credit accounts and by increasing your utilization.
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You can keep utilization low in a couple of ways: A higher score might make you eligible for a higher credit limit. Having a higher limit while keeping your charges about the same will give you lower credit utilization.
But applying for a higher limit sometimes counts as a hard inquiry, which can cause a small, temporary dip in your score, so be strategic.
Even if you pay off cards every month, if your balance happens to be high when the issuer reports, it can damage your score.
You can also make multiple payments throughout the month, so your utilization is low no matter when in the billing cycle your card issuer reports to the credit bureaus. If your balance happens to be high when the issuer reports, it can damage your score, even if you pay off cards every month.
Paying attention to basic good credit habits is essential.
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