Can You Apply for Two Credit Cards at Once? (2024)

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Nothing is stopping you from applying for two or more credit cards in a short period of time, or even at the same time. But multiple credit card inquiries can hurt your credit score and raise a red flag for future creditors.

If you're considering getting multiple credit cards, here's what you need to know about how doing so could affect your credit.

How Multiple Credit Card Inquiries Affect Your Credit Score

Whether you're trying to quickly build your credit or take advantage of various benefits or welcome offers, it can be tempting to apply for more than one credit card in a short period. But depending on your situation, it could have negative consequences for your credit score.

When you shop around for a mortgage, auto loan or even private student loan, it's common to get quotes from multiple lenders to ensure you're getting the best terms. And if you do this within a short period—typically 14 to 45 days depending on the credit scoring model—all the hard inquiries that pop up on your credit reports will count as just one when calculating your credit score.

With credit cards, however, you won't get that same benefit. In most cases, each card account you apply for will result in a separate inquiry, and each will factor into your credit score.

How those inquiries affect your credit scores depend on the credit scoring model. With the FICO® Score , for example, one additional inquiry will usually decrease your credit score by fewer than five points. However, multiple inquiries in a short period may have a compounding effect.

What's more, data shows that people who have several inquiries on their credit reports in a short period are more likely to overextend themselves and default on their debts. As a result, even if your credit score doesn't drop by much, future creditors may offer you higher interest rates or deny your application altogether because of the added risk.

How Long Should You Wait Between Card Applications?

There's no magic number for the amount of time you should wait before you apply for an additional credit card. In fact, the right amount can vary based on your credit history and situation:

You Have a Limited Credit History

If you're just starting to build credit, a second credit card can improve your credit utilization ratio—how much of your available credit you're using—and offer another opportunity to establish positive payment history. These benefits may outweigh the potential negative impact of a second hard inquiry. That said, if you want to be safe, consider waiting three to six months between applications.

Just make sure you're applying for starter credit cards that are designed for people in your credit situation. Otherwise, you may get denied and still have a new hard inquiry on your credit report.

You're Rebuilding Your Credit

If your credit is in poor shape and you want to use credit cards to rebuild, every effort counts. In this case, it may be best to wait several months between card applications. Also, adding new credit card accounts may not help much if you're behind on payments on another credit account. Instead, look to other areas for credit improvement, such as paying down debt to help lower your utilization ratio. Once you've had a chance to positively impact your credit, then you might consider applying for a new card.

You've Been Denied Recently

Hard inquiries happen during the application process, so they'll ding your credit score whether or not you're approved for a card. If you've been denied recently, take a step back before you apply for another one. Look at your credit situation to determine if you need to make some changes before you apply again.

Also, make sure you're applying for cards that are targeted to your credit score. Experian CreditMatch™ can help you get personalized offers based on your credit score with just a soft inquiry, which doesn't affect your credit scores. While there's no guarantee you'll get approved, it can help you focus on cards where your approval odds are higher.

Your Credit History Is Well-Established

If you've been using credit for a long time and have a stellar track record, the impact of two or three credit inquiries in a short period likely won't be as drastic.

And if you don't have trouble managing your existing credit cards—you're spending only what you can afford and paying your bill in full each month—the benefits of getting another card may outweigh the drawbacks.

Next Steps

If you're considering getting more than one credit card in the near future, you can check your FICO® Score to see where you stand. As you consider your situation, think about the benefits and drawbacks of having multiple inquiries on your credit reports in the short term.

Can You Apply for Two Credit Cards at Once? (2024)

FAQs

Can you apply for two credit cards in the same day? ›

Yes, you can apply for two credit cards on the same day. There's no rule limiting how many credit cards you apply for. Some credit card companies have their own restrictions and will only let you apply for one of their cards within a set amount of time.

How long should I wait to apply for another credit card after being denied? ›

As a general rule of thumb, consider waiting around three to six months before reapplying. In the meantime, try to improve your creditworthiness, which might increase your chances of getting approved when you reapply.

Can I apply for more than 1 credit card at the same time? ›

If you are looking to add more than one credit card from a bank within a short period of time, it can sometimes make sense to submit multiple applications on the same day. Note that inquiries are only combined by bank; applications for credit cards from different banks will always generate multiple inquiries.

Can I apply for another credit card after being approved? ›

It's generally best to wait six months between credit card applications. That will prevent hard inquiries from making a significant negative impact on your credit score. At Experian, one of our priorities is consumer credit and finance education.

What is the 5 24 rule? ›

What is the 5/24 rule? Many card issuers have criteria for who can qualify for new accounts, but Chase is perhaps the most strict. Chase's 5/24 rule means that you can't be approved for most Chase cards if you've opened five or more personal credit cards (from any card issuer) within the past 24 months.

How quickly can you apply for a second credit card? ›

Table of Contents. In the world of travel credit cards, there's no hard and fast rule for how long you should wait between credit card applications. Generally speaking, waiting 90 days is a good rule of thumb.

Does it hurt my credit if I apply for a credit card and get denied? ›

A hard inquiry from a card application can cause a small, temporary drop in credit scores. A denial or approval won't hurt your credit scores, because decisions aren't reflected in credit reports. When making lending decisions, card issuers use credit reports and credit scores to determine creditworthiness.

Is it bad to apply for a credit card twice? ›

Opening several accounts around the same time decreases the average age of your credit history, which can also impact your credit score. Some credit card issuers won't accept applications from someone who has applied for multiple cards at once or within a certain amount of time.

How long should I wait before applying for my second credit card? ›

There's no hard and fast rule about how long to wait between credit card applications, but it is true that too many applications in too short of time can raise red flags for credit card issuers and may mean you get rejected. A good rule of thumb is to wait at least six months between applications.

Why should you avoid applying for multiple credit cards at one time? ›

You'll receive a hard inquiry on your credit report for every card application you submit, with each inquiry temporarily decreasing your FICO scores by around five points. Accumulate too many inquiries all at once and you could be looking at a larger blow to your credit score than you would expect.

What is the strategy for applying for multiple credit cards? ›

If you plan to apply for multiple credit cards, it's best to spread your applications out over a period of time. Try to keep your applications about three to six months apart. This will give your credit score time to bounce back from hard inquiries and give you time to see if you actually need another new card.

How many hard inquiries are too many? ›

However, multiple hard inquiries can deplete your score by as much as 10 points each time they happen. People with six or more recent hard inquiries are eight times as likely to file for bankruptcy than those with none. That's way more inquiries than most of us need to find a good deal on a car loan or credit card.

What happens if you apply for 2 credit cards on the same day? ›

It's a good idea to have more than one credit card, but applying for multiple cards within a short period of time could hurt your credit score.

What is the 2 30 rule for Chase? ›

Chase 2/30 rule: Too many new cards in one month? Some credit card experts believe that Chase is also likely to decline new card applications if you have opened two credit cards within 30 days. This is known as the "2/30 rule." Because I had just opened two new cards, Chase was reluctant to let me open another.

Can you get approved for 2 of the same credit cards? ›

Under most circ*mstances, credit card issuers will not approve a new credit card account if you already have one for the same card. However, they make exceptions. Here's a look at when having two of the same card makes sense – and why it's so rare.

Do you build credit faster with 2 credit cards? ›

Key takeaways. Having multiple cards can help you build credit more quickly, but your focus should remain on using your card — or cards — responsibly for the best impact on your credit.

Can you be approved for 2 credit cards? ›

But it is still possible to have more than one credit card. In fact, Finder research shows that around a quarter of Australians with credit cards have more than one. And thinking about your credit score, when you last applied and how you'll manage the card are some of the factors that can help influence the outcome.

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