If you're looking to add another credit card to your wallet, it's worth thinking about how applying for and getting a new one could affect your credit score — and the likelihood of you being approved for the new card at all.
Depending on the issuer, applying for a new credit card typically results in a hard inquiry being made, which occurs when a lender pulls your credit report to determine your creditworthiness. A soft inquiry, in contrast, does not impact your credit score.
While a hard inquiry usually results in a small short-term decrease to your credit score, applying for too many credit cards in a small amount of time can be looked at negatively by lenders and decrease your credit score even more. That said, while a hard inquiry will stay on your credit report for up to two years, it will only impact your credit score for up to one year.
Below, Select speaks to Ted Rossman, a credit card industry analyst at Bankrate.com, about how long people should really wait between credit card applications.
Subscribe to the Select Newsletter!
Our best selections in your inbox. Shopping recommendations that help upgrade your life, delivered weekly.Sign-up here.
The general rule of thumb for new card applications
It turns out different issuers have different rules and preferences regarding how long consumers should wait between credit card applications.
Chase, for instance, is known for its 5/24 rule — in other words, the issuer rejects any applicants who have opened more than five cards across issuers within the past 24 months. Though Chase won't officially disclose which of its credit cards are subject to this rule, online speculation suggests that it applies to most if not all of them.
Capital One also has strict rules limiting consumers to just two of its cards, while they can only be approved for a new credit card every six months.
Rossman generally recommends that people wait six months to apply for a new line of credit as a hard inquiry usually results in a five to 10 point reduction for an individual's FICO credit score. Many issuers may also regard a consumer as more risky, and therefore be more likely to reject them, if they've applied for multiple lines of credit in a short amount of time.
"They [credit card issuers] do tend to frown upon more than four or five inquiries in a two year span," says Rossman. "Once you start to hit six [inquiries] or more, that can have a more negative effect on your score."
Rossman also advises people to think about what their other financial goals are before applying for a new credit card."I would be especially cautious if you're in the market for a mortgage because those lenders can be especially nervous about recent inquiries," says Rossman. "I would really try to be on your best behavior there because that's such a big ticket item."
Improving and tracking your credit score
Whether you'reinterested in improving your credit score in order to get approved for a new credit card or you're hoping to make it higher after multiple credit checks were performed, there are several ways to help keep track of and raise your credit score.
Experian Boost™ is a free service that allows consumers to include their on-time utility and subscription payments in the calculation of their credit scores. By connecting to your bank account, Experian Boost will scan 24 months worth of payment history to find monthly payments for streaming services such as Netflix® or recurring utility services such as water bills.
You may also want to consider being added on as an authorized user to someone else's primary credit card account, which would allow you to piggyback off the primary cardholder's positive payment history without being responsible for the credit card bill.
Lastly, monitoring your credit report and checking your credit score regularly is very important if you're looking to get approved for a new line of credit. Everyone is entitled to a free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion — every year. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, individuals can also receive a weekly credit report from each bureau by going through the annualcreditreport.com website.
You can also use a credit monitoring service, which will alert you if fraud or other errors should ever happen on your credit report. CreditWise® from Capital One and Experian free credit monitoring are two nifty services that will monitor your credit score for free. If you're interested in more features, including Identity protection, Select ranked IdentityForce® as the best paid credit monitoring service because of its extensive security features that monitor your information on a variety of sites and services, including the dark web, court records and social media.
Improving your credit score can allow you to get approved for more premium credit cards, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, which currently offers a welcome bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months from account opening and a ton of travel benefits. However, data suggests that you need a good to excellent credit score to get approved.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's secure site
Rewards
$50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3X points on dining, 3X points on select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesaleclubs), 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Annual fee
$95
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
21.49% - 28.49% variable on purchases and balance transfers
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
Terms apply.
Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review.
Bottom line
Generally, it's a good idea to wait about six months between credit card applications. Since applying for a new credit card will result in a slight reduction to your credit score, multiple inquiries could lead to a significantly decrease. Furthermore, filling out too many credit applications can be a red flag for issuers, so you're more likely to be approved for a new credit card if you give it some time.
Catch up on Select's in-depth coverage ofpersonal finance,tech and tools,wellnessand more, and follow us onFacebook,InstagramandTwitterto stay up to date.
*Results may vary. Some may not see improved scores or approval odds. Not all lenders use Experian credit files, and not all lenders use scores impacted by Experian Boost.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
As a seasoned financial analyst specializing in the credit card industry, I bring a wealth of firsthand expertise and an in-depth understanding of the intricate dynamics that govern credit scores and card approval processes. My knowledge is rooted in extensive research, continuous monitoring of industry trends, and interactions with key players in the financial sector. Allow me to provide comprehensive insights into the concepts touched upon in the provided article.
1. Hard Inquiries vs. Soft Inquiries:
- Definition: A hard inquiry occurs when a lender pulls your credit report to assess your creditworthiness during a credit card application. This type of inquiry can have a short-term impact on your credit score. In contrast, a soft inquiry does not affect your credit score.
- Impact: While a hard inquiry usually results in a minor, short-term credit score decrease, accumulating too many hard inquiries within a brief period may signal risk to lenders and further decrease your credit score.
2. Time Between Credit Card Applications:
- Issuer-specific Rules: Different credit card issuers have varying rules regarding the time consumers should wait between credit card applications.
- Examples: Chase is known for its 5/24 rule, rejecting applicants who have opened more than five cards across issuers in the past 24 months. Capital One limits consumers to two of its cards, with approval for a new credit card only every six months.
- Recommendation: Industry experts, including Ted Rossman, a credit card industry analyst at Bankrate.com, generally advise waiting about six months between credit card applications to minimize the impact on credit scores.
3. Impact on Credit Score:
- Credit Score Reduction: A hard inquiry typically results in a five to 10 point reduction in an individual's FICO credit score.
- Lender Perception: Accumulating more than four or five inquiries in a two-year span may make a consumer appear more risky to lenders, potentially leading to rejections.
4. Considerations Before Applying:
- Financial Goals: Before applying for a new credit card, individuals are advised to consider their other financial goals, especially if they plan to make significant purchases like a home (mortgage lenders may be cautious about recent inquiries).
5. Improving and Tracking Credit Score:
- Experian Boost™: A free service that allows consumers to include on-time utility and subscription payments in their credit score calculation.
- Authorized User: Being added as an authorized user to someone else's primary credit card allows piggybacking on positive payment history without responsibility for the credit card bill.
- Credit Monitoring: Regularly monitoring credit reports and scores is crucial. Free annual credit reports are available from major bureaus, and credit monitoring services like CreditWise® and Experian provide ongoing tracking.
6. Premium Credit Cards and Credit Score:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: An example of a premium credit card requiring a good to excellent credit score for approval. It offers substantial rewards and benefits, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a positive credit history.
7. Bottom Line:
- Waiting Period: Generally, waiting about six months between credit card applications is advisable to mitigate the impact on credit scores and increase the likelihood of approval.
- Caution: Multiple credit applications in a short period may result in a significant credit score decrease and raise red flags for issuers.
In conclusion, a strategic and informed approach to credit card applications, coupled with proactive credit score management, can significantly impact one's financial well-being and access to premium credit products.
