Eight ways to help improve your chances of getting approved for a credit card

Key takeaways

• Checking if you prequalify and scanning your credit reports for errors can help you apply for a credit card with more confidence.
• Including all eligible income, considering a joint applicant and starting with a credit-building card may improve approval chances.
• If your application is pending, contacting the credit card issuer may help you resolve fixable issues.

Even with strong credit, there's never a guarantee a credit card issuer will approve a new application. Lenders may evaluate applications using a mix of credit history, income, existing debt, recent applications and internal policies. The good news: There are practical steps you can take before (and after) you apply to help reduce surprises and strengthen your odds.

1. Look for prequalification options first

Many credit card issuers offer a prequalification (or preapproval) tool that can help you estimate your chances of approval before you submit a full application. While it isn't a guarantee, it can be a smart first step, especially if you're trying to avoid applying for a card that may not be a match.

Prequalification uses a soft credit inquiry, which does not impact your credit scores.

For instance, if you're considering the CareCredit credit card to help finance eligible health and wellness expenses at providers within the CareCredit network, you can check whether you prequalify online in seconds before deciding whether to complete a full application.

2. Know where your credit score stands

Card issuers don't always disclose minimum score requirements, but your credit score can still act as a helpful "range finder" as you decide which cards to apply for.

• If your credit is new or you're rebuilding: You often have better approval odds with products designed for credit-building such as secured cards or starter cards which may have more flexible requirements.
• If your credit is strong: You'll generally have more choices and may qualify for better terms, like lower APRs, higher credit limits or richer rewards.

You can check you score through your bank, card issuer or other free or paid credit-monitoring services to stay on top of changes over time.

3. Review credit reports and dispute mistakes

Errors on a credit report can weigh down scores or create red flags for lenders. Fixing inaccurate information won't solve every issue overnight, but correcting a mistake can sometimes improve your credit profile faster than trying to "wait it out."

You can access free weekly credit reports from the major bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion). These reports typically do not include your score, but they let you verify what lenders may be seeing.

Examples of potential issues to look for:

• Accounts you don't recognize
• The same account listed more than once
• Collections you believe you don't owe
• Late payments reported when you paid on time

If you find inaccuracies, you can dispute credit report errors with the credit bureau and the company furnishing the information.

4. Include all income you're allowed to report

Income is a major part of most credit applications. In addition to wages or salary, applications may allow other qualifying sources depending on the issuer and the rules that apply.

Possible income sources can include:

• Employment income (salary, hourly wages)
• Self-employment, consulting or side gigs
• Investment income and interest
• Retirement distributions
• Certain public assistance benefits
• Child support, alimony or separate maintenance (if you choose to disclose it)

You may also be able to include:

• Money that someone regularly deposits into your account, or
• If you're 21 or older, certain household income that is regularly used to pay your expenses (depending on the application's instructions)

Always follow the application's guidance for what may be included.

5. Consider applying with a joint applicant (if available)

If your application is borderline, adding a joint applicant with strong credit and income may improve your chances of approval, if the issuer offers joint accounts. Just remember that joint accounts come with shared responsibility: If you're approved, both applicants are typically liable for the full balance, no matter who makes the purchases.

For example, if you apply for the CareCredit credit card with a joint applicant and you're approved, each of you will receive a card and you'll share responsibility for all charges on the account.

6. If your credit needs work, consider starting with a credit-building option

When you don't have good credit, it may be more effective to begin with a product aimed at building credit rather than repeatedly applying for cards you're unlikely to qualify for.

Common options include:

• Secured credit cards. A secured card generally requires a refundable security deposit to open the account. The deposit often influences the credit limit. Secured cards can be easier to qualify for, but fees and interest rates can vary widely.
• Unsecured cards marketed for building credit. Some unsecured cards are designed for credit-building, but they may come with higher fees or APRs. Compare terms carefully.
• Cash-flow underwritten cards. Some lenders consider your banking history (cash flow) along with – or sometimes instead of – traditional credit history. If you regularly pay bills on time but have a thin or damaged credit file, this may be an alternative.

Once you have a card, focus on behaviors that generally support credit health:

• Pay at least the minimum on time every month
• Keep balances low relative to the limit
• If you can, pay the statement balance in full to avoid interest on purchases

7. See if you can learn the issuer's internal approval rules

Approval may not be based only on income and credit score. Issuers may also apply internal policies that can cause a decline even for applicants with strong credit.

For example, some issuers limit approvals if you've opened too many accounts recently. The exact rules differ by company, but researching issuer-specific restrictions before applying can help you time applications strategically.

8. If your application is pending, call the issuer

A "pending" decision doesn't always mean no. In some cases, a quick call can resolve an issue that's preventing approval.

Common fixes include:

• Unfreezing ("thawing") your credit reports if a freeze prevented the issuer from pulling your credit
• Verifying your identity if the issuer couldn't confirm your information
• Reallocating available credit if you already have accounts with the same issuer and the issuer allows moving credit line from one card to another

Using a new credit card to help build credit

A credit card can support (or hurt!) your credit depending on how you manage it. Two habits that generally matter most:

1. Pay on time, every month. Payment history is commonly the biggest scoring factor.
2. Keep utilization low. Using a smaller portion of your available limit is generally better. Paying your balance in full each month can also help you avoid interest on new purchases.

Some credit cards, including the CareCredit credit card, may offer promotional financing on qualifying purchases (subject to terms and credit approval).

Take a few smart steps before you apply

Even if you do everything right, approval is never guaranteed. But by checking your credit first, applying strategically and following up quickly if a decision is pending, you can reduce surprises and improve your odds. If you're turned down, use the issuer's explanation as a roadmap – address what you can, give your credit time to recover and apply again when you're in a stronger position.

Author bio

Louis DeNicola is a freelance writer who specializes in consumer credit, finances and fraud. He has several credit-related certifications and works with many lenders, publishers, credit bureaus, Fortune 500s and fintech startups.

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The information, opinions and recommendations expressed in the article are for informational purposes only. Information has been obtained from sources generally believed to be reliable. However, because of the possibility of human or mechanical error by our sources or any other, Synchrony and any of its affiliates, including CareCredit (collectively, "Synchrony"), do not provide any warranty as to the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of any information for its intended purpose or any results obtained from the use of such information. The data presented in the article was current as of the time of writing. Please consult with your individual advisors with respect to any information presented.

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