Use LendingTree’s Treequal tool to check if you’re prequalified for offers from multiple issuers — simply provide some basic information:
You have a few options for checking whether you prequalify for a credit card: prescreened letters in the mail or email, online prequalification tools, directly through card issuers and through a bank or retailer.
Some retailers also may offer prequalification tools for store co-branded credit cards. You may receive preapproval offers in the mail, via email or by shopping online at the retailer’s website. Retailers that allow you to prequalify for a store credit card include Kohl’s, Lowe’s, Wayfair, Pottery Barn and The Container Store.
Here’s a look at prequalification options available through several popular credit card issuers including Bank of America, Chase and Citi.
| Issuer | Can I get prequalified? | Required information |
|---|---|---|
| American Express | Yes | Name, address, Social Security number and income |
| Bank of America | Yes | Name, birth date, Social Security number, address and type of credit card you’re interested in |
| Capital One | Yes | Name, address, email, phone number, employment status, income, if you have any bank accounts, if you intend to use your card for cash advances, U.S. citizenship birth date and Social Security number |
| Chase | Yes | Name, address,Social Security number and income |
| Citi | Yes | Name, email, Social Security number and address |
| Discover | Yes | Name, address, birth date, student status, monthly housing expense, income and type of card benefit you’re interested in |
| Navy Federal | Yes (only available to Navy Federal members) | Active duty status, income, monthly housing expense |
| U.S. Bank | Yes (only available to existing customers via mail offers) | Confirmation code that came with offer and ZIP code |
| Wells Fargo | Yes | Wells Fargo customer status, name, address and Social Security number |
No, prequalifying for a credit card doesn’t guarantee approval when you formally apply. That’s because, unlike the soft pull performed during prequalification, credit card applications perform hard pulls on your credit and look at your full credit history. Other factors are considered when coming to a final decision (like payment history, employment and salary).
Still, getting prequalified lets you make an educated guess on whether you’ll be approved before you allow a credit issuer to perform a hard pull of your credit history.
When deciding if you’re prequalified for a credit card issuers typically look at information about your credit profile to assess whether you meet their criteria. Although prequalification doesn’t guarantee approval, it’s a strong indicator that you’re likely to be approved since you meet the basic requirements. Here are a few things you can do to improve your odds of prequalifying for a credit card:
You’re entitled to a free copy of your credit report from the three bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. You can request a copy of your report(s) once a week at AnnualCreditReport.com.
Checking your credit report provides a clear picture of your current credit status and highlights areas that may need improvement to increase your chances of qualifying for the card you want. From there, you can create a plan of action to resolve anything that’s holding you back. You also can scan your report for any errors that need to be corrected, such as incorrect payment history.
Making on-time payments is the most important factor of your credit score, making up 35% of your FICO Score. It’s important to pay at least the minimum monthly payment amount due each month, as it can boost your credit score and your chances of getting prequalified and approved for a credit card.
Get any past due payments up to date as soon as possible and reach out to lenders to see if there are any accommodations if you’re worried about missing payments. If you have several cards, you can contact the issuers to align all your payment due dates, helping you avoid missing any payments. And if you have a history of late payments, it may be a good idea to work on a history of on-time payments before formally applying for a credit card.
Your credit utilization makes up 30% of your credit score. Credit utilization is the amount of debt you have in relation to how much credit you have available. Your credit utilization ratio should be below 30% to maintain a good credit score. Paying down existing debt can lower your credit utilization ratio, boosting your credit score and odds of prequalification.
If you’re worried about getting approved for a credit card, there are cards specifically designed for those with poor or limited credit to help them build credit. Secured credit cards are often the best option for building credit, with some offering the opportunity to upgrade to an unsecured card after demonstrating responsible credit use over time. Credit cards for building credit are also typically easier to get prequalified and approved for than other credit cards.
If you’re worried about getting prequalified for a credit card, another option is to become an authorized user on someone else’s account to build credit. Any credit history on the card should be added to your credit report, and you won’t even need to make charges on the account or have a copy of the card. If the primary cardholder uses the card responsibly this can be a quick way to build credit. You can be removed as an authorized user when you feel you can qualify for a card on your own.
Monitoring your credit score can help you keep track of your progress and address any issues quickly, so that you can boost your chances of prequalifying for a card. You can get your credit score for free using tools like LendingTree Spring and Experian’s free credit report and FICO Score.
Prequalification is a process initiated by the consumer, involving a basic assessment of your creditworthiness to determine the likelihood of approval for a credit card. Preapproval, on the other hand, is initiated by the credit card issuer and may require you to share additional personal and financial details. Because the issuer has looked at more thorough information, your odds of approval may be higher than with a prequalified offer. Neither prequalification or preapproval guarantees that you’ll be approved for the card when you formally apply.
| Prequalified credit cards | Preapproved credit cards |
|---|---|
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Prequalification doesn’t negatively affect your credit score. Credit card issuers often perform a soft credit inquiry during the prequalification process. Soft credit pulls are a snapshot of your credit profile and have no impact on your credit score.
If you formally apply for a credit card, however, the card issuer will perform a hard credit inquiry to determine your eligibility for the card. Hard credit inquiries can cause your credit score to drop temporarily.
The prequalification process can vary depending on the credit card issuer. Here are some tips to consider when prequalifying for a credit card:
Applying for a card can affect your credit. If you decide to apply for a card, the credit card company will perform a hard credit pull, which can cause your credit score to drop.
The best way to see if you qualify for a credit card is to go through the prequalification process with a credit card issuer. You can also review the card’s terms before applying to assess whether you meet the requirements. In addition, check your credit score beforehand to see if it falls within the qualifying range.
The easiest credit cards to get prequalified for are usually those designed for individuals with poor or limited credit, including secured credit cards. Gas credit cards and store credit cards are also often easier to qualify for.
You can be denied a prequalified credit card. You’ll usually find out if you’ve been approved in a minute or less. If you’re denied, you can request a free copy of your credit report to understand what steps you can take to improve your chances. Or, you can try to get preapproved for another card that may be a better fit for your eligibility.
Because preapproval involves a more thorough assessment, it may offer better approval odds. Note that neither preapproval or prequalification guarantees approval when you formally apply. You’ll still need to submit an application, which will involve a hard inquiry. However, both preapproval and prequalification are useful tools to help determine if you meet the basic eligibility requirements for a credit card.
If you want to opt out of prescreened offers, there are two options:
The information related to the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, Prime Visa and Chase Freedom Unlimited® has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
