Citi app strategy

[Longroad]

Not planning on doing any apps for a while, but it's never too early to get all the info together to be ready. I have a couple of Citi cards on my radar and had a couple of questions about how Citi operates. 

• Is the underwriting the same for all cards or would the AA or Hilton cards be easier to get than TY or DC?
• If you were going for 2 cards at once could that be accomplished with a single pull or would it be a pull for each app?
• any quirks or other things to be aware of with Citi? i.e. No apps last 6 mos, sensitive to old baddies, etc?

This forum is a wealth of information. Can't wait for the feedback. Thanks

[-Cal-]

I'm not familiar with their underwritting requirements. 

I've read that you must wait 8 days in between applications, combining HPs doesn't seem to be possible.  

I have seen people mention that they are sensitive to inquiries and new accounts. I have a had success obtaning new accounts with both. 

[boober]

What might be considered a new account to Citi?

I'm thinking of applying for a citi card in about 3 weeks. My most recent card opened was from about 7 weeks ago. Before that would be about 8 months ago for 5 new cards. Before that would be well over a year before.

And how about for Inq's? Is it within the last 6 months? Or in the last year?

Thanks and thanks to you cal.

[-Cal-]

I don't remember specifically for Citi. Given that other factors are in place (report, scores, income, etc), I think in most cases 6 months for both new accounts and inquiries is a good rule of thumb. My Double Cash approval occurred after 4 new accounts in the 2 prior months.I did have to recon and they asked about the inquiries not the accounts. 

[Discover2016]

I can speak from experience as I have the DC and ThankYou Premier. When I applied for my DC in September I had 4 inquiries in the last 6 months, 2 of them in the week before I applied. When I applied for my Premier I had 8 inquiries in the last 6 months and 4 of them were within the last month. Util when I applied for both was 1%.

[NRB525]

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@Longroad wrote:

Not planning on doing any apps for a while, but it's never too early to get all the info together to be ready. I have a couple of Citi cards on my radar and had a couple of questions about how Citi operates. 

• Is the underwriting the same for all cards or would the AA or Hilton cards be easier to get than TY or DC?
• If you were going for 2 cards at once could that be accomplished with a single pull or would it be a pull for each app?
• any quirks or other things to be aware of with Citi? i.e. No apps last 6 mos, sensitive to old baddies, etc?

This forum is a wealth of information. Can't wait for the feedback. Thanks

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As noted, you are not likely to get 2 cards the same day from Citi.

My experience has been to rely on the Citi CC Prequalification tool at the Citi site. When that gets me the lowest APR consistently, I've had two approvals recently.

AAdvantage in July with a EQ/EX pull, two weeks after the triple pull for Venture, 4 other new cards in 2015. Instapproval.

AAdvantage earlier this week, EQ/EX after the PenFed EQ HP two weeks earlier, 4 other INQ on EX after the July Citi pull. The approval was not instant, said "we can't approve you at this time wait for the letter" but then within hours I got an email of the approval.

So I continue to tell folks who are interested in a Citi credit card; monitor that Citi prequal result for best apping joy. The rest of the discussions here are informative, and could be helpful, but it's what Citi thinks of your specific file that really matters.

[Longroad]

Thanks for all the input. I didn't know Citi double pulled. I apped about 18 mos ago and only recevied a EX pull. Is that new? EQ is my worst report, but should be better by the time I expect to ap for the AA card. 

Thanks again everyone.

[satasat360]

I think EQ is Citi's main bureau and i see SP's from citi on EQ after getting the TYP card and they pulled EQ and EX during my app