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Okay, so this is a strategic (long term) question regarding PenFed.
I joined PenFed in August and applied for their Platinum Rewards card at the same time and was instantly approved for $5,000.
Was hoping for more, but I'll still gladly take it. Hoping to keep this card for years and hoping to up the CL on it over time.
My concern is my other credit account limits might keep my PenFed card at $5k. So, I was thinking of closing 1 current card that I just don't use anymore and thereby lower my overall credit limit in hopes that it would result in an eventual CLI from Penfed.
Current cards:
USAA World MC (2009) - $8,000 - $220 bal
USAA AmEx (2010) - $9,000 - $0 bal
AmEx Starwood (backdated to 2002) - $15,000 - $500 bal
Navy Visa Sig (2011) - $14,000 - $200 bal
PenFed Visa (2012) - $5,000 - $196 bal
Balances listed are just what's on them now, I haven't carried an actual balance since 2003. I PIF every month.
Other info: Oldest acct 18 years, AAoA, 7 years, no derogs of any kind.
So I was thinking of closing the USAA Amex since I just don't use it. The other 4 cards all are more useful in one way or another.
I figure that by reducing my total lines by $9,000, it _might_ keep me from being denied a PenFed CLI because of pyramiding.
Thoughts?
Dont close the other accounts for that.Thats just not logical.And for what? for a credit limit increase that might not even happen as much as you hope?If u wanna have higher limit try commerce bank.They give high limits.Also Us bank is a good lender for a high limits
PenFed is one of the most conservative lenders in the industry. Do NOT close any cards for the sole purpose of trying to get a CLI from them.
If you get a decent CLI it will only be through a pre-approved offer, and definitely not through an underwriter.
Every single card in my signature has a higher limit than what PenFed gave me.
@swpopham wrote:
I would never cut lines in hoping to get a conservative lender like them to give a cli. The others should still grow more
+1000
As posters above stated, please reconsider closing already well established lines in hopes of a CLI from PenFed. PenFed is great, but very conservative with granting credit, new or CLI's. They really don't care how many accounts you have or the amounts if they're in line with your income and you have a good history and handle it all well. It won't impress them to close anything (by lowering your available credit that is).
You only really have to worry about PenFed thinking you're pyramiding if you apply for too many more account before you estabish a relationship with them. So you're kind of in auto-garden mode now
[EDIT]: You kind of have some of the biggest and best there are now, so I can't see you doing anything but gardening for at least 6 months. PenFed will probably auto CLI you later without you asking or you'll see an offer on your account page down the road. You're actually kind of golden right now Other than you might want to figure out a good usage rotation to keep everyone happy
not trying to hijack a thread
but penfed started me off at 20k so i feel really lucky (no previous relationship)
I saw a thread where PenFed gave 50k to a college student, and 1k to somebody making over $50,000/year with perfect credit.
There are always exceptions with PenFed, but I would never count on it.