Will converting BofA Visa to AEx lose credit history?

[Anonymous]

I am thinking of convering my BofA Visa (no rewards) to a BofA AEx (cash back). I have had the Visa since 2004. It's my oldest card.

The BofA customer service rep said that my credit card number would change but the new card would be listed as being opened in 2004, so it would be able to keep my credit history.

But, I have been reading online that the history follows the account number, and if I will be issued a new account number for AEx, then my Visa account will be listed as closed.

Since the Visa is my oldest card, I don't want to do anything to hurt my credit history.

Can anyone please clarify? If you can provide a reference for your response, it would be even more appreciated. Thank you!

[Walt_K]

Can't answer from experience.  I know there are people who have converted their cards to Amex when their Visa or MC became a Signature/World card so they could get their limit to report again.  Perhaps you can find one of those threads, or a person with such an experience will respond.

[Ron1]

Yes, they did to me many years ago. They reported it as a new account when they converted my Platinum Plus Visa to Amex.

Ron.

[crunching_numbers]

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@Walt_K wrote:

Can't answer from experience.  I know there are people who have converted their cards to Amex when their Visa or MC became a Signature/World card so they could get their limit to report again.  Perhaps you can find one of those threads, or a person with such an experience will respond.

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What do you mean?  Is there a difference in the way they report?  Is this another of those "I'm not gonna like what they are about to tell me" moments?

[JMN]

I converted from a BAC Visa to a BAC AmEx six or seven months ago.

The account kept its history. Simply updated the account number.

[Guava]

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@crunching_numbers wrote:

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@Walt_K wrote:

Can't answer from experience.  I know there are people who have converted their cards to Amex when their Visa or MC became a Signature/World card so they could get their limit to report again.  Perhaps you can find one of those threads, or a person with such an experience will respond.

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What do you mean?  Is there a difference in the way they report?  Is this another of those "I'm not gonna like what they are about to tell me" moments?

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Visa Signature and World Mastercard cards typically don't report their credit limit, that affects utlization ratio for people

[Anonymous]

History kept when I did it.

[Walt_K]

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@Guava wrote:

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@crunching_numbers wrote:

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@Walt_K wrote:

Can't answer from experience.  I know there are people who have converted their cards to Amex when their Visa or MC became a Signature/World card so they could get their limit to report again.  Perhaps you can find one of those threads, or a person with such an experience will respond.

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What do you mean?  Is there a difference in the way they report?  Is this another of those "I'm not gonna like what they are about to tell me" moments?

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Visa Signature and World Mastercard cards typically don't report their credit limit, that affects utlization ratio for people

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Right.  This is what I was referring to.  And for some people that have had their Visa or MC converted to a Visa Sig or MC World card, and who want their limit to report again, one solution is to ask to PC the card to an Amex.  All Amex revolving products report the limit, so you can get your limit back if this is an option.