topic Applying in Branch vs. Online in Credit Card Applications

Applying in Branch vs. Online

Anonymous — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 22:23:19 GMT

Anyone have any infomation on if it's easier to obtain a card in branch vs. online?

I'm considering applying for the Citi Thank You Premier in the next couple months because the sign up bonus should allow me to finally get a round trip LA-Tokyo in Singapore Airlines Suites. I've been in the garden for 4 months and I'm thinking of leaving it soon. Do you think I would have better luck/better SL applying in person?

Also, any idea of my odds of approval? I don't currently have any pre-approval offers from Citi, but I do already have a Double Cash for a little under a year with perfect history. However, I did have quite a few new cards/inq's over the last year (6inqs, 5 new cards). I only had 1 card before this with a 7 year history, and now my AoAA is around 1 year. FICO's are 692 EX, 710 EQ, 726 TU. Citi is new account/inq sensitive correct?

Thanks .

Re: Applying in Branch vs. Online

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 01:46:15 GMT

I think that sometimes it can definitely be advantageous, depending on the creditor, especially if you have a solid history as a savings/checking customer. In December of last year I decided to exit the garden and apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred. I already had a Chase Freedom with a 6k limit and had been a Chase banking customer for a little over a year. For income verification I brought along a few recent pay stubs and a W-2 from last year. As my highest limit was 18k with Amex, I was taken aback when I was approved with a 28k SL and got the 50k UR points offer as well.

I believe that having a relationship with Chase and being able to document income helped. I don't think I would have received anywhere near that high of an SL with an online app. As an added bonus, I shortly thereafter received an e-mail from Chase informing me that they had bumped my Freedom CL fro 6k to 7.5k. I'm pretty sure that wouldn't have happened with an online app.

A final advantage to applying in person is that it eliminates any delays caused by verification issues.

Re: Applying in Branch vs. Online

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 18:24:14 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I think that sometimes it can definitely be advantageous, depending on the creditor, especially if you have a solid history as a savings/checking customer. In December of last year I decided to exit the garden and apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred. I already had a Chase Freedom with a 6k limit and had been a Chase banking customer for a little over a year. For income verification I brought along a few recent pay stubs and a W-2 from last year. As my highest limit was 18k with Amex, I was taken aback when I was approved with a 28k SL and got the 50k UR points offer as well.

I believe that having a relationship with Chase and being able to document income helped. I don't think I would have received anywhere near that high of an SL with an online app. As an added bonus, I shortly thereafter received an e-mail from Chase informing me that they had bumped my Freedom CL fro 6k to 7.5k. I'm pretty sure that wouldn't have happened with an online app.

A final advantage to applying in person is that it eliminates any delays caused by verification issues.

I was thinking about applying for a checking account with either Citi or Chase, but I haven't deccided yet. Having an online bank can be a tad irritating sometimes when I want to deposit cash and there's no branch. Hopefully, my existing credit card relationship is enough .

The more I think about it however, there doesn't really seem to be a downside to applying in person. The worst thing that can happen is I'll be a little embarressed if I'm denied. Might be time to leave the garden soon~!

Thanks for the advise!

Re: Applying in Branch vs. Online

EdMan63 — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 01:29:14 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I think that sometimes it can definitely be advantageous, depending on the creditor, especially if you have a solid history as a savings/checking customer. In December of last year I decided to exit the garden and apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred. I already had a Chase Freedom with a 6k limit and had been a Chase banking customer for a little over a year. For income verification I brought along a few recent pay stubs and a W-2 from last year. As my highest limit was 18k with Amex, I was taken aback when I was approved with a 28k SL and got the 50k UR points offer as well.

I believe that having a relationship with Chase and being able to document income helped. I don't think I would have received anywhere near that high of an SL with an online app. As an added bonus, I shortly thereafter received an e-mail from Chase informing me that they had bumped my Freedom CL fro 6k to 7.5k. I'm pretty sure that wouldn't have happened with an online app.

A final advantage to applying in person is that it eliminates any delays caused by verification issues.

This is so similar to my story. Got Freedom last Feb with a SL of 4.5k. Opened a checking and savings after the approval and gardened until Sept when I went in the branch and applied for CSP. Approved for 24k. A few days later my Freedom was bumped to 5.5k.