topic Re: NFCU Flagship card denied in Credit Card Applications

NFCU Flagship card denied

confuzed — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 00:39:55 GMT

So I joined Navy Federal this week after being eligible because of family member. After getting membership approval and funding account I decided to apply for Flagship card. I honestly thought it would be a forgone conclusion I would get it. My scores on all 3 bureaus are over 760 with great payment history and very little utilization. Well to my surprise I was declined and offered a secured card. I can’t understand what happened. Anybody have a idea where I might have gone wrong?

Highest current credit card limit is 32K with just under 3K balance. They said I didn’t qualify for the minimum limit of 5K. I’m really at a loss.

Re: NFCU Flagship card denied

Anonymous — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 00:51:48 GMT

Hello,

From what I have gathered reading this great forum, Navy Federal's Flagship card is their top of the line card, so you should have applied for maybe their Cash Reward card first, with most likely a starting limit of $1000, so that you could build up a good track record with them. I am certain you would be approved for that one or even the American Express one. Good luck to you.

Re: NFCU Flagship card denied

DoctorManhattan — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 00:59:00 GMT

I recently applied for their Platinum due to not having a relationship and was approved with a $900.00 SL. I did not want to go for one of their higher tier cards, due to just opening an account with them. However after using this card I am certain it will grow and my next card with them will have a much higher starting limit! As mentioned the flagship card is their top tier card I believe.

Re: NFCU Flagship card denied

Jnbmom — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 01:09:27 GMT

Yes Flagship is usually not the first card to get with them.

Re: NFCU Flagship card denied

AllZero — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 01:30:51 GMT

You have a few options.

1. Accept the secured card.
2. Don't accept the secured card but have a wasted HP.
3. Send recon SM Secured Mesage for non-Flagship card.
4. You fill in the blanks.

Re: NFCU Flagship card denied

Anonymous — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 01:30:56 GMT

As others have said, this was a case of just not knowing NFCU well enough and applying for the wrong card.

They are not known for huge limits for first cards for new members. We’ve seen the same story over and over.

Had you applied for any other card, I’d almost guarantee you would have gotten an approval. It would have been a sub-$5000 limit, but it would have grown with time and a second card application after 3-6 months would have been the monster limit you are looking for.

That said, you can try to recon the denial and see where that leads you.

Re: NFCU Flagship card denied

FinStar — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 01:46:27 GMT

OP, wait for the letter to address the reason(s) for the decline.

On the upside, they countered with the secured card (your choice as to whether you want to pursue), but there's something that NFCU wasn't comfortable with profile-wise to extend something unsecured at this point.

Re: NFCU Flagship card denied

Anonymous — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 01:46:37 GMT

I think someone on here did this recently. If you are willing to take another HP, go back and apply for a cash rewards or platinum card and see what the result is. My first and only card with Navy had a SL of $17.6k. But PenFed also started me out at $25k.

Re: NFCU Flagship card denied

AverageJoesCredit — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 01:52:27 GMT

Sometimes a seems like perfect profile doesnt translate to instant success with Navy. Navy sometimes wants to get to know you first

Re: NFCU Flagship card denied

Traveler101 — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 02:53:21 GMT

Sorry for your denial op. Theres been other posts where scores simular to yours had the same results. Its been said the flagship is their top tier. See what your letter says, and give them a call to discuss your options. Good luck to you!

Re: NFCU Flagship card denied

Shooting-For-800 — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 04:00:32 GMT

Don’t take it personally.

Same happened to me.

I got denied for Flagship.

I applied for rewards card and got $1k SL

then I got CLI for Rewards to $3k

then I got Flagship $20k SL

then I got More Rewards Amex $15k SL

then I got CLI for Flagship CLI to $25k

all in less than a year.

You have to build a relationship with NFCU.

It can be done fast, but it has to be done.

Re: NFCU Flagship card denied

Anonymous — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 08:02:09 GMT

Definitely go back and try one if the lower cards, maybe the 91/3 will work in your favor. I would also open a checking and savings and deposit a little money in there.

Re: NFCU Flagship card denied

Anonymous — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 13:23:18 GMT

@AllZero wrote:
You have a few options.

1. Accept the secured card.
2. Don't accept the secured card but have a wasted HP.
3. Send recon SM Secured Mesage for non-Flagship card.
4. You fill in the blanks.

As others have said, Flagship generally isn't the first navy card you get.

Quoted for +1 on your options

Re: NFCU Flagship card denied

CreditInspired — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 13:53:04 GMT

Hi OP and welcome to myFICO

You have gotten really excellent responses and I 100% agree with all of them. I just want to add my 2cents.

You said you have high limit cards with very low UT. Maybe, just maybe, NFCU foresaw thay you wouldnt use their card either and felt that at this moment in time they rather not give a limit to a brand new member who may not put spend on their card either. A $3K UT on $32K CL is less than 1%. Just something to think about.

Re: NFCU Flagship card denied

mrfufoppss — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 15:02:28 GMT

Reconn for a different card and watch yourself get approved

Re: NFCU Flagship card denied

3se7ens — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 16:02:15 GMT

What I gather here is that you may have simply applied for the card too soon.
There actually me be some sort of vetting process as they are a Credit Union and not a bank.
Trust me, in a couple of months you'll be glad you joined. Good Luck!

Re: NFCU Flagship card denied

Anonymous — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 20:05:36 GMT

NFCU is confusing , I Was in the same boat when had signed up for NFCU waited 3 months then applied for flagship at time DP were 730 TU, 2% UTI , 4 or 5INQ past 12 months, 6or7 new accounts , high 6 figure income, and was denied stating I did not qualify for Min starting limit. it said no other explanation, just that didn’t qualify. Asked why I didn’t qualify got an answer just didn’t , which to me made no sense was it I had to many inquiries to many new accounts got no answer. All my other cards have limits of 5k to 25k average 10-15k limits. 2 months later applied for GoRewards approved for 1k . Thinking really low but ok put spend on it then maybe after will give me a big limit . 8 months after GoRewards approval, applied for flagship approved for $8800 limit. Not peanuts but not what was expecting.
With my GoRewards put decent spend over 8 months even with low limit, then recently requested a CLI and they gave me 2K increase only. Seen people with a lot worse DP and Scores getting 15k-25k limits , so when comes NFCU they confuse me on how they approve people. my wife even when she applied for the cash rewards card DP 630TU, 50%UTI, 8 INQ, 7/12 new accounts , bunch of late payments , 2 charge off’s got instant approval 10k SL and first card.

Re: NFCU Flagship card denied

Caardvark — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 18:34:10 GMT

My two cents:

From what I've previously read, Navy is very sensitive to DTI, significantly more than score and/or utilization.
I do not buy into the notion that one should apply for a different card first. I was approved for the Flagship Rewards as my first credit product with Navy and there are numerous posts from others with a similar experience.
It's possible you may have simply applied too soon. I have only anecdotal evidence but one of the commonalities I saw with Flagship approvals (as a first card) was that people waited some time after joining before applying. In my case I waited about four months after joining NFCU before I applied.

Re: NFCU Flagship card denied

Anonymous — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 18:45:54 GMT

@Caardvark wrote:
My two cents:

From what I've previously read, Navy is very sensitive to DTI, significantly more than score and/or utilization.
I do not buy into the notion that one should apply for a different card first. I was approved for the Flagship Rewards as my first credit product with Navy and there are numerous posts from others with a similar experience.
It's possible you may have simply applied too soon. I have only anecdotal evidence but one of the commonalities I saw with Flagship approvals (as a first card) was that people waited some time after joining before applying. In my case I waited about four months after joining NFCU before I applied.

Why wait and risk another denial when you can get a second card at 91/3?

Re: NFCU Flagship card denied

Gunnerboy — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 18:55:22 GMT

Hi OP,

Like others here, my first app with NFCU was for the Flagship and was denied. The reason being I didn't qualify for the minimum SL. On the recon call, the CSR confirmed that if I app for a different card, they'd use the same HP. I was instantly approved for 4,700 on the GoRewards.