topic Re: First Tech CU .. Preapproval? in Credit Card Applications

First Tech CU .. Preapproval?

RootDet — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 02:10:07 GMT

How solid are the pre-approvals? In the past, I heard first tech was not the place to get credit if you had over $300k available like me (nearly $1 million). I keep getting emails and mailers from them.

Any new experiences?

Re: First Tech CU .. Preapproval?

IntegerIntrovert — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 18:07:54 GMT

Solid, especially if you have good income/assets. I recently cancelled my account(s). Multipliers didn't move the needle for me. Friendly, and easy to do business with.

Re: First Tech CU .. Preapproval?

RootDet — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 18:54:22 GMT

I was looking at the possibility of phasing BCU out (my recent post about them). I have two CU's to pick from, First Tech and State Department FCU that i have not really enagged with, but have accounts there.

First Tech was slated for the chopping block. But i got the preapproval in ..

Currently my combined cards total about 9x my income, and I have roughly a full years salary of investments/cash.

But i heard they are picky in the post about those like me and other myfico soles that have surplus credit.

Re: First Tech CU .. Preapproval?

CreditCuriosity — Sat, 17 Aug 2024 11:32:30 GMT

They are very picky with available credit open. Stories can be read here where when went to manual uw people haven't been approved due to available credit open. Although lenders do change policies. Can always try to call up UW and speak with them prior.

Re: First Tech CU .. Preapproval?

RootDet — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 18:53:33 GMT

I finally bit the bullet, the Pre-appproval was solid for the choice rewards world mastercard.

applied at 5:15 pm est. Linked about 5 bank accounts in the app to prove income and some cash on hand assets.

experian pulled 5:20/25

approval email at 5:35 - $25k, asked for proof of addresss

Sent tulity bill at 5:45

Rep called at about 6:10 to inform me of the approval. Discussed max limit is $35k for this card type and $50k for Odyssey.

Pull is good for 30 days.

SDFCU on the other hand .. denied for escalating debt. aka, too much credit. considering i only have a $9k balance on a $48k auto loan, $10k card usuage, and $50k student loan.

Re: First Tech CU .. Preapproval?

CreditCuriosity — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 19:24:41 GMT

@RootDet wrote:
I finally bit the bullet, the Pre-appproval was solid for the choice rewards world mastercard.

applied at 5:15 pm est. Linked about 5 bank accounts in the app to prove income and some cash on hand assets.
experian pulled 5:20/25
approval email at 5:35 - $25k, asked for proof of addresss
Sent tulity bill at 5:45
Rep called at about 6:10 to inform me of the approval. Discussed max limit is $35k for this card type and $50k for Odyssey.

Pull is good for 30 days.

SDFCU on the other hand .. denied for escalating debt. aka, too much credit. considering i only have a $9k balance on a $48k auto loan, $10k card usuage, and $50k student loan.

Congrats. Maybe First tech is changing their lending as usually frown on a lot of available credit as see it as a liability even if only 1k of it being used. Or maybe different due to pre-approval?

Re: First Tech CU .. Preapproval?

heyryan — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 08:45:52 GMT

Solid for me w/ a lot of available credit. Been a customer a couple times, but an year this time at least. Got a preapproval in the mail with a decent SUB so I bit. 20K approvals very quickly. Painless process getting approved and finishing the paperwork. At least 3-4 new cards this year

Re: First Tech CU .. Preapproval?

cashorcharge — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 18:35:54 GMT

@CreditCuriosity wrote:
@RootDet wrote:
I finally bit the bullet, the Pre-appproval was solid for the choice rewards world mastercard.

applied at 5:15 pm est. Linked about 5 bank accounts in the app to prove income and some cash on hand assets.
experian pulled 5:20/25
approval email at 5:35 - $25k, asked for proof of addresss
Sent tulity bill at 5:45
Rep called at about 6:10 to inform me of the approval. Discussed max limit is $35k for this card type and $50k for Odyssey.

Pull is good for 30 days.

SDFCU on the other hand .. denied for escalating debt. aka, too much credit. considering i only have a $9k balance on a $48k auto loan, $10k card usuage, and $50k student loan.

Congrats. Maybe First tech is changing their lending as usually frown on a lot of available credit as see it as a liability even if only 1k of it being used. Or maybe different due to pre-approval?

Perhaps the result of that new merger with DCU...

Re: First Tech CU .. Preapproval?

DRSTalways — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 19:19:37 GMT

I'm quite late to this thread but was seeking helpful feedback on First Tech CU since are just joining and will be applying for a product. Ironically, I am cyrrently with SDFCU also and have been denied twice for escalating debt which is apparently a defaut denail reason. Mt DTI is 3%, 7 fig verifiable income and upper 700-low 800 scores (No Derog, no bk). It makes no sense but they did offer a sceured card. A bit insulting. The majority of my debt is deferred student loans from med school. Just hoping First Tech will be supportive of members credit profile goals.

Re: First Tech CU .. Preapproval?

gregorius — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 15:01:50 GMT

@CreditCuriosity @cashorcharge First Tech's reputation of not approving applicants with more than $30k in CLs keeps getting repeated here even though it isn't warranted anymore: we have reports of forum members being approved after receiving a preapproval letter, even with high existing credit, from at least 2022. First Tech isn't just starting to loosen requirements - it already happened - and it has nothing to do with the merger with DCU (which, until it is approved, legally prohibits collaboration or coordination).

Re: First Tech CU .. Preapproval?

CreditCuriosity — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 15:12:16 GMT

@gregorius wrote:
@CreditCuriosity @cashorcharge First Tech's reputation of not approving applicants with more than $30k in CLs keeps getting repeated here even though it isn't warranted anymore: we have reports of forum members being approved after receiving a preapproval letter, even with high existing credit, from at least 2022. First Tech isn't just starting to loosen requirements - it already happened - and it has nothing to do with the merger with DCU (which, until it is approved, legally prohibits collaboration or coordination).

No idea to be honest and never said 30k. Maybe 100k or whatever they use to be very picky but maybe if you had a relationship wiht them you could get around it as many data points supported that including myself. They certainly could of changed their way more cuurently as well as you echoed. DCU merger will change things as well in time as no issues getting approved with DCU with around 700-800k of available personal credit at time when applied for them so whomever umbrella they end up under whether it is called DCU or First Tech or something else I now have a product with them when merger is completed. I jsut wanted them for true tap and pin at the time which assume will carry over after merger.

Re: First Tech CU .. Preapproval?

cashorcharge — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 15:20:01 GMT

@CreditCuriosity wrote:
@gregorius wrote:
@CreditCuriosity @cashorcharge First Tech's reputation of not approving applicants with more than $30k in CLs keeps getting repeated here even though it isn't warranted anymore: we have reports of forum members being approved after receiving a preapproval letter, even with high existing credit, from at least 2022. First Tech isn't just starting to loosen requirements - it already happened - and it has nothing to do with the merger with DCU (which, until it is approved, legally prohibits collaboration or coordination).

No idea to be honest and never said 30k. Maybe 100k or whatever they use to be very picky but maybe if you had a relationship wiht them you could get around it as many data points supported that including myself. They certainly could of changed their way more cuurently as well as you echoed. DCU merger will change things as well in time as no issues getting approved with DCU with around 700-800k of available personal credit at time when applied for them so whomever umbrella they end up under whether it is called DCU or First Tech or something else I now have a product with them when merger is completed. I jsut wanted them for true tap and pin at the time which assume will carry over after merger.

I would agree @CreditCuriosity ....though this original post is over 12 months ago.

When I joined and applied....prior to any announcement of merger with DCU....all my scores exceeded 825+ , I hold over $1M in credit, high earner and utilization is 4%....yet was declined for too much available CL. So YES, perhaps they are changing up their practices as opposed to 24 months ago when they were more strict

Re: First Tech CU .. Preapproval?

CreditCuriosity — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 15:29:44 GMT

@cashorcharge wrote:
@CreditCuriosity wrote:
@gregorius wrote:
@CreditCuriosity @cashorcharge First Tech's reputation of not approving applicants with more than $30k in CLs keeps getting repeated here even though it isn't warranted anymore: we have reports of forum members being approved after receiving a preapproval letter, even with high existing credit, from at least 2022. First Tech isn't just starting to loosen requirements - it already happened - and it has nothing to do with the merger with DCU (which, until it is approved, legally prohibits collaboration or coordination).

No idea to be honest and never said 30k. Maybe 100k or whatever they use to be very picky but maybe if you had a relationship wiht them you could get around it as many data points supported that including myself. They certainly could of changed their way more cuurently as well as you echoed. DCU merger will change things as well in time as no issues getting approved with DCU with around 700-800k of available personal credit at time when applied for them so whomever umbrella they end up under whether it is called DCU or First Tech or something else I now have a product with them when merger is completed. I jsut wanted them for true tap and pin at the time which assume will carry over after merger.
I would agree @CreditCuriosity ....though this original post is over 12 months ago.
When I joined and applied....prior to any announcement of merger with DCU....all my scores exceeded 825+ , I hold over $1M in credit, high earner and utilization is 4%....yet was declined for too much available CL. So YES, perhaps they are changing up their practices as opposed to 24 months ago when they were more strict

Have a relationship with them being DCU for a bit? before applying? I think I did and maybe that made a differencce? Think I have had my DCU card now for about two years IRC? As somewhat similar credit profiles and amounts of available credit. Just closed out 50k of credit a few weeks ago and be closing out another 35k in credit this week just so I don't have to deal with 30 cards and also other reasons such as Barcl[ay's going to Citi for their AA card and don't want to lose bonus miles with Citi or nerf on Alliant 2.5% card, etc. Certain things will get me to close cards or as well would be over 1 mill in credit. I keep on saying keep in simple yet i end up replacing many of the cards i have given up with something else lol.

Re: First Tech CU .. Preapproval?

cashorcharge — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 15:36:14 GMT

@CreditCuriosity wrote:
@cashorcharge wrote:
@CreditCuriosity wrote:
@gregorius wrote:
@CreditCuriosity @cashorcharge First Tech's reputation of not approving applicants with more than $30k in CLs keeps getting repeated here even though it isn't warranted anymore: we have reports of forum members being approved after receiving a preapproval letter, even with high existing credit, from at least 2022. First Tech isn't just starting to loosen requirements - it already happened - and it has nothing to do with the merger with DCU (which, until it is approved, legally prohibits collaboration or coordination).

No idea to be honest and never said 30k. Maybe 100k or whatever they use to be very picky but maybe if you had a relationship wiht them you could get around it as many data points supported that including myself. They certainly could of changed their way more cuurently as well as you echoed. DCU merger will change things as well in time as no issues getting approved with DCU with around 700-800k of available personal credit at time when applied for them so whomever umbrella they end up under whether it is called DCU or First Tech or something else I now have a product with them when merger is completed. I jsut wanted them for true tap and pin at the time which assume will carry over after merger.
I would agree @CreditCuriosity ....though this original post is over 12 months ago.
When I joined and applied....prior to any announcement of merger with DCU....all my scores exceeded 825+ , I hold over $1M in credit, high earner and utilization is 4%....yet was declined for too much available CL. So YES, perhaps they are changing up their practices as opposed to 24 months ago when they were more strict
Have a relationship with them being DCU for a bit? before applying? I think I did and maybe that made a differencce? Think I have had my DCU card now for about two years IRC? As somewhat similar credit profiles and amounts of available credit. Just closed out 50k of credit a few weeks ago and be closing out another 35k in credit this week just so I don't have to deal with 30 cards and also other reasons such as Barcl[ay's going to Citi for their AA card and don't want to lose bonus miles with Citi or nerf on Alliant 2.5% card, etc. Certain things will get me to close cards or as well would be over 1 mill in credit. I keep on saying keep in simple yet i end up replacing many of the cards i have given up with something else lol.

I too have been with DCU a dew years so perhaps once the merger is done, I'll try again as that history will be visible

Re: First Tech CU .. Preapproval?

RootDet — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 23:16:25 GMT

First Tech membership is strong, i even gave them a healthy CD. I ended up with the CC + LOC with First tech.

I am curious how the merger goes, because i am a DCU member and have a CC there.

When the merger goes through, i am anticipating a loss for either the OG DCU or OG First Tech card. But it will probably depend on the new credit guidelines. Both CU's are great so it will work out i am sure.