topic Re: Citi Custom Cash not preapproved. Should I apply anyway? in Credit Card Applications

Citi Custom Cash not preapproved. Should I apply anyway?

DaWhole9 — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 20:21:26 GMT

I'm looking at getting a 5% cashback gas card. The Citi custom cash seems to be one that fits my needs. I do not have a Citi card now. I went to the preapproval tool, And I was not preapproved. This is interesting because my credit score currently is 826, and my utilization is under one percent. I do have five credit cards opened in the last two years, but none in the last year. A few of those are one year and 11 months. I have one inquiry on one of my reports and no inquiries on the other reports. How accurate is the preapproval for a city credit card? I'd hate to burn an inquiry for a denial for something minor.

Re: Citi Custom Cash not preapproved. Should I apply anyway?

Patient957 — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 20:38:49 GMT

826, 0/12, 1 inq. I'd apply. If you want to wait until those few accounts turn 24 months, fine, but I think you're good now.

Re: Citi Custom Cash not preapproved. Should I apply anyway?

TrapLine — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 21:15:00 GMT

Never use pre-approvals. Found I did better out right cold applying. Also, generally received lower Aprs.

A thought!

Re: Citi Custom Cash not preapproved. Should I apply anyway?

DaWhole9 — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 21:22:24 GMT

@TrapLine wrote:
Never use pre-approvals. Found I did better out right cold applying. Also, generally received lower Aprs.

A thought!

Interesting. I used it as a way to validate that I would be approved if I applied. I didnt think about they were showing me special offers and so maybe in this case there are no special offers for me on that card.

Re: Citi Custom Cash not preapproved. Should I apply anyway?

TrapLine — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 21:40:02 GMT

@DaWhole9 wrote:

@TrapLine wrote:
Never use pre-approvals. Found I did better out right cold applying. Also, generally received lower Aprs.

A thought!
Interesting. I used it as a way to validate that I would be approved if I applied. I didnt think about they were showing me special offers and so maybe in this case there are no special offers for me on that card.

Do know, I have found I still get approved. Over time on this Forum the question arises related to the reality/creditability that may or may not exist for the financials and their pre-approvals. Results are mixed even on the same lender. If you have found credit/financial products that you are interested in, seek them out.

Your consideration would be credit seeking, utilization, scores, actual credit reports and asking here on the Forum what posters have found on a particular financial. Usually, posters can guide a person on what is required?!

Re: Citi Custom Cash not preapproved. Should I apply anyway?

GZG — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 23:48:46 GMT

@DaWhole9 wrote:
I'm looking at getting a 5% cashback gas card. The Citi custom cash seems to be one that fits my needs. I do not have a Citi card now. I went to the preapproval tool, And I was not preapproved. This is interesting because my credit score currently is 826, and my utilization is under one percent. I do have five credit cards opened in the last two years, but none in the last year. A few of those are one year and 11 months. I have one inquiry on one of my reports and no inquiries on the other reports. How accurate is the preapproval for a city credit card? I'd hate to burn an inquiry for a denial for something minor.

applying for a citi card means being willing to accept a denial if they don't like you

they are very similar to cap1, they have a 'lending appetite' for which your profile may (or may not) be a part of

and having an 830 credit score and low utilization isn't a near automatic approval like it would be for chase/amex

as long as you don't have any recent inquires (the last 8 days or so), your odds are as good as they're going to be, short of waiting until you're completely 0/24 and who knows if that will even help or not

if you are extremely adverse to a denial, grab the checking account bonus, throw some money into the account and then apply

Re: Citi Custom Cash not preapproved. Should I apply anyway?

wingennis — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 00:14:06 GMT

I have the DC and CC and have never had a single pre-qualification. They always approve me anyway. They're weird.

Re: Citi Custom Cash not preapproved. Should I apply anyway?

RobertS2 — Sat, 08 Nov 2025 00:32:31 GMT

If you don't need your credit score to be pristine in the next few months, and you don't mind waiting to get another card if you get rejected, go for it. You're odds aren't great, but it's possible you'll get approved.

Re: Citi Custom Cash not preapproved. Should I apply anyway?

DaWhole9 — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 14:09:13 GMT

@RobertS2 wrote:
If you don't need your credit score to be pristine in the next few months, and you don't mind waiting to get another card if you get rejected, go for it. You're odds aren't great, but it's possible you'll get approved.

Should have taken your advice... applied and its under review. Said I will be notified in 7-10 days.

Re: Citi Custom Cash not preapproved. Should I apply anyway?

Patient957 — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 16:16:11 GMT

@DaWhole9 wrote:
@RobertS2 wrote:
If you don't need your credit score to be pristine in the next few months, and you don't mind waiting to get another card if you get rejected, go for it. You're odds aren't great, but it's possible you'll get approved.
Should have taken your advice... applied and its under review. Said I will be notified in 7-10 days.

The 7-10 days notice is not necessarily a denial. Sometimes they just need verification. Citi's reconsideration line is 800-695-5171. I would try calling now to see what the status is.

In my case with the CC, which was my first card with Citi, I had to wait until I got a letter in the mail and then call. I had to recite the code on the letter at which time I was approved. I tried going in branch before I got the letter, but nope, the banker called in for me and was told the same thing, wait for the letter.

Re: Citi Custom Cash not preapproved. Should I apply anyway?

DaWhole9 — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 16:35:46 GMT

Called the recon line. They said they need verification which I did on the line and then they said it was being sent to an analyst for processing now that they had verification. So will wait and see.

Re: Citi Custom Cash not preapproved. Should I apply anyway?

GZG — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 16:37:09 GMT

@DaWhole9 wrote:
Called the recon line. They said they need verification which I did on the line and then they said it was being sent to an analyst for processing now that they had verification. So will wait and see.

yup, if they wanted to instantly decline you, they are very good at that, they would have just done that

pending means they want to approve you