topic Planning for next card options (Still young thin file, even if less young) in Credit Cards

Planning for next card options (Still young thin file, even if less young)

uncredited — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 20:21:17 GMT

First, DPs:

EX/TU/EQ: 760/769/771

AAoA: 1y 8m

AoYA: 7mo

AoOA: 2y 11m

Util 1-3% depending, 1%atm.

Accounts: 0/6, 1/12, 3/24

No loans. (negative)

No derrog.

4 accounts (Disco $5.6k, Citi DC $8.9k, Amex BCE $18k, Chase Amazon $10.9k.)

Inqus:

EX: 0/6, 1/12, 5/24

TU: 0/6, 0/12, 1/24.

EQ: 0/forever

I'm now at the 7 month mark for my newest account, and am working on planning what move to make next for the next card. I now have the 4 cards. My own goal at the start was to have 6 cards from 6 issuers, so it's time to look into what to do next.

I'll start by asking, given the above data, the changes in the lending market, current economy etc, is this generally a bad time to try to do anything at all and instead I should just be sitting tight and do nothing?

Otherwise, if it's time to look into the next card, that's when we get into a few decisions to make:

The plan, previously, as some that followed my past threads would know has been an FNBO issued cobrand card that happens to have particularly valuable savings for me. However, all I have read about FNBO, and my own awkward denial for "not enough other cards" (2 cards ago, over 1 year ago when I apped them) still has me squeemish about having any card with them. While I would benefit from having that particular card, I still worry that dealing with them is like dealing with SyncB and is best left untouched for one's own sanity no matter how useful the card. I haven't followed along their current sagas, but how have they been behaving of late? Of course all banks are more conservative right now, but have they contiued being more erratic than average lenders? Useful card, but still wondering if it's a stone best left unturned, and/or if I should consider them a "possible 7th card" after any others that are more stable. I didn't want 7 technically (and not sure if 7 is too many in general for a young file), but this one is mostly to be used at one store, and I wouldn't consder it a bad choice to go that route, but I sense that bank is still a lions den that could then negatively impact things for others?

Other alternatives: BofA Customized Cash looks great in its updated version, like a better version of my BCE and would compliment nicely with the online/home improvement/dining optional categories. Very good contender for me. How are they with SLs, CLIs, and is it HP/SP CLI? And how are they, generally with profiles like mine? I don't have deposit accounts with them and don't intend to - I know that factors into their mood. Any odd traits with how they do things (like USB does their reporting on a fixed date rather than statement, that sort of oddity?)

USB either Cash+ or even Shopper+ with AF (would have to crunch numbers to figure out which) but both are on the better side of cash rewards cards that aren't from lenders I already have a card with. TBH, it's the utilities category that's most interesting with that card, but also definitely on my short list here. Same questions as for BofA: SL, CLIs, HP/SP, no deposit with them, good/bad for my profile, etc?

Generally trying to get a sense from this if now is a good/bad time to try anything, and from the factors above if one particular strategy for app order is recommended? Probably going for 2 of the 3. All 3 is more than I needed or really have spend to make full use of, but I also wouldn't negate the idea, especially where FNBO is an oddbal. And my info on most of these in terms of DP experience here is 2 years out of date.

(A side question, I could start a new thread for but it seems more appropriate to just post it here: It's 8 months since last Disco CLI request with a small increase, they're my lowest CL, got big CLIs from the other 3 3mo ago, so I'd like to try them again. I think verbiage changed for them, is it best to request via app or website currently? I don't see soft pull language on the app, but I think I'm confusing that with Citi....it's always SP for Disco isn't it? I'd wait another month for the 3 year anniversary with the card, but we all know Disco and sensible CLI DPs go together like oil and water.)

Thanks, all in advance!

Re: Planning for next card options (Still young thin file, even if less young)

SouthJamaica — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 20:55:50 GMT

@uncredited wrote:
First, DPs:
EX/TU/EQ: 760/769/771
AAoA: 1y 8m
AoYA: 7mo
AoOA: 2y 11m
Util 1-3% depending, 1%atm.
Accounts: 0/6, 1/12, 3/24
No loans. (negative)
No derrog.
4 accounts (Disco $5.6k, Citi DC $8.9k, Amex BCE $18k, Chase Amazon $10.9k.)
Inqus:
EX: 0/6, 1/12, 5/24
TU: 0/6, 0/12, 1/24.
EQ: 0/forever

I'm now at the 7 month mark for my newest account, and am working on planning what move to make next for the next card. I now have the 4 cards. My own goal at the start was to have 6 cards from 6 issuers, so it's time to look into what to do next.

I'll start by asking, given the above data, the changes in the lending market, current economy etc, is this generally a bad time to try to do anything at all and instead I should just be sitting tight and do nothing?

No, I think you're good to go.

Otherwise, if it's time to look into the next card, that's when we get into a few decisions to make:

The plan, previously, as some that followed my past threads would know has been an FNBO issued cobrand card that happens to have particularly valuable savings for me. However, all I have read about FNBO, and my own awkward denial for "not enough other cards" (2 cards ago, over 1 year ago when I apped them) still has me squeemish about having any card with them. While I would benefit from having that particular card, I still worry that dealing with them is like dealing with SyncB and is best left untouched for one's own sanity no matter how useful the card. I haven't followed along their current sagas, but how have they been behaving of late? Of course all banks are more conservative right now, but have they contiued being more erratic than average lenders? Useful card, but still wondering if it's a stone best left unturned, and/or if I should consider them a "possible 7th card" after any others that are more stable. I didn't want 7 technically (and not sure if 7 is too many in general for a young file), but this one is mostly to be used at one store, and I wouldn't consder it a bad choice to go that route, but I sense that bank is still a lions den that could then negatively impact things for others?

If that's the card you want you should go for it. FNBO is fine.

Other alternatives: BofA Customized Cash looks great in its updated version, like a better version of my BCE and would compliment nicely with the online/home improvement/dining optional categories. Very good contender for me. How are they with SLs, CLIs, and is it HP/SP CLI? And how are they, generally with profiles like mine? I don't have deposit accounts with them and don't intend to - I know that factors into their mood. Any odd traits with how they do things (like USB does their reporting on a fixed date rather than statement, that sort of oddity?)

USB either Cash+ or even Shopper+ with AF (would have to crunch numbers to figure out which) but both are on the better side of cash rewards cards that aren't from lenders I already have a card with. TBH, it's the utilities category that's most interesting with that card, but also definitely on my short list here. Same questions as for BofA: SL, CLIs, HP/SP, no deposit with them, good/bad for my profile, etc?

Generally trying to get a sense from this if now is a good/bad time to try anything, and from the factors above if one particular strategy for app order is recommended? Probably going for 2 of the 3. All 3 is more than I needed or really have spend to make full use of, but I also wouldn't negate the idea, especially where FNBO is an oddbal. And my info on most of these in terms of DP experience here is 2 years out of date.

Just go for one at a time.

(A side question, I could start a new thread for but it seems more appropriate to just post it here: It's 8 months since last Disco CLI request with a small increase, they're my lowest CL, got big CLIs from the other 3 3mo ago, so I'd like to try them again. I think verbiage changed for them, is it best to request via app or website currently? I don't see soft pull language on the app, but I think I'm confusing that with Citi....it's always SP for Disco isn't it? I'd wait another month for the 3 year anniversary with the card, but we all know Disco and sensible CLI DPs go together like oil and water.)

Yes it's always a SP for Discover CLI. Doesn't matter how you apply. You can do it as often as you wish, without untoward consequences, except filling your mailbox with denial letters if they turn you down.

Thanks, all in advance!

Re: Planning for next card options (Still young thin file, even if less young)

KillingThemGingerly — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 20:59:02 GMT

I think I would go Chase Freedom Flex. I know you said you wanted it from another bank and you already have a Chase...however Chase only allows you to open 5 cards in general in a 24-month period so this may be your last chance at Chase for a while. The Freedom Flex works A LOT like your Discover would, rotating 5% cash back categories each quarter you have to click to activate at the start of the quarter or shortly before for a maximum of $75 cash back iirc.

Sometimes the categories won't be relevant to you or will overlap with Discovers, or wil be Amazon around Christmas which isn't helpful to you since you have a 5% Amazon card already...but other times it's great. This quarter it is grocery stores and im getting some good use out of that.

Re: Planning for next card options (Still young thin file, even if less young)

uncredited — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 21:22:31 GMT

@SouthJamaica @KillingThemGingerly

Surprised to hear FNBO seeming fine. Still uneasy with them a little, but that's encouraging. Will have to consider that, because they seemed, like I said, very in the SyncB realm for a while there!

Just to clarify, I definitely meant doing one at a time. I'm the one that's conservative enough to be an underwriter in my next life, remember! I meant one every 6-7 mo and just wondered if there's a particular order of those 3 that for one reason or another (sensitive to total accounts, etc.) worth considering.

RE Chase, I'd actually strongly considered them for another raeson: I like having a Chase card, and there's always the chance Amazon changes their contract to someone else, so I'd considered doubling up on them, if anyone for that reason. But, I just can't get myself to be excited about the Freedoms...the rewards don't work out spectacularly, so I'd break my one card per lender rule and get rewards that work out a bit below the others, and maybe Amazon never changes the contract, who knows. Either way I'd only be doing 1 card every 6-7 months, so I'll never be outside the 5/24 rule

Re: Planning for next card options (Still young thin file, even if less young)

Kforce — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 22:14:56 GMT

Agree with @SouthJamaica

Think it is time to go for the FNBO

Re: Planning for next card options (Still young thin file, even if less young)

CYBERSAM — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 22:44:35 GMT

FNBO is not as hot as they use to be, just your typical 2% card with noting else to offer! When I call their CS, I don't get the sense they know what they are talking about. They use to be a great bank to have, but past covid era... not so much!

I would strongly recommend US Bank line up and see if any of their cards works for you. I just got Cash+ that has great 5% categories to choose from. Also if you do any travel, Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite is a great card to get. After $325 credit is only a $75 AF, 3% Mobile Wallet CC with bunch of other incentives.

You may also want to start a relationship with some Credit Unions for future loans! Some do offer decent cards.

Re: Planning for next card options (Still young thin file, even if less young)

KillingThemGingerly — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 06:44:24 GMT

@Kforce wrote:
Agree with @SouthJamaica

Think it is time to go for the FNBO

I have soured on FNBO. There is a long thread on here and lots of reports on Reddit of FNBO being very erratic with slashing credit lines pretty arbitrarily. If I were looking at a straight 2% card, I would probably go Wells Fargo Active Cash. I'd definitely encourage OP to choose a card with a Welcome Bonus Sub, no matter which card he chooses. I believe the Chase Freedom Flex and the Wells Fargo Active Cash have $200 welcome bonus, as does the BOA Customized Cash. I forget the stipulations for each for what you have to do to earn the welcome bonus, so read up on that to make sure it's achievable for you. All the big banks are imperfect to say the least, but BOA turns me off more than most due to their archaic auto payment system that I do not believe they have changed/fixed.

Re: Planning for next card options (Still young thin file, even if less young)

uncredited — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 17:46:46 GMT

Just for the info, I did try the Disco CLI (posted in the apps forum) and got my first ever Disco CLI deny. Oh well. Not surprising, they were tapering off on my increase last time, and they're even tighter now. Not sure what the letter will say, not super interested. But in case anyone thinks a wary Disco could be a coal mine canary for any of the above 3 apps being wary of me, figured I'd note it here.

@Kforceaaaand, there's the jinx. Now it's doomed with both of you putting your seal of approval on that one again.... I really don't know what to think about them, it's clear in the past they really just didn't like my file (remember the 2 prequals denied for odd reasons, then the app denied for the even more odd reason), it can be so hard to tell with any lender when you're waiting to hit their sweet spot, or if you're just not compatible with what they want in general.

One thing I will say regarding that particular card and its utility being single store dependent is I have some amount of trepidation of how much spend I'll be putting through WS. They've done a lot of rearranging of inventory there in the past 6 months, discontinued a bunch of things i used to buy, changed some to require huge quantity purchases instead. So my spend definitely decreased through no fault of my own. They can be a weird store with what they chose to stock. A product I regularly buy was out of stock for a month and I ended up buying it at Amazon several times. OTOH some things shifted to depend more on the sub (while still being more expensive than before...) Still heavily use it and the key reward is the flat price break on the monthly, so still valuable if I'm using it enough to sub at all, but long term depends on if they keep those changes rolling or not. I've shifted some purchases elsewhere already for that reason, either stuff they no longer have, or stuff that they don't have quite the product I need, or stuff I need less quantity of, or stuff that the case break pricing shifted so that it's still cheaper than elsehwere but not THAT much cheaper for a product I could get a much better product for only moderately more elsewhere. I do buy heavily. But reduced from a a year ago with purchases fanning out to a variety of other vendors. Ultimately the FNBO card matters for the montly sub, not the spend, though, so as long as I buy enough to justify the sub, and maybe more importantly justify it at half the price with the card, it's still rewarding. If that changes though the card's a pumpkin.

Cobrands are such a double edged sword. Best rewards or useless rewards that shift with the tides of the store/hotel chain/airline.

For now, I think the key question is just, if we make the outside assumption I'd go for 2-3 of the above cards per 6 mo, is there an order based on my DPs that's most logical (or one that's a bad choice, etc.?)

@KillingThemGingerlyFWIW the FNBO card in question isn't the Evergreen, I have my DC for that, but is a cobrad specifically for a wholesale restaurant supply store (as you guessed from the conversation above with Kforce who's familiar with my long saga with that card and its denials, most famously "not enough other cards."). I tend to buy a lot of bulk food through them and they have a $100/mo membership subscription. With the card it's $50/mo. It's also 3% on spend at the store, but that's pointless next to the BofA card which is also 3%, so it's all about a flat $50/mo savings and not much else. But that's huge savings on a rewards card. Especially when you save $50/mo even if you spend nothing assuming you were subscribing anyway. Admittedly, though saving $50 in 2024 doesn't sound as helpful as saving $50 in 2020 did.... OTOH the max BofA saves me is 100/yr over my DC, while the min the FNBO saves is $600/yr. IF I still sub and spend a lot there. Otherwise it saves basically $0. At the end of the day all these rewards are trivial vs a good 2% card and it's more about getting good cards with banks that don't suck to deal with Either way, these 3 represent probably the best savings for me (I'm still with you on liking having the Chase relationship, though. Shame the Freedom's don't excite me, so hopefully Amazon and Chase keep a nice long relationship going. )

Re: Planning for next card options (Still young thin file, even if less young)

uncredited — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 18:00:50 GMT

@CYBERSAMSorry, skipped you in the above reply! But yeah, I don't think you were following the saga with FNBO before, but they were on my early list of cards, and I'd tried the Evergreen prequal tool twice with them, just to see where I stood with them when everyone was hyping them, and denied both times with fairly odd reasoning. The first time around Citi (Citi!) took me readily. The second time, despite no prequal for the Evergreen I apped for the cobrand for the store I have big spend with, more than now even, and was denied with another cryptic, odd reason. Called them, and while they were very friendly the reasoning was that the account age was supposedly fine but I didn't have "enough other cards" and they recommended I get a secured card elsewhere (?) and not to try them again "any time soon"...so I apped Amex and got BCE.... And hit the store with those nice Amex transaction fees as a bit of nerdy revenge But only a few times because they way they code doesn't show as online so I don't get the 3% there.

It was an awkward experience to be sure. Technically with 2 more cards and over a year since then I "should" be good with them now based on their reasoning at the time, but if I seem particularly hesitant with them, my experience, plus all the stories about SyncB-like random slashing (though those seem to have died down) do definitely give me pause with them. My impression is that the reasons they give aren't really the reasons, or just shift with the wind, so I can't really tell if I'd be in good with them or not. Or if I'd quickly regret having an account with them.

Re: Planning for next card options (Still young thin file, even if less young)

uncredited — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 19:32:56 GMT

Interesting info in terms of how my file is seen, I just happened to get a mailer for WF Propel yesterday. It's interesting, only because I've never received a WF mailer before. They're one of the cards (not Propel, but Active Cash) I had done a prequal for back nearly 2 years ago when I did Citi, and they had no offers for me. I've never received a mailer from them before or after that prequal, despite obviously being on their marketing list by doing a prequal. I'm not actually considering any WF cards at the moment, but found the sudden arrival on their marketing radar for the first time interesting all the same. Of course, 2 prequal rejections and 1 app rejection later I still have never received any mailers from FNBO, though I'm also outside their geofence.

Still haven't decided if I should go for FNBO or BoA first, though.

I did think of one question, with cobrand cards, what happens if said brand goes out of business or whatnot? Do banks just close out cards, or do they convert to other products usually? Not that I expect WS to go out of business, but it's a private company, you never know, it's worth asking.

Re: Planning for next card options (Still young thin file, even if less young)

SouthJamaica — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 19:40:49 GMT

@uncredited wrote:
.....

I did think of one question, with cobrand cards, what happens if said brand goes out of business or whatnot? Do banks just close out cards, or do they convert to other products usually? Not that I expect WS to go out of business, but it's a private company, you never know, it's worth asking.

Sometimes the card goes bye bye.

Sometimes the lender offers you a plain vanilla card to take its place.

I've never heard of it converting to other products.

Re: Planning for next card options (Still young thin file, even if less young)

Kforce — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 21:30:25 GMT

I look at this from the money side.

$600 a year might be more than you get from all your other cards added together

It is many,many times the gain from any other 2 or 3 new cards.

If you get the rewards for a year or 2 and the card goes bye, bye you still win.

95% of the my fico forum members would get a new no

AF card for a $600 sub with 600 spend.

Even if it was known to go away next year

Worst thing that could happen is they say is "No" and you lose one HP.

Re: Planning for next card options (Still young thin file, even if less young)

uncredited — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 23:42:29 GMT

Also of interest I updated the disco cli reject thread. I doubt the reasons have much bearing on anyone's opinions on new apps but just in case:

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Card-Applications/No-Disco-CLI-for-me-For-the-DPs/m-p/6733185/highlight/false#M325690

Just in case it's a DP worth considering here for any of these three

Also, thanks for the thoughts on cards going away, it's definitely something I hadn't considered.

@KforceYeah that makes sense and the value there definitely is a consideration. I'm also considering that angle because that's a heck of a value. On the other hand, these days $600 is couch change that doesn't buy McDonald's fries. So while I do want to get the rewards, and that one's the best rewards for sure (for today anyway) it's only part of the goal. What I tend to think of is "where do I want my stable of cards to sit if something we're to happen to my profile a month later and I'd never qualify for good cards again and/or could lose some". In that light I like the other cards much more even if they save peanuts, and WS is last priority.

Not saying that's my decision. Still 50/50 split, though I want to app early next week so it hits January just to keep my semi schedule on track so I need to decide in the next few days which way to go.

Mostly in this thread I wanted to find out if any of the above 3 are particularly good or bad picks with my current file and the current economy, and/or if I hypothetically went for all 3, one every 6-7 mo, if there's a particular order that's best to do them (or if there's an unspoken max limit of cards for a file like mine where 4 is the US average etc. ).

Re: Planning for next card options (Still young thin file, even if less young)

Zoostation1 — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 00:58:32 GMT

@uncredited wrote:
Interesting info in terms of how my file is seen, I just happened to get a mailer for WF Propel yesterday. It's interesting, only because I've never received a WF mailer before.

This doesn't make sense to me...not that you got a mailer, but that it's for the Propel. They stopped taking applications for that almost 3 years ago and have been converting all existing Propel cards to Autograph (or Active cash if you already have an Autograph).

Re: Planning for next card options (Still young thin file, even if less young)

uncredited — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 23:47:51 GMT

You're absolutely right, good eye! It's Reflect, not Propel. Shows how much I've paid attention to WF

Update: Wow, got a second Reflect mailer. Not at all interested but pretty interesting that I'm suddenly so solicited by WF when they had no interest in me until now. They could be targeting everyone. Or maybe next month hitting 3y on oldest account is the trigger. Discover stopped sending mailers and wf started.I figure there's some interesting dp there somewhere. Of course none from the 3 I'm looking at though!

@Zoostation1 wrote:
@uncredited wrote:
Interesting info in terms of how my file is seen, I just happened to get a mailer for WF Propel yesterday. It's interesting, only because I've never received a WF mailer before.

This doesn't make sense to me...not that you got a mailer, but that it's for the Propel. They stopped taking applications for that almost 3 years ago and have been converting all existing Propel cards to Autograph (or Active cash if you already have an Autograph).

Re: Planning for next card options (Still young thin file, even if less young)

uncredited — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 14:56:38 GMT

Just bumping my own thread one more time with a question on timing:

My intent was to do it tomorrow or the next day to try to get it in January so it counts as "January" for the aging and next app (could do Jul/Aug instead of Aug/Sep) - but does that actually matter when it's in the last few days of Jan? Also, my oldest (Disco) turns 3 in Feb. if the ACTUAL date applies it's LATE Feb. If just the month applies it's "Feb" - does anyone feel I should wait a few days until it's Feb so that "3 years" for the oldest is in effect, or since the real date of the disco is the 20-something-ith of Feb, it doesn't matter? Will waiting until the calendar says Feb 01 help avvoid any "age of oldest account" rejection reasons, or not really?

Also, one last call to make sure there's no additional thoughts out there, while choosing, ie.

"Too little is known of FNBO cobrands since they pulled in their core geofence (I mean there's basically NOTHING on the apps/approvals forum! - and you were denied just over a year ago - too risky"
or "USB is too conservative and gives low SLs which could hurt the next app after that"
or "BoA smells funny" or, anything really.

Finally, comedy: Got a Disco mailer with a sub offer the other day, right after the "no CLI for you because your limits are too low (not anyone else's just ours!) and AAoA too short" letter. And they haven't sent mailers for a while. And the name on the mailer matches my Disco account so it's an existing-customer mailer, not a generic one. (No I don't want a second disco, but as we play reason roulette I found that hilarious.) Why do we subject ourselves to these companies?

Re: Planning for next card options (Still young thin file, even if less young)

Kforce — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 18:22:58 GMT

@uncredited wrote:

Also, one last call to make sure there's no additional thoughts out there, while choosing, ie.

"Too little is known of FNBO cobrands since they pulled in their core geofence (I mean there's basically NOTHING on the apps/approvals forum! - and you were denied just over a year ago - too risky"
or "USB is too conservative and gives low SLs which could hurt the next app after that"
or "BoA smells funny" or, anything really.

Recently have been helping someone with BoA charging incorrect interest.

A CC with balance and multiple payments every month, for a few months.

Interest numbers way off from BoA. It has scared me.

Had a US-Bank Cash+, no issues, except the low starting CL, and slow growing CL.

You know how I feel about the FNBO

With your current card set I see any other card as a waste of time.

You have enough diversity, cards to make Fico happy, and will relize

extremely little gain from any of the other cards.

While you are pondering which new card's and when,

I am pondering which two to cut, and when.

Real world problems, glad they are this insignificant

Re: Planning for next card options (Still young thin file, even if less young)

uncredited — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 19:36:41 GMT

Soooo.....we have one vote for "BoA smells funny", then.... Can't say I'll remove them from my radar, not many great cards out there, but yeah, they may be off the list for this month Good to know! Not that I'd carry a balance on that card, ever, but still good to know their shady back room is open.

Any thoughts on if I'm better off waiting until Feb01 so it's the same month as the (Feb 20-somthing) Disco 3-yr anniversary, or, no, no benefit?

Haha, yeah, yeah, I know your opinion on the FNBO....and how you two got me in trouble a year ago with that My concern with FNBO is I don't know why they didn't like me last time (sure, they said "insufficient credit" (on paper) and "not enough other cards" (on the phone), but that makes no sense, so we don't know the real reason) so IDK if I'm in better or worse shape with them now, after they've gone and dumped a bunch of customers and raised the geofence again, and we don't really have much "current" data here on the forum on them because nobody on the forum lives in Nebraska so there's like 2 posts a year about them now. So it's a big dice roll. We know little other than that they've REALLY tightened ship since the time when they already didn't like me.

OTOH, as you said, USB does have those low starting limits, so my worry with them is if I go for it and DO get it, is their low limit a potential negative to an FNBO app come August?

Better the devil I don't know or the one I know didn't like me a year ago?

IGNORING the actual rewards part of it, which of course you're right about that part, but if we ignore that for the moment, just looking at those two apps, and my history with the one....any advice which order to try? Again ignoring the rewards, just thinking USB now FNBO Aug, or FNBO now, USB Aug? Also considering with USB, if there's any truth to the idea they're easier if you go for the AF Shopper + and then downgrade to Cash+ at a future date.

Re: Planning for next card options (Still young thin file, even if less young)

Kforce — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 21:10:58 GMT

@uncredited wrote:

IGNORING the actual rewards part of it, which of course you're right about that part, but if we ignore that for the moment, just looking at those two apps, and my history with the one....any advice which order to try? Again ignoring the rewards, just thinking USB now FNBO Aug, or FNBO now, USB Aug? Also considering with USB, if there's any truth to the idea they're easier if you go for the AF Shopper + and then downgrade to Cash+ at a future date.

Both US-Bank and FNBO are conservative, so I don't think one could really

have a good answer to your question, with out guessing. (Order or Time)

Waiting is always better, after you have in hand what Fico,

and your wallet already need. (Which you have in my opinion)

I would wait until you are comfortable with going for the FNBO

and not try to get any other card until you have your power set.

I would wait until all inquiries were over a year old

and youngest was older than a year. Then go for the

FNBO.

I have never been infected with the Mcab Virus (More cards are better)

I have the CNV Virus (Card needs value).

Re: Planning for next card options (Still young thin file, even if less young)

uncredited — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 21:19:26 GMT

Hmm, so you're actually thinking do nothing at all until July?

I definitely have very mixed feelings about that. You know how conservative I am about waiting until the perfect foolproof moment, and given how conservative everyone is, and my prior rejection, maybe you're right. OTOH I was definitely not counting on that, was planning to do it, technically before today, even, and certainly in the next few days. Is there a current prevailing opinion on the forums that there should be 1 year between apps in the current economy, or is that tailored to my profile, or those two banks?

If that thinking is right, if I try now, and they reject, that means doing nothing again until next Feb 2025!