topic Re: PreApprovals? in Credit Cards

PreApprovals?

bcritti — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 00:03:52 GMT

We are rebuilding our credit and I think were at a good point to apply for cards. Are there store cards that are more lenient? I did the preapprovals that are obvious like Capital One, Amex and Discover.

Re: PreApprovals?

AndySoCal — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 00:33:05 GMT

IA store card is okay if you shop a particular regularly. I have a store for JC Penney which is shop clothes etc. A store card just for rebuilding credit I would not recommend that. I would suggest you look into a local credit union and see how they might be able to assist you. You will need to join the credit union to get a crecit card.

Re: PreApprovals?

FicoMike0 — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 01:08:20 GMT

Ditto @AndySoCal

Store cards don't always seem to be counted. If they are cobranded, like a pennys/mastercard vs just pennys, probably ok, but you don't know which you'll get. Charge cards, like amex gold/silver/plat, don't always count either.

For fico scores, it's best to have three bank cards, secured is ok, do azeo, and keep reported individual utilization below 29% and aggregate below 9%. Then pif before due date.

If you don't have an installment loan, look up ssl.

You mentioned Capone and amex. They both do preapproval, that's the way to go. Try not to waste hard pulls.

Re: PreApprovals?

MileHigh96 — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 12:35:27 GMT

@bcritti wrote:
We are rebuilding our credit and I think were at a good point to apply for cards. Are there store cards that are more lenient? I did the preapprovals that are obvious like Capital One, Amex and Discover.

There's a list of issuers that offer pre-approval here:

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/General-Credit-Topics/2025-Pre-approval-Links/td-p/6809096

Re: PreApprovals?

ptatohed — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 15:25:09 GMT

@bcritti wrote:
We are rebuilding our credit and I think were at a good point to apply for cards. Are there store cards that are more lenient? I did the preapprovals that are obvious like Capital One, Amex and Discover.

...... and?????

Re: PreApprovals?

KatzNDawgs — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 17:30:06 GMT

What is your current scores? Do you have any non-store cards right now? If you want to boost credit score, I would not focus on store cards, or at least go with co-branded with visa/MC/Disc/AMEX logo. If you have a hard time getting approved, secured cards that will graduate (Discover, NFCU, BoA, Citi, Cap1, etc) are your best bet for future score increases. For your list of preapprovals, Citi also does no-HP prequalification if you haven't tried them.