topic Re: Setting Your >2026< Annual Card Strategy in Credit Cards

Setting Your >2026< Annual Card Strategy

Aim_High — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 22:42:47 GMT

It's that time again for what has become a standing My FICO tradition. We're starting the last month of 2025, so it's time to consider our credit and financial plans for 2026!

This annual thread began in 2020. (See these links: >2021<, >2022<, >2023<, >2024<, and >2025<.) Again, thanks to @Remedios for the suggestion of the original thread. Below are the highlights of my original message:

We often remind each other that "Credit is a marathon, not a Sprint," to try to pace ourselves, and to realize that we need to keep some self-discipline in the process. Self discipline requires a plan. Periodically, we may look on with horror (or envy) as someone tries to get away with a monster App Spree. We know that's not really the way to build good credit. Overly-seeking credit can be addictive and counterproductive to finances and FICO. As a general guideline, I usually suggest to newer members that slow and steady wins the race, and that planning to add about one new account every six months is a good long-term pacing that will usually keep them within the various lender limitations, especially for those with low-to-medium scores, thinner files or derogatories. The more they go over that, the more likely they'll start getting denials or low-limit approvals eventually, and that's regardless of the strength of their profile.

Having a good strategy requires taking inventory of our existing cards, an honest evaluation of our financial picture and needs, and a careful consideration of which credit cards (if any) would be most beneficial. Sometimes, chasing after the FOTM card (Flavor of the Month) or the latest, greatest SUB isn't the card we most need. And over-app'ing can be a disruption to improving our finances with the best card for us. At times, I've been guilty of the impulsive apps so I'm not pointing fingers. But I've also planned for new cards and I'm doing so right now. Writing down my card details and plan helps me to come up with strategies for the short term (~six months), medium term (~one year), and long term (~two years.)

As we approach the new year, and with the goal of making credit changes a premeditated and mindful decision, what are the planned changes for your card lineup in 2026?

Re: Setting Your >2026< Annual Card Strategy

Vinjints — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 23:01:09 GMT

Only planning one app for next year, since I got one of my cards ahead of schedule. Going for the Langley rotator and trying to pull my MCP out of the $500 basement. Thinking ahead to the following year and the next car loan.

Re: Setting Your >2026< Annual Card Strategy

MsSecondChance — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 02:07:24 GMT

Approximately 16 months post 13 discharge and I've recovered quite nicely in 2024/2025 with 6 new cards ranging in limits of $3500 to $13000 and a NPSL AMEX Gold. For 2026, I'm planning to garden while using my current cards responsibly and continuing to pay in full each month with the exception of my one card that has 0% interest through September 2027. Will be floating some home improvements on that one.

Re: Setting Your >2026< Annual Card Strategy

AndySoCal — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 04:57:20 GMT

In 2025 I have closed two credit cards Discover and Langley FCU and opened a travel card with Commonwealth FCU KY. I thinking about a 5% rotating catagories credit card. Based on my Discover Card experience usually the spend catagories and my spending needs rarely align. I am not sure if I will apply for that type card or not in 2026

Re: Setting Your >2026< Annual Card Strategy

okurosetta — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 03:03:55 GMT

For the first time in a while or maybe ever, I don't have any set plans for a next card. I grabbed the new 5321 card after getting a mailer recently, then gave the Rakuten card a whirl (soft pull before accepting) and also approved there.

The 100k bonus from Citi Strata Elite will hit before the end of this year, I still have the 10% bonus based on when I had PC'd into the Rewards+, which is now Strata. I'll redeem the 100k early in 2026, let a little time pass for the bonus to be confirmed, then PC the Strata into a fourth Custom Cash. If there are no positive changes to the Strata Elite, and maybe I'm being optimistic but I think such is at least possible, I will PC it to Strata Premier at one year, October 2026.

Will be closing some cards: Affinity Cash Rewards and second Elan MCP, largely due to $25 redemption minimum combined with category overlap/saturation. Like with Affinity, I originally got it for the quarterly rotating categories, but with the changes and also having a Chase Prime card, there's no point. Will likely close my Delta Gold Business as well, it's basically a wash if we use the portal credit, but we are moving away from cards that require portals. That means P2's Venture X will change to VentureOne - the more I learn about rental car insurance for NY residents, it sounds like any card would only provide primary coverage if one does not have insurance of their own, so in practice that would not be an actual benefit of Venture X, for us, which was a big reason we bothered keeping a card that is pretty much a wash otherwise. P2 will also close or PC her BoA Sonesta (got during decent bonus, but struggling to use points) and Chase Sapphire Preferred (unless there are positive changes before).

I do wonder what Bilt will look like - it just depends so much on what will be offered, could become a focus for spend all the way down to not bothering in the first place. Speaking of, the transition on the WF side will leave me with two Autographs, one at $15k and one at $4.5k. I don't see an option to change the $4.5k Autograph to anything else right now, but if that changes would certainly consider swapping it, either Active Cash or Attune (if offered) would be fine by me.

Re: Setting Your >2026< Annual Card Strategy

salt_water_swimming — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 06:18:45 GMT

Close: Amex Gold, all 3 Biz Plats and both Biz Golds, Discover It, maybe the Autograph I'll get from the Bilt change over

Open: At least 2 Biz Plats (mailers arrived recently), new Bilt card as they transition to Cardless, hopefully a Citi Strata Elite or Premier with max SUB. Trying to work my way back towards 5/24 so likely will go light here this year.

PC: Remaining Chase Ink Preferred to Cash, one Hilton Surpass to Aspire after 30k spend to get 3 FNCs, forced conversion of my Wells Fargo Bilt to Autograph

Re: Setting Your >2026< Annual Card Strategy

Realist — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 06:35:07 GMT

Well written.

I'm not a shy guy so much, so if you've read anything I've written, I'm pretty aggressive in the credit world. I use my credit as a toy, because there's simply nothing left to have to care about in my personal life. With that said, I do have a 2026 credit card strategy.

Before I decide to do anything this year, I first want to make sure I take care of a responsible and deserving family member. They don't know it yet, but I do intend to help them out on a vehicle loan this year. They make the payments, I supply the credit as a co-signer for the extremely low rate, and it opens up a world of opportunity at a very young age. Blowing that hard inquiry will be worth it, as nearly all payments go directly towards principle. Prepayments are encouraged.

After this, I have hopes of securing two to three more hotel or airline rewards cards. A round trip, or a free week of hotel stays, it's worth it. I have to. There's nothing left to buy in my life that I really, really need. I can't just let hard inquiries sit idle. At the worst, use them to accumulate more credit.

Re: Setting Your >2026< Annual Card Strategy

crystal626 — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 06:42:01 GMT

I'm probably going to close a few more cards in 2026 but I don't really have plans to apply for anything new. I might possibly try to get a second US Bank Kroger brand card for another $3000 of mobile wallet spending but otherwise I'm pretty happy with the cards I have now.

Re: Setting Your >2026< Annual Card Strategy

ptatohed — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 06:59:18 GMT

My strategy is to hope and pray not to get nerfed. I never thought I'd have a cash back set up that never gets less than 4% CB on everything. The citi SYW turned into the citi ThankYou where it actually got buffed, not nerfed! It now earns TY points (at 1cpp) instead of SYW points good only for gift cards. It appears to still have the same ongoing amazing spending offers. The spend categories and caps have been expanded so I earn more TYPs when meeting those spend offers. I am experimenting with paying the bill with a 1% debit card which will make go from a 5/3/2/1% card to a 6/4/3/2% card. It's now my gas card, freeing up my two citi Custom Cashes for 5% in other chosen cats - and actually possibly 6% as I am experimenting with paying with a 1% debit card. I'm just over the moon with the cash back I get. I get 6% on my prime card with no-rush shipping. My $139 prime is covered by NFCU. Etc., etc. So, not sure if this counts but, more or less, my 2026 strategy is simply to keep all four fingers crossed for 365 days!!

Re: Setting Your >2026< Annual Card Strategy

Ushio — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 16:47:02 GMT

I think I'm finally in a position for a long term holding pattern with my setup. Unless one of my existing cards takes a hard nerf, I may not make any changes for a while.

There are two cards that are kind-of sort-of on my radar, but due to being issued by awful companies I am not particularly motivated to actually make any efforts towards them right now.

Re: Setting Your >2026< Annual Card Strategy

tcbofade — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 17:15:27 GMT

We are planning to pick up two or three new cards early 2026.

2025 was wonderful for debt reduction in our home, and 2026 should be similar. There are still a few credit card balances at zero percent that will need kicked down the road again, but I'm OK with that.

I'll pick up a Chase card for the 18 month offer, DW will pick up a USBank card for the 24 month offer, and one of us will pick up something with a SUB...or possibly both of us.

It's hard to believe that I'm at 2/24!

Re: Setting Your >2026< Annual Card Strategy

RBD22 — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:11:25 GMT

With the USBAR and Bilt announcements, my 2026 strategy is working out to be significantly different than my 2025 strategy.

Cards on 1/1/2025:

USBAR
Amex BCP
Prime Visa
CFF
Disney

Current Cards:

USBAR
BoA Premium Rewards (w/ PH bonus)
BoA Customized Cash Rewards (w/ PH bonus)
BoA Susan G. Komen CCR (w/ PH bonus)
Amex BCP
Bilt
United Biz Explorer
Disney

Cards on chopping block:

USBAR
United Biz Explorer (after next AF posts)

I closed the Prime Visa because we cancelled Prime, plus we now have the BoA CCR w/ PH (5.25% base + 3% first year bonus). The USBAR is being closed due to the nerf since it'll be useless to me afterwards. Bilt may be cut if they significantly devalue the rent earnings in some way. The Amex BCP will likely be downgraded to a BCE once the AF posts.

I keep the Disney card around for the merchandise and park discounts since we tend to go every year or every other year. I have a $5 monthly transaction on it to keep it open, which is paid off with autopay.

Edited with Komen card.

Re: Setting Your >2026< Annual Card Strategy

MrsCHX — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 22:33:41 GMT

This year, I paid off a bunch of CC debt and closed CreditOne (no AF AMEX) and Pen Fed Gold. I opened CapOne Savor and AAA Daily Advantage. I got CLIs on Nordstrom Visa (x2), Mission Lane (x2), Amazon (x2), Home Depot, Loft (w/MC upgrade), and Target.

For 2026, I'll likely close Cap One Quicksilver (already moved $2,000 of $2,550 to Savor) and Home Depot. I got preapproved for AMEX Delta Gold, but no dice on other majors (Citi, Chase, US Bank). So I'll likely hold out until I see more movement in my score. Plus, I have the last of some late payments from 2019 on my student loans aging off next year.

Re: Setting Your >2026< Annual Card Strategy

DeeBee78 — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 03:23:07 GMT

My 2026 strategy is zero apps so I can buy a house. I keep checking prequalified offers with the usual suspects and those are enough validation for me.

Macy's was my last (accidental) HP last month so I need to hibernate for a while. I'll focus on growing my existing cards.

Re: Setting Your >2026< Annual Card Strategy

blossom_rebuilding — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 14:51:58 GMT

For the first time in a bunch of years, I have zero credit card plans for the new year. 2025 has been a wretched financial year, so next year will need to be a financial rebuild. No new cards, no culling cards, no need for CLIs since all my limits are right where I would want them (with few exceptions like the Capital One cards that won't move) so I just need to keep utilization as low (or nonexistent) as I can. I might need to consolidate some things and freeze payment amounts/interest accumulation with either a personal loan or balance transfer if all goes well, but if a balance transfer is in the cards (ha), I've got existing cards that get decent offers for that without necessarily needing to add something new to the lineup. So, it looks like 2026 is going to be gardening year.

Re: Setting Your >2026< Annual Card Strategy

Stuart89 — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 00:22:46 GMT

I’m planning to pare things down in 2026. I’m paying for some cards I don’t use anymore and need to cut costs. I might apply for one card if there’s a great promotion.

Re: Setting Your >2026< Annual Card Strategy

AndySoCal — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 23:57:22 GMT

Since I cannot update my original post i will create another one. Redstone Federal Credit Union will change the rewards on their credit card.One of reward catagory the was removed was discount stores (Walmart and Target). The change will take place on 01/26. As a result I applied for was approved for the Walmart One Card. I closed two cards and opened two cards and opened two cards in 2025.

Planning not to apply for any new cards in 2026 but if necessary.

Re: Setting Your >2026< Annual Card Strategy

wingennis — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 00:11:47 GMT

I have nothing to do except visit the forums and see how everyone is doing. Credit is where I want it. I have the cards I want. I might prune some others but it can wait. The world is crazy and on fire but all is well in credit land.

Re: Setting Your >2026< Annual Card Strategy

Jessie — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 01:12:54 GMT

I've got some big purchases coming up, so I'm thinking about pulling the trigger on US Bank Shield and an initial bonus card at some point!

Re: Setting Your >2026< Annual Card Strategy

Zoostation1 — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 01:28:54 GMT

For 2026 I plan to start off in a holding pattern. In a few months I'll be 0/12 on all 3 and I'd like to see what that does for my scores before doing anything else. Savor (discontinued $95 AF version), Venture X, and BCP are still my daily drivers, with NFCU Cash Rewards Plus being the alternate catch all if I have no travel plans coming up. I'm tempted to look at closing my Discover It Chrome, or my older Savor (former SavorOne before the rebrand), as neither card has value for me currently and are low limt, but at the same time I do like that keeping them open lets me stay below 50% AWB when I let my 3 primary cards report naturally. The other issue that would make me consider closing one or more of the cards I don't use regularly is my total CL exposure with Capital One relative to income (sitting just over 50% with Discover included). I don't know when Discover is going to be grouped in with other C1 cards in that regard, but since I have 4 C1 core cards plus that Chrome card that puts me at 5 and don't want any issue with that limiting my CLI potential on my primary Savor or VX.

As for new cards, I'm not seeing that there's anything that would really benefit me to open for now. The closest case I could make for a new card I'd actually keep open would be the Amazon Prime Visa, but my Amazon spend isn't all that much and I'm not suer Chase would approve me. My understanding is they've softened up a little bit on approving people with a BK still showing (my BK7 is 8yrs old), but still deny more often than not. I guess I'll re-evalute everything again in 3-4 months.