PenFed Amex Approval - 2 years 8 Months Post CH7

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to share that I was approved for a PenFed Amex 2yrs 8mons post BK CH7. Although its a co-branded card, I'm sure it would help make it easier to secure a REAL Amex 5 years and 1 month post BK.

Also wanted thank this community for all the great information and helping me on the rebuild path.

Rebuild Path: BK7 Discharged 4/19/2016

• 4/2016 - Credit One Unsecured -$400 limit (CLI to $600 on 10/16) - Closed account 4/17 prior to annual fee
• 5/2016 - Houston Highway Credit Union - $1000 Credit Builder loan
• 5/2016 - Capital One Quicksilver - $3000 Unsecured
• 11/2016 - Barclay Rewards - $1500 Unsecured
• 1/2017 - Discover Card - $3000 Limit -
  • (Auto CLI 7/17 to $3500 - Requested CLI 5/18 to $4100)
• 5/2018 - PenFed Cash Rewards - $10,000
• 5/2018 - PenFed Checking Credit Line - $2,000
• 8/2018 - Suntrust Auto Loan - $47,000
  • Wife Cosigned - (Wife has another Auto Loan with Suntrust as well)
• 11/2018 - Barclay Card reduced credit limit to $500 - Due to public records on my credit report (The BK that was on there when they approved the card)
• PenFed Pathfinder Amex - $9,000

[19eighty5]

Congratulations on your PenFed approval!

[TXinandout]

Congratulations on your success! I also applied last week, but was denied for the exact same card, and I even have an auto loan through them with perfect payment.

Do you mind sharing your score with us?

You have done a great job rebuilding.

[John8512]

Did you have any Amex cards that were IIB?

[Anonymous]

Thanks! I've hit a few snags along the way and I haven't been able to do the "All Zero Except One" method. (Which really does help your scores drive up fast, relatively)

My Current Scores are as of 12/20 according to Experian: 

• Experian: 658
• Equifax: 671 (According to PenFed, they have me at 700 as of 12/26)
• TransUnion: 691

My Experian took a nose dive when the Auto Loan took place because the dealer had to shopped me around for a better rate. (I also had been Approved by NFCU for a $40,000 Auto Loan with my wife as a co-signer. I was individually approved for $30,000 without my wife.)

Also, just FYI, I originally applied for the Cash rewards. I saw they had a balance transfer promotion and called back to iniate it when I realized the promo ends 12/31. When I called back, they mentioned that we would have to cancel the app and redo. This time I asked for the AMEX since I knew I was already approved for the Cash Rewards. To my surprise, it worked!

[Anonymous]

AMEX was not burned. This is actually my first card ever with them without being an authorized user on a business account. (15 years removed from that as well.)