AMEX/Navy Fed Pre-Quals

[Anonymous]

Hello everyone!

So i've been building my credit using advice this forum for about 2 years now (i'm a lurker). I've gotten to a pretty good place and am graduating college soon after 6 years straight (I'm a triple major)! So to reward myself I wanted to take a trip to Japan. I have enough money to cover the trip with cash, but it would be great if I could get a card with a high enough SL (3-5k) to cover the trip and generate some rewards while i'm at it. I've been in the garden for about a year, and just decided to check my pre-quals since Navy sent me a letter in the mail with a pre-qual offer for their cash rewards card and to my surprise I actually pre-qualed for a few Amex cards, which has been my goal card since forever. So of the cards i'm pre-quald for any advice on actual odds, and starting limits would be greatly appreciated!

Card Offers:

Navy Fed :

All. It says i'm prequalified for literally all of them. But 2 are showing a SUB.

Cash rewards - $0 AF, $150 SUB w/ $2k spend within 90 days.

More rewards - $0 AF, 25k points SUB w/ $3k spend within 90 days.

Amex:

Blue Cash Everyday - $0 AF, $150 SUB w/ $1k spend and 20% back on Amazon purchases up to $200 back for 6 months.

Amex everyday - $0 AF, 25k points SUB w/ $2k spend

Cash Magnet - $0 AF, 150 SUB w/ $1k spend and 10% back on U.S. Supermarkets up to $150 back for 6 months.

Credit Profile Status:

scores in the low 700s (705-715) for all 3

1 baddie (3k) falling off in July 2021

currently have checking account and auto loan (20k) refi with navy federal 4 motnhs ago

been a member of NF for 4 months

Currently have 1 auto loan with Cap 1 (18k) 1 year ago

student loans (20k) that are not in repayment...yet.

14 HPs (ouch)

AAoA 2 years

My current cards:

Dell - $4k lim/$1k bal/just opened

Discover - $2k lim/$0 bal/3 years

Merrick - $1.4k lim/$0 bal/1 year

Walmart/Cap1 - $450 lim/$0 bal/2 years

Bank of the West - $1.5k lim/$0 bal/4 months

Kohls - $1.5k lim/$0 bal/2 years

Victoria Secret - $1k lim/$0 bal/2 years

Cap1 - $1.4k lim/$0 bal/3 years

Cap 1(auth user) - $500 lim/$0 bal/1 year

Target(auth user) - $300 lim/$29 bal/1 year

Cap1(auth user) - $850 lim/$11 bal/1.5 years

Cap1(auth user) - $700 lim/$0 bal/2.5 years

*Note: all balances have been paid in full on all cards*

Thank you for your input!

***Update 09/10/2020***

After taking all the advice into consideration I decided to forgo Amex for now and go with the Navy CashRewards card that they sent me a pre approval for in the mail. It gave me the "we will review and get back to you in 24-48 hours". After an hour they sent me a text and e-mail with my approval, and of course a disappointing SL of $1k, with a $250 SUB w/ 4k spend. But i'm hoping if I put some spend on it, it will grow in time for my trip next year, and perhaps i'll try for the card I really want from them for my 2nd card, as you guys suggested. Thank you so much for the input!

[BmoreBull]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Hello everyone!

So i've been building my credit using advice this forum for about 2 years now (i'm a lurker). I've gotten to a pretty good place and am graduating college soon after 6 years straight (I'm a triple major)! So to reward myself I wanted to take a trip to Japan. I have enough money to cover the trip with cash, but it would be great if I could get a card with a high enough SL (3-5k) to cover the trip and generate some rewards while i'm at it. I've been in the garden for about a year, and just decided to check my pre-quals since Navy sent me a letter in the mail with a pre-qual offer for their cash rewards card and to my surprise I actually pre-qualed for a few Amex cards, which has been my goal card since forever. So of the cards i'm pre-quald for any advice on actual odds, and starting limits would be greatly appreciated!

Card Offers:

Navy Fed :

All. It says i'm prequalified for literally all of them. But 2 are showing a SUB.

Cash rewards - $0 AF, $150 SUB w/ $2k spend within 90 days.

More rewards - $0 AF, 25k points SUB w/ $3k spend within 90 days.

Amex:

Blue Cash Everyday - $0 AF, $150 SUB w/ $1k spend and 20% back on Amazon purchases up to $200 back for 6 months.

Amex everyday - $0 AF, 25k points SUB w/ $2k spend

Cash Magnet - $0 AF, 150 SUB w/ $1k spend and 10% back on U.S. Supermarkets up to $150 back for 6 months.

Thank you for your input!

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Hello, welcome to the forums. What are your scores like? Any baddies on your file? Any current cards or loans? Length of credit history? How long have you been a member at Navy? Any credit products with them?Need a little more info. Navy doesn't seem to be giving out huge limits on first cards any more. I've seen a lot of $500-$3000 first cards lately. Amex is profile dependent and you could easily get a $1000 first card, that will take a while to grow. 

[Anonymous]

Just updated the post with this info!

Credit Profile Status:

scores in the low 700s (705-715) for all 3

1 baddie (3k) falling off in July 2021

currently have checking account and auto loan (20k) refi with navy federal 4 motnhs ago

been a member of NF for 4 months

Currently have 1 auto loan with Cap 1 (18k) 1 year ago

student loans (20k) that are not in repayment...yet.

14 HPs (ouch)

AAoA 2 years

My current cards:

Dell - $4k lim/$1k bal/just opened

Discover - $2k lim/$0 bal/3 years

Merrick - $1.4k lim/$0 bal/1 year

Walmart/Cap1 - $450 lim/$0 bal/2 years

Bank of the West - $1.5k lim/$0 bal/4 months

Kohls - $1.5k lim/$0 bal/2 years

Victoria Secret - $1k lim/$0 bal/2 years

Cap1 - $1.4k lim/$0 bal/3 years

Cap 1(auth user) - $500 lim/$0 bal/1 year

Target(auth user) - $300 lim/$29 bal/1 year

Cap1(auth user) - $850 lim/$11 bal/1.5 years

Cap1(auth user) - $700 lim/$0 bal/2.5 years

*Note: all balances have been paid in full on all cards*

[BmoreBull]

Navy would be less sensitive to the inquiries than Amex. Just remember that the prequals on Navy aren't the most accurate. 

[Anonymous]

Remove all the authorized user accounts and you'd be able to apply for some Chase cards

Those accounts don't really do you any favors when you have older accounts

[Anonymous]

I agree. I have removed myself from everything except the $850 cap1, because it is the savor card and I eat out a TON.

[coldfusion]

If an important short-term goal is to have a suitable credit card to have and use when in Japan you're going to be better off carrying a Visa/MC vs. a card using the AMEX payment network.

[Anonymous]

I don't want to use it in Japan. I just want to use it to pay for the flight+hotel to generate rewardrs. So I need a limit that is atleast 4-5k so I can put it all on one card and not have to use multiple payments or cash/bank account.

[Anonymous]

@Anonymous Just throwing my 2 cents out there, it's likely that if you app with Navy you will get a card between 1-3 k limit. Usually for your first card with Navy, your limit is not very impressive. After 91 days and 3 full statements, you can app for your second card which should have a better SL. Keep in mind the present environment has neutered CLIs and SLs to some degree. The good thing about Navy cards, besides the growth potential are the lack of ftf. Navy might not be your best choice to maximize your rewards since you likely wont get the Flagship on your first try.

Unfortunately, I am not familar enough with AMEX to give you a good suggestion there. It is a good sign that you prequalified with them, but it doesn't appear that the prequal provides you with your SL with them.

Good luck, and hopefully another member can provide you with better assistance.

[addicted_to_credit]

Back in May I believe my 18 y/o step daughter was approved by navy for a card with 3k limit at the lowest apr and this past Sunday she prequalified for the blue cash with Amex and was approved for a 2k limit. She's still in high school working a part time job. Her EQ9 is in the 730 range according to navy. I think you could reasonably expect something similar but you never really know in the credit world - you could break out with a 500 dollar limit or a 5k limit and anywhere in between. What ever you decide to do, good luck and let us know how you do! Welcome to the forums!