CitiBank Premier Card Low Starting Limit Increase....How?

[Anonymous]

Applied and approved for a Premier Card, but with a low starting limit aprox 5K.  It's the lowest stsrting Credit line I have been given in the past 20 years by far. A few months ago Amex gave me a 25k limit.  I called the customer service number and was told I have to wait to have the card in hand in order to try and raise the limit.

My question is?

Why do I have to wait and I read on this forum that Citibank is known for low starting limits. Is that true?

Any advice on how to raise the limit would be appreciated.

I have over an 800 score with a clean 20+ year report with 1% utilization.

[JR_TX]

It’s one of citi’s security features that you must already have received your card to seek any CLI and there’s no way around it. Also, citi isn’t really known for huge SLs though I’m still surprised why I got a better SL than you on my citi AAdvantage last month considering how way better your profile is than mine. Could be because they’re different cards although same issuer. Could also be because my recent account and inquiry at time of app was 1 year ago. Hard to assume.
You will have to recon your case with their EO (number in the sticky thread) once you receive your card and activated it. Convince them to use same HP but Expect it to likely cost you another HP though as they’re pretty cut and dry on their policies with not much wiggle room.
Good Luck and please keep us posted.

[Anonymous]

Wow, it might cost me another hard hit. If that's the case I might as well apply for another card and then combine. 

[Anonymous]

I got Citi AA last year with 12k starting limit. End of December got Premier with 2k limit. Ask for cli when I received card but was declined. Pain because needed 4k spend to get sign up bonus and had 800 dollar pending hold charge on there for a month. Perhaps Citi is short on cash.

[Anonymous]

To me that is Ridiculous.  They should at least give you the 4K they want you spend in order to get your 50k points.  Very strange starting limits from Citibank. 

[AverageJoesCredit]

Dang Big Apple, sorry to hear that. Citi is notorious for low limits though i have noticed them opening up on sl for the DC. The funny thing is wven if you app another card to combine, its my understanding they want to hp just to combine if they allow it. If you have to use the hp might as well shoot big on your original card. The low sl could come from over exposure with Citi cards, either retail or legacy, or perhaps they feel you have enough elsewhere . Best bet is to talk to a csr. And explain why youd like more. Worth a shot.

[MrDisco99]

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@Anonymouswrote:

Wow, it might cost me another hard hit. If that's the case I might as well apply for another card and then combine. 

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In case it's relevant, you'll need to wait 8 before applying for a secind Citi card.  After that it's 65 days before you can apply for another.

Honestly, I'd say hang on to it and in a few months time you can get a SP CLI.  The SLs on my Citi cards were $4500 and $8000.  Now they are $8K and $10K respectively in less than a year.  You can request a HP CLI any time, including right when you get the card.  I got one on mine, though in hindsight I kinda wish I'd saved the HP.

Curious, which Amex card gave you a 25K SL?

[Anonymous]

Delta Amex gave me 25K limit.  I have a Plat card with for years and use it a lot. 

[FinStar]

Everyone's profiles are different so any Citi SLs out of the gate will vary. You could have an 800+ score and decent history but there's something that their UW algorithms prevented from giving you a higher SL.

It could be that your profile may already have sufficient, unsecured exposure or other factors. And just because AMEX may have approved $25K, Citi doesn't have to match.

Citi has always approved me with high SLs for the majority of their CCs but then again even if they didn't it would still be a great outcome for my spending needs.

If you feel that the initial SL may not be sufficient (placing egos aside and more along your true and expected spending on the card), then you can request a higher CL when the card arrives. It will be another HP. That's just how Citi rolls.

[Anonymous]

Same here. Mines at 3k. So.... At least they allow debit card payments on the phone that process instantly!

However what gripes me, only thing, it reports as a flexible spending card (yes I know citi has 86d this quite a bit) still ur telling me i overpay my card by a grand and I can't charge over the limit?!?! Nice.........

I will be happy once my citi biz thank you is processed with a match of 20k to 40k. Also thinking of attempting a pc to it if fails.

Now what I really should do is just call the EO like I always used to because most times they would not even HP. However they did say they can remark a cli hp request with a note that I'd be willing to reduce another cards limit.

Which bank is it that resets the apr reduction eligibility clock when doing a hp cli? Boa?