High Initial Credit Limits: Seeking Recommendations for Less Mainstream Banks

[Superduper2014]

Thank you so much for your reply. 

I am in TN and checked each one of the options and I would only be able to join Andrews and Affinity via ACC. Then First Tech through Financial Fiteness Association. Unfortunately, they do not have the cards I am looking for at the moment after checking them out. 

However, PNC and FNBO do, so I may do PNC first and then FNBO. I just want 2 cards for now. 

Would opening a checking with them get me better chances at getting the cards I need from them?

Thanks again. 

[Horseshoez]

---

@Superduper2014 wrote:

I wonder if there is any way to get in with NFCU without any ties to armed forced?

Or as @Horseshoez  mentions, I don't need to open an account with them and I could just apply for a card with them?

---

Sorry if my post wasn't clear; while you do not need to open a checking account, you do need to open a savings account; I believe the minimum balance is something like $5.00.

As for getting in to NFCU, a grandparent, parent, spouse, spouse's relations, your children, and grandchildren...; if any of them were or are in the military then you can get in on their referral.

[AndySoCal]

@Superduper2014   Affinity FCU you do not need the ACC to join. Since you live in TN you might want to investigate Fortera Credit Union.  They have a couple of nice flat rate rewards (2%). I do not know about their credit limits. Fortera also has prequalification tool  There savings rates are not bad either. Another credit union I would suggest you become a member of thru the ACC is State Department FCU. This credit union also has a prequalifacation tool as well.  I received a starting CLI of 15,000 and a year later an auto CLI of 5,000

[FicoMike0]

I know Pen fed goes as high as $15000.

I think most cus are into relationships.

[xenon3030]

@Superduper2014: Why do you want to add cards with large CL? I do prefer good reward programs as the first priority and afterward, a good CL (>10k).

One of the cards that I may plan to get is PenFed Pathfinder. I already have a PenFed Honors Advantange membership and its AF should get waived. I believe that its CL would be ~15-25k, based on the comments of people over internet. I guess, the CUs and banks are giving more CLs to travel cards with AF instead of CB cards. It has a large SUB (50k points after spending 3k) and it can be my backup travel card on top of USBAR and CSP.

PS: PenFed was a great CU and it was giving excellent rates for auto-loan for several years. It seems that recently there were some declines in the quality of their services. Their cheap website seems to be designed by interns while they allow to add only one external account for transfers. I do not know how much they would be flexible to PC cards, since their best cards for me are Platinum (5x on gas/EV) and Pathfinder (4x on travel), in order.

[Anonymous]

Not a particularly large SL ($11K) but when Citizens had a special offer (unlimited 5% back on all spend until a date about 3 months in the future), I went in to a branch to ask and it turned out I was "preapproved" which in this case meant they gave me the card without an HP.   (A very nice meaning of preapproved!)  I had no connection with them before that.    So, might be worth a try, and you might get an OK SL sort of for free.

[titancylinder]

---

@Superduper2014 wrote:

Hey guys,

I'm looking for recommendations on less mainstream banks that might offer high initial credit limits for new credit card applications.

Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

My goals:

1. Open at least 2 more cards
2. One with a long 0% APR for balance transfers
3. Another with 0% APR for purchases
4. High credit limits (I keep utilization below 30% on all cards)

My current credit profile:

- 800+ FICO 9 score across all bureaus

- 6% overall utilization

- 3 cards with balances: Discover (28%), US Bank (28%), Truist (27%)

- 1 hard inquiry on Equifax and Experian (Chase, Oct 19, 2023), none on TransUnion

Existing cards:

- 2 Citi, 2 Amex, 2 Discover, 2 Capital One, 3 Wells Fargo, 2 US Bank, 2 Truist, 1 Chase, 1 Synchrony (Lowe's)

- Credit limits range from $2k to $26k, mostly around $15k

- Reached max credit available with most issuers and max number of cards (I know because I have been denied CLIs due to usage history or other explanations etc and from reading the boards. Wonder about Citi and Chase now though)

So I imagine applying for another card with any of these lenders would be a denial. Right?

Questions:

1. Citi: Can I get a third card with a high initial limit with Citi? (Current cards: AA $17k, Diamond $15k, both unused)
2. Can I transfer available credit between Citi cards?
3. Chase: Can I get another card 8 months after my last approved card with them, with 3 new cards opened in the past year? Considering I am currently using the card they approved under 30% CL of 15k
4. PNC, Citizens Bank, and FNBO have been coming to my radar from reading the boards (can't do Navy Cu):
   1. Which is more likely to issue higher credit limits with my profile?
   2. Is it necessary or beneficial to open a checking account before applying for their credit cards?

Thank you so much for reading through this.

Any insights or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

---

I think you could get 30-40K from Jovia Financial if your income supports it. They recently renamed, but the institution is 70-80 years old and isn't going anywhere. 

[coldfusion]

---

@Superduper2014 wrote:

Thank you so much for your reply. 

I am in TN and checked each one of the options and I would only be able to join Andrews and Affinity via ACC. Then First Tech through Financial Fiteness Association. Unfortunately, they do not have the cards I am looking for at the moment after checking them out. 

However, PNC and FNBO do, so I may do PNC first and then FNBO. I just want 2 cards for now. 

Would opening a checking with them get me better chances at getting the cards I need from them?

Thanks again. 

---

I had no problems with approvals from either FI without being a current or past accountholder.

What features are you looking for in a card besides the potential to get a starting limit high enough to meet your needs?

What other criteria ar

[Superduper2014]

---

---

What features are you looking for in a card besides the potential to get a starting limit high enough to meet your needs?

What other criteria ar

---

Hi @coldfusion 

Thank you for replying

My goals:

1. Open at least 2 more cards

2. One with a long 0% APR for balance transfers

3. Another with 0% APR for purchases

4. High credit limits (I keep utilization below 30% on all cards at all times)

DTI is very low for me thankfully, but I am finding myself using more and more money due to my father's decline and need for care 24/7.. So I am trying to use credit to keep my cash available for the unexpected expenses that are popping up left and right. It's all happening so fast, my brain is fogged and my heart is broken. (I maybe shouldn't be sharing this on a public forum, but hey.. you guys are probably wondering what the heck with this guy so...I am sharing a bit of personal info with you) 

I started a new thread with updated info here just in case you have time to take a peek: 

Thread 

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Pre-quals-from-Chase-and-Citi-plus-PNC-FNBO-options-Wh... 

[zerofire]

I know Dover FCU has a 2% flat card that has a nasty habit of being issued with lots of SL. The CU itself has a prequal tool to help find out what they are willing to offer. I think the last time I checked they offered 20-25k for me. The only thing that you should be aware of is however that existing high credit lines will encourage lenders to break the ceiling for you. They want to see you being able to handle credit before they give you more. No bank will just hand you 25k just for fun with no history of decent management.