Looking for Guidance on Applying to Wells Fargo for the New Attune Card

[DXness]

I've been in the garden for 6 months, so I was going to apply for the Citi Double Cash as was originally in my long term plan, but the Attune card popped and I'd rather have that.  I dug into its wide 4% categories and found good short term coverage that I could use now.  Since these are both inquiry-sensitive banks, I can only really make one of these plays in 2024.

I ran WF's pre-approval tool and got no offers.  That has me concerned about a denial, which made me realize I don't actually know very much about how WF operates and what they are looking for.   Past DPs are of little help since they seem to be quite all over the map and for different WF cards.  I saw some people saying WF is conservative and others that they like a lot of the same things Capital One likes, which are opposing vibes.  I did see that they will probably pull EX8 in CT, which is fantastic and my best CRA, but they might also pull EQ8, my worst CRA.

I have an aged and neither thin nor thick derog profile with 5 open revolvers, 8 open student loans, AAoA around 8-9 years depending on CRA, AoOA around 15-16 years depending on CRA.  The most recent late is 4 years, 7 months old.  0/6, 2/12, 4/24 on both EX and TU, 0/12, 1/24 on EQ.  5/24 on new accounts overall.  On Credit Karma, currently 5 cards reporting balances totalling $2,240 for 6% util and $37,300 TCL (the Verizon CLI hasn't reported yet). On EX, 5 balances totalling $814 for 2% util (EX must update faster than CK?).

Anyone familiar with Wells Fargo think I stand a chance of approval?  I'm willing to take any approval and grow the card slowly over time, so a small SL isn't a problem.

[FicoMike0]

I was once turned down for too many inquires. I think I was 1/6 at the time. I later heard they favor existing customers. I opened an account

https://accountoffers.wellsfargo.com/welcomebonus/

Applied again, was approved. It took 3 months, but they paid the $325 sub. Paid the $200 sub on the active cash visa the same month.

[FicoMike0]

My highest cl at the time was $6000 with amex. Wells went $8500. The wells card just turned 6 months. I called for cli , asked for $20000, got $10700, +25%. Not bad on cls.

[NoMoreE46]

WF provides scores (F9) from Experian, so this is looking good for you but odds would be better if all scores are > 700.

[CreditCuriosity]

Wells for me is near impossible to figure out know many people including myself with scores well in to the 800's turned down while high 600's get approved.   I tend to believe personally if you have a card with them when profile was more "thin" then likely can get one when you have a lot more credit options.  Just my theory.  I will never knowwhy,  just know they are not a bank that wants to loan to me and many others.  With that said for every lender that doesn't want you there is another one that does assuming everything else is in order (scores, profile, dti, etc..)

[FicoMike0]

Wells does provide ex f9 score. They also provide dti. I wonder if they use that as well? Their best category is 0-35%. Might try to game dti less than 35%.

[MissLiz]

The Attune card is fascinating to me. I hope you get it and keep us posted on categories used. I've had a WF checking account for years, but never any other products so I have no DP's to provide on the CC approval process. Best of luck to you!

[NoHardLimits]

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@DXness wrote:

I ran WF's pre-approval tool and got no offers.  That has me concerned about a denial, which made me realize I don't actually know very much about how WF operates and what they are looking for.   Past DPs are of little help since they seem to be quite all over the map and for different WF cards.

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I was approved for a Wells Fargo card last month after the pre-approval tool gave me no offers.  But, I had gardened my profile to a very strong position:  0/12 and 2/24 new accounts and scores well over 800.

[DXness]

Update: I decided to apply and was denied with a could not approve message.   This is my first card denial and I guess that cherry had to get popped at some point.  They say the snail mail letter can take up to 30 days to arrive, so I'm left to speculate for a while on what they didn't like.  The late payments?  Being 5/24?  Too many accounts?  Too much available credit?

Just got the HP pings, a single pull on EX thus far.  I can make do without this card as I sulk back to the garden, but I really wanted it.  Several categories like thrifting, sports, transit, and camera stores strongly align with my lifestyle.  The Cash+ can cover electronics and transit, but US Bank still has me stuck at $1K...so I can't actually buy much.  The Savor One can cover entertainment, but at 3%.  Nothing I have covers thrifting, which I do heavily for fun.

[FicoMike0]

Sorry about that. Try opening the account if you're going to try in the future. It takes a $500 balance to keep fee free, but they give you $325. I think they are new acc/inquiries sensitive.