NFCU Flagship app strategy?

[Anonymous]

I have 6 credit cards, none with NFCU - though I've had a SSL with NFCU since May 2020. Got approved for 3 CCs at the same time and have been gardening since. My updated DPs are in my signature.

As we know: NFCU's Flagship card is the shiny crown jewel, and the known strategy is to start with their cashRewards / goRewards CC (etc) before app'ing for the Flagship in order to get approved and a biiiiiiig CL. I'm still on the fence about NFCU Flagship because of the annual fee though... Thoughts? If I do go for it, I will go back into the garden once the mission is accompished.

Is anyone familiar with whether my preexisting SSL relationship with NFCU (which includes NFCU Savings and Checking accounts) could substitute the need for getting their cashRewards / goRewards CC first before the Flagship CC?

If I need to get cashRewards / goRewards first in order to get the big Flagship CL, I can live with that. I'd like to get the community's insight first before I make any moves. Thanks in advance!

[Yasselife]

You have a great profile and high chances of getting the Flagship; it's the annual fee what's holding you, right? That is totally up to you. I went for the more rewards instead.

[AverageJoesCredit]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I have 6 credit cards, none with NFCU - though I've had a SSL with NFCU since May 2020. Got approved for 3 CCs at the same time and have been gardening since. My updated DPs are in my signature.

As we know: NFCU's Flagship card is the shiny crown jewel, and the known strategy is to start with their cashRewards / goRewards CC (etc) before app'ing for the Flagship in order to get approved and a biiiiiiig CL. I'm still on the fence about NFCU Flagship because of the annual fee though... Thoughts? If I do go for it, I will go back into the garden once the mission is accompished.

Is anyone familiar with whether my preexisting SSL relationship with NFCU (which includes NFCU Savings and Checking accounts) could substitute the need for getting their cashRewards / goRewards CC first before the Flagship CC?

If I need to get cashRewards / goRewards first in order to get the big Flagship CL, I can live with that. I'd like to get the community's insight first before I make any moves. Thanks in advance!

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There are people who have gotten FS as their first Navy cc. Its only a hp to find out if you can be one of them. If not,  you can always try for the CR/Plat/ orAmex first.  Navy's juice is always woth the squeeze imo even when we dont get what we want on first try. 

[spiritcraft1]

As for the annual fee, with the current $400 SUB and free Prime it is a moot point at the moment.  There are also other random perks .  i.e. this Quarter it is giving 5% CB at restaurants.   Depending on use, the fee may or may not be an issue.  The DW and I have absolutely cashed in with our FS cards.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I have 6 credit cards, none with NFCU - though I've had a SSL with NFCU since May 2020. Got approved for 3 CCs at the same time and have been gardening since. My updated DPs are in my signature.

As we know: NFCU's Flagship card is the shiny crown jewel, and the known strategy is to start with their cashRewards / goRewards CC (etc) before app'ing for the Flagship in order to get approved and a biiiiiiig CL. I'm still on the fence about NFCU Flagship because of the annual fee though... Thoughts? If I do go for it, I will go back into the garden once the mission is accompished.

Is anyone familiar with whether my preexisting SSL relationship with NFCU (which includes NFCU Savings and Checking accounts) could substitute the need for getting their cashRewards / goRewards CC first before the Flagship CC?

If I need to get cashRewards / goRewards first in order to get the big Flagship CL, I can live with that. I'd like to get the community's insight first before I make any moves. Thanks in advance!

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My opionion I would not apply for the Flagship as my first card.  The odds won't be in your favor of approval.  Not saying it's for certain but the odds aren't in your favor.   Flagship has tighter underwriting guidelines than all the other cards they offer.  So you can apply for any of the others they are underwritten the exact same again except for the Flagship.   

[ghost-cell]

$50 isn't high to me at all, considering what other companies are asking for. Like Chase wants $550 for 3x travel. (Though also debatable when considering redemption portals but still)

I was denied the Flagship because they "couldn't give me the minimum SL of 5k." Yet I applied for the Cash Rewards only a few days later, with nothing changed to my credit profile, and they approved me for like 8.5k. I'm still salty about that to this day. My Cash Rewards has since grown to 12.2k and I might try PCing it to the Flagship this Dec.

I personally think you stand a good chance with the card based on your sig. But can understand why you'd give pause if you already have the Propel. I'm personally curious why you want the Flagship since you already have the Propel.. like in what ways does the Propel not fulfill you?

[Anonymous]

The AF is $49. That a dinner for four at McDonald's these days. With your scores, I'd go for it

Good luck

[MrDFinance]

My strat was to get the Cash rewards first and hold it for 3 months then I went for the Flagship 🤓

[credit_is_crack]

Your stats are in a good spot on paper, but the existing limits on your current cards wouldn't push Navy to say "here's a big limit out the gate". Navy cards are much easier to grow than other spots, but I'm not sure if you'd snag a big limit up front, but only one way to find out.

As far as the annual fee, just pretend it's not there. I've had my flagship for years and never "paid" the AF. Yeah I get charged it, but the run some healthy promos that pay for it for you. This year they have the Amazon prime membership so that's $127 I got back, and I only gave them $49. That's a win. 

Last year they had a promo on the existing checking accounts and several of us got the "put X amount more into checking for 3 months and we'll give you a $300 bonus". That was easy, just moved some money over and they paid out as promised. And I only had to move like $1,500 or so (as soon as it paid out I moved the money back to USAA). Just with those two promotions they've paid for 8 years of annual fees. From that perspective, there really isn't an annual fee.  

[chijo]

I agree with those posting saying the UW standards are higher for the Flagship product. But what is interesting is when I occasionally take Navy's offer to check which cards I qualify for they always show me the Flagship along with the others. That product never came up when I checked before getting my first card with them. Only the bottom rung cards showed up. I have only their Cash Rewards green card now. I doubt I would qualify for The Flag at this time. Old Amex sure doesn't like me as they did a few years back. LOL