Odds of getting Citi Custom Cash

[CameronV]

Hi there!

I'm looking to get the Citi Custom Cash as my 2nd of the Citi Trifecta.

My cards:

Citi Double Cash: 3/2024, 1.5k CL

Discover It: 2/2023, 2.8k CL

Chime Credit Builder: 12/2022

Oldest Account: 1 yr 5m

AAoA: 11m

Hard Inquiries: 3/24, 1/12, 1/6

$136k annual income

Utilization: 1%

Fico Scores:

Experian App: 735

Citi App (Equifax): 727

Discover App (TransUnion): 755

I've also had a healthy Citi checking & savings for over a year.

Thinking about applying next month when my Double Cash hits 3 months old. What do you think my odds are? I've heard very mixed opinions about Citi's stance on recent inquiries/accounts, but hopefully having banking accounts with them helps.

Thanks!

[markbeiser]

Likely best to wait until you are 0/6.
Also check Credit Karma and see if they show you a "Karma guarantee" on the Custom Cash card.
They show it for me, but I'm sceptical, as I have 3 new accounts, and no relationship with Citi. I also need $50 less than I need a hard inquiry for a failed attempt.🤣

[CameronV]

Thanks for the input!

I agree waiting the full six months would be ideal, especially since my history is not very long.

Started building credit a little later than I should have 😅 now I'm trying to speed-run my card setup before I get a home loan in a couple of years.

And for real, who's like: shucks I got denied... But it's worth it for the $50 🤡

[NoMoreE46]

Yes as noted above, it is best to wait until you are 0/6 before apping for any Citi card. 

[mgood]

Yes I've read that Citi likes applicants who are 0/6 new accounts and 0/6 inquiries on whichever bureau they pull ( Eq for me). I'm not sure that's set in stone, but that's the general guideline for applying with them.

[CameronV]

Thanks everyone! I'm going to play it safer and wait until the six month mark.

Does anyone know what Citi likes to see in terms of utilization? I've read about a lot of people getting denied for "too much available credit," specifically on the Premier (aka Strata Premier) which I'm going to go for soon as well.

Thinking about raising it to 5% on my DC card to show that I'm using what they already gave me.

[mgood]

I don't know. I haven't used to Custom Cash in a couple of months* but just got a CLI on it earlier this week.

*I love the Custom Cash but this quarter Discover has gas stations, and Chase has dining. My new Amex BCP is ideal for groceries and I'm trying to earn the SUB on it. There just hasn't been a need for the Custom Cash. Some quarters I wish I had two or three of them.

[Anonymalous]

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@CameronV wrote:

Thanks everyone! I'm going to play it safer and wait until the six month mark.

Does anyone know what Citi likes to see in terms of utilization? I've read about a lot of people getting denied for "too much available credit," specifically on the Premier (aka Strata Premier) which I'm going to go for soon as well.

Thinking about raising it to 5% on my DC card to show that I'm using what they already gave me.

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Utilization shouldn't matter much, as long as you're using the card. Citi is the lender, so they know exactly what spend you're putting on the DC. Utilization is more about communicating with lenders who don't have access to your entire payment history.

I got my Custom Cash with no previous history with Citi, and only 18 months of credit history. It was 9 months since my previous card, but I probably didn't have to wait that long. You're past the 1 year mark, which opens up most of the major lenders. But you're still a new file, so spacing apps about 6 months apart is a good plan. Some go faster, but their limits tend to shrink. Citi is pretty good about CLIs -- ask after 3 months.