Which one to App First: NASA or NFCU?

[Anonymous]

Good morning fellow Fico fans,

Ideally I'd love to open up a CC and maybe PLOC (Cashline / NavCheck) with both NASA and NFCU, then go back to gardening.

I've been a member for NFCU since 2/2015 with just $50 opening balance and no other activity since then.  This week I received in the mail an offer/acceptance code on NFCU's CashRewards.

I have not joined NASA yet.

I have a couple questions for the NFCU / NASA pros out there:

1. Which one first?  NASA or NFCU?
2. How close should I app at the 2nd credit union?
3. Should I app for the CC at each credit union first, then go back and do the PLOCs after the CC approvals or all at the same time?
4. Is there a timeline for the membership/apps so I can take advantage of NASA's soft pulls or getting 2 credit lines with 1 hard pull?
5. Would 2 CC's be easier to be approved than 1 CC + 1 PLOC?

My score is the best it can be right now:

• EX FICO 8 = 750
• FAKOS = 757-767
• 5 CC Lines = Cap1 $6K (25mo old), Chase $3.5K, JCrew $4.8K, Sportsman $3.2K, VicSecret $1.4K, AMEX $15K (7mo old)
• AAoA = 18mo
• Util = 1-3%
• Inquiries = EQ 2 (all >18mo ago), EX 3 (all > 18mo ago), TU 7 (1 in 6/15 for T-mobile, 1 in 2/15 for NFCU membership, all others > 18mo)
• Income = $72K
• No other debt

Thanks in advance.

[lhcole77]

My experience is this: if you app for NASA do membership first, then CC, then PLOC if you want it.  When I joined last year my membership and credit card were both approved with soft pulls on EX. I just received a PLOC in August and that was a hard pull and well worth it.

 By no means is this method a guarantee but it seems to have been working for most people. 

Can't speak to NFCU since I don't use them. Do they pull EX too? If not, you can apply for both CUs back to back since neither softs nor hards will be viewed by other if different CRAs are used.

edir: typos

[Anonymous]

Not sure it will make a difference the order you do them in. I'd probably do NASA first. Sign up was easy and I had my membership number in a few minutes. Go ahead and app their card and PLOC together as they should all be off the first EX SP from opening the account with them. Process is pretty easy with them and you'll get some docs via email that you'll need to e-sign. For NCFU just go in and app the card you want and then the CLOC. I can't imagine that you wouldn't get instant approval for both. Ask for the max on the CLOC of 15K. You'll get it. A couple other options to throw out there for you. I'm assuming your EQ score is in the same range and you've got to have a clean file right? Have you considered PenFed? They will pull EQ as well and the nice thing with them is that if you join with a clean EQ you'll probably pre qualify for some stuff with them and then be able to get their quarterly SP pre approval stuff. Your scores and income would probably net you a nice Venture approval with Cap1 as well. Good luck I'll be keeping an eye out to see what you app for.

[Anonymous]

lhcole77, NFCU pulled TU for me for the membership.  I think I read they pulled EQ for other people.  But you make a good point in that they wouldn't see each other's inquiries so wouldn't really matter which one first.  Thanks =)

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Not sure it will make a difference the order you do them in. I'd probably do NASA first. Sign up was easy and I had my membership number in a few minutes. Go ahead and app their card and PLOC together as they should all be off the first EX SP from opening the account with them. Process is pretty easy with them and you'll get some docs via email that you'll need to e-sign. For NCFU just go in and app the card you want and then the CLOC. I can't imagine that you wouldn't get instant approval for both. Ask for the max on the CLOC of 15K. You'll get it. A couple other options to throw out there for you. I'm assuming your EQ score is in the same range and you've got to have a clean file right? Have you considered PenFed? They will pull EQ as well and the nice thing with them is that if you join with a clean EQ you'll probably pre qualify for some stuff with them and then be able to get their quarterly SP pre approval stuff. Your scores and income would probably net you a nice Venture approval with Cap1 as well. Good luck I'll be keeping an eye out to see what you app for.

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TA8088, I have a sparkling clean file, just very thin with 25mo for my oldest line.  Thanks for pointing out PenFed as another option, I'm definitely considering them.  They have the absolutely best gas and travel cards.

Should I add PenFed in the mix for this credit union spree as well?  I don't think I will ever have such a clean low inquiry EQ for a while (INQ are just going to go up from here).  If so, should it be before or after NFCU?  Perhaps PedFed before NFCU so I can open up the door and see if I am prequalified?

Also Cap1 Venture is on my list, but with the triple pull and Cap1 pre-approval only showing 17.9% and not the 12.9%, I might hold off on them until later when I see that 12.9% appear.

[Anonymous]

Yeah if you're squeaky clean then you might have some sucess with PenFed and you'll be able to get SP CLI's and preapprovals with them down the road. Might pull a decent SL's with them now if you app for anything right off the bat with the same pull from membership. If you're interested in them I'd do them first and then NASA. Navy isn't all that sensitive to inquires and neither is Cap1. If you have a 17.9 apr on the preapprovals showing could still be a nice SL but like you said you could always wait until you see a lower APR down the road. What Chase card do you currently have? If you pull more than a couple cards out of a small spree you'll bump up against thier 5 cards in 2 years rule so if you have given any thought to another Chase branded card like a CSP you might want to throw that into the mix early. Your AAoA's is going to take a hit but if you add substantial lines which you could do by adding PenFed, Nasa and NFCU it's probably worth it in the long run. All depends on what you are looking to do and get to. NFCU pulled TU for my membership but EQ for all my credit product apps. NASA was a SP for me for membership and my Rewards Visa and I'm pretty PenFed is an EQ HP but you can get membership and several apps out of it. 

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Yeah if you're squeaky clean then you might have some sucess with PenFed and you'll be able to get SP CLI's and preapprovals with them down the road. Might pull a decent SL's with them now if you app for anything right off the bat with the same pull from membership. If you're interested in them I'd do them first and then NASA. Navy isn't all that sensitive to inquires and neither is Cap1. If you have a 17.9 apr on the preapprovals showing could still be a nice SL but like you said you could always wait until you see a lower APR down the road. What Chase card do you currently have? If you pull more than a couple cards out of a small spree you'll bump up against thier 5 cards in 2 years rule so if you have given any thought to another Chase branded card like a CSP you might want to throw that into the mix early. Your AAoA's is going to take a hit but if you add substantial lines which you could do by adding PenFed, Nasa and NFCU it's probably worth it in the long run. All depends on what you are looking to do and get to. NFCU pulled TU for my membership but EQ for all my credit product apps. NASA was a SP for me for membership and my Rewards Visa and I'm pretty PenFed is an EQ HP but you can get membership and several apps out of it. 

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I only have a Chase Freedom that is 19mo old.  I am interested in the CSP and definitely the Ink Cash Business (must have).  I'll have to look more into that 5 card 2 year rule since only my Cap1 is older than 2 years.  I have 2 close friends as personal bankers at Chase, I'll ask them to double check.

I like your idea of PenFed and NASA before NFCU since I already got a pre-approval from NFCU and you said they aren't very INQ sensitive.

So I guess my plan so far is:

1. PenFed Premium Travel Rewards + ( PLOC or PenFed Signature Points)
2. NASA Platinum Cash Rewards + Cashline PLOC
3. Chase Sapphire Preferred + Chase Ink Cash Business

If either of the CU denies me then I'll add in:

• NFCU Cash Rewards (pre-approved) + (NavCheck or NFCU Business Rewards)

Thanks again for your advice. I sincerely appreciate it.

[B335is]

I would app for NASA first, and like lhcole said, apply for membership and if instantly approved go for the card you want. Chances are it will be the same pull. Penfed you will also need to apply for membership first. They will generally use the same HP for up to 90 days (there's been some exceptions though).

[Anonymous]

If the Chase Ink is a "must have," why would you not app that first? If you are looking at Chase I would suggest to app those first before the others. Seems like your cc want list has grown since your first post. lol

[Anonymous]

Did you app yet?