Background
- Standing at around 12 or 14 new accounts / last 24 months (depending on the report), I have not really considered applying for any of the core Chase revolvers any time soon.
- However, then, thanks to the numerous posts on this forum about in-branch pre-approvals that appear to often bypass 5/24 Chase rule, I went ahead and asked if I had any pre-approvals at my branch last week. Was informed that I was pre-approved for all Chase products.
Preparation Steps
- Prior to going through with the applicaiton, tweaked my FICO score using AZEO, giving it about a 15 point boost (I usually PIF but to get a quick boost, went ahead and paid all but $50 on the card that was about to report over the weekend)
Approval
- Returned to the branch today, confirmed that I still had pre-approvals and went ahead with the Freedom Unlimited application.
- Chose Freedom Unlimited as I already have good travel cards and 3% cash back intro offer combined with 0% intro APR is pretty attractive
- In-branch application process: very simple for the existing customers, took less than 5 minutes. Involves verifying phone number, address, mortgage/rent status and income details.
- Instant approval:
- $11,800 SL
- Was kind of hoping to get close to $15,000 but can't complain given LOL/24
- Card showed up under the personal login in less then 30 minutes
Data Points
- Pulled EX Fico.
- EX Fico 8 at just above 760 (AZEO boost gave me about 15 points)
- AAoA is about 5 years
- 7 inquiries on EX report
- Chase customer for a number of years
- No other Chase core cards; Chase Amazon co-branded card since last year
- And, as mentioned, 12 or 14 new accounts in the last two years, with 5 in the last 6 months reporting
Most importantly, this would not have happened without the valuable info on this forum!
Thanks!!
AWESOME, CONGRATS on the LOL/24 Approval !!!
Starting Score: 567
Congrats on your approval for the Freedom Unlimited card.
I'm a big advocate for the "in branch pre-approval" approach.
Congrats on the CFU!!
Congrats on your Chase Freedom Unlimited approval! Nice to bypass 5/24! 
Congrats on the stellar Chase approval @seattlecredit08! When I was in FL i'd ask all the time about preapprovals but never got anything... ever. Now I'm in SC and there are no branches in the whole state so I'll have to live vicariously thru your approval. We're the proud new owners of a CFU card!!
