Hi myFICO community,
Long time user (lurker) here. I couldn't figure out my old password and the email I used to setup that account is long gone. So, I created a new account to post a data point on the Citi AA Exec MC. Hopefully it is helpful to someone in the future!
My Profile:
FICO Score 8: 850/850 @ all 3 Bureaus
FICO Score 9 (via PenFed): 850/850
FICO Bankcard Score 8 (Equifax) via Citi: 893/900
FICO Bankcard Score 9 (Experian) via FNBO: 872/900
VantageScore 3.0 (via CapitalOne Creditwise): 850/850
VantageScore 3.0 (via Chase Credit Journey): 839/850
HHI = Well into 6 figures
Total Credit (before app) = ~$900K incl. ~$125K HELOC
Open Accounts = 25 CCs, 2 Loans (Mtgs)
CC Balances = 1 CC w/ 1% of Total Revolving Utilization (at time of app)
Several old mortgages, installment loans, and a few CCs closed over past 10 years.
AoOA = 25 yrs
AAoA = 9 yrs
No Inquiries (Gardening last 3 years so 0 inquiries at all 3 Bureaus)
No Late Payments
No Derogs
My Experience:
I decided to get the Citi AA Exec MC earlier this month since my access to the Admiral's club was flying away on 12/31 (American Airlines ended their Business Extra program this month and replaced it with something new). The much higher annual fee of $595 will be my highest annual fee card but it is still less than a full Admiral's club membership renewal for me as Platinum Pro ($725 individual or $1,575 for a new household account).
My total personal credit exposure with Citi prior to the app was around $100K. I also have 2 business accounts with Citi. I live in Texas and Citi pulled Experian after logging into my existing Citi personal account and applying from there. All 3 Bureaus were locked so I unlocked Experian after being prompted to while the Citi app counted down from 15mins.
Afterwards, I got the "call me" message. Called immediately, got verified, and spoke to a US rep who informed me that I was approved but they would need to move some CL from "select" existing personal accounts to open the new account with a $37K SL. Alternatively, I could leave current accounts as-is but the account would open with a $5K SL only. Those were my only choices. If I moved limits it had to be enough to open the account to $37K otherwise I default back to $5K. I opted for the higher SL option though I wish they would have been more generous. I guess I need to build more of a relationship in 2024 with them.
Counting all accounts, Citi is still my highest exposure bank at $125K. NOTE: I stopped receiving CLI from Citi about 4 years ago. May have been around the time when I shifted banking to Chase. Nonetheless, every time I clicked the "love" button (and I tried at least 2x a year) I would get a denial letter stating they needed to pull a hard inquiry before they would consider any future CLIs. It seems HHI doesn't really matter with Citi, but instead current spend and direct relationship do. I do not have any bank or investment accounts with them anymore.
In any event, hope this helps! Thank you all.
. Sounds like you certainly hit their lending limit where they are comfortable with you at to income/profile etc. Regardless hope you can utilize it well the new AF on card scares me thus will never have it myself being that version.
