cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

6 Month Credit History

tag
Anonymous
Not applicable

6 Month Credit History

Hello, Everyone!

I am a long time lurker and thanks to many of you I got my first credit card with no history whatsoever. I got the Discover IT Chrome for students in August 2015 and now am looking at adding some more cards. It's been 6 months and I have no baddies and my Discover FICO score with TU is 734. Credit Karma reports my FAKO scores at 672 and 696 for TU and EQ respectively. I have no loans and no other forms of credit other than my Discover card. I recently got a CLI to $750. The CLI has yet to report on my FICO TU with Discover and on the FAKOs with CK. I am thankful for my this forum for helping my credit journey so far! I thought I would have to settle with a secured card but ended up getting a Discover with great benefits! I love my Discover card but would like to continue to grow my credit history and get a little more variety. I eventually would like an AMEX, Chase Freedom, Citi DC and possibly another but those are my goals. Any help with next steps would be greatly appreciated. I would be reporting probably around $12,000 or so for income. I am a student but have a part time job. I got the Discover reporting $8k, I also have a lot saved up in a few savings account and I do get a hefty scholarship, and a stipend from my parents for expenses but I'm guessing those can't count as income. I have been gardening for 6 months with responsible usage. My last utilization that reported was 6% and I always pay on time. So just to recap this really long blurb (thanks for taking the time to read it). I have one account open with a $750 limit low util, only one inquiry on my TU score from Discover 6 months ago (approved), no baddies, always pay on time. The only negatives are that I only have one account open and my AAOA is only 6 months. Thank you all in advance! 

Message 1 of 7
6 REPLIES 6
Discover2016
Valued Contributor

Re: 6 Month Credit History

Good job! With 6 months of good history you should qualify for an Amex charge card, the Premier Rewards Gold is a highly recommended card and easy to get. Have you checked the prequal sites of Capital One and Amex?

Gardening until September 2025
Next app: Mortgage in September 2025
FICO 08 Experian 810
Message 2 of 7
Callandra
Valued Contributor

Re: 6 Month Credit History

You're off to a great start! Smiley Happy With 6 months history, you can probably get an Amex (which one were you looking at?). Chase might want closer to a year of history (I recommend waiting because you don't want to get stuck with a $500 Freedom that will never grow), not sure about Citi. 

Quicksilver $10,000 | Better Balance Rewards $2000 | Sallie Mae $3500 | Freedom $3500

Last HP: 9/27/2015
Message 3 of 7
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: 6 Month Credit History

I'm really looking for a card with no AF. I like the BCE, but I prefer the Freedom I'm going to wait until the one year mark to get that. I was also looking at the Cap1 QS. I'm 18 so I can't see prequals yet. Not sure if that changes anything.

Message 4 of 7
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: 6 Month Credit History

Just wanted to say you're doing a great job!

Message 5 of 7
Chris679
Established Contributor

Re: 6 Month Credit History

Cap One QS would not be a bad idea in your situation. Easy to get and 1.5% on all purchases is pretty solid.
Message 6 of 7
14Fiesta
Established Contributor

Re: 6 Month Credit History

First off congrats on taking the first step to building your credit!

 

If you are generating a FICO score now I'd say go for an AMEX. Any one you'd like. I was approved for my First AMEX (BCE) back in 2014 with 6 months of history and $12,000 income just like you. The starting limit was $8,000. Amex is very picky about clean files, but they seem to love newcomers to credit as long as you can generate those magical three digit numbers. 

 

Chase I would definitely hold off until you've got about 1 year of history under your belt and 6 months of history under your AMEX. They seem to like that 1 year spot and people that have more than 1 credit card Tradeline reporting, so that AMEX will unlock that Chase door for you. 

 

Same deal with Citibank, although they might be willing to flex a little bit if you manage your credit cards with excellence. I applied for the Citi Double Cash with 11 months of history under my belt. I was initially sent a declined letter in the mail stating not enough revolving history. I recon'd that with the Executive Office and was approved for $500 to start, but it has grown exponentially in the last year (see signature below). If you want an easier approval without having to recon and risk taking a $500 starting limit, then I would give it a bit more time. 

 

Good luck! Smiley Happy






EX FICO (AMEX): 728 (4/29/17) | TU FICO (Discover): 737 (4/7/17) | EQ FICO (Citi): 746 (3/28/17)
Message 7 of 7
Advertiser Disclosure: The offers that appear on this site are from third party advertisers from whom FICO receives compensation.