AMEX Zync credit score

[CS800]

Just curious at to the credit score required to get a Zync

[Anonymous]

Amex looks at everything so there is no one score. I did read somewhere that they prefer scores over 720 though. It's really... how old are your oldest negs? Job security,time at current residence? They don't like collections or chargeoffs at all no matter how long ago, but people with older ones (or a long positive history) have gotten cards with them. They hate BK, if you have a bankruptcy on your report it's very unlikely they'll give you a card. That said the zync probably has the most relaxed qualifications being geared towards the younger population, just be aware, having a thin credit file is different from having a dirty one. Amex also seems to like people having a mix variety of credit (installment loans etc). I was just approved and my scores are in the 720's (though TU is probably higher than what it was when I last checked), I've heard people getting approved for zync in the mid 600's though. Other people may chime in with better responses but this is just my observation. Have you ever had a card with them before or an AU?

[Awesomely]

If your reports are completely clean try applying for their credit cards, I got approved for a Clear card with an Experian score near 690.

[CS800]

Back in 2001, I had their Optima Platinum that I closed in 2005 since I wasnt using it at all (my credit ignorance). On my EX I have one collection that's supposed to be off my credit report Dec 2012 as it said on the credit report.

So for me an AMEX would be mostly for the backdating for my AAoA. I have 3 credit cards; 2 of them with 0 balance and the other one about 5% util. I have a mortgage and a car loan that have always been paid on time.

All of my lates are on closed accounts and all these accounts have been paid off in full.

I have 3 closed car loan accounts with lates.

My credit cards (3 cards) lates were back in April 2008 (these cards are also closed and balance PIF; they were on a payment plan).

I will know my EX FICO in couple of days..

i'm hoping to be close to the 700 at least by mid 2012.

[pizzadude]

I can confirm that a EX FICO® score of 605 is too low AMEX, I received the message Your consumer credit bureau score from Experian is too low when I was recently declined.  

However  I do not believe that any score will guarantee approval.    A low score will prevent you from being approved, but a higher score is only one of the factors that AMEX considers.

[CS800]

Do they strictly use EX?

ISince AMEX is on of the top prime cards, I would think that anything under 680 would be too low.

[CS800]

pizzadude, your siggy says your March 2010 FICO's, have they gone down thats why you said that you apped and your EX was 605?

[Anonymous]

I was approved for the Zync with a very limited credit history (I had two bank credit cards, opened just over 6 months before applying, and nothing else reporting)

In Jan. 2010 I applied for a green AMEX but was declined (I had zero credit history. In the same month I opened two bank credit card accounts with CL of <$500 (originally denied for both, but appealed sucessfully)

In Aug 2010 I applied for the Zync and was accepted! I am not sure what my scores were at the time, but they were definitely below 700. (maybe between 620-660?).  I think I probably fell into the "profile" the card was aimed at...i.e. a young individual from a good zipcode going to a college in the northeast. They also backdated the card to the year I had become an AU on a business card (don't know if this helped).

I have loved the Zync so far! I only resort to using my bank cards when AMEX is not accepted. AMEX is also the only issuer that has trusted me with a credit limit that matches my spending activity. (I was forced to pay off the bank cards multiple times a month...weekly if I wanted to keep a reasonable util)

[Anonymous]

Sorry for the multiple posts, but I wanted to add that AMEX pulled all 3 CRAs when I applied.

[pizzadude]

Yeah AMEX typically only pulls EX I believe.

Who knows what their EX FICO® cutoff is ~ probably close to what you guessed, but it may vary based on the product or perhaps the time of day...

Unfortunately my scores have tanked over the last year, due to several factors:

1)   Increased utilization from ~ 10% to 95%

2)  ~10 inquiries on EX since March2010

3)  A baddie from 2007 that shows a "last reported" of Mar2009, which I believe is making the derogatory TL look newer than it really is.   I'm still trying to figure out how to deal with this one.....