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Credit Limit Increase

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AyaMai
Frequent Contributor

Credit Limit Increase

At what point do you stop asking for credit limit increase even when it is zero utilization 

Message 1 of 10
9 REPLIES 9
Realist
Established Contributor

Re: Credit Limit Increase

You can always ask if you really want it, but if you use the card often, you won't usually have to ask.  They'll just increase it.   Since you've said it's zero utilization, then just looking to increase total credit for the heck of it?

 

Some people chase credit for the sake of chasing credit.  Others do it for the sake of something else.  My something else, are bonus rewards in the form of hotel stays or travel.  So with that said, in that world, Chase is a leader in multiple credit card options towards securing these bonues, securing large credit lines, and they're generous offering this inside of a 5/24 use.  Acquiring additional credit isn't the issue there, it can actually derail some of your plans.

 

There's also an accepted concept that there's a soft or hard limit to how much credit they will extend overall.  Having too much credit across too many of their cards, may likely deny you for future opportunites.  Instead, reducing credit limits are beneficial in this case, even severely, or even if it means closing out a card if need be.

 

 

$XXX,XXX in credit lines.
Multiple months in free credit reward vacations.
$X,XXX in bank rewards in only 12 months.
I like FREE...

800+ FICO.

Making all numbers dance on a financial ledger.
Abuse that score responsibility.

Take nothing I say as financial advice. DYODD.
Message 2 of 10
FicoMike0
Senior Contributor

Re: Credit Limit Increase

My first goal was to have limits high enough to accommodate my spend levels at under 9% utilization. I've reached that goal with the exception of my savior card, which has a $3800 limit. I've been using it frequently since I pced it from qs earlier this year. I'm hoping for a bigger increase in the near future.

I have read here, sorry, no link, that there is an insurance score that improves with average cl up to $10,500. I have been working toward that limit, which I recently reached.

I'm fairly comfortable with most of my limits now. I don't put a lot on my connect visa, which recently clied to $5000, but since it's a travel card, I could imagine larger charges for a trip.

I suppose id like to have all cards at $10,000 min. 

 

Message 3 of 10
NoHardLimits
Valued Contributor

Re: Credit Limit Increase

If it's a card I put decent organic spend on, then I will try to request CLIs up until they require hard inquiries.  At that point, I will stop.  I've also been told that some of my cards aren't eligible for CLIs without more usage, so I just leave those as is and don't bother with any further requests.  On the other hand, I'm not one to hoard credit limits without a good reason.  If this year unfolds as planned, I will have closed 4 cards and with them about $100,000 in credit limits.  I don't want those cards anymore, and the lost limits won't really have any effect on my FICO scores.

May 2026 Scorecard: Clean, Thick, Mature, New Revolver
FICO8:
FICO9:
VantageScore3:
Inquiries (n/12, n/24):
AAoA: 11 yrs | AoORA: 38 yrs | AoYRA: less than 1 yr | New Accounts: 0/6, 1/12, 2/24 | Util: 1% | DTI: 1%
Message 4 of 10
Lou-natic
Established Contributor

Re: Credit Limit Increase


@AyaMai wrote:

At what point do you stop asking for credit limit increase even when it is zero utilization 


Until they ask for a hardpull on my credit or decline the increase in general. For instance Citi isn't letting me have more than $37,500 in total credit right now, so none of those cards can grow any further. My FNBO card got to 25k then they ask for a hardpull to go higher and I declined.




8/8/25
2/16/26
Message 5 of 10
NoMoreE46
Community Leader
Senior Contributor

Re: Credit Limit Increase

 

I used to be good when my CL were = or > $10,000  and then a few years later, $25,000. 

I have no TCL goals,  but am working towards the $30,000 mark per card and will take HP to get there.

Holding 14 primary cards but looking to trim down.

    

 

 


@AyaMai wrote:

At what point do you stop asking for credit limit increase even when it is zero utilization 


 

Message 6 of 10
dfwxjer
Established Contributor

Re: Credit Limit Increase

I culled my unused cards over the past few years, and like to maintain high CLs on the few I have remaining. They're all in a healthy range where I never have to worry about utilization although I would like my CSR to match my BCP. I guess I'll keep working to get the CSR up from $55k to $70k but the rest are all just fine the way they are. I stopped applying for CLIs across the board once my cards all reached ~$50k limits. 

Current active cards:
Amex - Platinum, BCP
BofA - Unlimited Cash Rewards Sig
Chase - CSR, Amazon Prime, United Explorer
Citi - Custom Cash, Costco Visa
TCL - $370k
CC utili - 2%
Experian - 818
Message 7 of 10
ptatohed
Senior Contributor

Re: Credit Limit Increase


@AyaMai wrote:

At what point do you stop asking for credit limit increase even when it is zero utilization 


Is this a trick question?  I never started!  lol     Smiley Wink

 

I've asked for one CLI in my life and that was because I wanted to make a $6,000 purchase with my $5,000 AOD.  

Everyday 5% CB:
Chase prime Visa // citi CUSTOM CASH “A” // citi CUSTOM CASH “B” // citi CUSTOM CASH “C” // citi ThankYou (5% gas, lucrative spending offers) // mylowe’s Rewards // Target circle card

Rotating 5% CB:
Chase “OG” freedom Visa // DISCOVER it Cash Back // nusenda CU Platinum Cash Rewards

Everyday 4% CB:
US Bank Smartly (v1.0)

Everyday 3% / 2.2% CB:
AOD FCU Visa Signature (3%, sockdrawered) // upgrade Cash Rewards Elite (2.2%, sockdrawered)

Welcome Offer / credits only:
NFCU FLAGSHIP REWARDS (elevated Welcome Offer, annual prime credit, sockdrawered)

Hotel card:
Chase IHG ONE REWARDS PREMIER (elevated Welcome Offer, 1 free night/yr)

On my radar:
Langely FCU Signature Cash Back (5% CB monthly selectable cat) // Safe CU Cash Back+ (Quarterly rotating 5% CB cats plus bonus cats) // upgrade MyFive Cash Rewards (5% CB monthly selectable cat) // US Bank Kroger (and family) World Elite Master Card(s) (5% CB Mobile Wallet)
Message 8 of 10
NoHardLimits
Valued Contributor

Re: Credit Limit Increase


@ptatohed wrote:

@AyaMai wrote:

At what point do you stop asking for credit limit increase even when it is zero utilization 


Is this a trick question?  I never started!  lol     Smiley Wink

 

I've asked for one CLI in my life and that was because I wanted to make a $6,000 purchase with my $5,000 AOD.  


I never used to request CLIs either.  I would get periodic auto-CLIs and was just fine with that.  Then a few years ago, a forum thread similar to OP's post created a FOMO event for me.  So, I started using the method I described in Post #4 above to manually request CLIs. 

 

At this point, I'm fine with most of my limits just the way they are.  The only exceptions are my NFCU cashRewards+ and Wells Fargo Autograph Journey which both get significant organic spend.  I could request CLIs for both of them, but I want to temper those actions due to my plans to apply for Flagship Rewards and the rumored Autograph Beyond.

May 2026 Scorecard: Clean, Thick, Mature, New Revolver
FICO8:
FICO9:
VantageScore3:
Inquiries (n/12, n/24):
AAoA: 11 yrs | AoORA: 38 yrs | AoYRA: less than 1 yr | New Accounts: 0/6, 1/12, 2/24 | Util: 1% | DTI: 1%
Message 9 of 10
ElvisCaprice
Established Contributor

Re: Credit Limit Increase


@AyaMai wrote:

At what point do you stop asking for credit limit increase even when it is zero utilization 


Zero utilization means you never use it.  So you never ask, what's the point?  Get a card you can use or at least churn.

BofA: Citi:US Bank:Chase:Aven:RH:

Spend: Less than 10k per year organic (frugal). MS varies, can be more significant.

(May of 26) Scorecard: Clean, Thick, Mature (Always PIF)

HP's: EQ 1/6, 3/12, 7/24 | TU 3/6, 5/12, 9/24 | EX 2/6, 3/12, 12/24

New Accounts: 5/6, 8/12, 13/24

Message 10 of 10
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