How sensitive to recent inquiries/accounts is Citi?

[Peculiar_radish]

I'm looking to pick up the Custom Cash, but I've added a bunch of other cards this year and not sure how sensitive Citi will be.

On my Experian report (which Citi pulls), I'm at 6/12 and 7/24 for new accounts. For inquiries, I'm at 5/12 and 8/24 (2 are mortgage rate shopping from 18 months ago).

In a few weeks, I'll be down from 5/6 to 1/6 for inquiries, but not sure if that matters. The only Citi relationship I currently have is the Best Buy card.

[firefox100]

I would not apply for a Citi custom cash card with that many inquires they don't want to see too many new accounts, they are tighten up, I have 2 cards with them Custom cash and the double cash back, it is getting harder to get credit increases in the last year.

[Aim_High]

Welcome to My FICO Forums, @Peculiar_radish. 

I strongly agree with @firefox100 that you will not be ready for a successful CITI app for some time.  While there aren't known data points with CITI that I'm aware of similar to Chase 5/24, they are definitely sensitive.   Depending on FICO  and overall credit profile, I would suggest being no more than 1/6 and 2/12 when apping to CITI.  I purposefully applied with them first last fall after gardening for over a year.   I would put them roughly in the same category of sensitivity as US Bank.  I don't think they have as much of a 24-month lookback as they do for 6 and 12.  Consequently, if you drop from 5/6 to 1/6 but you're still 5/7, that could be too much for them, IMO.

[Peculiar_radish]

Gotcha, thanks. Overall, I've got 11 open revolvers and a mortgage. No auto, student or personal loans open, but many closed student loans and a couple auto (all good standing). Bankcard scores are all 800+ and AAoC at around 9 years (oldest at 14).

Not sure if any of that helps or hurts tbh

[Lou-natic]

I'd wait until you are at least 1/6. Anything else, I honestly don't know for sure. Citi probably won't give you some crazy high SL anyway so...I'd app at 1/6 and see what happens. I mean what difference does it make at this point anyway right? haha

[SouthJamaica]

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@Peculiar_radish wrote:

I'm looking to pick up the Custom Cash, but I've added a bunch of other cards this year and not sure how sensitive Citi will be.

On my Experian report (which Citi pulls), I'm at 6/12 and 7/24 for new accounts. For inquiries, I'm at 5/12 and 8/24 (2 are mortgage rate shopping from 18 months ago).

In a few weeks, I'll be down from 5/6 to 1/6 for inquiries, but not sure if that matters. The only Citi relationship I currently have is the Best Buy card.

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I think Citi is pretty sensitive to new inquiries and accounts.

[Numerophile]

Adding my datapoints from recent experience.  

I apped for Citi Custom Cash on 11/24/2023.  They pulled Experian.  At the time, FICO 8 was 763 and FICO Bankcard 8 was 802.  Inquiries then were 0/3, 0/6, 0/12, 8/24.  New accounts were 0/3, 0/6, 1/12, 9/24.  My AoOA was 13 years 9 months and AAoA was 3 years 9 months.  Overall utilization was 8%.  4 cards showed balances on the report of which 1 was an AU card.  None of those individual balances was over 25% utilization.  DTI less than 2%.  High income.  

I was denied.  In the letter, Citi referenced a score of 802 (FICO Bankcard 8) and listed 3 reasons for the denial.  Length of time accounts have been established on your credit report.  Your credit report shows too many recently opened accounts.  Your credit report shows too many inquiries.

My AoOA and AAoA seem fine to me, which leads me to the conclusion that right now given the macro environment Citi is ULTRACONSERVATIVE about new accounts and inquiries not just in the last six months or year but two years back. 

To me, Citi and Wells Fargo are the only two banks like this.  I have experienced nothing like I have from those two, not even from notoriously conservative US Bank.

[xenon3030]

In their game plan, they typically want 0/6 of inquiries. I followed their game plan and I got my CCC a few days ago.

[markbeiser]

Sometimes it seems like Citi will deny you if you have even thought about getting another card within the past 6 months!🤣

[xenon3030]

Anyway, on top of 0/6, they may deny for various reasons like having already too much total credit line, too many recent accounts, or something else. Well, it is Citi and their game plans...