Hi
I'm looking to buy a house sometime around 18 months from now. That should be around the time its 7 years from the dismissed bankruptcy and most of my old bad stuff should go away.
My dad advised me to get some credit cards open so I have at least 3 accounts going and improve my credit. So basically my head is swimming trying to figure out the best card for me to apply for. I don't want to apply for cards that will be denied, but I wasnt sure if I should go straight for a pre-approved/secured type of card either.
I do have an auto loan that is in good standing (paid more than minimum for over a year). I make a really good salary (96k) and I only plan to make minimum purchases like gas and pay it off at the end of each month.
I tried applying for Bank of the West since I bank with them and I have almost 8k in my savings account and they can see my income is a lot...I haven't heard back whether it was approved or not. I just got a letter telling me that my credit score was 623 (Experian) but no word on the card or whether I was approved. I just read that BotW apparently requires high scores to approve though so now I'm thinking it will eventually be denied. It at least helped to know my score though.
On this thing its saying my FICO is 633 currently.
I don't really have any accounts open besides my auto loan (i owe roughly 6k) and my cell phone bill.
In my position - which card would you suggest I apply for? Bank of America?
I feel like time is ticking and I need to get something going soon so I can raise my score as much as possible by the time I try to get a mortgage. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Starting Score: EQ 633 TU ? EX 623 (lender)
Dismissed bankruptcies stay for 10 years. The card gurus will better answer which cards you will be most likely approved for and read, read, read these forums for tips.
New goal 675
I have very little experience with credit cards in general.
I think I had a Capital One card when I was like 18 or 19. I'm 32 now. I don't remember what happened with it. I think I paid it off and closed it a very long time ago.
I was reading that the Bank of America card, you can check if you're approved almost instantly and then maybe get a secured card if it isn't approved for a normal one. Is that true? What kind of credit score do they typically approve?
@myjourney wrote:You may want to try some of your local credit unions as well
^^^^^^^^^^^^^THIS!
This is what i would do/ am doing now that we want to buy a home in 15 months.
Good luck!
Starting Score: 526 EXP 09/2012 600 FICO 10/2012 608 EX (lenderpull)11/2012 
Nope. Not a member anywhere. I just have a checking/savings account with Bank of the West.
I would certainly suggest looking into memberships with a CU . The good ones love to work with their members!