PreApprovals?

bcritti · ‎03-27-2025

We are rebuilding our credit and I think were at a good point to apply for cards. Are there store cards that are more lenient? I did the preapprovals that are obvious like Capital One, Amex and Discover.

AndySoCal · ‎03-27-2025

IA store card is okay if you shop a particular regularly. I have a store for JC Penney which is shop clothes etc. A store card just for rebuilding credit I would not recommend that. I would suggest you look into a local credit union and see how they might be able to assist you. You will need to join the credit union to get a crecit card.

FIC Scores XPN v8 805 V2 831 (SDFCU) TUC V 8 800 07/25 EFX Bankcard v8 822 EFX FIC0 v8 807 Vantage score 4.0 817 via JC Penney
JC Penney 10/2008 4,700 US Bank Cash 08/2010 12,000 Citibank Custom Cash 5/2015 14,100, State Dept. FCU 06/2023 25,000 02/2024 Redstone FCU Signature VISA 10,000 08/23/2024 Commonwealth Credit Union 15000 07/25 Walmart One 5000 12/04/25
Banks and Credit Unions: Lafayette FCU Fortera FCU State Department FCU Redstone FCU Hughes FCU Commonwealth FCU Veridian Credit Union Utah Community Credit Union
My personal blacklist Axos Bank, Bank of America, Synchrony Bank Capital One TD Bank BMO Langley FCU Paypal

FicoMike0 · ‎03-27-2025

Ditto @AndySoCal

Store cards don't always seem to be counted. If they are cobranded, like a pennys/mastercard vs just pennys, probably ok, but you don't know which you'll get. Charge cards, like amex gold/silver/plat, don't always count either.

For fico scores, it's best to have three bank cards, secured is ok, do azeo, and keep reported individual utilization below 29% and aggregate below 9%. Then pif before due date.

If you don't have an installment loan, look up ssl.

You mentioned Capone and amex. They both do preapproval, that's the way to go. Try not to waste hard pulls.

MileHigh96 · ‎03-31-2025

@bcritti wrote:
We are rebuilding our credit and I think were at a good point to apply for cards. Are there store cards that are more lenient? I did the preapprovals that are obvious like Capital One, Amex and Discover.

There's a list of issuers that offer pre-approval here:

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/General-Credit-Topics/2025-Pre-approval-Links/td-p/6809096

BK7 discharged - 06JUL2021
Loans:

Revolving Accounts (in the order they were opened):

Ally Everyday Cash Back Mastercard (converted from Ollo Platinum Rewards Mastercard) $5700 CL (opened 7/21/21)

Mercury Mastercard $5060 CL (opened 7/23/21)

Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa Card $17,500 LOC (opened 8/4/21)

PenFed Pathfinder Rewards $6000 CL (opened 11/9/21)

Dell Pay Credit (converted from Dell Financial Services account) $6500 CL (opened 12/6/21)

Capital One Kohls Visa (converted from Kohls store card) $4050 CL (opened 12/13/21)

Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa Card $7,000 LOC (opened 3/17/22)

Capital One Quicksilver MC (PC'd from a Platinum card) $3200 CL (opened 5/6/22)

Capital One Savor One MC $5000 CL (opened 10/20/22)

Merrick Bank Double Your Line MC $2500 CL (opened 11/1/22)

NFCU cashRewards Plus $36000 CL (opened 3/17/23)

Affinity FCU Pure Rewards Visa $1500 CL (opened 5/18/23)

Bread Cashback AmEx $15000 CL (opened 5/23/23)

Canvas Select MC $3000 CL (opened 5/25/23)

NFCU Go Rewards Visa $27000 CL (opened 6/16/23)

Petco Pay Mastercard $5100 CL (opened 6/29/23)

Barclays GM Rewards Mastercard (converted from GS My GM Rewards Card Mastercard) $5500 CL (opened 8/1/23)

Denver Broncos Extra Point Visa $11000 CL (opened 12/8/23)

NFCU More Rewards AmEx $17000 CL (opened 2/8/24)

Ally Unlimited Cash Back Mastercard $3000 CL (opened 4/3/24)

Service Credit Union Everyday Visa $2500 CL (opened 8/19/24)

BECU Cash Back Visa $16000 CL (opened 8/21/24)

Best Buy Platinum Visa $4000 CL (opened 10/17/25)

Liberty FCU Platinum Credit Rewards Mastercard $12000 CL (opened 11/5/25)

Capital One T-Mobile Visa $15000 CL (opened 11/7/25)

Lands' End Visa $5300 CL (opened 11/13/25)

Associated Bank Max Cash Preferred Visa $500 CL (opened 11/17/25)

Affinity FCU Cash Rewards Visa $7500 CL (opened 11/18/25)

Closed accounts:

Mission Lane Visa - first starter card after discharge (opened 7/7/21 - closed 4/1/23)

Capital One Quicksilver MC (downgraded from a Walmart Rewards MC and transfered CL to older QS card) (opened 11/4/22 - closed 04/09/25)

Best Egg Visa (opened 05/17/22 - closed 04/14/25)

6/6, 6/12, 11/24 new accounts
TCL: $219.4K

ptatohed · ‎03-31-2025

@bcritti wrote:
We are rebuilding our credit and I think were at a good point to apply for cards. Are there store cards that are more lenient? I did the preapprovals that are obvious like Capital One, Amex and Discover.

...... and?????

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)

KatzNDawgs · ‎03-31-2025

What is your current scores? Do you have any non-store cards right now? If you want to boost credit score, I would not focus on store cards, or at least go with co-branded with visa/MC/Disc/AMEX logo. If you have a hard time getting approved, secured cards that will graduate (Discover, NFCU, BoA, Citi, Cap1, etc) are your best bet for future score increases. For your list of preapprovals, Citi also does no-HP prequalification if you haven't tried them.

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