Strategy for CLI from US Bank/Heavy Usage?

Dw4250 · ‎05-21-2015

I have a really low credit line on my Perks+ card in comparison to my other cards. $1000 CL. I have no real need for this card and would have closed it long ago, but my long term plan is to get the CL up to $5K, then PC it into a Cash+. SO far they have not budged, but in their defense I never use the darn thing (was until recently a Platinum with zero rewards).

I have heard one of the only ways to nudge USBank into giving CLIs is by "heavy usage". But I am unsure how to define that. I have a monthly transaction I can put on the card for $900/month (grad school related). This will put me at about 90% usage, but will be paid off every month. I'm thinking I can do this every month for the next 6 months, then see if I can get an auto CLI or attempt a CL request.

So what is considered "heavy usage"? Is there a difference between one transaction for $900, or 20 transactions equaling $900? Does this seem like a sound strategy for getting a CLI?

Dw4250 · ‎05-21-2015

Shameless bump

B335is · ‎05-21-2015

US Bank is strange with auto CLI. I just showed a few months of small charges (like under $50), PIF and they gave me a $4k auto CLI at 10 months.

I think if you run up $900 in monthly charges and PIF you would at least have a case for reconsideration if it comes to you submitting a request. Hopefully they recognize your good usage prior to it coming to that.

Dw4250 · ‎05-21-2015

Thanks B335! I'll give it "heavy use" for a few months and report back if it leads to success...

B335is · ‎05-21-2015

Good luck! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. Do you have a banking relationship with them?

takeshi74 · ‎05-22-2015

Specific underwriting can and does vary from creditor to creditor but limits and CLI's are always based on credit and income. Do not rely soley on usage for CLI's. It may help in some cases but it will not make or break the CLI on its own. I requested a doubling of the initial limit on my cash+ a while back and it was approved (with HP) but YMMV.

eddie84 · ‎05-22-2015

I hardly use mine (Platinum Visa card) and they bumped me from $1k to $3k in 6 months with just normal usage (always carry a balance and only use a couple of hundreds a month). YMMV of course.

Anonymous · ‎12-29-2016

Bumping to see how this turned out.

csryang · ‎12-29-2016

@B335is wrote:
US Bank is strange with auto CLI. I just showed a few months of small charges (like under $50), PIF and they gave me a $4k auto CLI at 10 months.

I think if you run up $900 in monthly charges and PIF you would at least have a case for reconsideration if it comes to you submitting a request. Hopefully they recognize your good usage prior to it coming to that.

I agree with this.

I did the same thing here - small charges/every other day or so under $20. PIF every month. There are 1-2 months or 1-2 weeks I do not use the card at all. I have received two auto CLI - one around 7 month mark and the other around 15 month mark.

I think I have posted long time ago about USbank giving a letter for CLI and on that letter there's a link/number to request CLI soft pull increase. Maybe you could still try that link/number to request it every 6 months or so to see if you are eligible.

I also have checking account with them with direct deposits.