@BankDealer wrote:
Man, that was a BIG wake up call. $50,600 debt with an average 22.5% interest. My payments were about $1350 on a $4000/month salary.
- Navy Federal: CashRewards for $15,300 and a Platinum for $17,600. I was given 9.99% APR.
- Discover: $8000. 5.99% APR
- Synchrony: Old Navy Visa $4,200. 0% APR
- Wells Fargo: The old student Visa $1500. 0.99% APR.
- Citi: Best Buy Visa $4000. 9.99% APR
What was your monthly payment? How did you tackle it?
We are similar. I had around $35K adding one card from P2.
Did you have credit cards and did you use them for those 2.5 years? I see that you kept an Amex in good standing during that time.
Do you have any derogs going on the program? What's your FICO like?
I like the cards in your signature.
What was your monthly payment? How did you tackle it?- Before going into the program I was paying about $1350, the program reduce the payments to $785. So the extra money that was no longer going to interest I put it to the cards with the highest interest. I paid them in this order: Best Buy, Navy Fed Plat, Navy Fed CashRewards, Wells Fargo, Discover, and then Old Navy.
Did you have credit cards and did you use them for those 2.5 years? I see that you kept an Amex in good standing during that time.
- I did, I got the Apple Card w/ my former P2 on 09/2021 and a PenFed Gold on 11/2021 + my Amex BCP. I enrolled the Amex BCP on a hardship program (5K balance, they set the min payment to $89 w/ a 5 year horizon) so I didn't have spending privilages until I paid it off on 07/2022. On 01/2022 I got a $700 limit Sable One Secured Card (RIP) and a CapOne Platinum Secured Card $200 limit. Once I paid of the CashRewards on 09/2023 I applied for the PayPal Credit and was approved.
Do you have any derogs going on the program? What's your FICO like?
- Because I suddenly had $50K balance with all my accounts close and no underlying line of credit my score went down from 09/2021 651, 09/2022 599, 09/2023 622 (202% Utilization), 04/2024 (accounts report as paid of) 683 (47% util), 09/2024 679 (46% util, $40,100 credit limit). 09/2025 692 (15% util $91,500 credit limit) and then 02/2025 742 (5% util $137,950 credit limit).
As soon as my util went down my score shot up. I didn't have any negative remarks or lates, some accounts were notated as "Account payments managed by a financial counseling program" but they are all paid as agreed/never late.
@BankDealer wrote:
What was your monthly payment? How did you tackle it?- Before going into the program I was paying about $1350, the program reduce the payments to $785. So the extra money that was no longer going to interest I put it to the cards with the highest interest. I paid them in this order: Best Buy, Navy Fed Plat, Navy Fed CashRewards, Wells Fargo, Discover, and then Old Navy.
Did you have credit cards and did you use them for those 2.5 years? I see that you kept an Amex in good standing during that time.
- I did, I got the Apple Card w/ my former P2 on 09/2021 and a PenFed Gold on 11/2021 + my Amex BCP. I enrolled the Amex BCP on a hardship program (5K balance, they set the min payment to $89 w/ a 5 year horizon) so I didn't have spending privilages until I paid it off on 07/2022. On 01/2022 I got a $700 limit Sable One Secured Card (RIP) and a CapOne Platinum Secured Card $200 limit. Once I paid of the CashRewards on 09/2023 I applied for the PayPal Credit and was approved.
Do you have any derogs going on the program? What's your FICO like?
- Because I suddenly had $50K balance with all my accounts close and no underlying line of credit my score went down from 09/2021 651, 09/2022 599, 09/2023 622 (202% Utilization), 04/2024 (accounts report as paid of) 683 (47% util), 09/2024 679 (46% util, $40,100 credit limit). 09/2025 692 (15% util $91,500 credit limit) and then 02/2025 742 (5% util $137,950 credit limit).
As soon as my util went down my score shot up. I didn't have any negative remarks or lates, some accounts were notated as "Account payments managed by a financial counseling program" but they are all paid as agreed/never late.
That's amazing. You really put in some extra to pay it of early!
I actually tracked the day you and I entered our respective programs:
| Jul 2022 | ? | Sep 21 | 651 | ||
| Jul 2023 | 508 | $1.5K | Sep 22 | 599 | |
| Jul 2024 | 640 | $5.6K | Sep 23 | 622 | |
| Feb 2025 | 683 | $9.8K | Apr 24 | 683 | |
| Jul 2025 | 682 | $18.8K | Sep 24 | 679 | $40.1K |
| Feb 2026 | 692 | $35.8K | Apr 25 | ||
| Jul 2026 | Sep 25 | 692 | $91.5K | ||
| Dec 2026 | Feb 26 | 742 | $137.95K |
Our FICO scores are very similar in our journey. But you CC aprovals and SL/CL are a lot higher.
Does the CL Include Business Cards? I don't think I'll hit 740s by December. My utilization has been less than 4%. I think I can bump up maybe another 10-20 points as my hard inquiries fade and fall off and maybe ont he 4 year anniversary of the derog.
Also do you make a lot more than $4K now? It probably would help if I had two NavyFed cards (but i'll apply for one after I garden and get my individual cards past the $10K and maybe $20K mark.
Your signature is giving me ideas:
- Amex Blue for Business (though I have an attachment to Prime, I'm a sucker for metal cards, also Blue has FTF)
- Id like Chase Ink Unlimited again one day. (although it has FTF, a big reason I'd want a Visa in the first place)
If you don't mind me asking, what is your CL on the US Bank Cash+? I heard they are conservative in CC.
| Period | Date | CS | TCL | Util | Date | CS | Total Debt | TCL | Utili |
| Start | Jul 2023 | 508 | $1.5K | Sep 2021 | 651 | $53,010 | $39,724 | 129% | |
| 12-mo | Jul 2024 | 640 | $5.6K | Sep 2022 | 599 | $67,235 | $39,724 | 211% | |
| 19-mo | Feb 2025 | 683 | $9.8K | Apr 2023 | 600 | $57,120 | $30,210 | 189% | |
| 24-mo | Jul 2025 | 682 | $18.8K | Sep 2023 | 626 | $50,577 | $26,910 | 188% | |
| 31-mo | Feb 2026 | 692 | $35.8K | Apr 2024 | 683 | $13,107 | $26,660 | 49% | |
| 36-mo | Jul 2026 | Sept 2024 | 722 | $6,073 | $40,100 | 15% | |||
| 48-mo | Jul 2027 | Sep 25 | 692 | $13,567 | $91,500 | 15% | |||
| 53-mo | Dec 2027 | Feb 26 | 742 | $6,980 | $137.95K | 5% |
I added more info to the table. CL does not include biz cards. My US Bank story is actually funny, I went to their website chasing a $400 bonus for their checking account, however my state is out of their footprint (I didn't know this) when I called to ask why was my application for a bank account denied they told me that. They also told me that if I got another product such as a credit card or CD I could then apply since I would have a relationship with them. When looking at their card offerings (and reading that they were very conservative) I saw the Cash+ secured card. I thought to myself "this has to be a glitch, this card is broken!", anyways I applied the secure route w/ a $500 security deposit and then increase it to $1K. They graduated me on November 2025 but kept me at the 1K CL. I get over $400 cashback a year from that card and the biz + personal checking bonus more than paid off for the $1K security deposit.
If you have a way to get the navy fed membership don't wait, get the secured card w/ a $200 deposit. At 3 months it will grow to $700 and then at 6 months it will grad at $2K and from there you can grow it. I have done it for at least 7 people around me and it has been like clockwork. Also they care more about relationship than credit score, putting your direct deposit there will get you approved for another card while you have the secure card. (One of my siblings had the secure card and we applied for the unsecured cashrewards and he got approved for $12K, that was his second credit card at 18 w/ $32K income, the first one being the secured card).
Also I see on your siggy that you are interested in the flagship, I suggest you go for the MoreRewards or the CashRewards. I got denied for the flagship SO. MANY. TIMES. They only approved me when I moved a significant amount of assets to a CD there that they relented. I tried product changing, suggesting to move credit limit from my cashrewards to help the approval and nothing, they wouldn't approve me (even when the prequal said I was prequald). I got so many inquiries on my transunion from Navy Fed chasing that dang card.
One last thing is that I don't know if you have heard of Skyla. They have a metal card and they are generous w/ their SL. They are not as baddie sensitive but they are recent account sensitive. I got denied for 4 cards in 6 months. My friend w/ a couple 2+ year old baddies got approved for $12K SL and he was 2/12 (cards). I don't have data points on CLI yet.
| Period | Date | CS | Balance | TCL | Util | Date | CS | Total Debt | TCL | Utili |
| Start | Jul 2023 | 508 | $24,792 | $0K | - | Sep 2021 | 651 | $53,010 | $39,724 | 129% |
| 12-mo | Jul 2024 | 640 | $15,082 | $5.6K | 269% 9% | Sep 2022 | 599 | $67,235 | $39,724 | 211% |
| 19-mo | Feb 2025 | 683 | $1,016 | $9.8K | 10% | Apr 2023 | 600 | $57,120 | $30,210 | 189% |
| 24-mo | Jul 2025 | 682 | $1,378 | $12.8K | 11% | Sep 2023 | 626 | $50,577 | $26,910 | 188% |
| 31-mo | Feb 2026 | 692 | $1,063 | $35.8K | 3% | Apr 2024 | 683 | $13,107 | $26,660 | 49% |
| 36-mo | Jul 2026 | Sept 2024 | 722 | $6,073 | $40,100 | 15% | ||||
| 48-mo | Jul 2027 | Sep 25 | 692 | $13,567 | $91,500 | 15% | ||||
| 53-mo | Dec 2027 | Feb 26 | 742 | $6,980 | $137.95K | 5% |
I updated with my Experian. Utilization (Experian calculates utilization on open lines on the website 9% on July 2024 despite having a total debt of $15K). I've also updated CL based on report. I had cards, but CL wasn't reported until later.
@BankDealer wrote:
My US Bank story... They graduated me on November 2025 but kept me at the 1K CL. I get over $400 cashback a year from that card and the biz + personal checking bonus more than paid off for the $1K security deposit.
How long did it take to graduate?
@BankDealer wrote:If you have a way to get the navy fed membership don't wait, get the secured card w/ a $200 deposit. At 3 months it will grow to $700 and then at 6 months it will grad at $2K and from there you can grow it. I have done it for at least 7 people around me and it has been like clockwork. Also they care more about relationship than credit score, putting your direct deposit there will get you approved for another card while you have the secure card. (One of my siblings had the secure card and we applied for the unsecured cashrewards and he got approved for $12K, that was his second credit card at 18 w/ $32K income, the first one being the secured card).
Also I see on your siggy that you are interested in the flagship, I suggest you go for the MoreRewards or the CashRewards. I got denied for the flagship SO. MANY. TIMES. They only approved me when I moved a significant amount of assets to a CD there that they relented. I tried product changing, suggesting to move credit limit from my cashrewards to help the approval and nothing, they wouldn't approve me (even when the prequal said I was prequald). I got so many inquiries on my transunion from Navy Fed chasing that dang card.
One last thing is that I don't know if you have heard of Skyla. They have a metal card and they are generous w/ their SL. They are not as baddie sensitive but they are recent account sensitive. I got denied for 4 cards in 6 months. My friend w/ a couple 2+ year old baddies got approved for $12K SL and he was 2/12 (cards). I don't have data points on CLI yet.
I have a NavyFed membership and savings account. P2 has NavyFed CashRewards. You are right it went from $200 --> ? --> $2000 --> $3000. Trying to get it pass the $5K mark.
I've been getting preapproved offers in the mail for CashRewards or CashRewards Plus. Would they CLI with less than $100 a month spend? I do plan on getting it when CS and profile is better, hoping for a strong high SL. I want to get Amex, AAA Daily, and Atmos Rewards to over $10K before getting NavyFed. What do you think?
I plan on combining my Capitalone Cards, so that is an automatic $10K, I'm just waiting to see if Capital One will auto CLI next month, before I request to combine cards.
THANK YOU for the advice about Flagship and saving me from Hard Inquiries. I though It's be able to PC. I'm leaning towards Cash Rewards... or Maybe More Rewards. We will see when I cross that bridge. I think a 2%CB will help round me out.
One last thing is that I don't know if you have heard of Skyla. They have a metal card and they are generous w/ their SL. They are not as baddie sensitive but they are recent account sensitive. I got denied for 4 cards in 6 months. My friend w/ a couple 2+ year old baddies got approved for $12K SL and he was 2/12 (cards). I don't have data points on CLI yet.
I have heard of Skyla (on Reddit), I do love metal cards and I like how it looks (trivial, I know but it's the little things).So if it's a better alternative to the metal US Bank Smartly (Which it looks like it!), I may look into it. Looks like Skyla FTF is 1%. NavyFed is 0% FTF. How is Skyla UI? App?
@E36 wrote:
.....
How long did it take to graduate?
US Bank opened on October 2024 Graduated November 2025.
@E36 wrote:Would they CLI with less than $100 a month spend? I do plan on getting it when CS and profile is better, hoping for a strong high SL. I want to get Amex, AAA Daily, and Atmos Rewards to over $10K before getting NavyFed. What do you think?
They do, they want so see some activity. My last CLI was from $28K to $36K on the Flagship that I only put $70 monthly spend (gym subscription, I hate waiting to 5000 points to redeem so I just sock-drawered the card). Anecdotally, two close people to me opened the secured card and didn't use it. The card did not get the 3 month CLI increase or the 6 month graduation. Once they used it for 2 months in a row (statements cutting w/ a balance) they graduated automatically to $2K.
Also, I wouldn't wait to grow your CLs with other lenders, start your relationship with Navy Fed today. If able, set a portion of your DD to your savings account and open an Easy Checking. Wait about a month and apply for the CashRewards. If they decline do the $200 Secured Card. Anecdotally, I don't think NF even looks at other CLs. My very first card was a CashRewards on 2018 with SL $15,600. After I opened a Discover w/ SL of $1K and the AmEx BCP w/ 5K SL. Later on November 2018 I opened the NFCU Platinum and they approved me for $17,600. Disregarding the other lenders. Two other individuals around me, one had a CashRewards stuck at $1K CL since he opened in 2021 and they would reject his CLI request. He had a couple 30s (6 to be exact) and we pulled the trigger and he got approved for the MoreRewards w/ 9K SL. Yet another loved one with a couple baddies less than a month old (2 30s, 1 60) I had him apply after he got the membership, got denied, did the Secured Card, and it unlocked like clockwork. 3 months $700 6 months $2000 and then got an auto cli to $3K. That's his largest Credit Line and mind you the baddies are not even 1 year old yet.
If it has been a while and P2's card is stuck at $3K just apply for another card (the MoreRewards). I have a feeling they'll approve for $9K based on my anecdata hahaha.
I have heard of Skyla (on Reddit), I do love metal cards and I like how it looks (trivial, I know but it's the little things).So if it's a better alternative to the metal US Bank Smartly (Which it looks like it!), I may look into it. Looks like Skyla FTF is 1%. NavyFed is 0% FTF. How is Skyla UI? App?
The app is very basic, I hadn't notice the FTF, I just use travel cards overseas (will be using the Atmos Summit since it has 3X on Foreign Spend). $200 SUB on $1K spend makes this card awesome.
I just checked out MMI and looks like a legit company. I'm glad you were able to work out the language with ChatGPT, you gotta be very specific so they enroll you in hardship relief. Saving $500 a month means you can put let's say $200 extra towards paying your debt instead of wasting away on interest. I would like to give you a more personalized personal (non professional) opinion of what I would do if I were in your shoes, would you mind sharing what cards, credit limit, balance, and interest rate?
@BankDealer wrote:Also, I wouldn't wait to grow your CLs with other lenders, start your relationship with Navy Fed today. If able, set a portion of your DD to your savings account and open an Easy Checking. Wait about a month and apply for the CashRewards.
I opened a Navy Fed Savings account in April 2024. Starting a few months ago, they started sending me a nice big green promo offer for Cash Rewards with $200 SUB with $2,500 spend and 0% APR and 0% balance with promo code.
What do you think about my new accounts 3/6, 5/12, 7/24 affecting acceptance and SL?
Velocity ( I don't want to signal risk or seem to thirsty):
07/27 - Capital One QS
08/25 - Amex BCE
10/25 - Apple
12/25 - AAA Daily Rewards
02/26 - BofA Atmos Ascent
My personal CC spend is around $1K a month and right now I'm allocating it to get the Atmos Rewards SUB which will be done in May. I won't have enough spend for $200 SUB with NavyFed Cash Rewards.
Should I wait until July or August?
In August, I will be 0/6, 3/12, 7/24. TCL will be higher, Utilization should be same or lower.