Credit card: How to get pre-approved

You might be wondering what pre-approval means for your credit score. Have you received an offer in the mail or via email? Then it’s possible that this term applies to you, and we’ll find out how!

What’s a pre-approved credit card?

A pre-approved credit card is an offer from a credit card issuer that says you’re likely to be approved for a credit card if you apply. Card issuers base this decision on information in your credit report, like your income, employment status, and credit history.

If you’re thinking about applying for a new credit card, it’s a good idea to check if you’re pre-approved first. That way, you can be sure you’ll have a good chance of getting approved, and you can compare offers to find the best card for you.

How do I check if I’m pre-approved?

There are a few ways to check if you’re pre-approved for a credit card.

The easiest way is to look for pre-approved offers that you’ve received in the mail or via email. These offers will usually say that you’re pre-approved, and they’ll include an offer code that you can use when you apply.

You can also check with individual credit card issuers to see if you’re pre-approved. To do this, you’ll need to provide some basic information, like your name, address and Social Security number.

What if I’m not pre-approved?

If you’re not pre-approved for a credit card, that doesn’t mean you won’t be approved if you apply. It just means that the issuer doesn’t have enough information about you to make a decision.

You can still apply for a credit card, and the issuer will use the information in your credit report to decide whether to approve you.

What’s the difference between pre-approved and pre-qualified?

Pre-approved and pre-qualified are two different things.

• Pre-qualified means that you meet the basic criteria for a credit card, based on information in your credit report. This doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be approved if you apply.
• Pre-approved means that you’re likely to be approved for a credit card if you apply. Card issuers base this decision on information in your credit report, like your income, employment status, and credit history.

If you’re thinking about applying for a new credit card, it’s a good idea to check if you’re pre-approved first. That way, you can be sure you’ll have a good chance of getting approved, and you can compare offers to find the best card for you.