So you applied for a credit card—and got denied. Ouch. But here’s the good news: a denial isn’t always the end of the road. In fact, there are a few strategic steps you can take that might just turn that “no” into a “yes.”
Whether you’ve been outright denied or received a “pending” decision from the bank, here are three smart moves you can make to improve your chances of getting approved.
1. Call the Reconsideration Line
This is the first thing you should do.
Most banks have what’s called a reconsideration line, and yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like: a chance to have someone manually review your application and potentially reverse the decision.
You can ask the bank why you were denied—it might not even have anything to do with your credit score. Sometimes you’re just a new customer, and the bank wants more information. Other times, you might be hitting one of their internal rules, like Chase’s 5/24 rule, more about this rule below, or Amex’s five card rule in that you cannot have more than 5 CREDIT cards at any time. (Charge cards don’t count towards the 5 card rule).
Either way, a call can often clarify the situation and give you the opportunity to explain why you want the card. Here are the reconsideration numbers for major banks to make this easy for you.
Amex-877-399-3083
Chase-888-609-7805 or 888-270-2127
Capital One-800-625-7866
Citibank-800-695-5171 (personal) 800-763-9795 (business)
Barclays-866-408-4064
2. Offer to Take a Lower Credit Limit
This tip is especially helpful if you’re new to credit or don’t have a long credit history.
Let’s say this would be your first or second card—sometimes banks are hesitant to approve you for a big credit line. One workaround? Offer to take a very low credit limit. You can do this by using one of those phone numbers above.
Why? Because you’re not applying for the card to spend like crazy—you’re applying to get the signup bonus or maximize the spending categories. Once you’ve built up some trust with the bank (6–12 months of responsible use), you can always request a credit limit increase later.
3. Reallocate Credit From an Existing Card
Already have a card with the bank that denied you? Perfect.
You can call the reconsideration line and say, “Hey, I don’t need any more credit—just take some from one of my other cards and move it to this new one.” This is called credit reallocation, and it’s often enough to get your new card approved without the bank taking on more risk. Note that you can only reallocate credit from a personal card to a personal card and from a business card to a business card. You can’t mix and match.
I have found that some banks, like Capital One will not reallocate. But, this tool works especially well with issuers like Chase and American Express. Remember, you’re not asking them to extend more credit—you’re just shifting what you already have.
–Special Note: If You Were Denied for the Chase Sapphire 100K Offer
Now, if the card you were denied for was the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card with the 100K offer—this one is worth going the extra mile for.
That 100,000-point bonus is massive, and missing it would be a huge loss if there’s even a chance you could get approved with a simple fix.
So here’s what to do:
- Don’t just give up. Even if the decision seems final, at least get the info. There may be a really easy solution.
- Call the Chase Reconsideration Line immediately. The numbers are 888-609-7805 or 888-270-2127.
- Ask why you were denied—it could be something small like needing more verification or hitting an internal rule like 5/24 or the 30 day rule.
What is the 5/24 rule?
The rule states that if you have gotten five new credit cards FROM ANY BANK within the past 24-months, you will not be approved for a new Chase credit card application.
Note, in counting the five cards, it is important to note that all cards from ANY BANK count and not just cards that you have gotten from Chase. You can use any free credit reporting service to determine this.
Also worth mentioning is that Chase will automatically count cards in which you have been added as an authorized user in your new card total and you will need to call to try to get around this so they don’t count them. That is not a fun call. I have had to make it in the past.
You can read more about the 5/24 rule here.
What is the 30 day rule?
Chase will normally not let you apply for two cards within 30 days. I usually have my clients wait at least 35 days before going for a second Chase card.
Bottom line? This card is too good to walk away from without trying. That 100K bonus can be worth over $1,250 in travel when used right. If there’s ever a time to make the call and advocate for yourself, this is it.
Final Thoughts
Getting denied for a card isn’t fun, but it’s definitely not the end of your journey. Try these three steps:
- Call the reconsideration line
- Offer a low credit limit
- Reallocate credit from another card
And of course, if you’re still stuck or unsure what to say to the bank, reach out—I help people navigate this all the time, and we can brainstorm the best approach for your specific situation.
The Points Mom’s Got IT!
Related posts:
A Literal No-Brainer: Why The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Make Earning Rewards Effortless
Why I Use a Credit Card Over a Debit Card (And You Might Want To, Too)
Types of Cards for People with Limited Credit History: Secured, Prepaid, and Credit Builder Cards
What Type of Credit Card Should I Get?
