Applying for a new credit card can come with concerns. Will you be approved? Will the APR be low enough? What will your credit limit be? Besides the unknowns, issuers make hard inquiries against your credit report(s) when evaluating your creditworthiness. Checking your preapproval for a credit card can help avoid some of the uncertainty. Most card issuers offer preapproval or prequalification for credit cards, allowing applicants to learn if they’re likely to be approved before committing to a formal application—and a hard inquiry.
Issuers With Credit Cards That Offer Preapproval/Prequalification in 2024
Most major card issuers in the U.S. offer credit cards with preapproval for at least some cards in their lineup. Each issuer requires different information from the applicant, ranging from name, Social Security number and email address to income and housing status.
Find cards from the following issuers in our lists below:
Not every credit card is eligible for prequalification, and you’ll have to inquire with the issuer to determine which offers you may be preapproved for, if any.
If your preferred card issuer is not listed here, contact the company to ask if it has prequalified credit card offers.
Banks Offering Preapproval for Credit Cards
Many major banks offer a preapproval or prequalification tool to help you determine if you would qualify for their credit cards. You simply fill out a brief form online to determine which cards you may receive approval for once you apply.
| Card Issuer/Bank | Prequalification Available | Information Required |
|---|---|---|
| American Express | Yes—available when you select Apply Now for each available credit card | Name, date of birth, email, address, phone number, Social Security number, income and the source of that income |
| Bank of America | No | N/A |
| Capital One | Name, date of birth, Social Security number, address, email, phone number, employment status/occupation, annual income, mortgage, bank account information, citizenship and the type of card you’re considering | |
| Chase | Name, address, last four digits of your Social Security number and income | |
| Citibank | Name, address, email and the last four digits of your Social Security number | |
| Discover | Name, address, date of birth, student status, monthly housing payment, income and the type of card benefit you are considering | |
| Wells Fargo | Name, address, the last four digits of your Social Security number and your current Wells Fargo customer status. |
Capital One
Capital One requires your name, date of birth, Social Security number and the kind of card you’re considering, among other personal details. The issuer offers preapproval for these cards:
- Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
- Capital One Platinum Credit Card
- Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
Featured Partner Offers
Chase
Existing Chase customers may also be preapproved for credit cards. You can check your eligibility by logging in to your Chase account to see any offers based on your existing relationship with the bank. You may also receive offers in the mail or email. Chase also provides an online submission to prequalify for five credit cards.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- Chase Freedom Flex®
- Chase Slate Edge®*
Featured Partner Offers
American Express
American Express recently overhauled its application system. Prospective U.S. cardholders interested in applying for a personal American Express card can visit American Express to see card offers. Upon applying for a chosen card, a soft inquiry is made on an applicant’s credit report, and applicants learn with 100% certainty if they are approved—without any impact on their credit score. If the approved applicant accepts the card, a hard inquiry is made to the credit bureau at the time and may impact their credit score.
The new application experience is available for individuals applying for a U.S. personal card via Forbes Advisor, at AmericanExpress.com/us/credit-cards, or by calling American Express and is not available if you apply for a card after you log into an existing account.
Preapproval is not available for business credit cards.
The application requires a home address, contact information, date of birth, annual income and your Social Security number:
- Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- American Express® Gold Card
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- American Express® Green Card*
- Hilton Credit Cards
- Marriott Credit Cards
- Delta Air Lines Credit Cards
Featured Partner Offers
Citi
Citi cards are also eligible for prequalification offers. You’ll be asked for your name, address and the last four digits of your Social Security number. The single form evaluates your approval for several cards you may be qualified for:
Discover
Similar to Citi, existing and potential Discover cardholders can use a single landing page to determine which credit cards they are prequalified for. You’re asked to provide your name, Social Security number, annual income, monthly bill payments, housing status and more.
Bank of America
Existing Bank of America customers can log in to their account to learn about card offer preapprovals. Bank of America does not offer an online preapproval page for the general public, but you may receive prequalified credit card offers by mail. Some cards include:
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo provides a prequalification tool to determine which cards may be your best choice. While some credit card preapprovals are determined within the Wells Fargo tool, some co-branded cards direct you to a preapproval tool associated with the co-brand. You may also receive preapproval offers for cards issued by Wells Fargo through the mail.
What Is Preapproval?
Credit card preapproval means a credit card issuer has reviewed your credit history using a soft credit inquiry to determine whether you’re eligible for a credit card. Soft credit checks don’t affect your credit, whereas hard credit checks appear in your credit history and may reduce your score slightly. If you submit a formal application for a credit card, the card issuer will, more than likely, make a hard credit check before making a final decision.
Preapproval credit card offers are not guaranteed and sometimes they expire. For example, Discover’s preapproval offers are valid for seven days—of course, applicants can apply for a new offer if the initial period has expired.
Prequalification only indicates that you are likely to be approved for a credit card—it’s not a guarantee. Additionally, a hard inquiry when you formally apply may return details that could change your offer or affect your approval.
Preapproval vs. Prequalification
Card issuers may sometimes use the terms preapproval and prequalification interchangeably. Both mean an issuer preliminarily reviews your personal and financial information to determine your eligibility for a credit card.
The difference is that prequalification tends to be a simple review of your credit history using basic details like name, address and Social Security number. A preapproval may go further by performing a soft credit check and analyzing financial information such as annual income and monthly bill payments.
Credit card preapproval and prequalification offer potential rates, terms and card benefits individualized for the applicant. No matter what the issuer calls it, preapprovals and prequalifications don’t guarantee a final offer. Unless the issuer tells you the offer is guaranteed, it isn’t. If you’re denied during the preapproval or prequalification process, you will receive a reason that your application was denied.
If you are denied, you can try applying for preapproval or prequalification with a different card issuer without harm to your credit. But exercise caution. Applying for too many credit cards in a short time may be a sign of risk to card issuers.
Pros and Cons of Prequalified Credit Cards
| Pros of Credit Card Prequalification | Cons of Credit Card Prequalification |
|---|---|
| It’s an easy way to determine which cards you may be eligible for. | It takes time and can be a hassle to fill out so many forms, but that’s a required step to apply for a card anyway. |
| It won’t affect your credit. | Offers are not final. |
| It allows you to shop around without affecting your credit score. | Not all cards or banks offer prequalification. |
| You can gain guidance on the type of cards you may be approved for. | Prequalified offers usually have an expiration date. |
| Some issuers may even share your potential credit limit and APR. | |
| Mailed preapprovals often offer increased reward earnings, including higher welcome bonuses. |
How To Get Preapproved or Prequalified for a Credit Card
The first step to credit card prequalification is to go to the card issuer’s preapproval tool on its website and fill in the required details. Each issuer may require different information, so it’s best to be prepared. Have your personal and financial information handy like your Social Security number, annual income, monthly debts and housing status.
Preapproval offers can be mailed to your address, in which case you can respond by phone or by entering your offer details on the card issuer’s website. The mailed offer includes detailed instructions on how to apply.
Online preapprovals happen in seconds. The issuer’s website will inform you which cards you qualify for—sometimes including rates, credit limit and APR. From there, you can fill out a formal application.
If your credit card application is denied, the card issuer must provide a reason for their decision. Use this information to improve your credit standing and try again in a few months. You can also move on and apply for preapproval with a different card issuer.
What You Should Do if You Receive Too Many Offers
If you’re sick of digging through piles of credit card offers every time you check your mail or the waste of paper disgusts you, you can opt out. Go to OptOutPrescreen.com, the official opt-out website, or call 888-5-OPT-OUT (888-567-8688). You’ll be asked for personal information, such as your name, address and Social Security number.
Opting out online will only halt offers for about five years, so if you’d like to opt out permanently, you’ll need to fill out a form available on the opt-out website and mail it to:
Opt-Out Department
P.O. Box 530201
Atlanta, GA 30353
You can also choose to stop receiving marketing mail beyond credit card offers. Visit the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) website at DMAChoice.org or call 212-768-7277.
Find The Best Credit Cards For 2024
No single credit card is the best option for every family, every purchase or every budget. We've picked the best credit cards in a way designed to be the most helpful to the widest variety of readers.
Who Should Get a Credit Card That Offers Preapproval or Prequalification
Applying for preapproval on a card issuer’s website is a good choice for anyone questioning whether they’ll be approved. If you’re not sure how issuers are evaluating your credit worthiness, it’s a relatively easy way to determine which cards you may be eligible for.
Preapproval or prequalification is also a good option if you’re not certain which card you want. The tool allows you to shop among card issuers without affecting your credit score. Sometimes the card issuer may even share your potential credit limit and APR. Keep in mind preapproval offers are not final. If you miss the preapproval window or your financial situation changes, the card issuer may deny your formal application.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much does preapproval hurt credit?
Card issuers perform a soft credit check for preapproval, meaning your credit will not be affected. Submitting a formal application will result in a hard credit check, which will show up on a credit report and may cause your score to temporarily dip.
What credit score is needed for preapproval?
The credit score you need to receive preapproval for any specific card likely won’t be published by the issuer and depends on the card. We recommend improving your credit as much as possible before researching credit cards to ensure you have the best odds. However, preapproval inquiries won’t impact your credit, so you can safely find out if you qualify without damaging your credit.
How do you prequalify for American Express cards?
Use the American Express prequalification tool to learn the card for which you are eligible for approval. The landing page will direct you to the full list of cards, but each card will provide information on the preapproval process once you choose a card.
How do you prequalify for Chase cards?
Chase customers can check your current Chase account section titled, “You’re Preapproved,” or within your messages to see if any offers appear. You can also go to Chase’s preapproval tool to see if you prequalify for select credit cards.
How do you prequalify for Capital One cards?
Use Capital One’s preapproval tool to learn which cards you could be approved for.
How do you prequalify for Citi cards?
Use Citi’s preapproval tool to learn which cards you could be approved for.
How do you get preapproval for Wells Fargo cards?
Use the Wells Fargo prequalification tool to learn which cards you could be approved for.