How to Check Your Credit Card Application Status
Waiting to learn if you’ve been approved or denied for a new credit card can sometimes feel like an eternity. While it’s common to receive a decision within minutes of submitting your application, it may take several days to get an answer.
If you find yourself in limbo, you can typically check the status of your application online or by calling the issuer’s customer service number.
Here’s what you need to know about checking your credit card application status, including reasons you may not receive instant approval and ways to speed up the process.
How to check your application status
Perhaps the easiest way to keep tabs on your application status is to check online. Many issuers will require you to enter a few personal details, such as your date of birth, the ZIP code for your physical address and the last four digits of your Social Security number (SSN). Just make sure this information matches what you provided on your credit card application. Other issuers, like Chase and U.S. Bank, require you to log in to your account to check your application status.
If you’re waiting for a decision after applying for a credit card from a major issuer, you can check the status by using the following phone number or link:
| Issuer | Phone number | Website |
|---|---|---|
| American Express | 877-239-3491 | Check status online |
| Bank of America | 866-422-8089 | Check status online |
| Capital One | 800-903-9177 | Check status online |
| Chase | 800-432-3117 | Check status online |
| Citi | 866-606-2787 | Check status online |
| Discover | 800-347-3085 | Check status online |
| U.S. Bank | 800-947-1444 | Check status online |
| Wells Fargo | 800-967-9521 | Check status online |
What ‘application pending’ and ‘under further review’ mean
If you don’t get an instant decision on your credit card application, don’t panic or jump to the conclusion that your application has been denied. “Application pending” or “under further review” simply means the card issuer hasn’t approved or denied your application yet, and more time is needed to evaluate your application.
Why your application may need further review
Here are a few reasons why an issue may want to review your application further:
- Recent credit inquiries. If you’ve applied for several credit cards within a short period of time, you’ll have multiple inquiries on your credit report. The card issuer may want to take a closer look into the recent inquiries.
- Verify income and personal information. While income doesn’t impact your credit score, it does affect new credit applications. Issuers look at your debt-to-income ratio — all your monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income — to decide if you’re able to repay debt. Issuers may also need more time to review other personal information listed on your application.
- Mistakes on your application. If you included a typo on your application, it could potentially delay the card issuer’s verification process. If that’s the case, be on the lookout for a request from the issuer for additional documentation, like your Social Security card or a copy of your driver’s license.
- Overflow of applications. Sometimes issuers receive a massive number of applications as a result of limited-time offers and bonuses. The card issuer may need more time to process all the applications, causing a delay.
- You forgot to unfreeze your credit reports before you applied. If you have taken steps to freeze your credit reports with the big three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion), you must unfreeze them before applying for a credit card or other loan so that the issuer can access them. If you plan to refreeze your reports, you can set up a time frame of a couple days or weeks before the freeze is reinstituted.
- You have too much available credit on an existing card with the same issuer. Issuers set limits on how much credit they will extend you based on your credit score and debt-to-income ratio. If they determine that your credit limit on an existing card with them is sufficient, you may have to reach out to the issuer to ask that some of that existing credit line be moved to the new card application.
What to do if your application is pending
While it largely may be out of your hands to speed up the card issuer’s decision process, a few actions may help:
- Call customer service. Pick up the phone and dial customer service to check the status of your application. You can inquire about the reasons your application is pending and see if you can provide additional information or documentation. This may speed up the decision process and remedy any mistakes you may have made on your application.
- Monitor your email. The card issuer may reach out with additional questions or requests for documentation. It’s important that you regularly check your email and be prompt with providing any requested information. Also be sure to check your spam folder.
How about an instant approval card instead?
Instead of waiting (sometimes up to several days) to learn whether your credit card application has been approved or denied, you could try a credit card that provides instant approval. That way, you’ll receive an immediate decision on the status of your credit card application – usually within minutes or even seconds.
Here are a couple cards that offer instant approval — but keep in mind that these offers are often reserved for individuals with bad or limited credit:
PREMIER Bankcard® Grey Credit Card
Apply Now According to First Premier Bank’s website, you can receive an application response for the PREMIER Bankcard® Grey Credit Card immediately. The card doesn’t require a deposit. However, it comes with several fees, including an annual fee and a program fee (program fee is waived if you fund a security deposit). Additionally, since the card has a high purchase APR, you’ll want to pay your balance off in full each month whenever possible.
Total VISA® Credit Card
The Total VISA® Credit Card’s site states that, after completing a short application, you will receive a response online in seconds.
It is also possible to receive an instant decision from store credit cards, such as the TJX Rewards® Credit Card, Kohl's Charge and Lowe's Advantage Card.
How to speed up the approval process
After applying for a credit card, waiting to receive approval so you can start earning rewards and taking advantage of card perks can be nerve-wracking. However, there are steps you can take in advance to help reduce the chance that your application will need further review. For example, you should avoid applying for several credit cards in a short period of time. Also, you should carefully review your application for mistakes prior to submitting it.
If you have less-than-perfect credit, you may opt for a credit card that offers instant approval. But since instant-approval cards often come with high APRs and fees, they aren’t always the best choice.