How to Check Your Credit Card Application Status
Key takeaways
- You can check your credit card application status on the issuer’s website or by calling it.
- Not all application delays result in denials — there are several situations that require additional processing time.
- If your application is denied, consider calling the credit card issuer’s reconsideration line.
Waiting for your credit card application to process can 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.
Here’s what you need to know about checking your credit card application status, including reasons you may not receive instant approval and what you can do if you’re denied.
How to check your application status
The easiest way to keep tabs on your application status is to check online.
1. Go to your issuer’s website. If you choose to call instead, make sure you have all of your information ready before you call.
| Issuer | Phone number | Website |
|---|---|---|
| American Express | 800-392-2000 | Check status online |
| Bank of America | 866-422-8089 | Check status online |
| Capital One | 800-903-9177 | Check status online |
| Chase | 888-338-2586 | 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* |
2. Enter your personal details. Typically, you’ll be asked for 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.
3. View your application status. If you entered your details correctly, you should be able to view your application’s details. If this info isn’t available yet, or you aren’t sure how to find it, try calling instead.
Depending on the status of your application, you may just need to wait a few days for the card to arrive in the mail. If you’re approved and given an instant credit card number, you can use it to immediately make purchases.
However, if your application is pending or requires further review, you’ll unfortunately need to continue waiting. But don’t give up hope — there are many reasons for a delay. It could be that the issuer is backed up with applications. Or, perhaps, you made a mistake on your application and the issuer is still verifying your information.
What ‘application pending’ and ‘under further review’ mean
If you don’t get an instant decision on your credit card application, don’t assume 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 at 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 made a typo on your application, it could potentially delay the card issuer’s verification process. 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 due to 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 froze your credit reports with the big three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion), you’ll need to unfreeze them before applying for a credit card. 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’ll extend you based on your credit score and debt-to-income ratio. If your issuer determines that your credit limit on an existing card with it is sufficient, you may have to reach out to ask that some of that existing credit line be moved to the new card.
→ Learn how to apply for a credit card in seven steps
What to do if your application is pending
While it may be out of your hands to speed up the card issuer’s decision process, a few actions may help:
- Call customer service. 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 in providing any requested information. You should also be sure to check your spam folder for emails regarding your application.
Consider 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:
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Apply Now The Chase Freedom Unlimited® has a $0 annual fee and a long intro APR on balance transfers. It also comes with a sign-up bonus and rewards.
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is good if you have limited / poor credit, but do note that it’s a secured credit card. You’ll have to send in your security deposit before you can begin using the card. Electric transfers are fast, but expect it to take several days before you can use your new credit card.
Why did I get denied for a credit card?
Not all credit card applications result in approvals. There may be multiple reasons your application was denied, including:
- You’ve opened several credit cards within the last two years.
- You don’t have a broad enough mix of credit lines on your credit history.
- Your credit score was too low for the suggested range.
You can call the issuer’s reconsideration line for credit card denials to see if it’ll reevaluate your information.
How to speed up the approval process for your next credit card
If your application was delayed due to issues with your credit history, you should try to raise your credit score and pay down debt before you apply for another card. Here are some things you can do:
- Wait several months. During this time, make your payments on time and keep your credit utilization ratio under 30%.
- Check your credit report to ensure there are no incorrect entries. A Consumer Reports study found that 44% of people discovered at least one error on their credit report. Dispute credit report errors if you find any.
- Pay down debt. The second most significant factor in calculating your FICO Score is the amount you owe on credit cards. If you’re carrying a large balance, try the debt snowball method to aggressively pay it down.
- Check to see if you’re preapproved. Sometimes, you can be preapproved for a credit card before you apply. There’s no guarantee that you’ll ultimately be approved, but it’ll allow you to make an educated decision about which card you apply for.
- Apply for a card that’s within your credit score range. If you’re working on rebuilding your credit, opt for a credit card for bad credit rather than a credit card for excellent credit, as you likely won’t qualify yet.
The information related to the Discover it® Secured Credit Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.