What are the Capital One Spark Cash Plus requirements for approval?

There is no minimum credit score needed to get a credit card. Some credit card companies don’t even check applicants’ credit history, so it’s certainly possible to get a credit card even if you have a very low credit score or no credit score at all.

But there is a difference between getting approved for a credit card in general and getting one of the better offers.… read full answer

The credit score needed for credit card approval ultimately depends on which specific card you want to get. Most of the time, credit card companies have a credit score tier they’re looking for, and applicants will need a score in the required tier (or higher) for a good chance of approval. The tiers are bad, fair, good and excellent.

The thing is, credit cards require scores that are a bit higher than the traditional minimum for each tier in the overall credit score range, according to WalletHub’s research. So for each credit tier, you can see a “traditional” score range and a “WalletHub recommended” score range below.

Here is the credit score needed for a credit card at each level:

One way to estimate your credit card approval odds is to check for pre-approval. Many major issuers will allow you to check for free. It won’t hurt your credit score. And you’ll get a pretty good idea of your chances. Plus, if you’re not sure what your score is yet, you can check your latest credit score for free on WalletHub. You’ll also get personalized credit card recommendations with high approval odds.

Just remember that having a qualifying credit score does not guarantee credit card approval. The credit card application process takes many other factors into account. Payment history, existing debt and income play big roles, too.

To get a credit card for the first time, you should first check if you have any credit history, then compare cards and pick the best offer before applying. In order to be eligible to apply for your first credit card, you must be at least 18 years old and have enough income to afford monthly credit card payments. Below, you can learn more about the process of picking, applying for and getting your first credit card, step by step.… read full answer

How to Get a Credit Card for the First Time

1. See if you have a credit report and score

   You could have more credit history than you think, perhaps from being an authorized user on a family member’s credit card. You can check your latest credit score and credit report for free on WalletHub to see. This will help you determine how good of a credit card you should shoot for.

2. Determine whether student credit cards are an option

   College students can usually get better first credit cards than other people with no credit. Their youth and above-average expected income make them attractive to banks and credit unions. If you’re enrolled in school, check out the best student credit cards.

3. Compare secured and unsecured starter cards

   Secured credit cards have the highest approval odds, but they require you to place a refundable security deposit. The amount of that deposit typically becomes your spending limit. Unsecured cards are harder to get but have no deposit.

4. Limit your search to cards with the lowest fees

   Focus on weeding out cards with expensive non-refundable fees. A no annual fee credit card with no security deposit is best. But a low-fee secured card isn’t bad, either. You can get back your deposit when you close your account.

5. Choose the best remaining offer for your needs

   If several credit cards are tied for the lowest fees and highest approval odds, consider the terms that are next most important to you. If you plan to pay your bill in full every month, that will probably be rewards. If not, you may want to focus on interest rates.

6. Confirm you have enough income

   If you’re at least 21 years old, you can list household income and assets that you have reasonable access to on your credit card application. Applicants who are 18-20 years old can only list independent income and assets, but even having a part-time job should provide enough income to get a credit card for the first time.

7. Submit your credit card application

   Apply online for the fastest decision. You may even be approved instantly if you clearly meet the issuer’s criteria. You should receive your card within 7-10 business days of being approved.

   Learning how to get a credit card for the first time is a rite of passage for young adults after turning 18 years old. And it’s a lot easier than you might think. The key is to choose wisely, by focusing on offers for people with limited credit and secured credit cards, which provide nearly guaranteed approval.

Key Things to Know About Choosing Your First Credit Card

High approval odds are among the most important things to look for in your first credit card. The sooner you get approved, the sooner you can begin building your credit standing. Getting rejected for a credit card sets you back, both in terms of time and possible damage to your limited credit.

Low fees are another key feature to seek out when getting a credit card for the first time. Starter credit cards generally don’t offer rewards or interest rates worth paying high annual or monthly fees for. So it’s best to make your first credit card one with a $0 annual fee and always pay your monthly bill in full to avoid interest charges.

Tips for Using Your First Credit Card

It’s really important to remember that learning how to get a credit card for the first time and getting approved are only the beginning. You also need to use that card responsibly, which means spending within your means, paying your bill on time every month, and keeping your credit utilization below 30%.

If you can avoid racking up costly credit card debt and hurting your credit score with missed payments, your first credit card will be a huge asset. It will add positive information to your major credit reports each month. That will gradually improve your credit standing. And better credit will make it easier to rent an apartment, buy or lease a car, find a job, get approved for good loans and lines of credit and save on car insurance premiums, among other things.

You can track your progress for free on WalletHub, the only site with free credit scores and reports that are updated daily. We’ll even tell you exactly what you need to do to improve your credit score at a given time, plus provide personalized credit card recommendations. You can use them to find your first credit card and then graduate from it when the time is right.

A good annual income for a credit card is more than $39,000 per annum for a single individual or $63,000 per year for a household. Anything lower than that is below the median yearly earnings for Americans. However, there’s no official minimum income amount required for credit card approval in general. It varies by credit card company and from individual card to card.… read full answer

For example, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card requires at least $425 more in income per month than you spend on rent or mortgage payments. Generally, the top 10 issuers either have no minimum income requirements or do not publicly disclose that information.

Reasons Why Income Is Required

By law, credit card companies are required to ask for your income. Lenders can only issue you a credit card if they’re confident you can make at least the minimum monthly payments and that you have the ability to repay any balance you may incur. In addition to employment income, you should also report any alternative sources of income. This includes alimony, Social Security or pension payments, and investment income, among other sources.

Applicants under 21 years old can only report “personal income.” This may include money earned from a job, of course, as well as things like investment income, inheritance distributions, or even an allowance that someone regularly deposits into your bank account. You cannot include your parents’ income unless they co-sign for your card, and major issuers don’t allow co-signers anymore. If you’re over the age of 21, you can add in someone else’s income that you may have reasonable access to, such as the salary of a working spouse.

There’s still another part of the equation, and that’s how much debt you have. Issuers will review your debt in relation to your income to determine how much more you can afford to borrow and how risky you would be as a borrower. Issuers set your credit limit based on this information and other factors like your credit history. There’s no specific cutoff for credit cards, but you’ll want to maintain as low of a debt-to-income ratio as possible.

Finally, you should always be honest and accurate when reporting income on a credit card application. Knowingly entering false info is illegal.