How hard is it to get the Citi Secured card?

Yes, the Citi Secured will do a hard pull. You can apply for it with bad credit though.

There is no way to get pre-approved for the Citi Secured. A hard pull usually causes an applicant's credit score to drop by 5-10 points. Most people’s scores bounce back within 3-6 months with responsible credit management, but it can take up to 12 months. You can learn more about how to minimize the credit score damage … read full answerhere.

To qualify for Citi Secured graduation, Citibank must deem your account eligible at its maturity date - 18 months after opening it and every 12 months thereafter. While there are no specific guidelines for how to ensure your Citi Secured graduates to an unsecured card, your credit performance will factor into it. So keeping your account in good standing by … read full answerpaying your bills on time and preferably in full definitely helps. Also, try keeping your credit utilization below 30%. Monitoring your credit score and reviewing your credit reports is also a good idea.

Unfortunately, you cannot request an earlier graduation date for the Citi Secured. You will have to wait until the maturity date. If your account is eligible for graduation, you will be notified by mail at least 30 days prior to maturity. In the event that your account does not graduate, a letter informing you of this matter will be sent out to you 20-30 days before the age of maturity. When a Citi Secured account does not pass graduation, it can either remain secured, or you can close it.

You can request a Citibank credit card limit increase online, through the Citi Mobile App, or by phone, at (800) 950-5114. Citi may also offer an automatic credit limit increase if its regular reviews of the account show a history of on-time payments and low debt. Periodic reviews typically start after the account has been open for about six months. To make a decision about a credit limit increase, Citi will also review your current income as well as your credit history.… read full answer

Some Citibank credit card limit increase requests may involve Citi doing a hard pull of your credit report, at least as of February 2019. A hard pull may cause a short-term dip in your credit score. Citi will almost always use a harmless soft pull initially, but will do a hard pull if you ask them for a higher increase than they first offer you. And when Citi offers an automatic credit limit increase, they will always use a soft pull. Citi cannot do a hard pull without your permission.

How to get a Citibank credit card limit increase online:

1. Log in to your online account or your Citi Mobile App. Click Services, and then “Credit Card Services.”
2. Select “Request a Credit Limit Increase” under the Card Management menu.
3. Choose the Citibank account for which you’re requesting the increase (if you have more than one).
4. Enter your total annual income and monthly mortgage/rent payment. Click “Continue.”
5. Confirm the information entered and click “Continue” to submit the request.
6. Review the decision you will receive after a few seconds. If you’re approved for an increase, the new credit limit is effective immediately.

A Citibank credit card limit increase can boost your credit standing if you use the extra purchasing power responsibly. The added credit can lower your utilization, assuming your spending does not increase, and that in turn can raise your credit score. If you’re planning on making a major purchase soon, an increase will also reduce the risk of maxing out the card’s credit limit.

To raise your chances of being approved for an increase, always pay your bill on time and pay more than the minimum due. And if your income increases, make sure to update that information on your online account, as Citi will see that you can afford higher limits.