What are my Best Buy credit card approval odds?

The main Best Buy credit card requirements are a fair or good credit score and some form of income. You also need to be at least 18 years old and have both a U.S. address and an SSN. But the requirements for the Best Buy Store Card, which you can use only at Best Buy, aren’t as strict as those for the … read full answerBest Buy Visa, which you can use anywhere. For example, you’ll need a fair credit score for the Store Card but a good credit score for the Visa.

Exactly what Citi, the issuer, looks for isn’t public knowledge, of course. But you can at least work on improving the major things that matter most before applying.

Here are the Best Buy credit card requirements:

• 640+ credit score. This will give you good odds for the Best Buy Store Card, but you need a 700+ credit score to be in the running for the Visa.
• Income. Creditors must confirm your ability to pay before approving you for an account. You’ll naturally need more income for the Visa than the Store Card.
• Basic requirements. You need to be at least 18 years old with a U.S. mailing address and a Social Security Number.
• Other factors. Citi will take plenty of other things into consideration, like your debts and the number of cards you’ve opened recently.

Overall, the Best Buy credit card requirements aren’t too bad if you’re just looking to get the Store Card. The average person should be able to meet them. The Best Buy Visa, however, is quite a bit harder to get.

If you have bad credit, you may want to consider a secured credit card instead. Capital One and Discover have good ones.

You can check your Best Buy® Credit Card application status either online or by calling the Best Buy® Credit Card center at (888) 574-1301. Both methods are quick and easy, and will tell you whether your application is approved, denied or still pending.

The same methods apply to the Best Buy® Store Card… read full answer, too. If your application is approved, you can expect your new card to arrive by mail within 10 business days.

Here’s how to check your Best Buy® Credit Card status online:

1. Go to the Best Buy® Credit Card page.
2. Click “Check application status.”
3. Enter your date of birth, Social Security number, and zip code.
4. Click “Submit.”

You’ll now be able to see the status of your Best Buy® Credit Card application. But you don’t have to do the check online if calling is more convenient.

Here’s how to check your Best Buy® Credit Card status by phone:

1. Call the Best Buy® Credit Card center (888) 574-1301.
2. Enter your Social Security number.
3. Give the representative your application reference number. If you don’t have it handy, Best Buy can look it up with your name and SSN.

If you’re approved, your card should already be on its way. If more than 10 business days go by, you should call the Best Buy® Credit Card center again to check. If you’re denied, you can always ask for reconsideration. Citibank issues both versions of the Best Buy® Credit Card, so you’ll have to go through them. And you’ll need to convince them that your credit or income is actually better than it appeared on your application. The number is (888) 201-4523.

You need a 640+ credit score to get approved for the Best Buy® Store Card. That means Best Buy® Store Card requires fair credit or better for approval. There are other things besides your credit score that are taken into account for Best Buy® Store Card approval.

Here's what you need for the Best Buy® Store Card:… read full answer

• The basics. You will need a U.S. mailing address and a Social Security Number (SSN). You also need to be at least 18 years old (21, if a resident of Puerto Rico) and have enough individual income to afford credit card bills.
• At least fair credit. That means a credit score of 640+, but your approval odds only increase as your score gets higher.
• Income and other information. You will need to provide information about your total annual income. Your spending and the amount of debt you owe will also get factored in to the final decision. Ultimately, your debt-to-income ratio needs to be favorable enough to show that you can afford a credit card. Citibank may also consider other factors, such as how many recent credit inquiries you've had and the length of your credit history.

Keep in mind that you will have to apply for a Best Buy® Credit Card. If you do not meet its requirements, you will also be considered for the Best Buy® Store Card and the Best Buy® Gold Visa Credit Card. The Best Buy® Credit Card requires good credit or better (a score of 700+) for approval, while the Best Buy® Store Card and Best Buy® Gold Visa Credit Card require fair credit or better (a score of 640+).

Applying for a Best Buy® Credit Card triggers a hard inquiry on your credit, which can lead to a temporary dip in your credit score. So if you don't know where you stand, you can check your score for free, right here on WalletHub. And if your score needs improvement, feel free to check out our guide on how to improve your credit score.