Capital One Credit Cards

Given its attractive credit card offers and high customer satisfaction, Capital One is not only a good credit card company, but a great one.

For starters, Capital One credit cards can be found on most of WalletHub’s best credit card lists. This includes the:

• Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

• Best Cash Back Credit Cards: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

• Best Credit Cards for Fair Credit: Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

• Best Credit Cards for No Credit: Capital One Platinum Credit Card

• Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit: Secured Mastercard® from Capital One

• Best Student Credit Cards: Journey Student Rewards from Capital One

• Best Business Credit Cards: Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business

Capital One has also scored highly in a number of WalletHub reports on important credit card benefits. Here are a handful of notable examples:

• Application Transparency: T-1st

• International Travel: T-2nd

• Rental Car Insurance: 6th (Capital One Visa cards)

• Extended Warranty: 8th (Capital One Visa cards)

Finally, Capital One received the fifth highest customer satisfaction score in WalletHub’s latest Credit Card Landscape Report. And it had the third highest reviews among WalletHub users.

That, in a nutshell, is what a good credit card company looks like.​​​​​​​

The best way to apply for a Capital One credit card is online. It's the fastest and most straightforward. You can either do that on sites like WalletHub or Credit Sesame or through their own website. Usually, a decision is made instantly when you apply online.

You’ll need your personal information and the application will result in a hard inquiry, so that’s a slight dent in your credit score, for a short while.

Another way to apply for a Capital One credit card is in a Capital One branch. Download their app or use this locator to find the nearest one.

Last, you can apply for a Capital One credit card by phone at (800) 695-5500. And that's about it!

You can get Capital One to activate your credit card online or by calling customer service at (800) 227-4825.

If you prefer to do it online, just go to Capital One’s activation page and log in (create an account, if necessary). Then, enter the 3-digit security code on the back of the card when prompted. Through the mobile app, sign in with the same information as your online account. Tap your profile, then “Account Settings,” then “Activate Credit Card.” Enter the 3-digit security code when prompted to activate the card. The card will be available to use for purchases immediately after.

The easiest way to pay your Capital One credit card online. You can make Capital One credit card payments from the desktop site or from the Capital One app. Start by signing in to your Capital One account, and head to "Accounts Summary." Select the credit card you want to pay from your list of accounts, if you have more than one Capital One card, and click the "Pay Bill" button. Then, enter your bank account information and choose the date you want the payment to be made, along with the payment amount. Once submitted, your payment should be processed within 24 hours.

You can make Capital One credit card payments in person, too, at any Capital One branch or any 7-Eleven, Kroger, MoneyGram or Western Union location. Some fees may be associated with paying in person at non-Capital One locations. So, it’s usually best to avoid those if possible.

In addition, Capital One accepts credit card payments over the phone, at (800) 227-4825. You’ll have to provide your Capital One account information, as well as the information for the bank account you’re using to pay your bill.  

To ensure your payment is posted by the next day, make Capital One credit card payments Monday-Friday before 8pm Eastern time.

Capital One’s credit score requirement is limited or bad credit at a minimum, though it depends on the credit card. The best Capital One credit cards overall require a credit score of 700+ for good approval odds, while no minimum credit score is needed to get a starter credit card from Capital One. For example, applicants with limited or bad credit can get the Capital One Secured card and people with no credit score may be able to get Capital One’s Platinum, QuicksilverOne and Journey cards.

If you’re not sure which Capital One card you’ll be able to qualify for, it’s easy to get pre-qualified for a credit card on the issuer’s website. You may also want to check your credit score before you apply for any Capital One card, just so you have a better idea of what to expect.

There is no predefined number of Capital One cards you can have at a time. More specifically, you can have as many Capital One credit cards as your credit would allow. Approval would be based on your credit history, your income and any potential debt you might have.

Having said that, it is worth noting that Capital One offers some of the best rewards potential in the credit card game. A popular combo is the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card paired with the Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card. You can use the Capital One Savor to maximize your rewards on food and entertainment purchases, and the Capital One Venture card for everything else.

Both cards come with a good signup bonus: Capital One Savor comes with $300 for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. With Capital One Venture, you earn 100,000 miles for spending $20,000 in the first 12 months or 50,000 miles for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. Capital One Savor has an annual fee of $95, and Capital One Venture’s annual fee is $95.

To set up your Capital One credit card login, go to the Capital One website and click “Set Up Online Access” under the "Sign In" button at the top. Then, provide your last name, Social Security number, and date of birth and click “Get Started.”

From there, Capital One will locate your card in their database, and you’ll have to choose a username and password. Once you set your credentials, you’ll be able to log in to the Capital One website.

The Capital One general customer service phone number is 1-877-383-4802. However, for faster customer service, Capital One provides specific phone numbers for different departments. They have a credit card support center, banking support, loans support, and numbers for other services and non-US accounts. You can find all the numbers here.

You can get approved for a Capital One credit card if you are at least 18 years old, have proof of enough income to make your monthly minimum payment, and meet the specific card’s credit score requirement. Capital One will also take into account your monthly housing payment, all sources of income, and other factors.

If you’re unsure whether you’ll be approved, Capital One offers the possibility to check if you pre-qualify for some of their cards. This way, you can better assess your approval odds before you apply. Pre-qualification is quick and it’s done using a soft inquiry, so there’s no effect on your credit score.

How to Get Approved for a Capital One Credit Card

Meet the General Requirements. You must be at least 18 years old with a valid Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) in order to apply. You will also need to provide your birthdate and a physical U.S. address (no P.O. boxes).

Report a Sufficient Annual Income. Your application must include your annual income, the sources of that income, and your bank account information. Capital One requires a monthly income that’s at least $425 more than your monthly housing payment.

Know Your Credit Score Before You Apply. Some Capital One cards require good credit for approval, which means a credit score of at least 700. Capital One also offers a number of credit cards for people with credit scores below 700. You can check your credit score for free on WalletHub.

Make Sure Bankruptcies Have Been Discharged. Capital One will reject your application if you have an unresolved bankruptcy on your credit report.

Check Your Capital One Account and Application History. Your application will be denied if you’ve submitted a Capital One credit card application twice or more in the past 30 days. The same is true if you have five or more Capital One credit cards, or if you’re past-due or over your credit limit on any of those accounts.

If you are unable to get approved for a Capital One credit card, consider becoming an authorized user on someone else’s credit card account. As an authorized user, you will receive your own card, linked to the primary cardholder’s account, and you can build your credit history while the primary cardholder assumes responsibility for all charges on the account.

This content is not provided or commissioned by any issuer. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of an issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by an issuer.

The Verdict: The Capital One Platinum Credit Card and the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card are cards meant for two very different types of people. Capital One Platinum is a starter credit card for people with limited credit. Quicksilver on the other hand, requires at least good credit for approval. That’s why Quicksilver offers such superior terms.

Capital One Quicksilver’s most notable features include 1.5% cash back on all purchases, a $200 bonus for spending $500 within 3 months of opening an account, and intro financing of 0% for 15 months. Platinum doesn’t offer low introductory rates or any kind of rewards – just the ability to build credit without paying an annual fee.

At the end of the day, your credit score really does determine whether you should get the Capital One Platinum or Quicksilver card. And if you don’t know where you stand, you can check your latest credit score for free on WalletHub. Below, you can learn more about the Platinum and Quicksilver cards, including whether you need to close one to get the other.

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