Credit One Credit Cards

Yes. Credit One Bank is a legitimate bank that has been issuing unsecured credit cards for people with limited credit and bad credit since 1984. Credit One Bank has an A- rating from the Better Business Bureau and is considered to be a major credit card company by the market research firm J.D. Power.

Some people question whether Credit One is real because it has no physical branch locations, operating online only. Another major reason people might think Credit One Bank might not be a legitimate company is that its name and logo are quite similar to Capital One's. Both companies are real (and they're not related). Capital One is just bigger, more well-known and has more credit cards to choose from. And Credit One does not offer financial products aside from credit cards.

Proof That Credit One Bank Is Legit

• Credit One Bank is a legitimate company, founded in 1984.
• 10+ million people have a Credit One Bank credit card.
• Credit One Bank has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) since 2011.
• Credit One has an A- BBB rating, though the BBB notes a pattern of customer complaints about billing and credit-reporting issues made against the company.
• Credit One Bank has paid more than $100 million in cash back rewards to cardholders to date. The company also gave $7.5 million to charity in 2019.
• Credit One Bank is among the major credit card issuers included in J.D. Power's annual U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Survey. Credit One does rank at the bottom among national issuers, though.
• Credit One is a completely separate company from Capital One, even though their logos look similar. And Credit One actually had its logo first.
• You can learn about Credit One on their official, secure website.

Credit One is legit. But a Credit One credit card may or may not be the best option for you. Your choices are the Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa®, the Credit One Bank® Platinum X5 Visa® and the Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit. The first two are among the best unsecured credit cards available to people with poor credit. But using a secured card tends to be the least expensive way to build or rebuild credit history. Some good options are the Discover it® Secured Credit Card and the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card.

The minimum credit line for Credit One is $300 or $500, depending on the credit card. The credit lines for most Credit One cards start at $300, though cards such as the Platinum Rewards Visa card and the Credit One Bank Wander card have a minimum credit limit of $500.

Minimum Credit Lines for Credit One Cards

• Credit One Platinum Rewards Visa: $500 minimum credit line
• Credit One Bank Wander Card: $500 minimum credit line
• Credit One Bank American Express Card: $300 minimum credit line
• Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit: $300 minimum credit line
• Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa®: $300 minimum credit line

Credit One lists the minimum credit limit for each credit card on their website. So, you can find the minimum credit line you can expect from any Credit One card by reading through the credit card terms before you apply.

Keep in mind that applicants with high incomes and good credit may be approved for more than the minimum credit limit. And you can always request a credit line increase by calling Credit One customer service at 1-877-825-3242. Credit One will also review your account periodically to see if you qualify for a higher credit limit.

You may get a Credit One credit limit increase automatically, but you can also request a Credit One credit limit increase online or by calling customer service at (877) 825-3242. To raise your chances of being approved for a higher credit limit, pay your bill on time for at least six straight months, reduce your outstanding debt, and update the income Credit One has on file. Credit One will be more likely to increase your credit limit if the revised income clearly shows that you can afford a higher limit.

How to Get a Credit One Credit Limit Increase Online

1. Log in to your online account.
2. Choose the Credit One card for which you're requesting the increase (if you have more than one card).
3. Click "Settings," and then "Credit Line Increase."
4. Enter your required information and click "Continue".
5. Confirm the information and click "Submit" to complete the request.
6. You should receive a decision in just a few seconds. If you're approved for a Credit One credit limit increase, the new limit will be effective immediately.

Impact of a Credit One Credit Limit Increase on Your Credit Score

When you request a Credit One credit limit increase, Credit One will conduct a hard pull of your credit report, which will cause a short-term dip in your credit score. Credit One cannot do a hard pull without your permission, though.

On the other hand, there are times when you could be eligible for a Credit One credit limit increase without even requesting one. Credit One may offer an automatic credit limit increase if its regular reviews of your account show a history of on-time payments and low debt. An automatic credit limit increase involves a soft pull, which does not affect your credit score.

To reach Credit One customer service, call (877) 825-3242. Customers can access account information, check their application status, report a card lost or stolen, or connect to a live customer service representative any time – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You can also post questions and comments on Credit One's Facebook and Twitter pages. Or, mail inquiries to Credit One, General Correspondence, P.O. Box 99873, Las Vegas, NV 89193. For quicker processing, include the card number on any written inquiries.

Credit One's website does not have a live customer service chat feature. Nor do they have a customer service email address. But you can access Credit One's Credit Card FAQs page online, along with tools to first check for pre-qualification and then check the status of your Credit One application.

Credit One Customer Service Contact Information:

• General Customer Service (U.S.): (877) 825-3242. Hours: 24/7.
• General Customer Service (Outside the U.S.): (702) 405-2042. Hours: 24/7.
• Application Information: (800) 752-5493. Hours: Monday-Thursday, 5 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Note: All hours are in Pacific Time.

WalletHub users give Credit One 3.4 out of 5 stars. Many users praise Credit One for offering credit cards to applicants with bad credit. But there are a number of user complaints, too.

In addition to gripes about the cards' high interest rates and numerous fees, bad interactions with Credit One customer service representatives are commonly reported. Users describe instances of representatives being unable to resolve issues, along with slow response times, language barriers, and rude or unprofessional behavior.

You can check your Credit One application status online, by visiting the application status page on Credit One's website and entering both your last name and Social Security Number. Credit One will then find your credit card application in its records and tell you whether it is approved, denied or still pending. If you have any trouble, you can call Credit One Bank Application Information at (800) 752-5493.

It can take up to 21 days to receive your final Credit One application status: approved or denied. Credit One credit cards are available to people with bad credit, but that doesn't mean everyone gets approved. It all comes down to what Credit One makes of your credit history and income. If they think the risk of you not paying your bill is too high, you won't be approved.

But don't worry if your Credit One application gets rejected. First, you can ask for reconsideration by calling customer service at (888) 729-6274. And if that doesn't work, there are plenty of other options. Your best bet is to apply for a secured card. They tend to have the highest approval odds and the lowest fees. But there are some unsecured credit cards for bad credit, too.

It's also important not to confuse Credit One with Capital One. If you've applied for a Capital One card, you can check your Capital One application status by calling (800) 903-9177 at any time.