Robert Adams @adamsrobert
What credit cards are made out of metal?
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Hardest Credit Cards to Get
Selected by WalletHub Editors from 1,000+ credit cards — Jan 2, 2019
The competitiveness of a credit card’s terms and your likelihood of approval vary widely, based on your credit standing and disposable income. Some cards, like the notorious Centurion “Black” Card from American Express, are exclusively available to people who charge hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. Others, notably secured credit cards,… show more
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The competitiveness of a credit card’s terms and your likelihood of approval vary widely, based on your credit standing and disposable income. Some cards, like the notorious Centurion “Black” Card from American Express, are exclusively available to people who charge hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. Others, notably secured credit cards, offer what amounts to guaranteed approval and are thus the easiest to get approved for.
There is even significant variation in terms of the exact credit score or amount of disposable income you must have to get approved for cards that reportedly require excellent credit. And with that in mind, WalletHub’s editors evaluated more than 350 credit cards for people with excellent credit in search of the most exclusive cards (in terms of accessibility to the general public) and the offers with the best terms, which would presumably be the most difficult to get (otherwise, they’re the best deals!).
Below, you can find a quick summary of our editors’ selections, followed by additional information about each card. Certain offers may come from WalletHub advertising partners, but advertising status played no role in the selections.
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.
There is even significant variation in terms of the exact credit score or amount of disposable income you must have to get approved for cards that reportedly require excellent credit. And with that in mind, WalletHub’s editors evaluated more than 350 credit cards for people with excellent credit in search of the most exclusive cards (in terms of accessibility to the general public) and the offers with the best terms, which would presumably be the most difficult to get (otherwise, they’re the best deals!).
Below, you can find a quick summary of our editors’ selections, followed by additional information about each card. Certain offers may come from WalletHub advertising partners, but advertising status played no role in the selections.
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.
Hardest Credit Cards To Get of 2019:
- Overall: Centurion® Card from American Express
- Rewards: Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
- Balance Transfer: Citi Simplicity® Card - No Late Fees Ever
- Business: Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card
Hardest Credit Card to Get Overall
Hardest Credit Card to Get Overall
Centurion® Card from American Express 75 Reviews
Hardest Rewards Credit Card to Get
Hardest Rewards Credit Card to Get
Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card Proceed 2,459 Reviews
$500 travel-oriented initial bonus for spending $3K in the first 3 months; 2 miles per $1 spent thereafter; 10 miles per $1 spent on hotels (when you book with the card through hotels.com/venture); no first-year annual fee; $95 thereafter; no charge on foreign-transaction fees.
Hardest Balance Transfer Credit Card to Get
Hardest Balance Transfer Credit Card to Get
Citi Simplicity® Card - No Late Fees Ever Proceed 2,444 Reviews
This no annual fee credit card provides users with 21-month 0% introductory APRs for balance transfers and 12-month 0% introductory APR for new purchases. If you’re interested in transferring a balance, note that this card does have a 5% (min $5) balance transfer fee. So, make sure to do the math before applying.
Hardest Credit Card to Get for Business
Hardest Credit Card to Get for Business
Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card Proceed 84 Reviews
$1,000 travel-oriented initial bonus for spending $5K in the first three months; 3 points per $1 on the first $150K in combined annual purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, and on advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines; 1 point per $1 on everything else; $95 annual fee.
Ignore Exclusivity & Focus on Terms
Getting approved for an exclusive credit card might seem like a major victory. But is that a game you should even be playing in the first place? Not quite. Your focus in choosing a credit card should always be on its terms – rewards earning rates, fees and APR, in particular. It doesn’t matter what your card looks like or how many people have the same kind. Such things won’t save you money, and no one really looks at your credit card anyway.
So, if you pay your bill in full every month, compare rewards cards in search of an offer that complements your lifestyle. If you have debt you’d like to pay down faster, focus on 0% balance transfer cards and don’t forget to consider the cost of transfer fees. And if you have a major expense coming up, consider cards giving you 0% on new purchases.
Finding the right credit card is only half the battle, though. For tips on responsible credit card management once you have your shiny new plastic (or metal), check out our Guide for Credit Newcomers. You can also review our breakdown of the Biggest Credit Card Mistakes for an idea of what not to do.
Ask our Experts
Having a “black card” has become a symbol of wealth and status, at least in pop culture. But there are a few different black cards, and the famous one doesn’t even have “black” in its name. It’s actually the American Express Centurion Card, which is black in color and available on an invitation-only basis to people who charge hundreds of dollars per year. So having that black card says a lot about how much money you make and spend.
Having the Mastercard® Black Card, on the other hand, just means that you’re overpaying. After all, that particular black card charges a $495 annual fee and doesn't offer nearly enough rewards to make it worthwhile.
That being said, here’s a recap of some of the most difficult credit cards to get.
Popular Questions
- What does it mean when you have a black card?
What does it mean when you have a black card?
Having a “black card” has become a symbol of wealth and status, at least in pop culture. But there are a few different black cards, and the famous one doesn’t even have “black” in its name. It’s actually the American Express Centurion Card, which is black in color and available on an invitation-only basis to people who charge hundreds of dollars per year. So having that black card says a lot about how much money you make and spend.
Having the Mastercard® Black Card, on the other hand, just means that you’re overpaying. After all, that particular black card charges a $495 annual fee and doesn't offer nearly enough rewards to make it worthwhile.
That being said, here’s a recap of some of the most difficult credit cards to get.
These are 2019’s hardest credit cards to get:
| Hardest For... | Card |
| Overall | Centurion® Card from American Express |
| Rewards | Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card |
| Balance Transfer | Citi Simplicity® Card - No Late Fees Ever |
| Business | Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card |
Community Discussion
Finding Hardest Credit Cards to Get can be tough. But you’ve got the knowledgeable WalletHub community on your side. We encourage everyone to share their knowledge while respecting our content guidelines. Please keep in mind that editorial and user-generated content on this page is not reviewed or otherwise endorsed by any financial institution. In addition, it is not a financial institution’s responsibility to ensure that all posts and questions are answered....show moreshow less
Alan Valshev @alan_valshev
What is the limit of a black card?
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@WalletHub
The Centurion® Card from American Express is a card with no pre-set spending limit. This, however, does not mean unlimited purchasing power. Your spending limit will adjust with your use of the card, payment history, credit record and financial resources, among other factors. Hope this helps!
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Ramon Alivio @ramonalivio
How do I get a black American Express card?
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@WalletHub
The Centurion® Card from American Express is an invitation-only, very exclusive card. It is available to American Express Platinum cardholders who meet certain criteria – for instance, you need to spend over $250,000 in a given year on a Platinum card. This, however, is not the only requirement. Unfortunately, we can’t offer many specifics, since American Express doesn’t publicize many details about its Black Card.
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That being said, it is important to note that the Mastercard® Black Card is not THE Black Card. It’s merely an expensive poser – $495 annual fee.