How To Apply For Capital One Credit Card: Explore Credit Cards
At Capital One, they offer refreshingly different credit cards to meet the needs of their customers with no surprise fees and access to great benefits.. Follow this Capital One Credit Card Application guidelines to apply for Capital One Credit Card online. If you already have Capital One Credit Card account you can follow this guidelines to access your Capital One Credit Card account.
You’re thinking it might be time to apply for a Capital One Credit card. But where do you start? What are the requirements to get a Capital One Credit card? And when’s the right time to apply for Capital One Credit Card? It can be enough to make your head spin.
So let’s get down to basics. Here are a few things to know about how to get a credit card and what you might consider before applying.
What to Do Before You Apply for Capital One Credit Card
Sure, you could probably go online and apply for a credit card right now. But you might find a card that’s better for you if you take some time and follow these steps:
1: Check Your Credit Reports and Scores: Why do your credit history and scores matter when you’re applying for a Capital One credit card? Creditors will likely use these—along with other factors—to decide whether to approve or decline your application.
If you know your credit score, it could help you figure out which cards you have a better chance of being approved for. And even if your credit score is a work in progress, there are still cards for less-than-perfect credit.
Keep in mind that you have different scores. That’s because there are many credit-scoring models—mathematical formulas used to calculate credit scores—and each formula is a little different. Formulas can use information from just one credit report or a combination of different credit reports.
Want to see what’s in your credit reports? You can get free credit reports from each of the three major credit reporting agencies—TransUnion®, Experian®, Credit Karma and Equifax®—by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com. There may be a limit on how often you can obtain your report. Check the site for details.
You can also monitor your credit health with tools like CreditWise from Capital One, even if you’re not a Capital One cardholder. With the CreditWise app, you can access your free TransUnion credit report and weekly VantageScore® 3.0 credit score anytime—without hurting your score. And with the CreditWise Simulator, you can explore the potential impact of your financial decisions before you even make them.
2: Figure Out What Type of Credit Card You Need: Before you pick a particular Capital One credit card, it can be helpful to understand the different types of credit cards available. For example, Capital One’s offerings include:
- Cash back credit cards
- Travel rewards credit cards
- Secured credit cards
- Student credit cards
- Business credit cards
- Low intro rate credit cards
When considering what type of Capital One credit card to apply for, you can ask yourself how they match up to your needs, your credit score or the kind of rewards you want to earn. It’s also important to know the fees, interest rates and other charges associated with each type of card.
The next step is choosing a specific card. Capital One has a useful credit card comparison tool that helps you search by credit requirements, rewards type and other factors.
3: Find Out If You’re Pre-Approved: Checking to see if you’re pre-qualified or pre-approved for a credit card can be a great way to compare options and find the right fit before applying.
When you see “pre-qualified” or “pre-approved” on a credit card offer, it typically means your credit score and other financial information matched at least some of the initial eligibility criteria needed to become a cardholder. So when you get one of these offers, it likely means the information pulled by the credit card company indicated you’d be a good potential customer.
Some issuers even have online tools that show you which cards you might qualify for before you apply. Pre-approval at Capital One is quick and only requires some basic info. And it won’t hurt your credit score.
Another perk of pre-qualification and pre-approval? They can help you apply more confidently for credit—and may limit the impact of multiple applications on your credit score.
Requirements to Apply for Capital One Credit Card
Get ready—things are about to get personal. Here’s an idea of the kind of information your lender might need from you when you’re applying for a credit card:
1: Age Requirements: You typically have to be at least 18 years old to open a credit card in your own name.
If you’re under 21, you’ll also have to prove that you can independently make the minimum payments on the account. If you can’t, you may need an older co-signer. This person would need to show they’re able to make payments if you’re not. But keep in mind that not all card issuers allow co-signers.
2: Information Needed: While some credit card issuers might require documentation to prove your income and that you have a U.S. address, others might not.
Some credit card companies require a Social Security number (SSN) as proof of identity. Other companies might accept an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) instead.
If you want to know more before you apply, you can call the issuer or search its website for more information on its specific requirements. But as an example, the personal information Capital One requires includes your full name, date of birth, SSN, physical address (not a P.O. box) and estimated gross annual income.
Do You Have to Apply for Credit Card Online?
You don’t have to apply for a credit card online, but it can be the easiest and quickest option. You could get an instant answer to your application. And if you’re approved, some lenders give you a virtual card number you can start using straight away.
You can also apply for a credit card in person, over the phone or by mail. But you might have to wait longer—for opening hours or for the lender to mail you back, for example.
When Should You Apply for Capital One Credit Card?
Now that you know a little more about how to apply for a credit card, you might be wondering if it’s the right time.
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. You might apply for a credit card when you’re about to make a big purchase. Or maybe you’re a first-time card user looking to build your credit from scratch.
The right time to apply for a credit card is different for everyone. Just like all financial decisions, it depends on your own individual circumstances—like your financial readiness, income, existing debt and more.
How to Apply for Capital One Credit Card Online
Before you apply for Capital One credit card, you need to pick one. If you’re not sure which card is right for you, consider your credit score and the credit card benefits you’re looking for.
Your credit history and credit score determine which cards you can get. The best Capital One credit cards are usually only an option if you have good or excellent credit. Fortunately, Capital One includes recommended credit levels with each of its cards. You can click the credit level to see what the qualification requirements are for that Capital One credit card.
As far as card benefits go, you’ll need to decide what perks matter most to you. That could be cash back, travel rewards, 0% intro APR financing, or something different. It’s also important to look at any fees a card has, such as an annual fee or foreign transaction fees.
Here are Capital One credit card recommendations that will cover most financial situations and goals:
- Earn travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Earn flat-rate cash back: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Earn bonus cash back: Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Finance purchases at a 0% intro APR: Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Improve bad credit: Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
- Improve fair credit: Capital One Platinum Credit Card
- Build credit as a student: Journey Student Rewards from Capital One
Follow the steps below to apply for Capital One Credit Card online:
- Go to the Capital One credit card’s page, select the particular card you wish to apply and click “Apply Now.”
- Enter the required information. You’ll need to have the following information available to fill out the application:
- Personal information: Full name, date of birth, and Social Security number
- Contact information: Residential address (PO boxes aren’t valid as a residential address for credit card applications, but you can add one as your mailing address by clicking “Add mailing address”), email address, and phone number
- Financial information: Employment status, annual income, monthly home payment (rent or mortgage), the types of bank accounts you have, and optional questions about your credit card spending habits
- Add an authorized user if you want to do so now. If not, you can skip this step.
- Submit the application.
Ideally, you’ll get an answer right away — or at least, within the minute or so that it takes for the credit card issuer to process your information. The results could, however, take longer than that.
What If Your Credit Card Application Is Denied?
If your credit card application is denied, don’t be discouraged. You can still get approved for a card in the future. Here are a few steps you can take to help improve your chances of a successful application next time:
- Find out why. Knowing why your application was denied this time might help you work on strengthening your next application. Capital One applicants can find a secure letter online explaining the details or ask for a paper copy by calling 1-800-903-9177.
- Check your credit reports. You might be able to see how previous actions have affected your credit score.
- Keep working on your credit history. A stronger credit history can give you a better chance of being approved when you apply next time. Check out these tips to improve your credit.
What If Your Credit Card Application Is Approved?
Congratulations on your new line of credit. If you use it responsibly, a credit card can help you meet your spending needs, give you more flexibility and help you build strong credit for the future.
You may also want to know the Solution To Capital One Card Not Showing On Credit Report
Final Words
It’s not difficult to apply for a Capital One credit card. What’s most important is finding the right card. When you can figure out the best credit cards for you, you’ll maximize your value. Once you know what you want, the application itself should only take about five to 10 minutes.