The Credit Card Application

The Credit Card Application

by Garth Brady

Obtaining a credit card in the United States is not very complicated; however, there are certain things one should take into account when filling out an application. The more thorough you are in filling out a credit card application the more information the bank will have. This means the bank may be able to offer a lower interest rate or more benefits.

Many banks send mail to your home or office with pre-approved credit card offers. Although the offers may sound good, they are only a marketing ploy for saying "We've noticed you, but you need to pass further evaluation". That's why they include an envelope with a proper credit card application.

Honesty

The first thing to remember is to be completely honest. Fill out the credit card application with factual information regarding your financial situation, your marital status and even something as simple as your true address. Banks check all of this information and will be suspicious if they find that something is not right

Secondly, do not forget anything. If you are buying or leasing a car, mention it in the application. If you are making your monthly payments in a timely manner, the bank will see that you are someone who can be trusted. The same thing applies if you have a mortgage for your home.

Accuracy

Double-check all of the spellings and numbers you enter in your credit card application. Although it may not be considered as fraudulent if you make a mistake, it can significantly delay the processing time.

Online or Offline?

The postal service may be too slow for some people. If you need your new card urgently, check out websites of different banks and find out what they can offer. Remember that if you don't have a credit history, you will have to pay bigger rates until you are recognized as someone who can be trusted.

When you have found a financial institution to accommodate you, fill the online credit card application with the same accuracy mentioned above and send it. Sooner than you expect, the bank will contact you with the news. There is no need to be afraid of a credit card application as banks are for-profit organizations and it's logical that they need to pro