I only opened ONE new credit card in 2019 so far (it’s August now), with one more hard pull for a denial. I applied for 3 cards yesterday, all 3 are pending or denied, and judging by recent experience, they’ll probably all be denied.
A few years ago, I would have opened at least 10 cards by this time of the year; my AOR yesterday would have been 5 out of 6 successful.
Is anyone, who has been churning for a while, still at it?
The 3 cards I applied for are, in order of application:
- US Bank Radisson Rewards Premier : 120k after $3k spend
- BOA Amtrak : 40k + $100 credit after $2.5k spend
- Barclay Choice Privileges : 50k after $1k spend
First two are likely to be approved. With Barclay, I doubt it. That’s just as hard as Chase nowadays.
It’s rough out there..
Agreed, less apps and less quality. Bank bonuses keep up my time now.
My wife and I have been denied a few times by BOA(not enough on deposit with them) and Capital One. I’ve gotten about $1400 in bank bonuses as, fortunately, we are retired and I can switch our Social Security and my wife’s pension direct deposits.
I may just stop applying for cards. Not disgruntled, but I’m into old(er) age and we are fortunate enough to have enough money. We still have quite a few points/miles and several great hotel relationships so we may just be set.
I agree that about 5-6 years ago, when I first got started, we were constantly approved. Actually we never “churned” so haven’t closed and reopened any. I made an error cancelling my Delta Platinum and then getting Gold as I should just have downgraded.
My wife and I got some points on cross-referrals but I haven’t gotten any others as I think it’s crass to bother friends with that, unless they ask.
I’ve basically been forced into going below 5/24 based on the new rules in recent years, denials, and in general not wanting to push my luck with the big banks. After being ~24/24 for several years, I’ve also only opened one card in 2019, and it was a business blue with no hard pull. I’m still dealing with an Alaska business card that was conditionally approved as a secured card. My last personal card opened was the ty premier 13 months ago.
I have my eye on a companion pass, so never having had the southwest cards and being pushed under 5/24 isn’t the worst thing in the world, but I still don’t love it.
Retention calls have also been shooting craps.
Why no Citi AA?
Got enough AA miles for now
Agreed, having a good score does not mean anything anymore.