Credit Card Application Outcomes
As spring winds down, our season of new credit cards never ends. My wife and I have actively pursued new cards over the last several months, particularly recently. In fact, we’ve been so busy, I can’t possibly include every card we’ve picked up in this article while still holding your attention. Instead, I’m hitting the highlights and lowlights of the last several months. Here’s a moderate helping of our recent credit card application outcomes.
Bank of America Air France
Another year, and another round of Air France credit card applications for the two of us. Predictably, an elevated card offer appeared again a few months ago, albeit a bit earlier in the year than normal. Like last year, the card offers 70k Flying Blue miles, but the minimum spend requirement crept from $2k to 3k. No matter, my wife and I each applied for one. Her path was smoother than mine. It seems I cut dates a bit too closely on Bank of America’s 7/12 rule and was automatically denied. But I turned it around about a month later. I tried again, and my Friday night application went pending. I noticed a new card in my account Monday.
Outcome: Automatically denied. Second application pending, subsequently approved.
Player Two Outcome: Immediately approved.
Bread Rewards Amex
We love third-party Amex card options with Bread Financial/Comenity. My wife first picked up the Bread 2% Cashback card and then scored the newer Rewards version last fall. Unfortunately, according to their site, the Bread Rewards Amex is still available via invitation only. I didn’t expect to be targeted, but my luck hadn’t run out. I picked up the card a few weeks ago. Earning the equivalent of 3.75% cash back in the card’s generous bonus categories with no annual fee is enough for me, but I look forward to targeted spend offers, as well.
Outcome: Immediately approved.
Bread Cashback Amex
Feeling the mojo from my Bread Rewards Amex approval, I tried for the Bread Cashback Amex, which provides uncapped 2% cash back on all purchases. I’ve described why I can never have too many 2% cash back cards, and again, I love more third party Amex options. My wife has been targeted for spend offers on both Bread Amex versions, so I hoped to take advantage of that here, as well. Perhaps I was too excited.
Outcome: Immediately denied.
Wyndham Earner Plus
I recently described how this overlooked Wyndham card may be a solid move for many, especially during the elevated 100k signup bonus timeframe. For several reasons, I’ve been unable to pick up another Barclays card via new application in years. Meanwhile, my wife has been relatively quiet with Barclays, simply holding a Banana Republic Mastercard and a legacy Wyndham Rewards card. The time was right.
Player Two Outcome: Immediately approved.
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey
A relatively quiet card issuer in recent years, Wells Fargo’s a bit more active lately. Perhaps that’s why some are grading the Autograph Journey on a curve. But many are fawning over the clumsily-named Autograph Journey lately for good reason. I find the card’s 5x hotels, 4x airlines, and 3x restaurants and other travel bonus categories particularly enticing due to their solid 1:2 transfer ratio to Choice Privileges. And I love yet another bank currency partnering with Flying Blue. My wife and I each applied. But Wells Fargo had other ideas, citing our number of new cards in the past 24 months, plus the number of cards we hold overall. Got us there!
Outcome: Immediately denied 2x.
Plenty of “Other” Amex
Also, my wife and I have each applied for a variety of Amex cards in order to activate outstanding referral bonuses. Traditional signup bonuses were few and far between, but that didn’t matter. Amex creatively provided referral bonuses generally superior to most of the recent welcome offers. Again, I’ve found a busy schedule with Amex more rewarding than with any other issuer. I don’t see that changing.
Credit Card Application Outcomes – Conclusion
This recent round of credit card application outcomes has been more all-consuming than in past years, primarily due to the advanced organization and creativity that’s required to maximize them. I’ve loved the challenge, and I’m game for turning over a few more stones – or boulders – soon. What new cards have you picked up recently? Why? Did you receive a surprise denial? What happened there?
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Any ideas on getting targeted for the Bread Amex Rewards card?