How to get pre-approved for a Capital One credit card
If you’re considering a Capital One credit card, you may wonder where to start. From rewards cards to secured cards, there are plenty of options.
Pre-approval can help you narrow down your choices so you can find the best credit card for you.
What you’ll learn:
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With Capital One pre-approval, you can determine which credit cards you may be eligible for by answering a few simple questions.
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Capital One’s pre-approval process won’t hurt your credit.
- If you’re pre-approved for a Capital One credit card, you don’t need to apply separately. Just accept the offer.
How to get pre-approved for a Capital One credit card
You can get pre-approved for a Capital One card online with these simple steps:
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Answer pre-approval questions. Start by selecting what’s most important to you in a card. That might be credit building, no annual fee, cash back or travel rewards, a low interest rate or a new card member offer.
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Provide basic information. This can include your legal name, address, Social Security number, employment status and income.
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Review offers. If you’ve been pre-approved, you can check out the cards you’re eligible for.
You don’t need to apply separately if you’re pre-approved. Just accept an offer. In some cases, you may be asked to verify your identity or provide additional information.
What are the benefits of Capital One pre-approval?
There are some benefits to getting pre-approved for a Capital One credit card before filling out a formal application. For example, you could avoid a hard credit check. That’s because Capital One pre-approval results in a soft credit check, which won’t affect your credit scores.
Once you decide to apply, there will be a hard credit check, which can result in a temporary dip in your credit scores.
Capital One pre-approval FAQ
Expand the sections below to learn more about pre-approvals and Capital One’s process.
What does credit card pre-approval mean?
Getting pre-approved or pre-qualified for a credit card typically means that your credit profile might match the general requirements to become a cardholder. Your credit reports and credit scores can largely determine credit card eligibility.
Will Capital One pre-approval affect my credit scores?
Getting pre-approved for Capital One credit cards won’t affect your credit scores. Pre-approval is one way to determine whether you’re eligible for credit card offers before you apply.
Do I need a certain credit score to check for Capital One pre-approval?
You can check your pre-approval status whether you have poor credit scores, excellent credit scores or anything in between.
How long does Capital One pre-approval take?
In many cases, you can expect an answer in as few as 90 seconds after answering the general pre-approval questions.
Key takeaways: Capital One pre-approval
Capital One pre-approval is a straightforward way to find cards that match your credit profile, with no harm to your credit. The process is simple, and you typically only have to answer a few qualifying questions to determine your eligibility.
Compare cards and explore digital features from Capital One
If you’re new to credit or searching for your next credit card, Capital One can help:
- See if you’re pre-approved for credit cards without harming your credit scores.
- If you’re looking to build your credit with responsible use, explore cards for people with fair credit.
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day with a cash back rewards card.
- Monitor your credit report and score with CreditWise from Capital One. It’s free for everyone, and using it won’t hurt your credit.
