New resident's quest for U.S. plastic
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Opening Credits
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Erica Sandberg is a prominent personal finance authority and author of "Expecting Money: The Essential Financial Plan for New and Growing Families." She writes "Opening Credits," a weekly reader Q&A column about issues for people who are new to credit, for CreditCards.com.
Ask a question.
'Opening Credits' stories
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Dear Opening Credits,
I want to apply for a credit card,
but I am not sure which one. My credit score is 729. I currently
have a secured credit card
and a checking account with Bank
of America. My income is above $70,000, but
I am new to
this country, having moved here
just two years ago. I
don't want to be rejected by a credit card company. Please advise.
-- Pranav
 Dear Pranav,
No one wants to be rejected by an
individual or a business they'd like to attract. But while you can't guarantee
that your advances will be accepted, you often can make yourself pretty
appealing and strengthen your chances. When it comes to a company offering
credit cards, that means proving how great of a borrower you've been in the
past, and how terrific you will likely be in the future.
You may be worrying too much about
being denied. It seems to me you've got what it takes right now to attain the
plastic of your dreams. Here's why:
- You have a decent credit score. FICO
scores range from a low of 300 to a high of 850, and the closer those numbers
are to the top, the better your credit rating is. Most banks and other credit
issuers consider a score of 729 to be perfectly fine.
- You're already charging. The secured credit card that you have is helping you generate a credit history that all
lenders will assess. If you've charged regularly and repaid what you borrowed
on time and kept the balances well below the credit line, you've been doing
very well. Since you've been in the U.S. for a couple of years, I hope you've
had that card for as long. If this is the case, that should be just enough time
for a new creditor to gauge your short and long-term history.
- You are working and your income is
good. Credit reports and scores are not the only factors in credit assessment.
The potential credit issuer will also look at the amount of money you earn.
This makes sense, because if you're unemployed, how will they know that you
have the means to repay what you borrow? With a decent salary and few financial
obligations, chances are high that you'll pay back the amount you charge. That
makes you a solid candidate for a new line of credit.
OK, so all that should alleviate much
of your concern about how a credit issuer will view you. Now what type of card
should you get? Since you have a checking account with Bank of America right
now, that might be a smart place to start as you're already a customer. I would
give the bank a call and ask what credit product you might qualify for, based
on your dealings with them.
Another way to identify the credit card
that would work best for you without having to apply all over town is by
plugging your financial and credit information into CreditCard.com's CardMatch
program. Doing so won't affect your credit score, and it will match your
profile with a variety of credit card offers that you probably qualify for.
It's substantially easier than going though the massive number of credit
account options that are available today.
One more thing: When you apply for a
credit card (or any other type of loan where your credit report and score is
checked), that will result in a hard inquiry, which will temporarily cause a
small dip in your credit score. So don't apply for numerous cards at one time. If
you are rejected for some reason, don't apply for another one for a couple
months in order to allow your credit score to recover.
Finally, I'd like to take this opportunity
to tell you how well you've been doing, with seemingly little guidance on this
subject. Many Americans struggle with the credit system we have in place, and
misusing credit is all too common. Keep on doing what you're doing. So far it's
working for you.
See related: How your FICO credit score is calculated: Length of credit history, Tips for immigrants building a U.S. credit history
Erica Sandberg's articles and insight are featured in such publications as the Wall Street Journal, Pregnancy, Babytalk, Redbook, Bank Investment Consultant, Prosper.com, MSNMoney.com, and Smartmoney.com. An active television and radio commentator, Erica is the credit and money management expert for San Francisco’s KRON-TV, a frequent guest on Forbes Video Network, Fox Business News, Businessweek-TV, and all Bay Area networks. Prior to launching her own reporting and consulting business, she was affiliated with Consumer Credit Counseling Services of San Francisco where she counseled individuals, conducted educational workshops, and led the media relations department. Erica is a member of the Society of American Business Editors and Writers, and on the advisory committee for Project Money.
Send your question to Erica.
Published: July 27, 2011
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