How to Fill Out a Credit Card Application Online

Here are some tips to help you fill out your next credit card application:

Filling out a credit card application

If it’s your first time filling out an application for a credit card online, you may be curious about the process. While different credit card issuers might ask for different types of information, here’s a look at steps that are common to most credit card applications.

Provide your personal information

A credit card application asks for personal information like your full name, home address, email address, date of birth, and Social Security number. Federal law requires credit card issuers to verify your identity before account opening with the personal information in your application. The card issuer will also use your personal information to request your credit report, since your credit history and credit score are factors that affect whether you get approved and what your credit limit will be.

Provide financial information

Employment:
A credit card application typically asks you to select your employment status, such as full-time, part-time, self-employed, unemployed, retired, or student. You don’t necessarily need to have a full-time job for your credit card application to be approved, as long as you can show your ability to make your monthly payments through other income.

Income:
On your credit card application, issuers will likely ask for your total gross income, which helps them decide if you qualify for a credit card account and the credit limit. If you’re 21 or older, you may include another person’s income that is available to you. If you’re under 21, you may consider the amount of another person’s income that is regularly deposited into your account.

Housing costs:
The credit card issuer will consider your mortgage or rent payments when you apply for a credit card to help determine whether you qualify for an account.

How do I check my credit card application status?

There are a few different ways to check your credit card application status, depending on the credit card company you apply to. You may be able to call customer service or check a page on the issuer’s website to determine your approval status.

If you’ve applied for a Discover card, you can easily check the status of your application through our online banking platform. Once you’ve received credit approval, you’ll be able to access your credit account with the Discover mobile app.

Do I have to apply for a credit card online?

Most credit card issuers have options for you to apply by mail or phone if you don’t want to submit your credit card application online but applying for your credit card online may be the most convenient way to apply. Note that if you’re under 21, you can’t apply for a credit card account on the phone.

How long does a credit card application take?

Filling out a credit card application online shouldn’t take too much time as long as you have access to the required information before you begin filling out the credit card application. 

Once you’ve submitted the application, credit approval can be decided immediately or could take longer, depending on the card issuer and whether the applicant has to provide additional information once the application is submitted. 

How to apply for a credit card: the bottom line

By taking some time to understand how to apply for a credit card online, you can cut some stress out of the process. Once you understand the details of the credit card application process, you’ll be able to move through the steps with ease.