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Bank of America offers a soft pull credit card pre-approval process that allows you to check your eligibility for a credit card without affecting your credit score.
This process is called a "soft inquiry", which is a gentle check on your credit report that doesn't leave a permanent mark.
You can access this pre-approval process through Bank of America's website or mobile app, where you'll be asked to provide some basic information about yourself.
The pre-approval process typically takes just a few minutes to complete, and you can view your pre-approval offer immediately after applying.
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What Is Pre-Approval?
Pre-approval is a process that allows you to see if you're likely to get approved for a Bank of America credit card without a hard credit check impacting your credit score.
Bank of America refers to pre-approved offers as "pre-selected" or "customized offers." A pre-approval is usually an instant process when using the Bank of America website.
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You can initiate a pre-approval process directly on Bank of America's website by filling out a brief online application that asks for basic information like your name, social security number, and your preferred credit card type.
Pre-approval doesn't guarantee credit card approval, but it's a strong indicator. Bank of America representatives consider pre-selected or customized offers as "firm offers of credit", suggesting a high likelihood of approval as long as your financial situation remains similar between the pre-approval and formal application.
A pre-approval inquiry is a soft credit pull, which doesn't affect your credit score. This allows you to explore different card options without harming your creditworthiness.
Here are the ways to initiate the pre-approval process for a Bank of America credit card:
- Existing Bank of America Customer: You might see pre-approved offers pop up when you log in to your online account or be offered them during a branch visit.
- Targeted Mail Offers: Bank of America occasionally sends pre-selected credit card offers via direct mail.
- Bank of America Website: You can initiate a pre-approval process directly on Bank of America's website.
- CardMatch Tool (Optional): You can leverage tools like Bankrate's CardMatch tool to see pre-qualified offers from various issuers, including Bank of America.
Benefits of Pre-Approval
Getting a Bank of America soft pull credit card can be a great way to explore different card options without harming your creditworthiness. Pre-approval is a valuable tool that can give you a good chance of getting approved when you submit a formal application.
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Pre-approval doesn't affect your credit score because it's a soft credit pull, not a hard credit check. This means you can shop around and compare different card offers without worrying about your credit score taking a hit.
Pre-approval can also help you discover cards that match your credit profile and financial goals. Bank of America considers pre-selected or customized offers as "firm offers of credit", suggesting a high likelihood of approval as long as your financial situation remains similar between the pre-approval and formal application.
Here are the benefits of pre-approval in a nutshell:
- Increased Approval Odds: Pre-approval gives you a good chance of getting approved when you submit a formal application.
- Preserves Your Credit Score: Unlike a full application, a pre-approval inquiry is a soft credit pull, which doesn't affect your credit score.
- Targeted Offers: Pre-approval can help you discover cards that match your credit profile and financial goals.
Getting Pre-Approved for a Card
If you're considering a new Bank of America credit card, getting pre-approved can be a valuable tool to see if you're likely to get approved without a hard credit check impacting your credit score.
You can initiate the pre-approval process in several ways. If you're an existing Bank of America customer, you might see pre-approved offers pop up when you log in to your online account or be offered them during a branch visit.
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To get pre-approved online, you can fill out a brief application on Bank of America's website, which asks for basic information like your name, social security number, and your preferred credit card type.
Bank of America occasionally sends pre-selected credit card offers via direct mail, which often come with a pre-filled application you can mail back or complete online using a specific link or code.
You can also use tools like Bankrate's CardMatch tool to see pre-qualified offers from various issuers, including Bank of America.
A pre-approval gives you a good chance of getting approved when you submit a formal application, and it's a soft credit pull, which doesn't affect your credit score.
Here are some factors that can improve your chances of getting pre-approved:
- Maintain a good credit history by making your credit card payments on time each month.
- Manage your credit utilization by keeping it below 30%, ideally under 10%.
- Review and correct any credit report errors to ensure your credit report is accurate.
- Consider secured cards if you have limited credit history to build your score.
- Explore Experian Boost to add on-time utility and phone bill payments to your credit report.
Once you submit the pre-approval form, Bank of America will do a soft inquiry of your credit, which won't show up on your credit report or have a negative impact on your credit score.
Pre-Approval Process
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To initiate the pre-approval process for a Bank of America credit card, you can try one of several methods.
You can check your online account if you're an existing Bank of America customer, as you might see pre-approved offers pop up when you log in.
Alternatively, Bank of America occasionally sends targeted mail offers with a pre-filled application that you can mail back or complete online.
You can also start the pre-approval process directly on the Bank of America website, where you'll be asked to provide basic information like your name, social security number, and preferred credit card type.
If you're a Bank of America customer, you can log in with your existing credentials to pre-populate the application.
The CardMatch tool, while not directly affiliated with Bank of America, can also be used to see pre-qualified offers from various issuers, including Bank of America.
Here are the possible ways to initiate the pre-approval process:
- Existing Bank of America Customer: Check your online account for pre-approved offers.
- Targeted Mail Offers: Look for pre-filled applications in your mail.
- Bank of America Website: Start the pre-approval process online.
- CardMatch Tool: Use this tool to compare offers from multiple lenders.
Pre-approval is usually an instant process when using the Bank of America website.
Understanding Pre-Approval
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Pre-approval for a Bank of America credit card is a soft credit pull that doesn't affect your credit score. This allows you to explore different card options without harming your creditworthiness.
Pre-approval is usually an instant process when using the Bank of America website. You can initiate the pre-approval process directly on the Bank of America website by filling out a brief online application that asks for basic information like your name, social security number, and your preferred credit card type.
A pre-approval gives you a good chance of getting approved when you submit a formal application. Bank of America representatives consider pre-selected or customized offers as "firm offers of credit", suggesting a high likelihood of approval as long as your financial situation remains similar between the pre-approval and formal application.
To improve your chances of getting pre-approved, maintain a good credit history by making your credit card payments on time each month. You should also manage your credit utilization by keeping it below 30%, ideally under 10%.
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Here are some key benefits of pre-approval:
- Increased Approval Odds: Pre-approval gives you a good chance of getting approved when you submit a formal application.
- Preserves Your Credit Score: Unlike a full application, a pre-approval inquiry is a soft credit pull, which doesn't affect your credit score.
- Targeted Offers: Pre-approval can help you discover cards that match your credit profile and financial goals.
Pre-approval allows you to see if you're likely to get approved for a Bank of America credit card without a hard credit check impacting your credit score.
Approval and Credit
BOA has been known to occasionally close new tradelines a few weeks after opening if they determine they were opened in error. This means it's essential to tread lightly with them for a while after applying.
If you already have credit with BofA, lenders can potentially perform a hard pull through a credit freeze, but a soft pull is still possible. A soft pull won't affect your credit score.
Pre-approval with BOA is not a real pre-approval, but rather a marketing-driven invitation to apply. This is unless you receive a pre-approval online through their Special Offers & Deals section.
If you're looking to increase your chances of getting approved for a Bank of America credit card, pre-approval can be a great option. It's a soft credit pull, so it won't affect your credit score.
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Pre-approval is not a guarantee of approval, but it's a strong indicator as long as your financial situation remains similar. This means you'll still need to submit a formal application to get the credit card.
Here are the benefits of getting pre-approved for a Bank of America credit card:
- Increased Approval Odds: Pre-approval gives you a good chance of getting approved when you submit a formal application.
- Preserves Your Credit Score: Unlike a full application, a pre-approval inquiry is a soft credit pull, which doesn't affect your credit score.
- Targeted Offers: Pre-approval can help you discover cards that match your credit profile and financial goals.
If you have an excellent credit score of 750+, your approval odds for the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card are good. However, other factors like annual income and existing debts will also influence your approval odds.
The Bottom Line
Pre-approval is a valuable tool when considering a Bank of America credit card. It allows you to assess your approval odds without harming your credit score.
By following the tips above and understanding the pre-approval process, you can increase your chances of securing a credit card that aligns with your financial goals.
You don't need to start with a preapproval offer to apply for a Bank of America credit card, but it may be harder to pick which card to apply for without it.
Take advantage of the bank's "customized offers" tool to get an idea of what to look for.
Frequently Asked Questions
What credit does Bank of America pull from?
Bank of America primarily uses Experian credit reports, with some exceptions where Transunion reports are also pulled. This can increase your chances of approval for a Bank of America card if you receive a preapproval offer.
Sources
- https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Card-Applications/Does-anyone-know-if-BOA-approve-credit-cards-with-a-soft-pull/td-p/6044387
- https://wallethub.com/answers/cc/bank-of-america-cash-rewards-pre-approval-1000285-2140752485/
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/bank-america-credit-card-pre-approval-badcredit-abkqe
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/credit-cards/bank-of-america-credit-card-pre-approval/
- https://www.rewardexpert.com/blog/how_to_prequalify_for_credit_cards_and_get_approved/
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