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.
