The purpose of this thread is to get a better understanding of the credit limits offered by different issuers, so that we know how much certain issuers are willing to give out, and can maximize our credit card strategy. While no 2 people will likely ever get similar credit lines, and everyone has a different financial situation, hopefully we will collect enough info in this thread to form some good conclusions/inferences...
There was an old discussion last year where readers posted their credit limits (and some good info was being posted) but that thread has been archived and locked...thus I think its time for an updated thread where hopefully we will get more participation...
If its too time consuming to list EVERY credit card limit you have, please post just the highest credit limits you have for each type of card (visa MC AMEX and Discover) please list INDIVIDUAL card limits (the highest), rather than posting "2 AMEX cards with combined 26k limit" ..listing individual card limits better helps to see any patterns with issuers
If you can, also include - what kind of card it is, which bank issues it, etc. If you can include some information on how long you have had the cards (and how long your credit history is) that will be helpful, along with any other info you feel comfortable including which may help others...
Please also indicate if the credit issuer asked you to provide financial documents to support the credit line (if you have very high credit limits), or whether they gave it to you without providing ANY financial docs...
10 years credit history, usually state 70-120k "household income", no financial documents ever provided. Most of my cards are VISA-branded.
MBNA has been most agressive in raising the limits.
vitaliyf
Senior Member
posted: Sep. 18, 2003 @ 8:06a
MBNA has definately been most aggressive. I've had their MasterCard as my first ever card back in college (this is a card with my college's logo) - after getting other cards with cashback/rebate deals I practically stopped using MBNA card. Over the past 7 years, my limit has grown to 25,000 and the card converted to Quantum MasterCard. I never even requested any increases, nor have I really used the card in past 5 years (maybe once every 3 months).
Too bad there are no rewards/cashback on this card, otherwise I would've used it daily as it has very good travel and protection benefits.
FirstUSA has been quite active in increasing my lines on their own as well. I eventually combined two cards (since the rewards program on one was deadend and I was using other card all the time) to get a 26k combined limit.
My FirstUSA card has been at $16,000 for a few yrs, never tried increasing any of my cards. I also have a CapitalOne at $5000, a discover at $2000, and an AMEX at I think around $10,000. Since I rarely ever have more than $1000-$2000 charged in any given month, I haven't really tried to increase my limits. the smaller cards are from my college years.
please list INDIVIDUAL card limits (the highest), rather than listing "2 cards with combined 26k limit" ..listing individual card limits better helps to see any patterns with issuers
VItaly - First USA let you combine limits between different FUSA cards??
AMEX Platinum Card - $100,000 AMEX Blue Card - $3,500 CitiBank Platinum Dividend Card - $5,000 Discover Platinum Card - $5,000 Discover Classic Card - $1,000 PayPal Visa Card - $500? Banana Republic Store Card - $800 Gap Store Card - $600 Old Navy Store Card - $500 American Eagle Store Card - $500?
4 years of credit history, college student, coming to 22 years old, self-employed, Asian
dsmking
Senior Member - 1K
posted: Sep. 18, 2003 @ 9:04a
MBNA Visa 32,500.00 Member for 10+ years First USA Visa 16,500.00 Member for 5+ years
No documents ever asked for both. Always pay on time.
polaris
Senior Member
posted: Sep. 18, 2003 @ 9:05a
SUCKISSTAPLES said:
<< MBNA has been most agressive in raising the limits. >>
Same experience here. MBNA VISA at 46k with Fleet and Citibank MC/VISA with much lower (<= 10k) limits...
zender
Senior Member - 2K
posted: Sep. 18, 2003 @ 9:06a
SUCKISSTAPLES said:
<< please list INDIVIDUAL card limits (the highest), rather than listing "2 cards with combined 26k limit" ..listing individual card limits better helps to see any patterns with issuers. >>
Sure, AMEX CL split between 13k and 4k on two cash back cards. I regularly reallocate credit limits in order to maximize rewards. One 1st USA card has a limit of 36.3k and the other is at 16.5k.
zender
Senior Member - 2K
posted: Sep. 18, 2003 @ 9:08a
polaris said:
<< ...Fleet and Citibank MC/VISA with much lower limits... >>
AMEX CostCo Business: 40,000 (charge card with no pre-set spending limit but I just had the limit raised from 27 to 40k). Bank statements were required for the increase
Citibank Dividend (MC): 16,500 Advanta Business (MC): 12,500
Principal Visa: 7,500
dumbredneck
Senior Member
posted: Sep. 18, 2003 @ 12:35p
AMEX Blue $22.5 Citi Visa $17.5 (Was 10, they just raised it)
xml
Member
posted: Sep. 18, 2003 @ 12:39p
Discover : 10K Citi MC : 16.5K Chase MC : 9K DCU Visa : 5K
regards, xml
DWJoe
Senior Member - 1K
posted: Sep. 18, 2003 @ 12:48p
Azurik said:
<< AMEX Platinum Card - $100,000
4 years of credit history, college student, coming to 22 years old, self-employed, Asian >>
I am sceptical of AMEX allowing you to borrow $100k with your financial profile. Don't confuse 'no preset spending limit' and 'up to $100k' with a bona fide $100k limit.
DWJoe
Senior Member - 1K
posted: Sep. 18, 2003 @ 12:57p
3 year credit history, $120k stated income
Old Cards AMEX Costco 4700 (originally 3700, received 2x 500 increases) TDWaterhouse (FirstUSA) e-card 6000 (orig. 5000, received 2x 500 increases) FirstUSA Free Cash Rewards 5500 (orig. 5000) Diners Club No preset limit. High usage 3500. Kohls 1200 Home Depot 6 (yeah, SIX dollars. closed it immediately after opening.)
New Cards Chase PerfectCard 7500, then doubled to 15000 with BT offer Discover Platinum 7500 Citi Dividend Platinum Select 3100
tmdlkwd
Senior Member
posted: Sep. 18, 2003 @ 1:05p
FirstUSA MC - $13700 Discover Plat - $12000 AMEX Optima - $10800 Capital One Plat Visa - $6200
got my 1st card in January, Bank of America Student Visa with $800 limit (no credit history at that point). Limit increased to $1500 several weeks ago -- CSR told me that's the max they give to college juniors. Turned down for Citi Dividend Platinum Select for Students twice. The first time in February or March, reason: insufficient credit history. The 2nd several weeks ago, reason: too many inquiries on credit report. Their loss.
Universal Savings Bank - $10000 Discover Plat - $8500 Chase Plat - $8000 Fleet Plat - $6000 Citi Plat - $5100 MBNA Plat - $4000 AMEX Blue - $2200 Citi Exxon - $2000
I have 6 years of excellent credit history. I never asked for credit increases, and I guess that's why I didn't get them. I see many people with shorter histories have much higher limits than I do.
seahawk
Senior Member
posted: Sep. 18, 2003 @ 3:07p
5 years credit history. Score: 773 three months ago.
AMEX Cash Rebate $14200 (transfer $1, increase CL $1, transferred $10000) HH Amex: $6000 (got it 3 months ago) Citi Dividend 1: $11000 (Everytime I called, CL increased a little) Citi Dividend 2: $16500 (combined several Citi, otherwise much lower) GM 1: $9000 (increased several times) GM 2: $7500 (CL increased from $3000 to $7500 when I called) Chase: $7500 (increased automaticly) Discover: $7500 (called them to increase)
My FirstUSA (now Bank One) Visa has a $43,200 limit! I've had this card about ten years and I don't think the outstanding balance has ever been over ten grand. Most months I pay it in full. They just keep cranking it up thinking my wife will go on some wild shopping spree or something!
<< AMEX Platinum Card - $100,000 4 years of credit history, college student, coming to 22 years old, self-employed, Asian >>
I am sceptical of AMEX allowing you to borrow $100k with your financial profile. Don't confuse 'no preset spending limit' and 'up to $100k' with a bona fide $100k limit. >>
He is an eBay powerseller. Buys lots of stuff at wholesale and sells on eBay. There's a thread about it somewhere.
For me (grad student, 5.5years credit history): Discover $5 or 6K Amazon/BankOne VISA $7K GMCard $4K AMEX Blue $5K
zender
Senior Member - 2K
posted: Sep. 18, 2003 @ 3:17p
dcwilbur said:
<< My FirstUSA (now Bank One) Visa has a $43,200 limit! I've had this card about ten years and I don't think the outstanding balance has ever been over ten grand. Most months I pay it in full. They just keep cranking it up thinking my wife will go on some wild shopping spree or something! >>
AMEX blue: 5700 (Had for 2 years) AMEX blue: 2000 (Had for a year) Sear Gold Mastercard: ~5000 (Had for about 2 years)
21, no job, in college
funkyfresh
Broke Member
posted: Sep. 18, 2003 @ 5:17p
SRS2000 said:
<< AMEX blue: 5700 (Had for 2 years) AMEX blue: 2000 (Had for a year) Sear Gold Mastercard: ~5000 (Had for about 2 years)
21, no job, in college >>
i just got approved for a Blue for Students -- haven't received the card yet so i don't know what my limit is. which blue cards do you have and what limit did they start you with?
i'm also 21, in college, with no job.
Kismet4Max
Senior Member
posted: Sep. 18, 2003 @ 5:20p
Woo hoo. Nice to see all these 21 year olds in college with no job. Toss me in that boat.
MBNA LL Bean $2500 Macy's $2000 (Increased $1400 last month) BOA Gold $1500 Capital One $1000 Providian $1000 Best Buy $1000
SRS2000
Frivolous Member
posted: Sep. 18, 2003 @ 5:24p
funkyfresh said:
<< SRS2000 said:
<< AMEX blue: 5700 (Had for 2 years) AMEX blue: 2000 (Had for a year) Sear Gold Mastercard: ~5000 (Had for about 2 years)
21, no job, in college >>
i just got approved for a Blue for Students -- haven't received the card yet so i don't know what my limit is. which blue cards do you have and what limit did they start you with?
i'm also 21, in college, with no job. >>
I got the normal blue... I refuse to get student cards.. usually higher interest, lower credit lines, etc They started me off with 2000.. I charged over my limit once and they raised my limit by $2000... I wrote a check for 1800 dollars and they raised my limit 1800 more dollars
AMEX Cash Back $40K 1 year FBB Visa $50K 2 years (needed financials to go above $25K) MBNA Visa $40K 6 years buy.com Visa (BankOne) $1K 3 years Discover $25K 13 years Chase $20K 1 year AMEX Blue $2K 4 years (moved $28K over to Cash Back) e.card (Bank One Visa) $46.6K 5 years (moved $14K from buy.com, 7.4K from GE rewards) Citibank Dividends Plat MC $19K 4 years Capital One No-Hassle MC $22.5K 13 months Capital One No-Hassle MC $21.5K 17 months Principal Bank Visa $50K 1 year Pentagon Federal Visa Gold $25K Spokane Teachers Credit Union Visa $15K 11 months AMEX Costco Business card (no limit, not sure "hidden limit" but $10K charged fine) 6 months Universal Savings $10K 1 year
I think that includes all the largest ones, but does not include business cards, my wife's lines or ones I hold with other family members. It also doesn't include our unsecured business lines of credit or any secured lines. (Updated 8/04)
Credit history, 13 years. Annual household income, around $130-175K (business activities and rentals make it a somewhat complicated.)
BruteForce
Ancient Member
posted: Sep. 18, 2003 @ 6:10p
10+ yr credit history score ranging from 695(experian) - 763(equifax)
Personal Cards ============== BofA Visa - 9K 10+ yrs (was Seafirst Bank before) Citibank MC - 12.6K 5+ yrs AMEX Blue Personal - 12.5K 2+ yrs AT&T Univ Plat MC - 12K 1 yr Bank One Visa - 15K 5+ yrs Chase Plat MC - 12K 2 months Peoples Visa - 10K 4 yrs
Business Cards ============== Advanta Business MC - 12.5K 3 yrs AMEX Blue Biz - 14.4K 2+ yrs Fleet Business Visa - 16K 3+ yrs
plus the usual bevy of gas & store cards (Home Depot, Good Guys, etc). 2 cards have 50% of limit for balance at 0%. The rest are zero balance or are paid off every month. 22K HELOC with zero balance. I have never requested a limit increase other than when I applied for the Chase card, I told them I wouldn't take less than 12K (for their 0% transfer offer)
funkyfresh
Broke Member
posted: Sep. 18, 2003 @ 6:15p
SRS2000 said:
<< I got the normal blue... I refuse to get student cards.. usually higher interest, lower credit lines, etc They started me off with 2000.. I charged over my limit once and they raised my limit by $2000... I wrote a check for 1800 dollars and they raised my limit 1800 more dollars >>
what's your approach on applications: preapproved offers only? online, by mail or phone? and what do you do for 'employer' information?
i hate student cards too but i max out the 2 cards i have on a regular basis so i'll take what i can get.
thegretchen
Senior Member - 1K
posted: Sep. 18, 2003 @ 6:18p
I've heard that men enjoy this sort of thing, "How big is yours?", etc. Thought it was a myth until now.
4 years of credit history, college student, coming to 22 years old, self-employed, Asian >>
I am sceptical of AMEX allowing you to borrow $100k with your financial profile. Don't confuse 'no preset spending limit' and 'up to $100k' with a bona fide $100k limit. >>
I actually spent 131k last month with increased purchasing for August. I had to call them and ask for an extra 31k.
Long history with AMEX, along with very high purchases every month and paid all on time. I'll scan my last statement if you don't believe me. I have nothing to gain or lose by posting my credit limits.
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