Citibank Credit Limit as a % of Your Income

I'd like to take an informal survey. What is your overall credit limit with Citibank credit cards as a percentage of your reported household income? Please also indicate how many cards you have, whether you have decent credit, and if you've been applying for CLI's.

I'll start. My CL is 32% of income. $49K CL on 5 cards, $152K reported income, FICO around 750. I was declined for a new Citi card two months ago and denied for online credit increases last week. They say I have the maximum amount of credit they are willing to extend based on my income.

To the Mods: There are lots of GENERAL posts on CL's and CLI's, but this post is SPECIFICALLY about Citibank and the relationship between overall CL and reported income.

Edit: I notice some folks are listing usage and balance. I have used mostly one card for about $2K per month and another card for about $100 per month. Pay off in full each month.

1 card; CL is 15% of HH income; FICO over 750.

Am not currently being offered an automatic CLI on their web site. Have never filled out the form to request one.

Good thread idea, OP.

across 4 cards... visa, ms and two store-specific cards. overall 50% of income... but my utilization is 0 = pay off in full every month. FICO above 780.

I was given that reason when a CSR called me on AMEX Diamond card app and she offered to reduce another line instead of deny the request. (I agreed.) A few hours later I got a call from a different CSR to ask if I wanted a Professional card in addition to the AMEX Diamond (no extra pull) and I agreed. The card showed up later with a $7K limit ... so much for being at the limit for my income. A few weeks later I read here on FW that the Citi Hilton card is an easy approval ... bang another $20K limit!! Take Citi's denial reasons with a BIG grain of salt.

Good thread, but I doubt it clears anything up regarding Citi / income level / CL relationships.

greatpgmr said: I was given that reason when a CSR called me on AMEX Diamond card app and she offered to reduce another line instead of deny the request. (I agreed.) A few hours later I got a call from a different CSR to ask if I wanted a Professional card in addition to the AMEX Diamond (no extra pull) and I agreed. The card showed up later with a $7K limit ... so much for being at the limit for my income. A few weeks later I read here on FW that the Citi Hilton card is an easy approval ... bang another $20K limit!! Take Citi's denial reasons with a BIG grain of salt.

Good thread, but I doubt it clears anything up regarding Citi / income level / CL relationships.

Can you reallocate the Citi Hilton credit line to another card? If so, I may include this card in my AoR.

Edit: I think I answered my own question - it may be possible depending on what card you are attempting to shift a credit line to.

From a reallocation thread:
Calebfornia said: Requested CL transfer from Hilton to Dividend. 19k out of 20k to Dividend. No dice! Was told transfer between these two types not allowed. Anybody have any experience with this? Should I try again with leaving more than just 1k in the Hilton account?

nymgiants said: Grim said: Has anyone successfully reallocated online or by phone from AMEX Clear to another card? (specifically wondering about TrueEarnings)

I have a clear card and reallocated from clear to hilton, Delta no problem. I tlooks like you can reallocate to of their AMEX cards as long as it is not a no preset spending limit such as the one card

On one card, it's about 15-20% of stated income. It started at around half of that, and I've taken advantage of 3-4 automatic CLIs on their Web site to get it to where it is now. I haven't been able to use the automatic CLI for a few months now; I get the form instead.

12% over 2 cards. I haven't received an increase and never seem to get one on;line) in a long time, I haven't asked for one involving a hard pull either.

Applied for a student card in Aug 2004 and it didnt ask for HH income, but they started me off at $3000. The highest they went to was $11600 and recently I applied for a MTVU card (didnt ask for HH income) which they would only approve if I used some of my existing line (told them to open the new card with $6000 but it only came with $500 so I called back about my missing $5500 in credit line, but they ended up adding $6000 to the $500 instead of just adding $5500 so I ended up with $500 in extra limit)

-Dividend student $5600 (applied for the regular platinum one which asked for no HH income and then converted to Dividend as soon as I got the card)
-MTVU student $6500 (didnt ask for HH income)
Total $12100 w/o any income reporting

I plan on applying for another Citi card next year so that they have a HH income on file

Chase on the other hand gave me a total of $21400 in credit (have 2 cards) with a HH income of $48500 (44%)

5 cards: 4 personal, 1 business
Total CL = $80K ($40K on biz card)
Stated Income = $108K
37% for personal only
74% if you include the biz card

less than 5% usage and always paid in full
FICO = around 770 last I checked.

Wow, these percentages are all over the board. I can't make any sense of it.

5 cards: 3 personal, 2 business
Total CL = $29k Personal, $29k Business
Stated Income = $80k
My CL is 36% of income for personal & business separately, 72% of income combined

Usage at more than 80% counting ~$2.5k monthly spending, 78% in BT funds.
FICO = vary in the high 700s.

3 personal Cards
CL is 25% of income
Fico 720+ last time I checked

Never asked for a CL increase, but occasionally get them. Never carry a balance (unless it's 0%)

Citi wouldnt budge on giving me more than a lousy 1%.

They gave me $600 in credit line on a income in the range of $60k.
FICO score of 731 with US credit history since 2003 as well as a Citibank Canada card since 2002. They cited that the Citibank Canada relationship is what allowed me to get the generous credit card that they gave me.

I guess they know I am an FW-er and dont want my business cuz Ill probably cost them money instead of making it for them.

I also recently applied for a Citi Professional card and got rejected online with no response as of yet.

Doing anything Saturday night?

LOL....

Hey, what's more important in life. A woman's body, her mind, or her FICO?????

Hey, the junior Senator from our state (Massachusetts) has taught me that if you're going to marry, it's easier to marry rich than poor.

I seem to be in the minority here. I'm a grad student, with a research assistantship which provides me with $15,000 annually. Total CL spread across my 5 citi cards is $23,700, or 158% of my income. The card with the largest CL has $10,400 on it. Been doing automatic CLIs. Last I checked, FICO was 760ish.

Credit Score is 750
Age: 22
CL is 50k over 5 cards
Reported HH income is 170k
Almost 30% there

The AMEX cards seem to be the easiest to get increases. I have a HHonors and Blue Cash which I call up for credit line increases then call back to reallocate the balances to the Hilton card. They have extended over 25,000 on the one card, being that I am so young this is an achievement in my book.

Citi bank can be a b when it comes to anything. They have the stupid policy of 2 inquiries every 60 days and they would not let me have a CL increase until 6 months after I retained the card. With a 4k balance I do not even use the damn thing for fear of going over my 10% utilization rule.

impoverished said: jasonroehm said: On one card, it's about 15-20% of stated income. It started at around half of that, and I've taken advantage of 3-4 automatic CLIs on their Web site to get it to where it is now. I haven't been able to use the automatic CLI for a few months now; I get the form instead.

Does getting the form mean a hard pull if you fill it out?

I'm not sure what type of pull they do, but it does say on the form that by submitting the request you give them permission to check your credit history. I would assume it is a hard pull.

My FICO sucks while I pay off CC debt (<700). I just have one Citi card -- $20K which ~14% of my stated income.

EDIT: I should add that Citi wanted paystubs to verify my income when it shot up after school finished.

Thanks everyone for your responses!

The results have clustered between 12% and 4100%. So armed with that valuable information we can all now live our lives much better-er. Thanks again.

I'm 19 with a reported income of ~$70,000. Haven't checked my FICO in a while. I'm trying to clean up my credit report, I combined a few cards and closed my Capital One card (I know!).

Macy's Store Card $600
Chase Student +1 Visa $1,000
Bank of America Student Plat Plus Visa $1,000 (Oldest Card)
Bank of America/MBNA AMEX $3,000
Citi Student Driver's Edge Visa $3,300
Bank of America Power Rewards/WorldPoints Plat Visa $8,800
Citi Student MTVu Plat Visa $13,300
American Express Green Charge Card - N/A

I also have a few students loans out in my name.

CL: approx 125% of income, spread over 10 cards, largest lines Citbank $48K, MBNA-no BA $37K, Chase $30K haven't asked for a CL increase in about 10 years, now I get increased every 6 months or so.

FICO (Transunion reported Jan 07) 840, up from 833 for the prior 2 months.