PolarDude said:It is usually better to leave a small balance like 1%, than completely zero balance, so the banks know you use your credit.
This might be true (I've seen others say it), but it might not. For example, when I was in the middle of paying down (and get hit with interest on the previous months final balance, since I didn't overpay to prevent that), I had several very small balances. The FAKO or FICO reports (not sure which) flagged me for "too many accounts with a balance". If we assume that both views have merit, the modified advice is "it may be better for 1 or 2 accounts to have a small balance". (And, I'm not sure if there's enough data to weigh towards 1% or 9% for example.)

cardjuggler said:PolarDude said:It is usually better to leave a small balance like 1%, than completely zero balance, so the banks know you use your credit.
This might be true (I've seen others say it), but it might not. For example, when I was in the middle of paying down (and get hit with interest on the previous months final balance, since I didn't overpay to prevent that), I had several very small balances. The FAKO or FICO reports (not sure which) flagged me for "too many accounts with a balance". If we assume that both views have merit, the modified advice is "it may be better for 1 or 2 accounts to have a small balance". (And, I'm not sure if there's enough data to weigh towards 1% or 9% for example.)

I have seen that too, "too many accounts w/ balances"
Perhaps 1-2 would be the best, maybe up to 4, assuming you have a mortgage, auto or installment loan with a balance.
There are some score estimators available, with "what if" scenarios. I don't subscribe to one now, but used to. It used a fako, but in some cases it raised my score for closing some small accounts!

bump also really want more updates

Polar lost interest?

(pun)

FYI

I just called First National Bank of Omaha to check the status of an application. The CSR said "We show you have 2 cards with us. One Visa with FNBO and one Visa with Infibank".

It looks like Infibank is owned by FNBO as they see cards as theirs.

edited for spelling

Seamanser said:FYI

I just called First National Bank of Omaha to check the status of an application. The CSR said "We show you have 2 cards with us. One Visa with FNBO and one Visa with Infinibank".

It looks like Infinibank is owned by FNBO as they see cards as theirs.

If anyone can concur, I'll make a note of this. I did have Infibank in the 2 AoRs I did, but I believe both deferred, then denied. The layout, and apps looked different than the FNBO/first bankcard apps, but perhaps there was an Acquisition, perhaps recently? Getting a high success rate on the AoRs is a good goal. Knowing this fact, plus that they denied, even with recon, may mean passing up this 0% offer for strategizing the apps better.

First time I read this thread last December I thought it was a crazy idea. Well I still think the same but I need to appreciate OP was maintaining this amazing source of information. Bookmarked and will check back regularly

any more updates

Bump for keeping a useful list alive.