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Written by
Nicole Dieker
Nicole Dieker has been a full-time freelance writer since 2012—and a personal finance enthusiast since 2004, when she graduated from college and, looking for financial guidance, found a battered copy of Your Money or Your Life at the public library. In addition to writing for Bankrate, her work has appeared on CreditCards.com, Vox, Lifehacker, Popular Science, The Penny Hoarder, The Simple Dollar and NBC News. Dieker spent five years as writer and editor for The Billfold, a personal finance blog where people had honest conversations about money. Dieker also teaches writing, freelancing and publishing classes and works one-on-one with authors as a developmental editor and copyeditor.
Edited by
Cathleen McCarthy
Cathleen's stories on design, travel and business have appeared in dozens of publications including the Washington Post, Town & Country, Wall Street Journal, Marie Claire, Fodor’s Travel, Departures and The Writer.
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One of the benefits of applying for credit cards online is the ability to know whether you’ve been approved or rejected within minutes. But in some cases, all you’ll learn is that your credit card application is “under review” or “pending.”
Lenders occasionally need extra time to evaluate credit applications, but how long will you have to wait until they make their decision? Let’s take a look at what happens when your credit card application is pending — and what you can do while you wait to hear back from the credit card company.
How long does it take to get approved for a credit card application? It depends. In many cases, when you apply for a credit card online you learn the status of your credit card application within minutes. And if your application has been accepted, you’re often able to make online purchases with your new credit card number right away. (It’ll still usually take seven to 10 days for the physical credit card to arrive in the mail.)
However, credit card issuers sometimes need additional time to review a credit card application and make a final decision. This means you may receive the message that your application is “pending” or “under review.” Many pending credit card applications are resolved within a few days, but it can take two weeks or more for some lenders to complete the review process.
Lenders occasionally need extra time to accept or decline a credit card application. Here are some of the most common reasons why your application might still be under review:
If your credit card application status is pending, the best thing you can do is be patient. While many banks and credit card issuers resolve pending credit card applications within a day or two, it can take weeks for some lenders to issue their final decisions. Here’s what you can do while you wait:
Nearly all lenders send information about their application decisions through the mail, whether to congratulate you on your approval or explain why your credit card application was declined. Make sure you haven’t missed any letters.
Your credit card application decision will often arrive by both postal mail and email — and in most cases, you’ll receive the email first. Keep an eye on your inbox, and don’t forget to check your spam folder.
If you already have an online account with the bank or lender in question, you might be able to log in to your online portal to check on the status of your new credit application. Many credit card issuers also offer application status portals that allow you to check on your pending application.
If a couple of weeks have gone by and you’re still waiting to hear back on your application status, you can always contact the card issuer’s customer service. Some credit card issuers have dedicated application status phone lines. If you can’t find one, call the main customer service phone number.
Different credit card reviewers have different application processes, and different ways of allowing you to check your credit card application status. If you’re waiting on an application decision, here’s how to check your status with some of the major credit card issuers:
| Issuer | How to check application status |
|---|---|
| American Express | Online |
Instant approval credit cards are exactly what they sound like. When you apply for an instant approval card, you’ll get your approval decision as soon as your application is completed. A bank or lender will take a quick look at your credit score and credit history before deciding whether to issue you an instant approval credit card.
Some instant approval credit cards are conditional, in the sense that a lender may revoke the approval decision after conducting a more thorough review of your credit. (Remember that being rejected for a credit card won’t hurt your credit score, although the recent inquiry will cause a small dip.)
In some cases, lenders may not be able to provide an instant approval decision and may request additional information or verification. People with good or excellent credit have the best chance of getting approved for an instant approval credit card.
Most credit card applications are likely to get processed within a couple of minutes, whether you apply online or on the phone. So it can be frustrating and confusing to see a “pending” status on a credit card application because an issuer needs more time to process your information.
The best way to avoid a pending status is to provide complete and accurate information on your application. However, sometimes issuer investigations happen for reasons beyond your control. Whatever the reason, you should get a result within a few days. If you don’t, you can always call or check online to follow up on the status of a pending application.
Arrow Right Contributor, Personal Finance
Nicole Dieker has been a full-time freelance writer since 2012—and a personal finance enthusiast since 2004, when she graduated from college and, looking for financial guidance, found a battered copy of Your Money or Your Life at the public library. In addition to writing for Bankrate, her work has appeared on CreditCards.com, Vox, Lifehacker, Popular Science, The Penny Hoarder, The Simple Dollar and NBC News. Dieker spent five years as writer and editor for The Billfold, a personal finance blog where people had honest conversations about money. Dieker also teaches writing, freelancing and publishing classes and works one-on-one with authors as a developmental editor and copyeditor.
Cathleen's stories on design, travel and business have appeared in dozens of publications including the Washington Post, Town & Country, Wall Street Journal, Marie Claire, Fodor’s Travel, Departures and The Writer.
