Barry Choi is an award-winning personal finance and travel expert. He regularly appears on various shows in Canada and the U.S., where he talks about all things money and travel. His website, Money We Have, attracts thousands of visitors daily who ar.
Barry Choi Credit Cards ExpertBarry Choi is an award-winning personal finance and travel expert. He regularly appears on various shows in Canada and the U.S., where he talks about all things money and travel. His website, Money We Have, attracts thousands of visitors daily who ar.
Written By Barry Choi Credit Cards ExpertBarry Choi is an award-winning personal finance and travel expert. He regularly appears on various shows in Canada and the U.S., where he talks about all things money and travel. His website, Money We Have, attracts thousands of visitors daily who ar.
Barry Choi Credit Cards ExpertBarry Choi is an award-winning personal finance and travel expert. He regularly appears on various shows in Canada and the U.S., where he talks about all things money and travel. His website, Money We Have, attracts thousands of visitors daily who ar.
Credit Cards Expert Jerod Morales Deputy EditorJerod Morales is a deputy editor at Forbes Advisor and a travel rewards expert. He took a deep dive into points and miles in 2016, searching for a way to make travel both possible and affordable for his growing family. Now, as a dad to four sons, he.
Jerod Morales Deputy EditorJerod Morales is a deputy editor at Forbes Advisor and a travel rewards expert. He took a deep dive into points and miles in 2016, searching for a way to make travel both possible and affordable for his growing family. Now, as a dad to four sons, he.
Jerod Morales Deputy EditorJerod Morales is a deputy editor at Forbes Advisor and a travel rewards expert. He took a deep dive into points and miles in 2016, searching for a way to make travel both possible and affordable for his growing family. Now, as a dad to four sons, he.
Jerod Morales Deputy EditorJerod Morales is a deputy editor at Forbes Advisor and a travel rewards expert. He took a deep dive into points and miles in 2016, searching for a way to make travel both possible and affordable for his growing family. Now, as a dad to four sons, he.
Updated: Aug 13, 2024, 10:30am
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
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Like many other financial institutions, Citibank (a Forbes Advisor partner) may prescreen you—Citi does not refer to this as preapproval—for a credit card. Even if you don’t receive an offer, it’s still possible you may get approved when you apply if you manage your credit responsibly.
While Citi prescreening can be convenient, it does not guarantee approval. Admittedly, the terms “prescreened,” “preapproved” and “pre-qualified” are very similar. Each is used to attract new customers. The difference comes down to which party initiated the request.
Citibank has historically offered “prescreening” on some of its credit cards to select customers. If you’re offered prescreening, that means you conditionally meet the approval criteria for the credit card when you formally apply. These prescreens can arrive via email or through the mail. Keep in mind that these prescreens often include limited-time offers meant to entice you to sign up.
Since everyone has a different credit profile, not everyone will get prescreened. Generally speaking, if you have a good credit score, no delinquent payments or bankruptcies and a stable income, Citibank may prescreen you.
Banks typically have two methods when seeking out individuals who meet prescreening conditions. First, banks will look at their own customers. If those customers meet certain criteria, a prescreen may be sent. Alternatively, if a bank is looking to attract new customers, it could request a list of individuals who meet certain requirements from one of the three major credit reporting bureaus.
Even though Citibank is checking your credit profile during the prescreening process, there’s no hit to your credit score because this is a soft inquiry. However, if you accept the offer, a hard inquiry will be done. This will lower your credit score a bit, but it’s one final check to ensure nothing has changed with your credit profile.
Citi currently provides the option to see if you’re pre-qualified via a form on their website. This was recently unavailable so we’re not sure how long it will last, but it can be worth checking. Interested customers can always check out all of Citi’s card offerings via their website.
While there’s no public information available about what exactly is needed to get prescreened for a Citi credit card, you’ll likely need to meet the following minimum requirements:
It’s worth noting that some credit cards also require personal or household income. These numbers aren’t typically published, but financial institutions can set their own minimum standards.
Even if you meet all the requirements above, you may not automatically be prescreened. That’s because prescreening happens when Citi is proactively looking for new business. If you’re not an existing customer, or your information isn’t available through one of the credit reporting bureaus, you may not get prescreened.
Most cards offered by Citi require a good to excellent credit score—670 to over 800. The cards with such requirements are some of the most rewarding cards offered, but there are options if your score is not quite at that level. With at least a fair credit score—starting at 580—you might be able to get the Citi Double Cash® Card.
Those who are completely new to credit may be able to qualify for the Citi® Secured Mastercard® * , but you’ll want to compare its benefits to other starter cards before you apply.
Pros
Cons
Since Citi credit card prescreenings are initiated by Citi, there’s really no set formula to determine when you might receive one. You can, however, increase your odds by building a solid credit score, making sure you pay other bills on time and maintaining a steady income.
If you catch wind of an increased welcome bonus or new offer from Citi, that’s the time to keep your eyes open for a prescreened offer that might be sent your way.
If you’re not prescreened for a specific Citi credit card, don’t worry. Citi may be missing some information, so calling or heading to a branch may help your approval process. However, if you haven’t been prescreened due to your credit profile, you may want to focus on improving your credit score first.
Citi offers the Citi® Secured Mastercard® * that helps you build your credit history. In general, secured credit cards require a security deposit. This amount would serve as your credit limit. As you make everyday purchases and pay your bills on time, your credit history will be reported to the credit bureaus. This will slowly increase your credit score. Once your credit score is in good standing, you’ll be in a better position to start getting prescreened offers.
Besides getting a secured credit card, there are a few ways to improve your chances of getting prescreened for a Citi credit card, including:
Essentially, you want to try your best to keep your credit score in good standing since it can have a major impact on the review process. A credit score of 740 and up is considered very good and is a goal to strive for.
No single credit card is the best option for every family, every purchase or every budget. We've picked the best credit cards in a way designed to be the most helpful to the widest variety of readers.
Oftentimes a credit card company will send out prescreens when they want to promote a limited-time offer or elevated bonus. Don’t throw away that mailer or delete an email like this without assessing whether the offer is right for you.
You might meet certain requirements for a unique offer and that’s the reason Citi sent you a prescreen. These offers usually come with an expiration date, so make sure to note that if you plan to apply.
If you receive a prescreened offer from Citi, that means chances are good that you’ll be fully approved for the card. If the offer fits with your goals, then it could be time to formally apply.
The Citi prescreen process is straightforward. When Citi prescreens you, it’s doing so for a specific product. Regardless of what you’re offered, keep in mind better offers might be out there. Be sure to review any promotions you receive in detail, and only formally apply for the card if it’s something that will help you reach your financial goals.
*The information for the following card(s) has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor: Citi® Secured Mastercard® . The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
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Credit Cards ExpertBarry Choi is an award-winning personal finance and travel expert. He regularly appears on various shows in Canada and the U.S., where he talks about all things money and travel. His website, Money We Have, attracts thousands of visitors daily who are looking for the latest stories on travel and money.
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