How to increase my credit card limit capital one

Report Abuse

Capital one does not always do a hard pull. Typically they use the credit score from your last statement. I just got 2 out my 3 capital one credit card limits increased

“Expert verified” means that our Financial Review Board thoroughly evaluated the article for accuracy and clarity. The Review Board comprises a panel of financial experts whose objective is to ensure that our content is always objective and balanced.

Their reviews hold us accountable for publishing high-quality and trustworthy content.

Written by

Ana Staples

Written by Ana StaplesArrow RightCredit Cards Reporter and Young Credit Analyst

Ana Staples is a reporter for Bankrate and an expert on all things credit basics and personal finance for the younger generation.

• Connect with Ana Staples on LinkedIn Linkedin

Ana Staples

Reviewed by

Aja McClanahan

Reviewed by Aja McClanahanArrow RightPersonal Finance Writer

Aja McClanahan is an author, blogger and speaker on personal finance and entrepreneurship. Aja is the author of "How a Mother Should Talk About Money with Her Daughter."

The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.

A credit limit increase (CLI) gives you more spending power and the ability to maintain or lower your credit utilization ratio. While Capital One might choose to increase your credit limit because you’ve been a responsible cardholder, it also accepts requests for increases.

Unlike several issuers who carry out hard credit pulls when cardholders request credit limit increases, Capital One makes its decision based on a soft pull. This way, there’s no adverse effect on your credit score.

If Capital One denies your request, go through the letter it sends and look for the reason. By fixing the problem/s at hand, there’s an increased possibility of success when you submit your request again. Another option is to apply for a new card.

You can request a Capital One credit line increase online or over the phone.

Credit limit increase requests with Capital One result in soft credit pulls.

Capital One may decrease credit limits in some circumstances.

How to Increase Your Credit Limit With Capital One

Capital One may increase your credit limit in two ways. One is when it chooses to do so of its own accord, and the other is when you submit a request. However, requesting a credit limit increase (CLI) does not guarantee a successful outcome. Like most other card providers, Capital One lets you initiate the process of getting a higher credit limit online and over the phone. What helps is you don't have to worry about a hard credit pull when you request a CLI through Capital One.

Request Online via Capital One MyAccount

You need to sign in to the Capital One online banking platform to request a credit limit increase. When you ask for a higher credit limit, you'll need to provide details about your employment status, annual income and monthly rent/mortgage payments.

If you wish to get a higher credit limit for any of Capital One's Spark business cards, you'll need to provide information about the preceding year's total business revenue and your total annual income.

Chase considers these factors, and possibly others, to arrive at a decision. In some cases, Chase informs cardholders of its decision immediately, although it might take up to 30 days.

APPLY FOR A NEW CARD

Another easy (and fast) way to get an overall credit limit increase is by applying for a new Capital One credit card. Several credit cards have high credit limits and Capital One may grant the maximum credit limit to you depending on several factors.

Call Capital One to Request a Credit Limit Increase

You may call the number on the back of your Capital One credit card to request a credit limit increase. Alternatively, personal cardholders may call 1-800-227-4825, and small business cardholders may call 1-800-867-0904.

While calling to request a CLI might seem inconvenient, it gives you the ability to reason out your case or make an appeal. Much like an online CLI request, you might get an answer straightaway, or you may have to wait for up to 30 days.

When you make the call, it's important to show why you deserve a higher credit limit instead of implying that you need it. You can do this by highlighting that you've been a responsible user of credit, that you have good or excellent creditworthiness or that you've recently received a promotion or a raise. You'll also need to answer questions about your income, employment status and rent/mortgage payments. Remember that you're interacting with a fellow human being, so try to remain well-mannered throughout the call and don't ruffle any feathers.

MONEYGEEK QUICK TIP:

Charge all your purchases to the card for which you want the CLI and maintain a low outstanding balance. Capital One might be more inclined to approve your request if it views you as someone from whom it can earn more money.

Capital One Automatic Credit Limit Increase

Capital One may increase your credit limit without asking by looking at the age of your credit card account and how well you've managed your credit. If your account qualifies for an automatic increase, Capital One gives you the maximum limit it feels you will manage responsibly.

If you don't want the increase, you may decline it by calling 1-800-227-4825. You also can ask Capital One not to consider your account for an automatic increase for the next five years.

MONEYGEEK QUICK TIP:

If your income has increased since the time you received your Capital One card, make sure you update it online. This improves the odds of getting an automatic credit limit increase.

What Are the Benefits of Having a Higher Credit Limit?

You may expect a Capital One credit line increase to work well for you only if you use the additional credit responsibly. The benefits typically come in the form of higher spending capacity and a lower credit utilization ratio.

• 

  A higher credit limit gives you the freedom to use your card more often, which can be particularly beneficial if your card offers rewards or cash back. In this case, it's important to pay your balances off in full each month.

• 

  As long as you keep your outstanding balance low, a higher credit limit will result in a better credit utilization ratio. That helps improve your credit score.

When Should I Request a Credit Limit Increase?

According to Capital One, if you received your new credit card “within the past several months,” it is not eligible for a credit line increase. This is also the case if you’ve recently received a credit limit increase. By most accounts, you may qualify for an increase after the first six months.

You may consider requesting a credit line increase if your credit score has improved significantly since receiving your card. This is also the case if your income has changed for the better. If you don’t have good or excellent creditworthiness, you may want to improve your credit score before requesting a credit line increase. Bear in mind that Capital One may decrease your card’s limit if it finds a suitable reason.

Factors That Determine Credit Limit Increases or Decreases

Increases

• Your credit score has improved.
• Your salary has increased.
• You have a low credit utilization ratio.
• You make all payments on time.
• You request a credit limit increase.

Decreases

• Your credit score has dropped.
• Your income has been reduced.
• You’ve made late payments in the recent past.
• You’ve missed making payments in the recent past.
• You have a high credit utilization ratio.
• Your credit report has one or more negative inferences.
• You don’t use your card frequently.
• Someone has stolen your identity.

Keep in mind that an increase in credit limit brings with it the potential to hurt your finances. This is the case if you’re not responsible with your credit and rack up more debt than you can repay comfortably. Remember that credit cards tend to come with high interest rates that apply to balances you carry over from one billing cycle to the next.

Reminders Before Requesting a Credit Limit Increase

Capital One cardholders who wish to get credit limit increases need to meet a few requirements. Paying attention to factors such as your credit score and how much of an increase you should aim for can improve your chances of approval.

Am I Eligible for a Credit Limit Increase?

You need to meet multiple requirements to be eligible for a credit limit increase through Capital One.

• Your account has been open for several (typically more than six) months.
• You have not received a credit limit increase in the last six months.
• Your account has not been past due in the last several months.
• Your monthly payments exceed the monthly minimum due substantially.
• You use the card often enough.

However, even if you meet all its documented conditions, there is no guarantee that your request will be approved. In addition, it is not possible to increase the credit limit of a Capital One secured credit card.

How Much of a Credit Increase Should I Get?

The highest Capital One credit limit you may qualify for depends on your income, creditworthiness and other factors. When asking Capital One for a higher credit limit, requesting an increase of up to 25% is the ideal way to go. In addition, Capital One might approve your request but offer a lower-than-desired limit. If you aim for too high a limit, Capital One may deny your request.

What Is My Current Credit Score?

Expect Capital One to look at your credit score through a soft credit pull when you request a credit limit increase. You may use the CreditWise platform from Capital One to access your VantageScore 3.0 score from TransUnion. Several other websites also let you view your credit score scores from Experian and Equifax for free.

There is a greater likelihood that Capital One will approve your credit limit increase request if you have excellent credit. People with good credit scores also stand a fair chance, provided they use their Capital One cards responsibly. If you have poor or average creditworthiness, work on improving your credit score before requesting an increase in your card’s credit limit.

Ensure you make all your payments on time as it has a bearing on your payment history, which, in turn, affects your credit score. Paying off your balances as quickly as possible helps you maintain a low credit utilization ratio, which also has a positive effect on your credit score. Spacing out your applications for new credit by at least six months is the way to go, as each new hard inquiry has a slightly negative impact on your credit score.

What Is My Credit Limit and Credit Utilization?

Find out your card’s current credit limit before requesting an increase, as this gives you the means to calculate your credit utilization ratio for the card in question. For example, if your card’s limit is $5,000, of which you’ve used $3,000, its credit utilization ratio is 60%. For Capital One to view your credit limit increase request favorably, this number should be 30% or lower. This requires that you bring your outstanding balance to below $1,500. The lower your credit utilization ratio, the better the chances that your request will be approved. Bear in mind that Capital One also looks at your overall credit utilization ratio.

MONEYGEEK QUICK TIP:

Create a spreadsheet that lists all your credit cards, their credit limits and your outstanding balances to calculate and monitor your overall credit utilization ratio.

Learn more: How to Calculate Your Credit Utilization Ratio

What to Do if the Request Is Denied

Capital One may choose to reject your request for a variety of reasons. If this happens, it will inform you of its decision by sending a letter explaining why it denied your request. You may also call Capital One to ask for the reason and request reconsideration.

Capital One uses the reasons stated in the letter you receive to determine whether or not you qualify for a credit line increase. As a result, fixing these problems increases the possibility of approval in the future, although there’s no guarantee this will happen. The most common reasons Capital One may decline a credit limit increase request include:

• Your credit card account is not old enough.
• You’ve received a credit limit increase in the last six months.
• You’ve been past due on your account in the last several months.
• You make low monthly payments.
• You use your card infrequently.
• There’s a recent delinquency listed on your credit report.
• You have a low credit score.

Once you know the reason Capital One denied your credit limit increase request, you can take corrective measures to fix the problem/s. Then, you may consider asking Capital One again. Alternatively, you may think about applying for a new credit card, either through Capital One or a different card provider.

If you wish to free up some space on your existing Capital One card and don’t qualify for a credit limit increase, you may also want to consider transferring all or part of its balance to a balance transfer card. When done right, it might lead to savings in interest charges.

EXPERT TIP:

When requesting an increase, it is a good idea to speak with customer service. This way you can quickly answer their questions, explain how your situation has improved or provide additional information necessary for them to make a decision. — Lee Huffman, credit card expert at BaldThoughts.com

Call Capital One Support Center

If you feel Capital One might have denied your request in error, you may ask the card issuer to give your request another look. Capital One's reconsideration process requires that you speak with a customer support representative over the phone. The Capital One contact number you may call is 1-800-227-4825 (1-800-CAPITAL). Existing cardholders may call collect from outside of the U.S. by dialing 1-804-934-2001.

Open a New Capital One Account/Credit Card

You may consider applying for a new Capital One credit card if you haven't applied for one in the last six months and if you have just one personal Capital One card. This is because Capital One lets you use no more than two of its personal credit cards at a time.

Once you get a new Capital One card, you may expect your overall credit limit to increase and a lower credit utilization ratio. However, remember that applying for a new card results in a hard credit inquiry, which causes your credit score to drop by a few points in the short term.

If you wish to get Capital One's highest credit limit cards, you need excellent credit. Your income and a few other factors also play a role in the credit limit that Capital One assigns to your new card. Examples of high-limit credit cards from Capital One include the Venture Rewards Card, the Venture X Rewards Card, the Quicksilver Cash Rewards Card and the Spark Cash for Business Card.

• Approximate Max Credit Limit

The links in the table above will take you to one of our partner's sites, where you can compare and apply for a selected credit card.

Types of Capital One Credit Cards

Depending on your other requirements, you may choose from Capital One’s range of travel cards, cash back cards, no-annual-fee cards and low intro rate cards. For instance, if you wish to earn a high cash back rate on category-based spending and don’t want to pay an annual fee, you may consider applying for the Savor Rewards Card. The credit limit you get might vary based on the card you select, your credit score and your income, among other factors. The top Capital One credit cards you can choose from include:

Sorry. We were not able to load data for table...

Other Questions You May Have About Capital One Credit Limit Increases

Does Capital One raise your credit limit after five months?

Capital One states that it generally does not change credit limits more often than once every six months, although this is not always the case.

Does Capital One automatically increase my credit limit?

Yes, Capital One may automatically increase the credit limit of your card based on how responsibly you use your credit as well as any positive changes it sees in your credit score or income.

Is it OK to ask for a credit limit increase?

It's OK to ask Capital One to increase your credit limit if it's been at least six months since you received your card, you maintain a low credit utilization ratio and you have good or excellent creditworthiness. You may also ask for a higher limit if you've received a pay hike.

How long does it take to get a higher credit limit?

In some cases, Capital One informs cardholders of its decision immediately. However, it might take up to 30 days in some scenarios.

How much of a credit increase should I ask for?

You should ideally request an increase of no more than 25% of your card's existing limit. For example, if your card's limit is currently $5,000, you may ask Capital One to increase it to $6,250.

Does increasing credit limit affect credit score?

Increasing your Capital One card's limit may affect your credit score. When a card's credit limit increases, so does your overall credit limit. If you don't add more debt, you may expect the credit limit increase to bring down your credit utilization ratio. This helps improve your credit score. Since Capital One carries out a soft inquiry when processing credit limit increase requests, you don't have to worry about the negative effect that comes with a hard inquiry.

How often does Capital one increase credit limits?

Capital One usually refrains from increasing a card's credit limit more than once in a six-month period.

Does Capital One have a reconsideration line?

There is no dedicated Capital One reconsideration line. However, you may call its customer service number at 1-800-227-4825.

Why did my credit limit decrease?

Capital One might decrease your card's credit limit if you don't use it often enough, if your credit score has dropped, if your income has reduced or if you maintain high outstanding balances.

Why is my credit limit so low?

Capital One assigns a credit limit to your new card based on your credit score, your income, your employment status and other factors it might consider important. The higher your credit score and income, the better the possibility of getting a high credit limit.

How do I get Capital One to increase my credit limit?

Does Capital One automatically increase credit limit?

How often does Capital One increase your credit card limit?

What is Capital One's highest credit limit?