Approval Rates by Credit Score Band and Card Tier
Estimated approval rate ranges for premium, mid-tier, business, and starter/secured cards across seven score bands.
| Credit Score Range | Premium Cards | Mid-Tier Cards | Business Cards | Starter/Secured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 800-850 (Exceptional) | 85-92% | 90-95% | 80-90% | 95%+ |
| 750-799 (Excellent) | 75-85% | 85-92% | 70-82% | 95%+ |
| 720-749 (Very Good) | 55-70% | 78-85% | 55-68% | 92-95% |
| 700-719 (Good) | 30-45% | 65-78% | 35-50% | 90-95% |
| 670-699 (Fair-Good) | 10-20% | 50-65% | 15-30% | 85-92% |
| 580-669 (Fair) | <5% | 20-35% | 5-15% | 70-85% |
| Below 580 (Poor) | <1% | 5-12% | <3% | 50-70% |
Applicants with credit scores of 750 or higher have a 75-85% credit card approval rate across all card tiers, while premium card approval drops to under 15% below a 670 score (StackEasy 2026 approval odds analysis).
Hard Inquiry Impact on Approval Odds
Approval rates by number of hard inquiries in the past 6 months. Premium cards skew toward the lower end of each range; mid-tier cards skew higher.
| Inquiries in Past 6 Months | Approval Rate (750+ Score) | Approval Rate (700-749) | Approval Rate (670-699) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-1 inquiries | 80-90% | 60-75% | 40-55% |
| 2-3 inquiries | 65-78% | 42-58% | 22-38% |
| 4-5 inquiries | 45-60% | 25-40% | 10-20% |
| 6+ inquiries | 25-40% | 12-25% | <10% |
Each additional hard inquiry reduces credit card approval odds by approximately 8-12 percentage points — an applicant's 5th application has roughly half the approval probability of their 1st at the same credit score (StackEasy, 2026).
Issuer-Specific Approval Sensitivity
Not all issuers weigh factors equally. Based on community-reported outcomes and public disclosures.
| Issuer | Score Sensitivity | Inquiry Sensitivity | Income Weight | Notable Rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase | High | Very High | Moderate | 5/24 rule; 1/30 velocity rule |
| American Express | Moderate | Low | High | Once-per-lifetime SUB; lenient on inquiries |
| Capital One | Moderate | High | High | Pulls all 3 bureaus; income-to-debt heavy |
| Citi | High | Moderate | Moderate | 1/8 and 2/65 rules; 6-month same-family rule |
| Discover | Moderate | Low | Low | Most accessible major issuer |
The approval cliff sits at 720, not 670: approval rates for premium and business cards fall 25-35 percentage points between a 720 and a 700 credit score (StackEasy 2026 approval odds analysis).
Additional Findings
Business card approval rates are 5-15 percentage points lower than equivalent personal cards at every score band — the "business cards are easier" assumption is a myth (StackEasy, 2026).
Among applicants with identical 750-799 credit scores, those reporting household income above $100,000 had a 12-18 percentage point higher approval rate on premium cards than those reporting $50,000-$75,000 (StackEasy, 2026).
An existing card relationship with an issuer is worth a 10-15 point credit score buffer: existing customers saw approval rates equivalent to non-customers with scores 10-15 points higher (StackEasy, 2026).
Methodology & Source
This dataset is extracted from StackEasy's 2026 approval odds research, which triangulates four sources: the CFPB Consumer Complaint Database (847,000+ credit card complaints, 2024-2026), the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances (2022, 5,783 households), issuer 10-K and quarterly SEC filings (2024-2025), and a StackEasy community survey of 312 self-reported application outcomes (January-March 2026).
Approval rates are estimated ranges, not guarantees. Individual results depend on income, existing debt, recent inquiries, and issuer-specific criteria. Research is updated semi-annually.
Free to cite with attribution and a link to this page.
Data Questions
What are my credit card approval odds with a score of 750 or higher?
Applicants with scores of 750 or higher have a 75-85% approval rate across all card tiers, including premium travel cards and cash-back cards. At this score range you qualify for the best signup bonuses and lowest APRs available.
How much does a hard inquiry reduce my credit score?
A single hard inquiry temporarily reduces your credit score by 5-10 points. Each additional inquiry also reduces approval odds by approximately 8-12 percentage points, so for a stacker applying for 5 cards, the 5th application has roughly half the approval probability of the 1st.
What approval rates can I expect with a credit score between 670 and 739?
Scores of 670-739 split dramatically by card tier: 40-60% approval on premium cards but 70-80% approval on mid-tier cards. Premium travel cards become viable but are not guaranteed approvals.
Where does this approval rate data come from?
The data is compiled from CFPB complaint records (847,000+ credit card complaints, 2024-2026), the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances (2022, 5,783 households), issuer 10-K and quarterly SEC filings (2024-2025), and a StackEasy community survey of 312 self-reported application outcomes collected January-March 2026.