You’re ready to open a new line of credit, how do you know which one to pick? Maybe you’re a student fresh out of college looking to build up your credit, or just looking for an extra credit line. No matter who you are, the credit card approval process can be intimidating and opaque. 

While there are no guaranteed approvals (more on that below), this step-by-step guide will demystify the process and make it simpler to choose the best credit card for your needs.

1. Know Your Credit Score

Some rewards credit cards are exclusively for consumers with excellent credit, while others are more flexible about the applicants they’ll accept. If you know your credit score, you can save time and concentrate on the offers that are the best fit for you. 

Once every 12 months, you can request a free credit report from each of the three major credit card bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion). Regularly check in on your credit health to catch identity theft and avoid erroneous charges. Many major financial providers now offer free, informal credit scores on their digital platforms, so check with your current bank to see if they offer you a preview.

2. Search For Relevant Offers

There are two ways that financial providers can go about verifying your personal information and ensuring that you’re a reliable candidate for credit. An application for a credit card triggers a hard inquiry or hard pull, which will appear on your credit history for any future credit card companies to see. 

Too many hard inquiries in a short span of time will lower your credit score and alert the suspicions of future loan providers: Why would you need to borrow all this money in a short time span?

A soft pull or soft inquiry does not appear on your credit history and won’t bring down your credit rating. Fiona uses soft pulls to confirm your personal data, like your name and birthdate, and then curates a list of personalized offers that match your needs.

Fiona’s free online platform matches users with offers to take the guesswork out of credit card applications. Advanced machine learning filters available credit card offers from major providers and helps you search for the best cards for your needs.

Fiona will match you with personalized credit card offers — without doing a hard pull on your credit.

3. Apply Online

Traditional banks allow you to complete credit card applications online from the comfort of your couch. Most providers will ask for employment information, income and your Social Security Number to verify your identity. The process will vary from company to company. The online process speeds up the application, and you might hear back within a couple of days.

The credit card application process can seem difficult and frustrating, but a little research and patience will pay off when you can select the best-fit credit card for your financial goals. Use Fiona to take the guesswork out of choosing a credit card with real-time information and personalized offers.