What happens when you request a Bank of America credit card

When you request a Bank of America credit card, the bank pulls your credit report, checks your income and existing debt, and decides within minutes whether to approve you, deny you, or offer you a card with conditions. You will see the decision when ready online or by phone, depending on how you request. If approved, your card arrives in 7 to 10 business days. If denied, Bank of America sends a letter explaining why — usually credit score, insufficient income, or too much existing debt — and you can request reconsideration or try again later.

The process differs slightly depending on whether you are a current Bank of America customer. Existing customers can request through their online account or mobile app in under five minutes. New customers go through the bank's website and answer more questions about income and employment. Either way, you need a Social Security number, current address, and basic financial information before you start.

Key Takeaways

  • Bank of America reviews your request in minutes and tells you the decision when ready, though the card itself takes 7 to 10 business days to arrive.
  • You will need your Social Security number, date of birth, current address, and annual income to complete the request.
  • Existing Bank of America customers can request through their online account or app; new customers request through the website.
  • If denied, the bank sends a letter explaining the reason, and you can ask them to reconsider or request again after your financial situation changes.

What Bank of America credit cards are available

Bank of America offers roughly a dozen credit cards across different categories: cash back cards, travel rewards cards, cards for students, and cards for people rebuilding credit. The most common are the Bank of America Cash Rewards card (1% cash back on all purchases), the Bank of America Travel Rewards card (1.5 points per dollar), and the Bank of America Premium Rewards card (higher rewards but an annual fee). Each has different credit score expectations and annual fees.

You can see the full list and compare rewards, fees, and requirements on Bank of America's credit cards page. The bank does not publish exact credit score minimums, but most of their standard cards go to people with fair credit or better (usually 650 or above). If your credit score is lower, the Bank of America Secured Credit Card may be an option — it requires a cash deposit that becomes your credit limit, and after responsible use, you can move to an unsecured card.

How to request through your Bank of America account

If you already have a Bank of America checking or savings account, the fastest route is through your online account or mobile app. Log in, look for "Credit Cards" or "explore for a Card" in the menu, select the card you want, and answer the questions about your income and employment. The bank will show you the decision when ready on screen.

Some existing customers see a "pre-approval" offer in their account — a card they can request without a hard credit pull. If you see this, requesting takes about two minutes and does not affect your credit score. If you do not see a pre-approval offer, the bank will do a full review, which includes a hard inquiry and may lower your score slightly.

How to request as a new Bank of America customer

If you do not have a Bank of America account, go to their website and select the card you want to request. You will answer questions about your name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, employment, and annual income. The form takes 5 to 10 minutes. Bank of America will pull your credit report and tell you the decision before you finish.

New customers cannot request through the app — you must use the website. After you request the card, the bank may also ask you to open a checking account, though this is not required to get the card. If you are denied, you can request a different card or wait a few months before trying again.

What information you need before you start

Have these details ready before you begin the request:

  • Your Social Security number
  • Your date of birth
  • Your current address
  • Your annual income (from employment, self-employment, investments, or other sources)
  • Your current employment status and employer name (if employed)
  • Whether you rent or own your home

The bank may also ask about other credit cards you hold, your monthly housing payment, and whether you have been denied credit in the past year. Having this information ready means you will not have to stop and look things up halfway through.

What happens after you are approved

Once approved, your card is mailed to the address you provided and arrives in 7 to 10 business days. You can set up it through the Bank of America app or website as soon as it arrives, or by calling the number on the back of the card. Some cards come with a temporary digital card number you can use when ready for online purchases while you wait for the physical card.

Your credit limit will be shown in your approval letter or in your account. You can request a higher limit after you have used the card responsibly for a few months. If you were approved with a lower limit than you expected, you can also call the customer service number on your card to ask about an increase.

What to do if you are denied

If Bank of America denies your request, they send a letter within 30 days explaining the reason. Common reasons are a credit score below their threshold, insufficient income, too much existing debt, or recent negative marks on your credit report (late payments, collections, or bankruptcy). The letter includes information about how to dispute the decision if you believe the information is wrong.

You can call Bank of America and ask them to reconsider, though this rarely changes the outcome if the reason is a low credit score or high debt. A better approach is to wait 3 to 6 months, work on the issue (pay down debt, dispute errors on your credit report, or build credit history), and request again. Each request does a hard pull, so space them out — too many inquiries in a short time can hurt your score further.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does requesting a Bank of America credit card hurt my credit score?

Yes, Bank of America does a hard inquiry, which lowers your score by a few points for a few months. If you already have a Bank of America account and see a pre-approval offer, requesting through that offer does not do a hard pull and does not affect your score. For new customers or those without a pre-approval, the inquiry is unavoidable.

How long does it take to hear back after I request?

You get a decision within minutes — usually before you finish the request. If you request online or through the app, you see the decision on screen when ready. If you request by phone, the representative tells you during the call. The physical card takes 7 to 10 business days to arrive by mail.

Can I request a credit card if I have no credit history?

Bank of America's standard cards are difficult to get without any credit history. The Bank of America Secured Credit Card is designed for people building credit — it requires a cash deposit (usually $500 to $2,500) that becomes your credit limit. After 12 months of on-time payments, you can move to an unsecured card.

What if I want to request a different card after being denied?

You can request a different Bank of America card, though each request does another hard pull. If you were denied for a rewards card, trying a secured card or a card designed for fair credit may have better odds. Wait at least a few weeks between requests to avoid multiple inquiries in a short time.

Can someone else request a card on my behalf?

No. You must request the card yourself using your own Social Security number and information. Bank of America will not process a request from someone else, even a spouse or family member. Each person must request their own card.