How To Request a Capital One Credit Line Increase

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Capital One, like many credit card issuers, might automatically increase a cardholder’s credit limit. However, those who don’t want to wait for an automatic increase may request an increase by filling out a form on the Capital One website or mobile app. Alternatively, you can call Capital One customer service and make a request through the automated system. You’ll need to provide your income, employment status, occupation, mortgage or rent payment and the amount of credit you’re requesting.

Ways To Request a Capital One Credit Line Increase

If you want to request that Capital One increase your credit limit, you can apply from the Capital One website or mobile app. Some cardholders will receive an immediate decision. Capital One may need to review specific information for other cardholders, and a decision can take up to 30 days.

All cardholders will receive a letter stating the approval or denial and why the request was declined. If approved, you can begin using your credit line immediately.

Request a Credit Line Increase Online

It’s important to note that new Capital One cardholders, those with a secured credit card or poor credit, and those who have received a Capital One credit line increase or decrease within the previous several months are not eligible for a credit limit increase. However, if you are looking to make a large purchase or just improve your credit utilization ratio, you can make a request online by following these steps:

  1. Go to the Capital One website and log in.
  2. Select the Settings icon.
  3. Select Credit Line Increase.
  4. On the Request Credit Line Increase screen, enter all required information.
  5. Click Submit.

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Request a Credit Line Increase via the Capital One Mobile App

To request a credit line increase via the Capital One banking app, you can simply follow these steps:

  1. Log in to the Capital One mobile app.
  2. Tap Profile in the bottom toolbar.
  3. Select Account & Feature Settings.
  4. Select Credit Line Increase.
  5. On the Request Credit Line Increase screen, enter all required information.
  6. Slide the arrow at the bottom of the screen to submit the request.

The Capital One mobile app has a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars on the App Store and 4.6 out of 5 stars on Google Play. This indicates overall customer satisfaction from both iOS and Android users.

Request a Credit Line Increase by Phone

One of the most straightforward ways to request a line of credit increase is to call Capital One directly at 800-227-4825. Enter your card number to navigate to your account information. After giving your balance and payment information, the automated system will list several actions you can take. Select the final one, for “other,” and when prompted, state your request for a credit line increase. From there, follow the automated prompts to complete your request.

How Long Will It Take for Capital One To Increase My Credit Limit?

Many increases are approved immediately, but it could take as long as 30 days in some cases. Note that the approval won’t necessarily be for the amount you request — Capital One will approve you for the highest limit you qualify for. However, if the limit it offers is higher than you want, you can accept a lower limit. Either way, you can use your new credit limit as soon as it’s approved.

Does Capital One Automatically Increase Your Credit Limit?

Capital One does initiate credit limit increases, but it doesn’t disclose how often it evaluates accounts or the specific criteria it uses to make a decision. If you prefer not to be considered for an increase unless you request it, call 800-227-4825 to opt out of consideration for five years.

Reasons a Credit Line Increase May Be Declined

Capital One may decline a credit line increase request for any of the following reasons:

  • The account is too new.
  • The credit line has been increased or decreased during the previous several months.
  • The cardholder has had a recent late or missed payment.
  • The cardholder has a low credit score.
  • The cardholder has a recent delinquency reported on their credit report.
  • The cardholder’s average monthly payment is too low to pay down the outstanding balance significantly.
  • The cardholder is not using the card frequently enough.

If a cardholder is denied a credit line increase, there is no guarantee Capital One will grant a future request even if the cardholder addresses the issues provided as reasons for the denial.

Ways To Improve Your Chance of Receiving a Credit Line Increase

Even though a credit line increase is never guaranteed, you can improve your chance of getting a credit line increase by doing the following:

  • Building a pattern of on-time payments
  • Paying more than the account minimum
  • Maintaining a good credit history and credit score
  • Keeping employment and income information up to date with Capital One

Final Take To GO

If you’re eligible, Capital One might grant your request for a credit limit increase once every several months. In the event it declines your request, it’ll tell you why. You then can take steps to rectify the issues to improve your chance for approval next time, and also to improve your credit.

Daria Uhlig and Andrea Norris contributed to the reporting for this article.

Editorial Note: This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.

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