What Credit Score Is Needed for a Discover Credit Card?
Sears founded Discover in 1985, and it quickly rose through the ranks to become a premier credit card issuer. Today, the company offers an extensive lineup of credit card products, ranging from secured to student and even rewards credit cards.
There are several perks to applying for a Discover credit card, including cash back and travel rewards. However, if a person applies for too many credit cards within a certain time frame, some companies will view them as high-risk borrowers and be less likely to approve their application. It’s helpful to know what credit card companies are looking for and if you meet their requirements before you apply.
What Is the Credit Score Needed for Discover Card?
Discover offers a wide range of credit card products to meet the various needs of different consumers, so there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Here are the Discover credit cards applicants should consider based on their credit scores:
Discover Credit Cards for Bad Credit or No Credit
Lenders consider any credit score below 580 bad or poor credit. Moreover, applicants with no credit history often have difficulty getting approved for credit cards. Discover has an option for these consumers — the Discover it Secured credit card.
Like all secured credit cards, the Discover it secured credit card asks cardholders for a security deposit as collateral. Those who use their cards responsibly will receive a refund of their security deposit, typically after about a year.
Unlike most secured credit cards, the Discover it Secured credit card doesn’t have an annual fee and offers rewards. Cardholders earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants and 1% on all other purchases, plus a one-for-one cashback match at the end of their first year of membership.
Discover Credit Cards for Students
Applicants of student age with no credit history but reliable income may want to consider the Discover it Student Cash Back credit card.
Student cardholders can earn up to 5% cash back on qualifying purchases and will earn 1% back on all purchases that don’t qualify for higher rewards. There’s no annual fee, and Discover matches all earned cash at a one-for-one rate at the end of the cardholder’s first year as a member.
Good to Know
Cardholders with an outdated Discover credit card or those who apply for one and decide they’re not happy with the rewards can take advantage of product trades. Cardholders should call Discover and ask what product trades are available or go to Discover’s online conversion website. Interest rates typically stay the same, and cardholders can get access to the rewards they want.
Discover Credit Cards for Good to Excellent Credit
Potential applicants with credit scores of 680 or above may qualify for one of Discover’s multiple premier credit card offerings. The two top options include:
Discover it Miles Card
The Discover it Miles credit card is the perfect option for applicants who enjoy traveling. The card rewards members with 1.5 miles for every dollar they spend; there are no quarterly or annual limits to the rewards they can earn.
Cardholders can redeem miles for travel rewards. They can use them to shop on Amazon, pay for a statement credit or even convert them on PayPal. There’s no annual fee, and Discover matches cardholder rewards at the end of their first year of membership.
Discover it Cash Back Credit Card
The Discover it Cash Back card rewards members with cash back on each purchase. Cardholders can earn up to 5% cash back on qualifying purchases and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Discover matches all the cash cardholders earn in their first year of membership as a bonus.
Like all Discover cards, the Discover it Cash Back card has no annual fee and flexible rewards redemption options. Cardholders can customize their credit cards by choosing one of the 25 available card designs.
Getting Approved
Applying for too many credit cards in a short time frame can hurt your credit score, so it’s important to know you have a good chance of being approved before you apply.
Discover offers a pre-approval check to give you an idea of whether you’ll be approved for a card. You provide some personal information, like your name, date of birth and income, along with the type of card you’d like to be considered for, and Discover lets you know if you’re pre-approved without affecting your credit score.
FAQ
Discover credit cards are popular options, but potential applicants often have questions. Some of the most common include:- Is it worth getting a Discover credit card?
- Yes, in most cases. Discover offers a wide range of credit card products to help consumers build and establish credit and earn compelling rewards.
- Most Discover credit cards have the added benefits of matching cardholder rewards for their entire first year of membership, no annual fee and competitive terms.
- Is it hard to get approved for a Discover Card?
- The difficulty of getting approved for a Discover credit card depends on the credit card the applicant is applying for. Some, like the Discover it Secured and Student credit cards, are easy to get, while premier options ask more of the applicant.
- Can I get a Discover card with a 600 credit score?
- It is possible to get a Discover card with a 600 credit score, if you apply for the right card. The Discover it Secured or Student cards both accept applicants with lower credit scores. For a more premier card, consider starting with the secured card and using it to help improve your credit score.
- What credit score is needed to get Discover it?
- For the Discover it Cash Back card, it's likely you'll need a credit score of at least 680, though other factors are also considered when you apply for a card.
- Can you get a Discover credit card with fair credit score?
- You can get a Discover credit card with a fair credit score, as long as you apply for the right card. The Discover it Secured card, for example, accepts applicants with lower credit scores as long as they're able to pay a security deposit.
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