Jeff Weber asked:


Five years ago, a consumer could apply for a credit card and receive not only confirmation of approval, but also the card’s 16 digit number and expiration date in a matter of minutes. Getting a credit card online was truly an instant process. And an easy one. Especially for identity thieves, who could max out a person’s virtual credit card before the actual plastic arrived in the unsuspecting consumer’s mailbox. Problems such as these ultimately led to the phasing out of instant online credit cards.

At present, American Express® offers 60 second decisions upon submission of an online application. If approved, the consumer is given notice of his or her status, not their numbers. If the consumer does not immediately qualify for online approval, then notification of approval or denial is sent via mail. Consumers with good to excellent credit looking for an instant credit card, therefore, should consider American Express® credit cards.

Most credit card issuers generally take anywhere from five to seven business days before reaching an approval decision and getting the plastic in the mail. With some companies, consumers can expect to wait as long as 30 days. Clearly, the days of the instant credit card are gone.

Individuals without excellent credit that are in a rush to get a new credit card can now expect to wait at least five business days to get the card they applied for. Having good credit facilitates and expedites the decision process. However, those with average and borderline credit scores are often left in credit decision purgatory.

So what should one do if they truly need an “instant credit card”? One solution is to consider applying for credit cards from different issuing banks. Since each bank varies in its application processing time and approval criteria, applying for credit cards from different companies can expedite the process of obtaining an “instant credit card,” while also providing an opportunity to make a more informed decision on which credit card to accept and use over the long term.

Perhaps the end of the guaranteed instant online approval era of credit cards is not such a bad thing. The more stringent and time consuming application process currently in place provides consumers and credit card companies immeasurably better protection against identity theft. It also gives the consumer time to evaluate the interest rates and rewards offered by the instant credit cards they apply for and make better decisions about which credit card to use.



BRADLEY

C.R. Hayes asked:


Many times when you choose to fill out an application on the internet, online credit card approval can be done instantly. You are asked to give the same information as you would on a paper application that comes in your postal mail box. But rather than wait for the mail delivery and processing time, some people are more anxious to receive notification instantly.

Card issuers use the latest high-tech secure programming and fraud protection to protect the data you enter. So there is no need to worry about just where your financial information will end up. Make sure though, that the web address in your browser bar begins with ‘https’, which signifies a secure internet connection.

One of the biggest advantages of searching and applying online is that you can do side by side comparisons for different bankcards offered by different providers. You can also narrow them by the category you need, such as:



0 interest

bad credit

travel rewards

those for college students

cash back cards

and more



When you get your choices narrowed down, you need to compare all of the fees associated, like:



annual fee

APR

interest rate

late fees

any other cost that may apply



You will want to know how long any promotional rates will last too, if applicable. It’s not uncommon to find that 0 interest rates can apply up to the first 6 to 18 months of your account.

If you are more inclined to opt for travel rewards or cash back features, make sure you get the most benefits and perks you can while still keeping your fees and interest rate as low as possible.

Before you apply, it would be a good idea to get a copy of your latest credit report and know your credit rating. After all, issuers base your acceptance according to your credit score. The higher your score, the better deal you will be offered and approved for.

Everyone in the U.S. is allowed one free copy of their credit report every 12 months. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires this of each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You can order yours by phone by calling 1-877-322-8228, or by visiting annualcreditreport.com.

Online credit card approval can be both instant and convenient for the application and approval process, but you will usually have to wait for the actual card to arrive in your mailbox before you can use it. Nevertheless, you will still receive it sooner than if the entire process was done through the mail.



ISRAEL