The credit score you need for popular rewards cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Amex Platinum, and Capital One Venture

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• It’s good to know the credit score you’ll need to get approved for a credit card before you apply.
• Issuers of popular credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve® generally consider those with a credit score in the high 600s, based on Insider assumptions.
• Credit score guidelines vary by card, but the issuer will always make the final approval decision.
• Read Insider’s guide to the best rewards credit cards.

If you have your eye on valuable travel rewards credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or The Platinum Card® from American Express
, you might be wondering whether your credit score is sufficient for approval.

It’s a good question — after all, the best credit cards are aimed at those with a robust credit history.

Not all rewards credit cards require a high credit score, however. Every card issuer has its own underwriting criteria, which aren’t based strictly on credit score. Other factors can include employment, income, and any existing relationship with the bank.

We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

What credit card issuers look at in your application

No bank publicizes its underwriting criteria (in fact, banks consider this a trade secret). But because consumers freely report their experiences applying for credit cards via online forums such as myFICO and reddit.com/r/CreditCards, you can find hundreds of anecdotal data points.

Underwriting criteria for the banks can change at any time, and general criteria may not apply to your specific situation. For example, it’s not unusual for banks to tighten lending requirements in a slowing economy, or to have more stringent lending criteria for people working in historically volatile industries. Remember that the bank is ultimately making a calculation about how risky of a borrower you are.

What credit score do you need to open a credit card?

You won’t find one definitive answer as to the exact credit score you need to open a given credit card — although some issuers will at least provide a credit range that offers the best chance for approval. Here are the five credit score categories, according to FICO:

• Poor: 300-579
• Fair: 580-669
• Good: 670-739
• Very good: 740-799
• Excellent: 800-850

If you have a limited credit history, you might need to start smaller with a secured credit card or a starter credit card aimed at those new to credit.

Chase Sapphire Preferred credit score requirements

Credit score of successful applicants, as reported on Credit Karma: Mid 600s to 850

The Sapphire Preferred is widely considered the greatest starter travel credit card. It comes with excellent travel insurance benefits and a limited-time increased welcome bonus of 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening (worth around $1,440 in travel, based on Insider’s valuation of Chase points).

The Sapphire Preferred has a minimum $5,000 credit line. Although a credit score of 700 or above is typical for successful applicants, even college students with limited credit history and income from a part-time job have been approved for this card.

You must fall under the strict Chase 5/24 requirements to obtain this card — meaning you can’t have opened five or more new credit card accounts in the last 24 months (excluding certain small-business cards). Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred card review to find out why the card is so popular.

Chase Sapphire Reserve credit score requirements

Credit score of successful applicants, as reported on Credit Karma: High 600s to 850

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a Visa Infinite card with a credit line minimum of $10,000. Its bonus is currently 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening (worth about $1,080 in travel, based on Insider’s valuations).

To have the best shot at approval, you’ll need an excellent credit score (typically above 720) to qualify for this card, and possibly higher income than cards such as the Sapphire Preferred. You also abide by the Chase 5/24 rule.

If you’re concerned that you may not be approved for this card, you can apply with a Chase banker in-branch who can work to understand your personal financial situation and advocate for you with underwriting.

Alternatively, you can apply for the Sapphire Preferred (which is easier to get) and ask to upgrade after the first year. If you have other Chase credit cards, you can reallocate your credit lines to your Sapphire Preferred for the $10,000 minimum credit line you need.

Read our Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card review for a closer look at what this premium credit card offers.

Capital One Venture credit score requirements

Credit score of successful applicants, as reported on Credit Karma: High 600s to 850

Capital One makes its underwriting criteria clearer than most issuers, with detailed information on credit quality required to open its cards. “Credit quality” is stipulated because the bank isn’t looking just at your credit score. It concentrates on how you’ve used your credit.

Capital One says you’ll need excellent credit to be approved for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. This card is offering 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening (worth $1,275, based on Insider’s valuation of Capital One miles).

To Capital One, “excellent” credit means:

• You’ve never declared bankruptcy or defaulted on a loan
• You haven’t been more than 60 days late on any credit card, medical bill, or loan in the last year
• You’ve had a loan or credit card for three years or more with a credit limit above $5,000

Since Capital One spells its requirements out clearly, don’t apply unless you meet them. Read our Capital One Venture Rewards card review to learn more.

Amex Platinum credit score requirements

Credit score of successful applicants, as reported on Credit Karma: High 600s to 850

The Platinum Card® from American Express is perhaps the most premium mainstream card on the market. Its annual fee is a whopping $695, signaling that it’s not a card for those just starting out in the world of credit. It offers 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 on purchases on the Card in the first six months of card membership (worth $1,440 in travel, according to Insider’s valuation of Amex points).

While cardmembers have been anecdotally approved for this card with credit scores under 700, realize that this card is a long shot without excellent credit. Additionally, if your score is in the 600s, you may want to prove to yourself that you can handle credit responsibly before opening a pricey card like the Amex Platinum. Read our American Express Platinum card review to see if the benefits are worth the annual fee for you.

What to know about credit card approval

It’s possible to be approved for some of the best cards in the credit card world with a credit score in the high 600s. However, we don’t recommend that you dive into rewards credit cards until your score is at least 700. This will give you the best shot of being approved — so you won’t waste a hard credit inquiry (which can temporarily lower your credit score) on unsuccessful attempts.

Once you’ve got a credit score above 700, check out our guide to the best rewards credit cards to see which one best fits your lifestyle.