 TITLE: Can You Combine Credit Card Accounts? CONTENT: How Combining Credit Card Accounts Works\n----------------------------------------\nAlthough card issuers don't really advertise it, many allow customers to combine credit card accounts. Doing so is different from opening or closing a card, and can be worthwhile in a number of ways.\nCombining credit card accounts means that you consolidate your line of credit if you have several credit cards from one issuer onto the one or two cards you choose to keep open. Let's say you have four cards with one bank but are finding the annual fees too high or the payment schedules too complicated to manage. You can call your issuer and ask to combine your accounts but keep your total credit limit from all the cards rather than simply closing the cards you no longer want and losing out on their credit limits.\nIf you wish to consolidate two or more credit card accounts, they must be with the same issuer. For instance, you could ask to combine your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Freedom Unlimited® accounts since they are both Chase cards. But you couldn't combine your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card since they are different issuers.\nJust because you want to combine credit card accounts doesn't mean your issuer will allow you to do so. The bank will take stock of your overall financial profile, your credit usage and payment record, and other factors to make a decision. If you have not managed your credit cards responsibly (such as carrying large balances, making late payments, and opening and closing accounts frequently), your issuer might suggest closing the account you no longer want once it is paid off in full, rather than allow you to combine your accounts.\nIf you do decide to combine your credit card accounts, it's important to ask your issuer to uphold or even raise your combined credit limit so as not to impact your credit score. Let's say you have two cards with the same bank—one with a $5,000 limit, and the other with a $10,000 limit. When you consolidate your accounts, ask to keep your entire $15,000 limit (or perhaps even go higher). If your total credit limit is reduced when you combine cards, this could cause your credit utilization ratio to rise and hurt your credit scores. END