 TITLE: How to Downgrade Your Credit Card CONTENT: Does Downgrading a Credit Card Affect Your Credit Score?\n--------------------------------------------------------\nDowngrading a credit card won't directly impact your credit score if your account isn't closed and your credit limit doesn't change.\nCredit scoring models, such as FICO, consider various factors related to credit card accounts, including when the account was opened, its current balance compared with the credit limit (credit utilization rate) and your payment history with the account. However, the specific card, interest rate and rewards program aren't part of your credit report and don't impact your credit score.\nClosing the account and applying for another credit card could impact your score in several ways, however. For instance, closing a card can lower your overall available credit, which may increase your utilization rate and hurt your scores. Opening a new card could lead to a hard inquiry and lower the average age of your accounts, which could also hurt your scores. END