 TITLE: Why You Should Apply for a Credit Card Based on Your Credit Score CONTENT: Why Knowing Your Credit Score Is Important\n------------------------------------------\nWhen you submit a credit card application, the lender reviews your credit report and score to decide if you're eligible to qualify. In some cases, you may be approved online instantly, while other times the credit card issuer will take some time to review your application and credit report.\nWhether you're approved or not, this process generates a hard inquiry on your credit report, which can temporarily ding your credit score. While a single application won't do much damage to your credit score, it's best to avoid applying for a new account unless you're somewhat likely to get approved. And if you apply for multiple credit cards all around the same time, those hard inquiries can drag down your score unnecessarily.\nChecking your credit score provides insight into where your credit currently stands and what lenders see when they pull your file. When you check your credit score, which you can do for free with Experian, you'll see what's helping and hurting your credit. For example, you may not realize how often you make late payments, or you might not be aware how a large balance you're carrying on a certain account is penalizing your score. If you don't need a new credit card urgently, it may be prudent to spend a few months working to improve your credit before you apply for one.\nWhy would you want a good credit score before applying for a new card? The higher your credit score, the more likely you are to get approved. Not only that, but your score also dictates some of your card's terms, so having a higher score can mean more favorable terms such as lower interest rates or higher credit limits. Additionally, solid credit is required for the more premium credit cards, such as those with rich rewards programs or coveted offers such as 0% APR introductory periods. END