Chase Credit Card Application Status Explained: No Instant Approval, No Worries

You just clicked “submit” on your application for a new Chase credit card, and the few seconds it took to decide your fate felt like a lifetime. If you’re lucky enough to have received instant approval, you can rest easy knowing you’ll have your new card in a few days.

But that isn’t always the case. If you aren’t approved instantly and your Chase credit card application status is pending, don’t worry and assume the worst yet.

There are a handful of reasons why you might not have received an immediate approval from the credit card issuer. Even something as simple as a typo could send your credit card application to the “under review” pile. This additional review process generally takes anywhere from seven to 10 business days, although in some cases, it could take up to 30 days.

While it can be a drag, if you go in knowing what to expect, it might make the process a little more bearable.

What it means if your Chase application status is under review

It’s understandable to feel anxious after finding out you weren’t instantly approved for a Chase bank credit card. You might even consider scouring your entire credit profile to identify what it was exactly that now requires further review.

Try not to overthink it. While instant approval is ideal, being notified that your application is under review doesn’t automatically mean you’re on the edge of being denied. Especially if you are applying for a business card, Chase may simply have additional questions for you.

As your application undergoes further review, Chase will consider the following to make a decision:

• Credit history
• Income
• Debt
• Housing status
• Number of recently-opened credit cards

It’s generally all the same information normally used to make a decision, but since the criteria required to trigger an instant approval may not have been met, someone at Chase will have to take a closer look manually.

Possible outcomes

Once a decision is made, you’ll likely be notified by mail or email as to whether or not you were approved. If you were approved, you’ll find out what your credit limit is and when to expect your new card in the mail.

It’s also possible that Chase will request additional information to assist in the decision-making process. This could be anything from proof of income to correcting mistakes that may have been made on the initial application.

Chase business credit card applications

If you’re applying for a business credit card from Chase, it’s likely you won’t be instantly approved. The Chase Ink business cards are very popular, especially with those who also have other Chase cards that earn Ultimate Rewards, as you can pool your points across your accounts. With generous sign-up offers, high rewards rates on purchases, and spending power that’s valuable to any business, there is little wonder why so many people apply for these powerful small business cards.

But getting approved for a business card is a little more complicated than for a consumer card. There may be more information than your credit history that needs to be verified, which can result in a longer waiting period when it comes to an approval decision. A recent call to Chase Ink Business’ customer service revealed that they receive so many applications that it takes at least seven to 10 business days to review all the information before a decision is reached.

If you’re worried about the time it’s taking to get a response from Chase about your business credit card application, calling customer service is your best bet. Don’t call the reconsideration line unless you’ve received a notice that your application was denied. Doing this will possibly result in more questions to answer while your application is still under review, which unnecessarily complicates the process. Sometimes just waiting to hear from Chase is the best strategy.

How to check the status of your Chase application

If you find you’re too eager to await the decision, you can actually check your Chase credit card status as often as you want by logging into your account or calling for an update.

Check Chase application status online

To check your credit card application status online, visit the Chase website at Chase.com, log in to your Chase account, and click the icon in the top left corner to pull up the main menu. From there, under “Explore Products,” you should see the option “Application status.” This will open up your application activity.

Check Chase application status by phone

The other option is to call customer service for Chase credit cards and go through the automated system or speak to a representative directly. To check the status of personal credit cards using the automated system, call the status line phone number: 1-800-432-3117. Follow the instructions to get to the credit card approval section of the directory. Once there, you’ll need to enter your Social Security number to retrieve the application.

For business credit cards, call this phone number to check the status of your application: 1-800-453-9719.

How to improve your chances of being approved

The criteria you need to qualify varies from card to card, but there are a few things you can do that can help set you up for success.

• Improve your credit score: Since it’s one of the leading factors of whether or not you’ll be approved, you should know if your credit score aligns with the credit card you’re applying for. If it means having to wait a little longer, it might make sense to work on improving your score to increase your chances of being approved.
• Be mindful of credit utilization: Chase is going to look at whether or not you’ve been handling your credit responsibly, and this includes checking how much credit you’re currently using. If you’re maxing out credit cards or carrying over high balances month to month, they’ll see this as a red flag.
• Keep the Chase 5/24 rule in mind: Chase has been known to operate under a little rule called Chase 5/24. Though these sorts of application rules are unofficial, this one pretty much means if you’ve signed up for five new accounts in the past 24 months, you stand little chance of being approved for a new credit card within that time frame. This includes all credit card accounts from all credit card issuers — not just Chase.

If your Chase credit card application is denied

Unfortunately, it happens. If your application is denied, consider calling the Chase reconsideration line, which is 1-888-270-2127. There’s no guarantee, of course, but it may be worth trying if your circumstances have changed or you wish to further explain something on your application.

If you can’t persuade them in your favor, you may have to focus on what you can do yourself to improve your chances going forward. Depending on your situation, this might mean taking some time to improve your credit score, reduce debt, or let the dust settle if you’ve recently applied for multiple cards.

Alternatives to Chase cards

If you aren't approved for a Chase card, you may still have some options, depending on your situation. If you have a decent credit score and you're over 5/24, you might want to consider applying for a credit card from a different issuer. For instance, The Platinum Card^® from American Express is a top travel rewards card that offers comparable — and maybe even better — perks than the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®.

As a new Amex Platinum cardmember, you can earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend $8,000 in the first 6 months. 

Amex Platinum cardmembers also get top-tier travel credit card benefits like airport lounge access, elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors, a statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, and Uber VIP status. While it does have a hefty annual fee of $695, it's possible to offset that cost if you can take advantage of this card's many perks. Note that select benefits require enrollment.

If you have less-than-stellar credit, but you're working toward improving it, the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card card may be worth considering. It's arguably one of the best credit cards for fair credit because it earns cashback rewards. Typically, it's difficult to get approved for a rewards credit card with fair or average credit, but this card is often an exception to that rule. 

It carries a reasonable $39 annual fee, and you get unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase; plus 5% unlimited cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Plus, you'll also automatically be considered for a credit line increase every six months, which may help improve your credit utilization. With responsible use, you could be on your way to a better credit score over time. 

If you're looking for a card with no annual fee, see our list of the best no annual fee credit cards. Or, if you're interested in learning more about rewards cards, check out our list of the best cash back credit cards to see our top picks.

FAQs about Chase application status

Bottom line

Getting denied for a credit card stinks, but it doesn’t mean it’s the end of the road. If you have your heart set on a specific Chase card, go through your credit report and locate any weak points that may have been a factor in their decision. Use this as an opportunity to see where you can improve and start making moves. If you’re open to applying for a credit card from a different issuer, several other options offer valuable perks like cash back and no annual fees.