What does ‘conditionally approved credit card application’ specifically?

A conditionally approved credit card application basically means you’ve received approval on paper, but the credit provider needs to verify you are who you say you are and your financials before fully approving your application. This will involve contacting you within a few days to get your additional documents and details. Once they’ve made sure all your details are correct, they will then approve your card or decline it.

Basically, getting conditional approval is a holding pattern before the providers decision is made on your application.

When you apply for a credit card online, you may be promised ‘instant’ or ‘almost instant’ approval. After you click ‘Apply’, the card provider’s computers quickly check your credit status and the basic information you have provided. If your credit history looks good and all your info matches up, you’ll usually be told that your application has been conditionally approved.

The card company needs to do further checks to decide whether they want to provide you with credit. They’ll usually dig further into your background info, like your employment status and salary, your current debts, and your credit worthiness. If you already have a bank account or mortgage with the lender, the process can be much faster.

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What do you have to do to get a conditional approval accepted?

When you apply and get the ‘conditionally approved’ notice, you should also be given some idea of the approval timeframe and if you’ll nee to provide anything extra, or when they’ll be in contact. If you’re not sure about any of it, get in touch with the provider to check.

Once the card provider has either approved or declined your application, they’ll contact you to let you know. You might just receive the credit card in the post, along with activation instructions.

If you don’t hear anything from the card provider, it’s a good idea to contact them to find out what’s going on. They might have sent you a card that’s gotten lost in the mail, so it’ll need to be cancelled and resent.

How do you find an instant approval credit card?

There are a number of credit cards available online that offer instant approval or 60 second approval. Here’s just a few of them (check out the rest of our site to find even more instant approval credit cards).

Low Interest Rate Card Options

• Commonwealth Bank Low Rate Credit Card
• NAB Low Rate Credit Card
• ANZ Low Rate Credit Card
• St George Vertigo Credit Card

Low Annual Fee Card Options

• Coles No Annual Fee MasterCard
• Commonwealth Bank Low Fee Credit Card
• Virgin No Annual Fee Credit Card

Rewards Card Options

• Citi Rewards Credit Card – Velocity Points Offer(Discontinued)

Platinum Card Options

• ANZ Platinum Credit Card
• Citi Rewards Card

First Card Options

• ANZ First Visa Credit Card

When applying for a credit card online, check the card provider’s website for statements similar to this: “Conditional approval is subject to system availability and verification of documents that support your application.” Or “All applications are subject to —‘s credit assessment criteria.” Or “If your application is approved, it is then subject to verification. If the verification criteria is satisfied, you will receive your credit card within 5 business days.”

How to turn ‘Conditionally Approved’ into ‘Approved'

Following the simple steps below should help you avoid unnecessary delays or rejections once your card has been ‘conditionally approved’.

Get the details right and keep your credit rating intact

The idea of being approved so fast can be tempting, but it’s still important not to act impulsively when applying for a credit card. Get a credit check if you can, so you can see your score and any black marks on your credit file. It also helps you make sure you include all existing debts when you apply. Knowing that your credit file is accurate and reflects your real debts and obligations also helps you feel confident the bank won’t discover any nasty surprises.

How long does it take for my credit card application to be approved?<.h3> This is the age old question and it can take as quick as 60 seconds or it could take up to a week. If your credit file is in ship-shape then it could be approved straight away. This means the provider won't need any extra information or documents. Maybe banks offer instant approval credit cards if you meet their criteria precisely. If the provider needs more information, for example, more pay slips, details of other loans etc it might take longer. This could push the process out to 5 business days or more. If after all this you get approved, your card will be sent in the mail. This adds another 5-10 business days to the application process. If the provider is set up for it, you might be able to load a virtual credit card directly to your phone. This allows you to use your card while you wait for it to arrive in the mail.

Fill out the application accurately and complete every section

If you have a $25,000 loan sitting on your credit file and don’t mention it on the application, don’t think that the bank won’t find out!

Have all your details on-hand when you sit down to do it

If you’re searching for your bank statements and drivers’ licence, you won't be concentrating on your application. Read through the checklist next to the card you want to apply for, read the terms and conditions, and then get the necessary documents and info together before you start. That way, you won’t miss any vital information and the process will really only take 10-15 minutes max.

Check that what you are asking for meets all available criteria

For example, if you want to do a balance transfer of $5000 and ask for a credit limit of exactly $5000, you might be declined (or spend extra time dealing with the bank on the phone at the very least) because you're generally allowed to transfer between 70% and 95% of the total credit limit you are approved for. In this case, you would either need to request a slightly higher credit limit, say around $5500, or put down that you only wish to transfer $4750 or less onto the new card. This is one simple error which results in an application being delayed or declined.

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