Glossary

What is Application rule?

An application rule is an internal issuer policy that rejects an application regardless of creditworthiness, for example because too many accounts were opened recently.

An application rule is an internal issuer policy that rejects an application regardless of creditworthiness, for example because too many accounts were opened recently.

Also called: Anti-churning rule.

How it works#

An application rule takes effect before the credit assessment, which is why a strong score does not overcome it. The best known form counts newly opened card accounts within a fixed window. Issuers neither publish nor confirm such rules and change them without notice, so circulating thresholds are planning aids rather than promises. Applying anyway costs a hard inquiry and returns nothing.

Not to be confused with#

An application rule is not a bonus waiting period: the rule decides whether you get the card, the waiting period only whether the welcome bonus is granted again.

In German#

The German term is Antragsregel. German version of this term

  • Hard pull: A hard pull is a check of a credit file made because a lending decision is pending. It is recorded, visible to other lenders and counts towards the score.
  • Welcome bonus: A welcome bonus is a one-off points credit for opening a new card and meeting a minimum spending requirement within a set period.
  • Credit report: A credit report is the collection of reported credit accounts held on a person by a bureau, with limit, balance, payment status and the inquiries other lenders made.

Articles that use this term#

TopicEvery article and term onUS credit cards.
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