How to Get Preapproved for a Citi Credit Card

Citi is an advertising partner.

Most credit card users can imagine the disappointment of being declined for a new card, especially when there’s a handsome welcome bonus or a long 0 percent balance transfer offer at stake. You’re not only missing out on a special promotion or limited-time credit card offer, but you might even take a temporary hit against your credit score.

Thankfully, preapproved credit cards can help remove some of the guesswork from the credit card application process. Here’s how to find out if you’re preapproved for a Citi credit card.

What is credit card preapproval and how does it work?

Credit card preapproval is exactly what it sounds like: a way to check your chances of being approved for a card without incurring a hard inquiry on your credit report. Preapproval requires only a soft pull, which doesn’t impact your credit score but does allow credit card issuers like Citi to view enough information in your credit report to evaluate your creditworthiness as a potential customer.

Keep in mind that, although some issuers use the terms interchangeably, getting preapproved vs. prequalified for a credit card means something slightly different. In short, you can get prequalified by providing less information to the issuer than you would need to be preapproved for a card. Regardless, neither prequalification nor preapproval should trigger a hard pull on your credit.

It is also important to note that neither prequalification nor preapproval guarantees approval for a credit card, although preapproval comes with a greater likelihood of approval later on. You’ll still need to submit an application before being approved for the card, which will then trigger a hard credit inquiry.

How to get preapproved for a Citi credit card

You have a few options for finding out whether you are preapproved for a Citi credit card — and the good news is, the process is simple regardless of the route you take.

Check for offers on Bankrate’s CardMatch™ tool

Bankrate’s free CardMatch™ tool is a quick and easy way to gauge your approval odds for a Citi credit card. All you have to do is plug in a few pieces of personal information (your name, address and contact details, plus the last four digits of your Social Security Number) to reveal a personalized list of credit cards matched to your credit profile in less than a minute.

If you do prequalify for a Citi card and decide to apply, you can submit your application right there in the free tool.

Prequalify on Citi’s website

Citi provides a prequalification tool on its own website that can help provide matches to potential cards. You’ll need to provide the same personal information listed above, and you’ll also need to authorize Citi to obtain a credit report on you.

To see if you’re prequalified through Citi’s website, just follow the link, fill out the form and click “See My Offers.”

Additional ways to prequalify for Citi credit cards

In addition to using the tools above, Citi and other issuers frequently send prescreened credit card offers in the mail. These offers target consumers based on their credit scores, credit utilization, location and other factors. 

If you receive an offer, it essentially means you’re already prequalified. At that point, you can either fill out the paper application or submit the invitation number on Citi’s website. (The same rules apply, of course; getting an offer doesn’t mean you’re automatically approved.) To make sure you’ve opted in to receive targeted offers, go to OptOutPrescreen.com, scroll down and select “Click here to opt-in or opt-out” at the bottom of the page.”

Other ways to prequalify for a Citi credit card include calling the issuer directly to talk to a customer rep or, if you live near one, visiting a bank branch to speak with someone in person.

How to increase your chances of getting preapproved

Lenders look at more than just your three-digit credit score when deciding whether to approve you (or, in this case, preapprove you) for a new credit card. But, generally speaking, you can improve your chances of preapproval by practicing good credit habits over the long run.

Take stock of where your credit score is at

Whether you’ll prequalify for a Citi credit card depends in large part on the information in your credit report, which is what the three major credit bureaus use to calculate your credit score. If you’re unsure of where you stand, request a free copy from each bureau. Read them closely for errors that could negatively impact your score (and thus your preapproval odds), such as on-time accounts falsely reported as delinquent or hard inquiries you don’t recognize.

If you see anything wrong, file a dispute with the credit bureau(s) to have the item removed. Depending on the mistake, you might see a big upswing in your credit standing.

Boost your credit in advance

If your credit report is squeaky clean but your score needs work, or if you’re new to credit entirely, consider a service like Experian Boost or UltraFICO. Both services use alternative financial data, such as utility payments or bank account history, to help expand consumer access to credit. Individual results vary, but it may be worth trying if your credit score needs a little extra help.

The bottom line

If you plan to apply for a Citi credit card, prequalifying first through CardMatch or the Citi website is truly a no-brainer: it’s free, it won’t impact your credit score and you may discover that you’re eligible for a special promotion you wouldn’t have found anywhere else.

But since preapproval doesn’t guarantee you’ll get a “yes” later, be sure the card fits in with your lifestyle and can help you reach your financial goals before you click “apply.”

Good luck, and may the preapproval odds be ever in your favor.