Credit score needed for the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards card

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is one of the best flat-rate cash back credit cards on the market. With unlimited 1.5 percent cash back on every purchase, a $200 sign-up bonus for new cardholders who spend $500 in the first three months and 15 months of 0% intro APR on balance transfers and purchases (then 19.24 percent to 29.24 percent variable APR), this card offers you plenty of opportunities to maximize your rewards.

However, Capital One doesn’t offer these opportunities to everyone who applies. The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards is designed for people who have established an excellent credit history and built a credit score to match.

Let’s take a close look at what credit score you need for the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards credit card and what you can do if yours isn’t quite there yet.

What credit score do I need to get the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards card?

According to Capital One, you need excellent credit to get approved for the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards. Our research indicates that you might be approved if you have either good or excellent credit — a FICO credit score of 670 to 850, in other words — which gives you a slightly wider range of credit score options.

If you are at all concerned about having your credit card application declined, you might want to wait until you have excellent credit to apply for this card If you’re less worried about having your application declined, you can try applying with good credit and see what happens.

Capital One also offers a preapproval tool to help you decide which of its credit cards might be a good fit.

How can I improve my score to get this card?

The best way to boost your credit score quickly is by paying off as many of your outstanding balances as possible (if you have any outstanding bills) and making sure you never miss a credit card payment. These two credit-building habits could be enough to take your credit score to the next level, especially if you are currently carrying a lot of credit card debt. Remember, 30 percent of your FICO credit score is based on the amount of money you owe your creditors — so the more debt you pay off, the higher your credit score can go.

Want to boost your credit score even further? Use a credit-building app that tracks your credit score, evaluates your recent credit activity and offers suggestions for improvement. CreditWise® from Capital One® is a great option — plus, it’s free and available to anyone who applies. You don’t need a Capital One credit card to access this useful credit-building tool, and it could help you build your credit to the point where you’ll be eligible for the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards.

What can I do if Capital One declines my application?

If Capital One declines your Quicksilver Cash Rewards application, you have options. Depending on your score, you might be eligible for the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards for Good Credit. This card is designed for people whose credit is good but not excellent, and it is a stripped-down version of the Quicksilver Cash Rewards card with 1.5 percent cash back on every purchase and no annual fee. However, you won’t be eligible for a sign-up bonus or a 0 percent intro APR.

The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card also offers 1.5 percent cash back on every purchase and is designed for people with fair or average credit. That’s a FICO credit score of between 580 and 669. You’ll need to pay a $39 annual fee for the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards, and you won’t get a sign-up bonus or a 0 percent intro APR, but it’s still a great choice to earn cash back rewards while improving your credit.

Bottom line

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards card is one of today’s top credit cards, which is why Capital One can afford to be a little choosy about cardholder eligibility. If your FICO credit score is below 670, your application may be declined.

If your FICO credit score is above 670, you might be accepted for the card depending on other factors, such as income. If your FICO credit score is above 740 — or better yet, above 800 — you may be more likely to be accepted for the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards.