Credit score needed for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is a premium travel credit card offered by Chase, and it’s also one of the most popular cards on the market today. The Sapphire Reserve comes with a hefty $550 annual fee, but this fee is well worth paying if you take advantage of the card’s large sign-up bonus, ongoing rewards and other travel perks.

Given the impressive rewards you can earn, it’s no surprise that this card isn’t available to just anyone. If you’ve been wondering about the credit score needed for the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you’re in the right place. However, you’ll need to know about the other factors that impact Chase credit applications, including limits on the number of cards you can have.

Keep reading to learn about Chase Sapphire Reserve credit score requirements, what to do if your application is denied and how to boost your score so you can qualify later on.

What credit score is needed for the Chase Sapphire Reserve?

To qualify for the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you’ll need an excellent credit score. Generally speaking, FICO credit scores in this range are at least 740 but often higher than that.

Your credit score isn’t the only factor that Chase will consider when you apply for this card, though. For starters, Chase has a well-known 5/24 rule that prevents someone from being approved for one of its cards if they’ve opened five or more credit cards within the past 24 months. Under the 5/24 rule, it doesn’t matter which issuer the five cards are from — any five credit cards will disqualify you.

Chase, like other credit card issuers, also considers your income and credit report data when you apply for this card and their other premium credit cards. This means you have the best chance to qualify if you fall under the 5/24 qualification requirements, your credit score is excellent and you have a steady income and long history of employment.

What if my application is denied?

Even with a credit score above 740, you may still be denied. Luckily, Chase has a credit card reconsideration line, meaning you can call 1-888-270-2127 and ask a representative to take another look at your application.

If you’ve opened too many new credit cards in the last 24 months, you’ll likely get more information regarding the denial of your application. If you were denied due to income or information Chase couldn’t verify, however, you’ll get the chance to answer some questions and be considered for the card once again.

If you’re denied due to the Chase 5/24 rule, the only thing you can do is wait until enough time has passed to apply again. Once you have fewer than five new credit cards over the previous 24 months, Chase may be more willing to consider your application.

How can I improve my score to get this card?

While the Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of the most popular luxury credit cards on the market, as noted, it’s only available to borrowers with excellent credit. If your credit score falls short, you can take some steps to improve it so you can build up to the credit score needed for Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Steps you can take to improve your credit score include the following:

• Become an authorized user. Becoming an authorized user on someone else’s credit card can provide a huge boost to your credit score, as long as the primary cardholder uses credit responsibly.
• Make all monthly payments on time. One of the best things you can do for your score is pay your full credit card balance each month. Even more importantly, you need to make sure all bills are paid before their due dates.
• Monitor your credit regularly. Staying on top of your credit situation is critical when it comes to boosting your credit score. Many credit monitoring services also give you insight into your credit and show you what factors on your credit report may be holding your score down.
• Pay down debt. Your credit utilization also impacts your credit score. With that in mind, paying off credit card debt and other unsecured debts can help quite a bit in this category.
• Request a credit limit increase. Speaking of credit utilization, one of the most effective ways to reduce your credit utilization is to increase the amount of credit available to you. With most credit card companies, you can request a credit limit increase through your online account or by calling the issuer.credit

Bottom line

As is the case with many premium credit cards, Chase requires an excellent credit score to qualify for the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Given all the benefits this card comes with, it’s probably worth the effort. But if your credit score hasn’t reached 740 or higher yet, you may need to take some additional steps to boost your score to ensure your application is approved.

If your credit score isn’t close to where it needs to be, you can also look at credit cards with lower requirements. For example, an array of credit cards for fair credit and good credit can help you learn positive credit habits and boost your score at the same time.f