How to request a credit limit increase with Bank of America

Increasing your credit limit with your Bank of America credit cards, can give you more spending power, more chances to earn rewards and better credit — if you use your higher credit limit responsibly. Even better, requesting a higher credit line is usually a simple process that won’t take much of your time.

Requesting a credit limit increase from Bank of America is no exception. You have a few options for how to do it, but whichever one you choose, make sure to have the right information prepared.

Here’s what you need to know about how to increase your credit limit with Bank of America.

Eligibility requirements

Bank of America doesn’t publish its eligibility requirements for a credit limit increase. However, there are guidelines you can use with the majority of credit card providers to improve your chances of having your request for a credit hike granted.

• Keep your credit card open for at least six months. It’s easier to get your credit card issuer to trust you with more credit when you have already established a history of paying your credit card bill on time.
• Pay all your credit card bills in full and on time. If you consistently miss or make late payments, your bank is less likely to extend you more credit. Late payments will also hurt your three-digit credit score, causing it to fall by potentially 100 points or more.
• Wait at least six months between requests for a credit limit increase. If you ask for a higher credit line frequently, your issuer might consider it a sign of financial distress.

While getting a credit limit increase with Bank of America is not guaranteed, following these tips can help improve your odds.

What to consider before you request a credit limit increase

Before you reach out to Bank of America to ask for more credit, make sure you take the following steps to increase your odds.

Check your credit score and credit reports

Before calling for a Bank of America credit increase, check your credit. Your credit score is a gauge of your financial responsibility that creditors use when determining whether to extend credit to you. Bank of America will check your score when deciding whether to approve your request. If your score is low — say, under 620 — the bank might be more likely to decline your request.

But your credit is more than just a number. Look at your credit reports to get a full picture of your credit history. You can order your credit reports — one each from the national credit bureaus of Experian, Equifax and TransUnion — for free from AnnualCreditReport.com.

Make sure you’re asking for an increase for the right reasons

Bank of America might ask you why you want a credit line increase. Some valid reasons include lowering your credit utilization ratio or financing a big purchase. Don’t request more credit simply to spend more. That can lead to expensive debt that you can’t afford to pay off each month.

Don’t ask for too big of a credit limit increase

While some banks can be generous, only request a credit limit you can afford. Asking for too big of a limit might tempt you to charge too much each month.

How to get a credit limit increase with Bank of America

Requesting a credit limit increase with Bank of America is usually a quick process. You may be approved right away or you may have to wait a few days if the bank requires additional information. There are three ways you can get a higher credit line: automatically, online or by phone.

Wait for an automatic credit line increase

Bank of America might increase your credit limit automatically if you’ve been paying your credit card bill on time each month. While this is not guaranteed, Bank of America might increase your credit limit six months to a year after you’ve opened the account if you’ve handled your card responsibly.

Request a higher limit online

You might be able to request a Bank of America credit line increase online. To check if your account is eligible, sign in to your account online and navigate to your credit card. If your account is eligible, you will see a link to “Request a credit line increase” under “Card Details” in your “Account Summary.” If the link is not there, you can call Bank of America and make a request over the phone.

Call customer service

You can also call the number on the back of your Bank of America card to request a higher credit limit. Have your information ready and be prepared to make your case.

While it may seem like more work, talking to a bank representative may give you a better chance to get a higher credit limit increase — or be approved altogether. If you’re worried about your approval odds, calling Bank of America is likely the right option for you.

The good news is a credit limit increase with Bank of America doesn’t trigger a hard inquiry on your credit report. No matter if you request the increase or the bank initiates first, it won’t impact your credit score, which means it never hurts to try for that higher credit limit.

What to do if your request is denied

If Bank of America doesn’t approve your request for a credit limit increase, don’t despair. Ask the bank why you didn’t qualify for the increase and start working on improving your chances for your next request.

Here are some steps you can take to improve your odds:

• Work on your credit. Your credit health is essential to your relationships with lenders and banks. Make sure to pay your bills on time and lower your credit utilization ratio to improve your credit standing.
• Use your Bank of America card regularly. The issuer is less likely to extend more credit to you if you rarely use your account.
• Update your income in your online account. If you are making more money now compared to when you first applied for the card, Bank of America may see extending you more credit as less risky.
• Consider making a request during a different time of year. A TransUnion study from 2019 revealed that credit limit increases are more common between January and May.
• Consider applying for a new credit card. Sometimes, applying for a new card is the best way to increase your overall credit limit because it can increase the total amount of credit available to you. This will lower your credit utilization ratio and might even boost your odds of qualifying for a higher credit limit.

Pros and cons of a higher credit limit

As with most financial moves, increasing your credit limit comes with positives and negatives.

Pros

• A higher credit limit can lower your credit utilization ratio, a measure of how much of your available credit you are using. This can increase your credit score.
• With a higher credit limit, you can fund larger purchases. Just make sure you can pay off these purchases in full by your Bank of America credit card’s due date.
• You can earn more rewards if you can spend more. Again, though, don’t overspend on your card just to earn more rewards.

Cons

• A higher credit line might tempt you to spend more with your Bank of America credit card. If you spend too much, you won’t be able to pay off your balance in full each month, leading to debt with high interest.
• There’s no guarantee that Bank of America will approve your request for a higher credit limit.

Bottom line

Getting a higher credit limit with Bank of America can be the right move if you’re working on your credit or looking to finance a large purchase. However, before contacting the bank, it’s important to have your information prepared and know why you’re requesting an increase. You want to avoid taking on more debt unless it’s necessary.