What Credit Score Do You Need for an Apple Card?

Applying for a new credit card often feels like navigating a maze of eligibility requirements, terms, and conditions. A prime factor most banks and financial institutions check is credit score. Representing the individual’s creditworthiness, this metric is used by card issuers to assess the risk associated with extending credit to each applicant.

What credit score is required for an Apple Card? Whether you are an enthusiast intrigued by the card’s perks or seeking to expand your credit portfolio wisely, understanding the nitty-gritty behind the Apple Card credit score is the first step toward securing this payment instrument.

In this article, we’ll explain the Apple credit card requirements regarding financial ratings and offer tips on improving your chances of approval.

Apple Credit Card Features and Benefits

Launched by the tech giant Apple Inc. in 2019 and maintained by the leading global investment bank Goldman Sachs, the Apple Card has redefined the credit card approach and transformed the whole approach to consumer cards.

Standing at the forefront of innovation, Apple has equipped its branded card with innovative features and a range of unique advantages designed to enhance user experience and facilitate financial management.

• Integration With Apple Services: As a part of Apple’s ecosystem, the card allows users to easily view their card balances, make payments, and manage their accounts directly from their Apple devices.
• No Fees: Most credit cards entail a number of fees, including annual fees, foreign transaction fees, maintenance fees, late fees, over-the-limit fees, etc. Apple Card has none of these. They claim to have no fees and fully leave up to this claim, making it a straightforward and cost-effective credit card option.
• Daily Rewards: The Apple Card stands out for its exclusive cashback program known as Daily Cash. It allows users to earn cash back on every purchase made with the card. You’ll get 3% cash back on purchases made directly from Apple and a selection of partnering merchants, and 2% cash back comes with all other purchases made using Apple Pay. The best thing is that your cash will be available to you on a daily basis. More than that, you can set up a savings account and enable automatic forwarding of your cashback to this account to earn interest.
• Top-of-the-line Privacy and Security: Apple brings the concept of privacy and security to the next level. Each transaction made with the Apple Card is authenticated using Face ID, Touch ID, or a unique one-time security code. Besides, the card does not have any numbers printed on it, further enhancing security and reducing the risk of fraud.
• Financial Health Issues: Through the Wallet app, users can access detailed transaction summaries, categorize their spending, and receive personalized recommendations to help them manage their finances more effectively.

Apple Card Credit Score Requirements

Before we delve into the intricacies of credit scores for an Apple Card, let’s first outline the basic Apple Card requirements you should meet to apply for the card.

Common Rules for Apple Card

• To be a negligible applicant, you should be 18 years old or older.
• You should be either a US citizen or a lawful resident and have a valid physical address. No PO boxes are accepted.
• You will need an appropriate Apple device compatible with Apple Pay and featuring the required version of iOS, macOS, or watchOS. You can check the list on the Apple website.
• You should be logged on to your device via your Apple ID and activate the 2F authentication function.
• Make sure you have a valid ID card or driving license since some of this might be required during the registration process for additional identity verification.

Notably, the whole registration process is optimized to be completed in mere minutes using your mobile device. To approve or decline your application, the bank will do a soft credit check that will have no impact on your creditworthiness in case of denial. The hard inquiry will be performed after you are approved for the card and accept the offer.

Credit Score and Other Factors to Consider

What credit score do you need for an Apple Card, though? First and foremost, the minimum credit score for an Apple Card is not explicitly stipulated or fixed in any documents. I practice, though, it’s a decisive factor. So, the higher your financial rating, the better. Goldman Sachs relies on the latest FICO scoring model where scores range from 350 to 850. Generally, applicants with FICO scores above 670 have a better chance of approval.

However, several other factors are also taken into account when determining your eligibility for this card:

• Credit History: Your past financial behavior matters a lot. Lenders will assess your payment history, credit utilization, length of credit history, and types of credit accounts.
• Debt-to-income Ratio: Your debt-to-income ratio compares your monthly debt obligations to your gross monthly income. A lower ratio indicates that you have more disposable income relative to your debts, which is favorable to lenders.
• Recent Credit Inquiries: Multiple recent inquiries may signal that you’re actively seeking credit, potentially indicating financial instability.

While influencing the card approval, all of the above also impact the credit limit and interest rate you’ll be offered. Obviously enough, financially responsible applicants with higher credit ratings and solid histories will win more favorable credit terms.

How to Increase Your Chances for Apple Card Approval

With a healthy credit score needed for an Apple Card, the very first thing you should do before applying is check your credit report. This document contains all the required information about your current financial standing, including your credit rating. You can request it for free from three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) via AnnualCreditReport.com. 

Should your financial rating appear to fall below the “Good” mark, you can take some actions to improve it and increase the likelihood of Apple Card Approval:

• Keep an eye on your payment schedule and avoid missing the deadlines since a strong payment history stands for 35% in the FICO score formula.
• Pay down existing debts and try to keep your credit balance low. The credit utilization should be below 30%.
• Avoid filing multiple credit applications since each hard inquiry will impact your credit report and might temporarily reduce your actual credit rating.
• Ensure that all info you submit with the Apple Card application is true-to-life, accurate, and up-to-date. Double-check all financial details to show yourself as a reliable and responsible applicant.

Final Thought

While there is no minimum requirement for the Apple credit card credit score, the card issuer does take this factor into account when considering applications. Though there are cases when individuals with FICO scores of 600 have been approved, statistically, users with good to excellent scores (above 670) are prioritized.