Updated
Fact Checked
Jamie Matthews
What if you could know whether or not you'd be approved before applying for a credit card?
While there's no way to guarantee approval, getting a pre-approved offer before applying for a credit card can help you target the right cards for your credit score and avoid unnecessary inquiries on your credit report. Here's how to get pre-approved for a Discover credit card.
What does pre-approved mean?
Getting pre-approved for a credit card offer simply means that the credit card issuer has determined that you fit certain criteria for that credit card. The card issuer does this by running a soft credit check, which doesn't show up on your credit report or affect your credit score.
Pre-approval checks aren't as extensive as a hard credit check, so receiving Discover pre-approval doesn't necessarily mean you will be approved for the card. On the flip side, not having pre-approval for a Discover card doesn't mean you'll be denied.
Getting pre-approved for Discover credit cards
Some people may automatically receive Discover pre-approval offers in the mail. However, the best way to check for Discover pre-approval is online. The online Discover pre-approval tool will show you exactly what personalized credit card offers you qualify for based on the information you provide.
To access the Discover pre-approval tool, you'll need to navigate to Discover's website (www.discover.com), choose "All Products" from the top navigation menu, click the arrow beside "Credit Cards," then click on the "See if You're Pre-approved" graphic. You'll need to have the following information ready:
- Personal information like your name and address
- Employment information such as your salary and rent or mortgage payments
- Banking information like whether you have any checking, savings, or retirement accounts
- Security information like your birthday and Social Security number
You can then select whether you prefer cash back credit cards, travel credit cards, or balance transfer offers. The form takes about five minutes to fill out, and you'll receive a list of cards for which you're pre-approved instantly.
That said, if you aren't pre-approved for any offers, you should receive a reason. After that, Discover recommends waiting at least eight days before submitting another request through the Discover pre-approval tool to see if you have any new offers.
Discover credit card options
If you're wondering which Discover card might be right for you, take a look at a few of our favorites below:
As of Apr. 16, 2024
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| Discover it® Cash Back | Discover it® Miles | Discover it® Secured Credit Card |
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
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Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: New/Rebuilding Under(579)
New/Rebuilding Under(579) |
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Welcome Offer: N/A Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. |
Welcome Offer: N/A Discover will match all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. |
Welcome Offer: Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. |
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Rewards Program: Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically. 1% - 5% Cashback |
Rewards Program: Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase 1.5X miles |
Rewards Program: 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically 1% - 2% Cashback |
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Intro APR: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months |
Intro APR: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months |
Intro APR: Purchases: n/a Balance Transfers: 10.99%, 6 months |
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Regular APR: 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR |
Regular APR: 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR |
Regular APR: 28.24% Variable APR |
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Annual Fee: $0 |
Annual Fee: $0 |
Annual Fee: $0 |
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Why you should check your pre-approvals before applying for a credit card
You want to minimize your rejections for credit cards. Every time you submit a credit card application, the issuer will run a hard credit check, which does show up on your credit report and can drag your score down temporarily. If you're denied for the credit card, you've got a hard inquiry on your credit report with nothing to show for it. While the decrease is minimal from one inquiry, racking up six or seven will really take a toll on your credit score, especially if you have a short credit history.
Choosing a credit card
Don't you wish you could take a peek inside a credit card expert's wallet sometimes? Just to see the cards they carry? Well, you can't look in anybody's wallet, but you can check out our experts' favorite credit cards. Get started here:
Pre-approval might not be the guarantee you'd like, but it can help you decide whether or not you actually want to submit an application, or it can help you decide which credit card to apply for.
Checking your pre-approvals may also help you decide between two different Discover credit cards. You may also be able to get a sense of the APR you'll be offered from your pre-approvals, which can help guide your decision. In the end, there's no risk involved in using Discover pre-approval, but there is the potential for lots of rewards.
Still have questions?
Here are some other questions we've answered:
Our Credit Cards Experts
Elizabeth is a personal finance writer specializing in credit cards, debt repayment, and small business. Her work has appeared on The Motley Fool, MSN Money, Yahoo! Finance, and Business Insider. She’s an avid credit card points collector and perpetual traveler currently living in Costa Rica.
Fact Checked
Jamie Matthews
Jamie Matthews is alumni of Ohio State University and still calls Columbus, Ohio home. She is a finance editor with more than nine years of experience. When she isn't obsessing over grammar and punctuation, she enjoys baking, reading books, and being a proud dog mom.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.
John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Discover Financial Services is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Elizabeth Aldrich has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, and Target. The Motley Fool recommends Discover Financial Services. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.