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To get the Chase Freedom Unlimited® or the Chase Freedom Flex℠, you should have a credit score of 670 or higher. Most successful applicants have good credit, which starts at a credit score of 670, and many have credit scores in the 700s.
When Chase checks your credit, it pulls a specific type of credit score known as your FICO® Score. Quite a few online credit score tools provide your VantageScore. This is another type of credit score that can be much different. There are plenty of free ways to get your credit score online to see if you're likely to meet the threshold for the Chase Freedom Unlimited® credit score. Just make sure you choose a way that provides your FICO® Score.
Keep in mind that a credit score of 670 or above doesn't guarantee an approval. Chase looks at several factors in addition to an applicant's credit score. One of the most important is the number of Chase credit cards you have opened in the past 24 months. If it's five or more, Chase almost always denies the application. This practice is known as Chase's 5/24 rule. You're better off not applying for now if you won't pass this rule.
Other factors that can affect your application include:
- How long you've been using credit
- Your income
- Your payment history
- Your credit card debt
- If you have any Chase bank accounts
Based on reports consumers have made, a credit history of at least one year is recommended before applying for the Chase Freedom Unlimited® or the Chase Freedom Flex℠. That means you should have a credit card you've been using for a year or longer with no late payments. Otherwise, Chase could deny your application because your credit file is too thin, regardless of your credit score.
There are indications that consumers who bank with Chase have better approval odds for Chase credit cards. You could consider opening a Chase bank account if you want to improve your chances of success.
If you haven't reached a credit score of 670 yet, Chase probably may not approve you for the Chase Freedom Unlimited® or the Chase Freedom Flex℠. Successful applications from consumers in this position are rare. It's still possible, and having a bank account with Chase can help. However, there's a much higher likelihood of a denial. You may want to increase your credit score first, and then apply for a Freedom-branded credit card once you have good credit.
The Ascent's detailed credit card reviewChase Freedom Unlimited®
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The Ascent's detailed credit card reviewChase Freedom Flex
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About the Author
Lyle Daly is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. He writes for The Ascent and The Motley Fool, and his work has appeared in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia.
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