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Best Credit Cards for Excellent Credit of March 2024

Review Updated
Brittney Myers
Steven Porrello
By: Brittney Myers and Steven Porrello

Our Credit Cards Experts

Nathan Alderman
Check IconFact Checked Nathan Alderman
Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.

It can take years to build up a high credit score, but that work can pay off big time. An excellent credit score is the key to unlocking all manner of credit perks, not the least of which is having your pick of the best credit cards around. Want a luxury travel rewards card to earn miles to cover airfare? How about high-rate cash back credit cards? Maybe a 0% intro APR deal? With excellent credit, the card perks and possibilities are endless.

The downside to those endless possibilities is needing to pick a card. We chose the cards on our list based on their best-in-class rewards or perks. They include some of our favorite travel rewards cards, as well as top-tier cash back options. We also picked cards that trade rewards for some of the longest intro APR offers we could find. And we went for a healthy mix of cards with and without annual fees.

Great for: Travel card with no annual fee

Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. 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)
Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. 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.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. Balance transfers include a fee of 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%.

Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Regular APR

18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)

Rewards

1.5 points per dollar

Annual Fee

$0

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases

25,000 points

  • This is a good starter travel card thanks to its simplicity and no annual fee. It offers a strong welcome bonus worth $250, unlimited 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases, and no foreign transaction fee. Simply redeem points as a statement credit for travel or dining purchases. The generous 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases offer might come in handy if you want to pay-off an expensive trip over time without interest. It’s a particularly good fit for Bank of America Preferred Rewards members, who can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase (depending on your tier). Read Full Review

    • Big sign-up bonus
    • No annual fee
    • Competitive rewards rate on purchases
    • Great 0% intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers
    • Limited ways to use points
    • Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
    • 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
    • Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
    • Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
    • 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% - 28.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
    • If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
    • Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
    • This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Great for: Travel and points transfers

Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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 Circle with letter I in it. 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
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. 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)
Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. 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.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR Circle with letter I in it. N/A

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

21.49%-28.49% Variable

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.

5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases

Annual Fee Circle with letter I in it. N/A

$95

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

60,000 bonus points

  • The enormous welcome bonus (worth up to $750), bonus points for travel and dining, and $50 annual hotel credit alone make this card well worth the $95 annual fee. What really stands out are the rare travel protections such as trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance. It’s the only low annual fee card we’ve seen offer those protections. Read Full Review

    • Big sign-up bonus
    • Travel rewards
    • Dining rewards
    • Flexible travel points
    • Consumer and travel protections
    • Annual fee
    • Limited-time perks
    • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
    • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
    • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
    • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
    • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
    • Member FDIC

Great for: Travel and dining

Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Reserve®

On Chase's Secure Website.

Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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 Circle with letter I in it. 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
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. 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)
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Reserve®

On Chase's Secure Website.

Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. 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.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

22.49%-29.49% Variable

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

5x points on flights and 10x points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel℠.

Annual Fee Circle with letter I in it. N/A

$550

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

60,000 bonus points

  • The sign-up bonus, premium rewards for travel and dining, and a wide array of travel benefits give this card quite a bit of value. Read Full Review

    • Sign-up bonus
    • Travel credits
    • Airport lounge access
    • Travel and dining rewards
    • Flexible travel points
    • Annual fee
    • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
    • $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
    • Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
    • Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
    • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
    • Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
    • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
    • Member FDIC
Award Icon 2024 Award Winner

Great for: U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations

Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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 Circle with letter I in it. 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
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. 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)
Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. 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.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: 0%, 12 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 12 months

Regular APR

19.24%-29.99% Variable

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations. 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more). 1% Cash Back on other purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.

1%-6% Cash Back

Annual Fee

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.

$250

  • This card offers market-leading cash back at U.S. Supermarkets. The welcome bonus and intro APR offer just sweeten the deal. Terms apply. If you spend at least $500 per month on groceries (excluding wholesale clubs like Costco), this card is worth considering. Read Full Review

    • Big welcome offer
    • U.S. supermarkets rewards
    • U.S. gas stations rewards
    • Streaming subscription rewards
    • Travel and purchase protections
    • Annual fee
    • Foreign transaction fee
    • Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
    • $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
    • Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
    • Low Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.24% - 29.99%. Variable APRs will not exceed 29.99%.
    • 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
    • 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
    • 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations.
    • 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
    • 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
    • Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
    • Get up to $120 in statement credits annually when you pay for an auto-renewing subscription to Equinox+ at equinoxplus.com with your Blue Cash Preferred® Card. That’s $10 in statement credits each month. Enrollment required.
    • Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Preferred® Card. Enrollment required.
    • Terms Apply.

Great for: Premium travel

Apply Now for The Platinum Card® from American Express

On American Express' Secure Website.

Terms apply

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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 Circle with letter I in it. 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
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. 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)
Apply Now for The Platinum Card® from American Express

On American Express' Secure Website.

Terms apply

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. 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.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: n/a

Balance Transfers: n/a

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.

1X-5X Membership Rewards® Points

Annual Fee

$695

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

80,000

  • The high annual fee is justifiable for frequent travelers who can take full advantage of a deep bench of valuable perks, including the big welcome offer, robust rewards, and lucrative annual travel credits. Read Full Review

    • Big welcome offer
    • Substantial spending credits
    • Airport lounge access
    • Hotel benefits
    • Flexible travel points
    • Annual fee
    • Limited bonus categories
    • Spending credits can be complicated to manage
    • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
    • Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
    • $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
    • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
    • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
    • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
    • $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
    • $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
    • $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
    • $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
    • Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
    • $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
    • Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
    • $695 annual fee.
    • Terms Apply.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Trip delay and cancellation insurance and cell phone protection underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Extended warranty, purchase protection, car rental insurance, and baggage insurance underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
Award Icon 2024 Award Winner

Great for: Dining and U.S. supermarkets

Apply Now for American Express® Gold Card

On American Express' Secure Website.

Terms apply

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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 Circle with letter I in it. 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
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. 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)
Apply Now for American Express® Gold Card

On American Express' Secure Website.

Terms apply

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. 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.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: n/a

Balance Transfers: n/a

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.

1X-4X Membership Rewards® Points

Annual Fee

$250

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

60,000

  • This card offers considerable value, as it earns 4X points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X) and 4X points at restaurants. Plus, earn 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on American Express Travel. Meanwhile, $120 in annual dining credits and $120 in Uber cash can offset almost the entire $250 annual fee. (Terms apply.) Overall, it’s an incredibly lucrative card for those who spend a lot in those categories. Read Full Review

    • Impressive welcome offer
    • Restaurant rewards
    • U.S. supermarket rewards
    • Travel and dining credits
    • High-value rewards points
    • Annual fee
    • Inflexible spending credits
    • Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
    • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
    • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
    • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
    • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
    • Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
    • Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
    • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
    • Annual Fee is $250.
    • Terms Apply.
Award Icon 2024 Award Winner

Great for: 0% intro APR offer and no late payment fee

Apply Now for Citi Simplicity® Card

On Citi's Secure Website.

Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. 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)
Apply Now for Citi Simplicity® Card

On Citi's Secure Website.

Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. 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.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: 0%, 12 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 21 months

Regular APR

19.24% - 29.99% (Variable)

Rewards

N/A

Annual Fee

$0

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).

Lower intro balance transfer fee

  • This is one of our favorite cards for balance transfers. It has 0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers and a discounted balance transfer fee for the first four months. That combo makes it one of the most generous balance transfer offers we’ve seen. Plus, you can choose from any available payment date. That way, you can set up automatic payments that are aligned with your paycheck. Read Full Review

    • Great intro APR
    • No annual fee
    • No late fees
    • No penalty APR
    • No rewards
    • Foreign transaction fee
    • No Late Fees, No Penalty Rate, and No Annual Fee... Ever
    • 0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
    • There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
    • Stay protected with Citi® Quick Lock.
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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.
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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.
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= Excellent
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Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. 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)
Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. 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.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. Balance transfers include a fee of 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%.

Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Regular APR

18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. 3% cash back in your choice category, 2% at grocery stores & wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases), 1% on all other purchases.

1% - 3% cash back

Annual Fee

$0

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening

$200 cash rewards

  • Includes a big welcome offer, a long 0% intro APR, and a flexible cash rewards program that enables you to earn premium rewards in a category of your choice. Read Full Review

    • Competitive welcome bonus
    • Bonus cash back in a category of your choice
    • No annual fee
    • Great 0% intro & transfer APR offer
    • Relationship rewards bonus
    • Foreign transaction fee
    • Limit on bonus cash back
    • $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
    • Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
    • Choose 3% cash back on gas and EV charging station, online shopping/cable/internet/phone plan/streaming, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy or home improvement/furnishing purchases.
    • If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 3.75%-5.25% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
    • No annual fee and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
    • 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% - 28.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
    • Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
    • This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Great for: Bank of America loyalists

Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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.
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= Excellent
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= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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.
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= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. 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)
Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. 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.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR Circle with letter I in it. N/A

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

20.24% - 27.24% (Variable)

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. 2 points per dollar on travel & dining purchases, unlimited 1.5 points per dollar on all other purchases, 25%-75% more points for Bank of America Preferred Rewards members

1.5 - 2 points per dollar

Annual Fee

$95

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. 60,000 online bonus points – a $600 value – after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening

60,000 points

  • The bonus offer, premium travel & dining rewards, and up to $200 in travel-related statement credits make this a compelling offer for travelers who can justify paying an annual fee. Read Full Review

    • Big sign-up bonus
    • Bonus travel and dining rewards
    • Travel credits
    • Consumer and travel protections
    • Annual fee
    • Receive 60,000 online bonus points - a $600 value - after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
    • Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases. No limit to the points you can earn and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
    • If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means you could earn 2.5-3.5 points on travel and dining purchases and 1.87-2.62 points on all other purchases, for every $1 you spend.
    • Redeem for cash back as a statement credit, deposit into eligible Bank of America® accounts, credit to eligible Merrill® accounts, or gift cards or purchases at the Bank of America Travel Center.
    • Get up to $100 in Airline Incidental Statement Credits annually and TSA PreCheck®/Global Entry Statement Credits of up to $100, every four years.
    • Travel Insurance protections to assist with trip delays, cancellations and interruptions, baggage delays and lost luggage.
    • No foreign transaction fees.
    • Low $95 annual fee.
    • This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Great for: Long 0% intro APR offer

Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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 Circle with letter I in it. 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
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. 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)
Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. 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.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR Circle with letter I in it. 0% on purchases and balance transfers for the first 21 billing cycles on purchases billing cycles, and after that 18.74% - 29.74% (Variable).

Purchases: 0%, 21 billing cycles on purchases

Balance Transfers: 0%, 21 billing cycles

Regular APR

18.74% - 29.74% (Variable)

Rewards

N/A

Annual Fee

$0

Welcome Offer

N/A

  • With a generous intro APR offer for both balance transfers and purchases, this is one of the best low interest credit cards we've come across.

    • Long 0% intro APR offer
    • No annual fee
    • Cellphone protection
    • Free credit score monitoring
    • No rewards
    • Foreign transaction fee
    • 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 21 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR currently 18.74% - 29.74%.
    • Get up to $600 protection on your cell phone (subject to $25 deductible) against covered damage or theft when you pay your monthly cellular telephone bill with your U.S.Bank Visa® Platinum Credit Card. Certain terms, conditions, and exclusions apply.
    • Choose a payment due date that fits your schedule
    • No Annual Fee
    • Terms and conditions apply.
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card is unavailable on The Ascent. All information was collected independently and not reviewed for accuracy or provided by the credit card issuer. Some items may be out of date.

Which credit card for excellent credit is right for you?

With excellent credit, you can get just about any credit card you like, which can make it hard to pick the right one from all the options. When comparing credit card offers, you'll need to consider what you want out of your credit cards.

  • Rewards: Think about the type of rewards -- cash back versus points -- as well as the rewards rates. We like to choose cards that maximize our rewards on the things we purchase most often.
  • Annual fee: Some annual fees are worth paying. Others aren't. Consider what kind of value you'll get from your card to make your decision.
  • Interest rates: If you have big purchases coming up, a long intro 0% APR card could be more important than even rewards.

Overview of the best credit cards for excellent credit

While folks with average or low credit scores are limited in the cards they can get, applicants with excellent credit aren't limited by their own creditworthiness. Here's a look at just a few of the best credit cards available to you when you have excellent credit.

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Great for: Transferable points and benefits

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a mid-tier travel rewards card that can earn a slew of bonus points on travel and dining purchases for a low annual fee. Users earn Ultimate Rewards points, which are valuable rewards that can be transferred to Chase travel partners.

Read the full Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Great for: Travel rewards and perks

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a premium travel rewards card that earns 3x Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on travel and dining purchases. The annual fee is steep ($550) but cardholders enjoy a plethora of travel perks, including an annual travel credit, airport lounge access, and trip insurance.

Read the full Chase Sapphire Reserve® review

Amex Blue Cash Preferred

Great for: U.S. supermarkets and streaming rewards

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is one of the best everyday rewards cards around, offering 6% cash back on up to $6,000 in U.S. supermarkets purchases each year. The card also offers 6% back on select U.S. streaming services, as well as 3% back on transit purchases and at U.S. gas stations. Terms apply.

Read the full Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express review

Amex Platinum Card

Great for: Travel rewards and lounge access

The Platinum Card® from American Express is a top-rated travel card that offers high rewards rates on select hotel and airline purchases, as well as a ton of travel perks. Users get $200 in annual Uber Cash, access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries, and hotel elite status. Select enrollment required, terms apply.

Read the full The Platinum Card® from American Express review

Bank of America Travel Rewards

Great for: Travel rewards with no annual fee

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is a no annual fee travel rewards card that provides unlimited 1.5x miles per dollar on purchases. However, miles can't be transferred between airline partners; instead, they're redeemed for statement credits to cover travel and dining purchases.

Read the full Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card review

Amex Gold Card

Great for: Restaurants and U.S. supermarkets rewards

The American Express® Gold Card is ideal for foodies of all kinds, offering 4x Membership Rewards points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in eligible purchases), as well as 4x points per $1 at restaurants. Users also get $120 in annual dining credits and in annual Uber Cash. Select enrollment required, terms apply.

Read the full American Express® Gold Card review

Citi Simplicity Card

Great for: 0% intro APR offer and no late payment fee

The Citi Simplicity® Card packs in one of the best 0% intro APR offers we've come across for balance transfers -- 21 months of no interest from the date of the balance transfer, after a balance transfer fee of 3% ($5 min) for first 4 months, then 5% ($5 min.) Other card offers include no late payment fee and no penalty APR.

This content is not provided by the issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of The Ascent alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the issuer

Read the full Citi Simplicity® Card review

Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards

Great for: Choosing your rewards

The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card lets cardholders choose their own 3% cash back rewards category from a list of options that includes travel, gas, and drugstores. You'll also earn 2% back on groceries and at wholesale stores. Bonus rewards are capped at $2,500 in purchases each quarter.

Read the full Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card review

Bank of America Premium Rewards

Great for: Choosing your rewards

The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card earns 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining, plus 1.5 points everywhere else. For the low annual fee ($95), the card excels big time with its $200 in travel statement credits and the 25% to 75% bonus point bump for Preferred Rewards members.

Read the full Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card review

U.S. Bank Visa Platinum

Great for: Long 0% intro APR offers

The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card has one of the longest 0% intro APR offers we've come across, at 21 billing cycles for both purchases and balance transfers.

Read the full U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card review

What is an excellent credit score?

The exact definition of an excellent credit score will vary based on the credit scoring model and the lender. That said, your score is generally considered excellent if it falls within the top 10% of whatever scoring model is being used.

LEARN MORE: Complete Guide to Understanding Your Credit Score

The majority of lenders use some version of a FICO® Score when evaluating your credit. Most FICO® Score models use a range of 300 to 850, with 850 being the highest possible score. So, a FICO® Score of 800 to 850 would definitely be considered an excellent credit score. However, in practice, any score over 780 will likely qualify you for most credit products.

Benefits of having an excellent credit score

An excellent credit score comes with a ton of benefits and upgrades, many of which can save you money. Let's take a look at a few of them.

Easy approval for credit products

We've all had that edge-of-our-seat wait while a credit card or loan application is being evaluated. But having excellent credit can help you feel more confident when you click "Apply."

It's worth noting that excellent credit isn't a guarantee of approval. Issuers could still reject your application for any number of reasons. For instance, if your income is too low to qualify for the card's minimum credit limit, you may be declined. And some issuers will turn you down for a new card if you've opened too many other card accounts in the last year or two. (Chase is notorious for this!)

LEARN MORE: The Chase 5/24 Rule

Lower interest rates and fees

Your credit score has a huge impact on the interest rate you're charged by various credit products, including:

The better your credit, the lower the interest rate you'll be charged. This can easily save you thousands of dollars over the course of a loan, especially long-term loans like home mortgage loans.

LEARN MORE: How Credit Card Interest Works

Low or no down payments

Although we often associate credit scores with products like credit cards and loans, lots of places will check your credit before doing business with you. This can include:

  • Apartment complexes
  • Utility companies
  • Cellphone service providers

With excellent credit, you're less likely to have to put down a deposit to open an account or sign a rental lease. Even if you do need to make a deposit, chances are good it will be much lower than would be required if you had a lower credit score.

Larger credit limits and loan amounts

Your income certainly plays a role in how much credit you can get. However, having an excellent credit score will go a long way toward being approved for higher credit limits. This can mean higher credit limits on your credit cards, as well as the ability to get approved for larger loans.

RELATED: Best High Limit Credit Cards

We've found reports of people getting credit card limits of $50,000 or more at approval. Excellent credit can help you after the fact, too. Improving your credit score can get you credit limit increases on your existing cards.

LEARN MORE: How to Increase Your Credit Limit

What is the best credit card for excellent credit?

The credit card market is bursting with different types of credit cards, so there's no "best" credit card for everyone. The best card for you will depend on factors like your spending habits and the type of rewards you want to earn.

LEARN MORE: How to Choose a Credit Card

Happily, when you have excellent credit, you can take your pick of just about any credit card you want. This includes credit cards for good credit, as well as premium options reserved for those with the best credit scores.

For example, if you want to earn travel rewards, you could choose one of the top-tier travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or the The Platinum Card® from American Express. On the other hand, folks who want to maximize their everyday purchases would likely enjoy the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express or the American Express® Gold Card.

LEARN MORE: The Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards

How to get an excellent credit score

Building an excellent credit score takes several years of responsible credit use, including paying your debts on time every month, keeping low balances, and being cautious about opening new credit. To get a better idea of what's involved in understanding your credit score, let's look at the five factors that go into your FICO® Score calculation.

Payment history

Making your debt payments on time is the most important part of your credit score, and it is worth 35% of your FICO® Score. Any credit card or loan payment more than 30 days past due can be reported to the credit bureaus as delinquent, which will damage your credit score. To get full marks, be sure to make every credit card and loan payment on time, every single month. You can set up automatic payments on your debts to help ensure you never miss a payment.

Amounts owed

This is worth 30% of your FICO® Score and it considers both how much total debt you have and your credit utilization ratio, which is the combined credit limits of all your cards compared to how much in total you owe on your cards. Your credit utilization ratio is calculated by dividing your balance by your available credit. For example, a credit card with a $1,000 balance and a $5,000 credit limit has a utilization rate of 20%: $1,000 / $5,000 = 0.2 = 20%. Ideally, you want your utilization to stay below 10%. At the very least, avoid maxing out your credit cards, as that will cause your utilization to skyrocket -- and your credit scores to drop.

Credit history length

How long you've been building credit plays a big role in your credit score, weighing in for 15% of your score calculation. The longer your positive credit history, the better you'll do in this factor. Building credit early and keeping older credit card accounts open when possible are the best ways to improve this factor. Outside of that, it just takes time.

Credit mix

The entire point of your credit history and score is to show lenders you can handle credit responsibly. One way to show this is with a healthy credit mix of different credit types, such as having both loans and credit cards. Even having multiple credit cards can contribute to your credit mix, as it shows you can handle several lines of credit at one time.

New credit

Each time you apply for a new credit product, the lender will perform a hard credit check. These credit inquiries are logged on your credit report, as are any new accounts you open. Having too many hard credit inquiries -- or too many new accounts -- on your report can indicate you plan to take on a lot of new debt, which makes lenders nervous. The best way to keep this factor in good shape is to wait at least a few months between new applications.

Summary of best credit cards for excellent credit by type

I have excellent credit. Why was my application rejected?

There is so much hype placed on your credit scores that it can seem like the only factor when it comes to applying for a card. But most of us in the credit card game have been turned down for a card at least once, despite having great credit scores.

Why does it happen? Your credit score is just one of the things issuers consider when you apply for a new card. Many other factors can also play a role, including:

  • Your income: By law, an issuer has to confirm you can afford the credit line it gives you. If the issuer thinks your income is too low to manage the minimum credit limit for a card, it'll likely reject your application.
  • Your recent new accounts: Many issuers have policies in place that limit how many new credit cards you can have and still be approved. Chase, for instance, won't approve you for a new card if you have five or more new card accounts opened in the last 24 months.
  • Your history with the issuer: Banks have long memories. If you ever had a default or other problem with the issuer -- even if your mistake was decades ago -- it could stop you from getting a card now.

Any of these things (or something else entirely) could be behind your rejection. In most cases, the issuer will send you a letter telling you why you were turned down. If you need more information, contacting the issuer may also shed some light on the situation.

The Picks
Card Rating Great For
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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.
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Great For:

Travel card with no annual fee

Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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.
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Great For:

Travel and points transfers

Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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.
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Great For:

Travel and dining

Award Icon 2024 Award Winner
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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.
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Great For:

U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations

Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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.
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Great For:

Premium travel

Award Icon 2024 Award Winner
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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.
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= Good
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Great For:

Dining and U.S. supermarkets

Award Icon 2024 Award Winner
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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.
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Great For:

0% intro APR offer and no late payment fee

Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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.
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Great For:

Bonus cash back of your choice

Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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
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Great For:

Bank of America loyalists

Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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
Great For:

Long 0% intro APR offer

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Trip delay and cancellation insurance and cell phone protection underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Extended warranty, purchase protection, car rental insurance, and baggage insurance underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card is unavailable on The Ascent. All information was collected independently and not reviewed for accuracy or provided by the credit card issuer. Some items may be out of date.

FAQs

  • You can take your pick of most credit cards when you have excellent credit, so choosing one really comes down to what you need from your new card. You'll want to consider the type of rewards it earns, as well as the rewards rates and any cardholder perks. You should also look at the annual fee and interest rates.

    For example, if you travel frequently, you'll likely want to focus on cards that earn transferable travel rewards and that offer bonus rewards on travel purchases. On the other hand, if you spend a lot on groceries or dining, look for cards that offer high rewards rates on those purchases.

  • While you only need one credit card to build credit, having multiple cards could help you maintain an excellent score. Multiple credit card accounts can boost your credit limits and help you keep a low credit utilization low, which makes up a large portion of most credit scores.

Our Credit Cards Experts