For anyone who has yet to hear about CardMatch (creditcards.com/cardmatch/), it’s basically a credit card search tool that matches your credit profile with offers you’re more likely to get approved for.
CardMatch is a tool offered through the CreditCards.com domain. If you haven’t yet stumbled upon CreditCards.com, it is a huge credit card comparison site, with subdomains in Australia, United Kingdom and Canada.
CreditCards.com is owned by Bankrate. Bankrate (NYSE: RATE) is a massive network that’s a trusted source for financial rates and information, and their data is frequently referenced on CNN, CNBC, Fox Business News, etc.
A common misconception is that using CardMatch can ruin your credit. On the contrary, entering in your personal information to use this service only causes a “Soft Pull” on your credit. Soft Pulls do not affect your credit score in any way, and they are commonly done without your knowledge in other aspects of your financial life. Checking account bonuses, employer background checks, and even when you check your own credit score, all usually involve a “Soft Pull”.
The “Hard Pull“, which DOES affect your credit score, will happen when you actually APPLY for one of the credit cards (the same as applying for credit cards anywhere else).
Best Reason For Using CardMatch
Regardless of whether or not you’re in a hurry to obtain a new credit card, the main reason CardMatch is unique is that sometimes you’ll get matched up with card offers that aren’t available elsewhere. Usually this is in the form of higher sign-up bonuses compared with regular public offers. Because it doesn’t affect your credit score in any way, it’s best to check often for any new offers.
Not everyone will see the same offers; it’s all dependent on your personal credit profile, and whether the issuer happens to have an available offer at that given time.
Some Offers I’ve Received Through CardMatch
Note:
- Offers may not be available to all users
- Date I received these offers: 9/25/2022
Citi Premier Card 80,000 Bonus ThankYou Points Offer
Citi Double Cash Card $200 Cash Back Offer
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card $200 Cash Rewards Bonus
Citi Custom Cash Card $200 Cash Back Offer
Things To Know Before Using CardMatch…
What offers will you see? It all depends on the Soft Pull of your credit that determines what offers will show up for you. Even if you have a favored FICO score of at least 700, you may still not get matched with the more favored offers.
Your chances of seeing good offers from issuers like American Express may also depend on your history with American Express. Because I’ve taken advantage of the Blue Cash Preferred offer in the past, I no longer personally see these better offers now (my score is over 800 now too). So if you’ve recently applied for an Amex card for a bonus elsewhere, you may not get all the best matches on CardMatch.
It doesn’t affect your credit, so there’s no harm in looking:
Step 1: Go directly to the CardMatch page.
Step 2: Enter in your First Name, Last Name, Current Address, and the Last 4 Digits of your SSN.
Step 3: View your matched offers.
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Something very bogus about their website and verification
excellent review, tony. thank you.
This site is basically a scam to hype you up to think you’re eligible to get something you are not (for the low fico’ers). It shows me AMEX across the board (well 3 really) & theres no way I’m pulling an AMEX w/ a 600 Fico.
Similar to how a couple of cards i.e Discover is one I believe (could be wrong but there are a couple), always show a card when you prequalify on their site. No way shape or form would I be even close to eligible to getting approved.
I went back & entered spongebob squarepants for my name & was recommended capital one. They’ll recommend anything in hopes you get approved so they make $$$ off the referral. Even goes as far to say, “If you click through to apply for some of the credit card products shown, some issuers will know that you have come through the filtering process and that you meet certain criteria established by the issuer. If you do not click through and apply, the issuer will not know this information about you.” That’s complete BS and it’s there to make the average person think by applying through them (where they get money from it) will up your chances. It won’t.
Eric,
I understand your point. However, I think CardMatch should be used more as a way to see if offers are available that aren’t available directly through the issuer or other sites. That was the case back when I qualified for American Express bonuses. I no longer qualify for them as I’ve used up my allowed card bonuses. I also haven’t read about new exclusive offers lately either. But you’re correct, I definitely would not assume one would qualify for approval just because an offer appears for their search. Yes, CardMatch is owned by creditcards.com and will receive incentives for approved applicants. MoneysMyLife isn’t affiliated with CardMatch, for what it’s worth.
Hi Tony,
I appreciate your site, thank you.
I have a question. I followed through with CardMatch using your site and it came back with offers from American Express. I am most interested in the Blue Cash $150 reward.
My question is how likely is it to actually qualify for the offer. I spent 7 years in Brazil and I returned two years ago. We had credit in Brazil and paid off the loans but that record doesn’t transfer to here. My credit file shows all loans (*including a mortgage of $320k) as “paid as agreed: with zero balances and no write-offs or charge-offs, discounts, foreclosures, bks, etc. My problem is that I show no recent credit use. I now want to get a credit card to increase my credit score because I am preparing for a mortgage. I was recently approved for a $50,000 car loan that I let expire and the finance guy for the realty said I could easily qualify for a $400,000 mortgage. I don’t want to apply for a credit card and be turned down which is why I am asking the question. I am looking at a secured card but I would rather not go that route. We have been operating on a cash basis since returning two years ago and could continue to do so but we want to establish a credit history. So we would use the card and then pay it off. Do you have any advice for us?
While there’s no guarantee of approval using cardmatch, the site does a pretty good job of matching offers based on our credit profile. I always believe it’s better to apply for a good unsecured card before going the secured route.
Hi, you mentioned if I have an Amex card which I do the blue cash then I will not see those special offers for the gold for example. Do you think it is better to close out my blue card then and then look for those offer. Can you reply at My email please and thanks