Approved for the Chase Sapphire Reserve!

I see now many of the bloggers are on their post-approval victory laps, but I figured I’d throw in my approval story for the Chase Sapphire Reserve as well.

Turns out I could have applied online, but I took the more conservative route and applied at my bank yesterday morning. The object was to see if I was pre-approved prior to applying, hoping to avoid a needless credit check if the 5-24 rule would prohibit me from securing the new card.

I am not a “Private Client” at Chase, but I do have multiple bank accounts and credit cards with Chase, so I figured it was worth a shot. Upon arrival at my local Chase branch, just three minutes from my house, an attendant greeted me and asked me to have a seat while she found someone who could help. I have many business cards of employees at my branch but it seems like new faces every time I am in there.

A very nice lady welcomed me to her desk, asked for my driver’s licence and Chase debit card, and checked on whether I was pre-approved. After about a minute of typing she smiled and said I was pre-approved! She spoke very highly of the card though she did state, “I thought this would be a more exclusive card. At first we were told this would just be for Chase Private Client customers.”

We proceeded with the application, culminating in her printing out a sheet of paper for me to sign and handing me a packet containing the terms and conditions of the card. That was it! 

I was given a credit line of $33,000 and did not have to shuffle any credit from my existing Chase cards.

My brother is in town for a few days and he came to the bank with me to try to get the card too. He does not bank with Chase, but does have a few Chase credit cards. That did not help: there was no pre-approval in his (more limited) Chase profile, but he was invited to apply online.

While I was under 5-24 (I was at 4-24 according to her system) and could have just applied online, I did not mind going in-branch, especially since there are no direct affiliate links yet.

The banker offered to call Chase to have the card expedited for me, which was a nice touch, but was told when she made the call that all the cards were being shipped by UPS and there is no expedite option.

I asked the banker, “So is there any reason to keep the Chase Sapphire Preferred?” and she smiled, check the benefits once again just to make sure, and said, “No.” Good answer — I don’t see a reason and will close that account before the annual fee becomes due again.

With a 100,000 mile sign-up bonus, $300 in annual travel spending, 50% bonus on Chase travel portal redemptions, and Priority Pass membership (apparently with guest access) the credit card is now the hottest points card on the market.