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How to Use the CardMatch Tool to Find the Best Credit Card Offers
If you're in the market for a new credit card, you know how overwhelming it can be to compare all the different offers out there. You might spend hours scouring credit card issuer websites, watching your mailbox for promotional offers, or even following credit card blogs to stay on top of the latest and greatest deals. But what if there was an easier way to find the best credit card offers tailored specifically to you?
Enter the CardMatch tool. The Points Guy partners with top credit card issuers to serve up targeted offers in one convenient place through this innovative platform. Whether you're looking for a juicy welcome bonus, waived annual fee, or exclusive perks, CardMatch can help you find your perfect credit card match.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll dive into everything you need to know about using the CardMatch tool to level up your credit card rewards game. From how it works to the incredible deals it can uncover, read on to become a CardMatch pro!
What is CardMatch?
At its core, CardMatch is a web-based tool that connects you with pre-approved and targeted credit card offers based on your unique credit profile. When you sign up, it performs a soft inquiry (which won't impact your credit score) to match you with specific credit cards you're likely to be approved for.
Major credit card issuers like American Express, Chase, Citi, Capital One, and Bank of America all use CardMatch to present targeted offers, which are often significantly better than the standard offers advertised on their websites. We're talking signup bonuses that are tens of thousands of points higher, annual fees waived for the first year, 0% APR promotions, and more.
How Does CardMatch Work?
Using CardMatch is completely free and only takes a few minutes. Here's how it works:
- Head to the CardMatch website and input some basic personal information, including your name, address, and last four digits of your Social Security number. Don't worry - this is a soft pull that won't affect your credit score.
- CardMatch securely matches your credit profile with all the latest targeted credit card offers from its partnered issuers. This includes both pre-approval offers, which give you very high odds of acceptance if you apply, and pre-qualified offers, which indicate good approval odds.
- Review the list of credit card offers tailored to you. Take your time to compare the key details like signup bonuses, rewards earning rates, annual fees, and special perks.
- If you see an offer you like, click through to apply. You'll be redirected to a secure application on the credit card issuer's website with your targeted offer all queued up and ready to go.
- The issuer will perform a more thorough credit check (known as a hard inquiry) to make a final decision on your application. If approved, you'll typically receive your shiny new credit card in the mail within 7-10 business days. Time to start spending and earning those big bonuses!
Why Should I Use CardMatch?
There are tons of great reasons to make CardMatch your go-to resource anytime you're considering a new credit card:
- Exclusive offers: The targeted offers you'll find on CardMatch are often way better than anything available to the general public. We regularly see bonuses that are 20,000 to 50,000 points higher, which can translate to hundreds of dollars more in rewards value. If you want to get the absolute best deal, CardMatch should be your first stop.
- Time savings: Rather than spending hours researching credit card offers across multiple issuer sites, CardMatch serves up a personalized list of the best offers currently available to you. It's like having a credit card concierge at your fingertips.
- Better approval odds: When you get pre-approved or pre-qualified for a credit card through CardMatch, it means the issuer has already done a preliminary screening and determined you're a good fit for that product. Essentially, it's like getting a "yes" before you even apply, which can give you more confidence and peace of mind.
- Soft inquiry only: Checking your CardMatch offers is completely risk-free. Until you actually click an "Apply Now" button, there's no impact to your credit score whatsoever. Unlike when you submit a full credit card application and get a hard inquiry, you can browse CardMatch offers to your heart's content without worry.
What Kind of CardMatch Offers Can I Expect?
The exact credit card offers you'll be matched with on CardMatch depend on your specific credit history and profile. Issuers use complex algorithms to target different offers to different consumers based on factors like your credit score, current cards, spending habits, and more.
That said, here are a few examples of the blockbuster offers we've seen recently:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express with a whopping 150,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months (standard public offer is 80,000 points)
- The American Express® Gold Card with up to 90,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 6 months (compared to the typical 60,000-point offer)
- The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card with 80,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months (usually only 60,000 points)
- Various airline and hotel credit cards with up to 100,000 bonus miles/points, like the CitiBusiness®/ AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, and others
- Cash back cards like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card with elevated $200-$300 bonuses
- Balance transfer credit cards with 0% APR promotions for up to 18 months, like the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card and U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Of course, there's no guarantee you'll be targeted for these specific offers. But it's always worth checking CardMatch to see if you're eligible for a special promotion that could significantly boost your rewards.
When evaluating CardMatch offers, don't just focus on the signup bonus. Consider factors like the annual fee, bonus categories, and other perks to find the card that best aligns with your spending habits and goals.
How to Use CardMatch: Step by Step Instructions
Head to CardMatch
Answer this short questionnaire to fill in a few personal details:
- First name
- Last name
- Current street address
- City
- State
- ZIP code
- Last 4 digits of your social security number
- Email address
After you've filled out the required info, click "Get matches."
CardMatch uses this information to do a soft pull of your credit to personalize your results. This will not impact your credit score.
After you’ve entered your information, CardMatch will give you the results of the credit card offers available to you.
Remember - not all offers are available but it’s always a good idea to check and see!
We've seen amazing offers like these below on CardMatch:
The Platinum Card From American Express
Although you aren’t guaranteed to snag an elevated welcome offer for the Amex Platinum card, select CardMatch users have been able to earn a coveted 150,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on the card within the first three months of account opening. That’s almost double the 80,000 points after spending $8,000 on the card on the American Express website.
Like the Platinum card, you may be able to find a higher welcome offer for the American Express Gold Card through CardMatch. We’ve seen offers as high as 90,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $4,000 on the card in the first 3 months of account opening! That’s way better than the standard 60,000 Membership Rewards bonus after spending $4,000 in the first 6 months.
Tips to Maximize Your CardMatch Experience
To get the most out of the CardMatch tool, keep these pro tips in mind:
- Check often: Credit card issuers are constantly updating their targeted offers, and your own credit profile is always evolving too. We recommend checking CardMatch at least once a month to stay on top of the latest and greatest deals available to you.
- Take screenshots: If you see an incredible offer but aren't quite ready to apply, be sure to take a screenshot. Targeted offers can disappear quickly, so this is the best way to keep a record and reference it later.
- Consider each offer holistically: While it's easy to get dazzled by a huge points bonus, be sure to factor in things like the spending requirement, annual fee, bonus categories, and other card benefits too. An offer is only a good deal if it aligns with your spending habits and goals.
- Space out your applications: Applying for too many credit cards in a short time frame can be a red flag to issuers. Most experts recommend spacing out your applications by at least 3-6 months to minimize the impact on your credit score.
- Use CardMatch in tandem with pre-qualification tools: In addition to CardMatch, many credit card issuers have their own pre-qualification forms on their websites. These tools work similarly, performing a soft pull to assess your approval odds. Using them alongside CardMatch can cast an even wider net to help you find the best targeted offers.
In Conclusion
At the end of the day, the CardMatch tool is an incredibly powerful asset for anyone looking to maximize their credit card rewards. By presenting a personalized lineup of pre-approved and targeted card offers all in one place, it gives you a major leg up in finding the best deals.
Whether you're a diehard credit card rewards enthusiast or a total newbie, it's absolutely worth taking a couple minutes to see what offers are available to you. You never know when you might score the signup bonus of your dreams or get an unexpected approval for a premium card.
Just remember, no matter how lucrative the offer, it's critical to always use your credit cards responsibly. Spend within your means, pay off your balances in full every month, and never charge more than you can afford to pay back. With a little bit of savvy and a whole lot of discipline, you can harness the power of CardMatch to earn more rewards than ever before - without compromising your financial health in the process.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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