Originally Posted by
Dr Jabadski
Reference: BOA Biz Recon (Small Biz Lending, Credit Analyst) 888-782-7717, 888-569-4439 (M-F 8am-7pm EST), both answered by live human in 2-4 minutes. (Both numbers confirmed multiple times in the past 2-3 days.)
Not exactly sure why this application (described below) was declined. Past few years I’m invariably at ~20/24 including all biz cards, ~3.5/24 for Chase application purposes.
Generally accepted BOA application/approval rules: 2 BOA cards per 2 months, 3 per 12 months, 4 per 24 months.
My (likely irrelevant) BOA history: 15 year old BOA biz card for Cessna airplane (partner and LLC), 15 years ago applied for a NY Yankees BOA MC in person at Yankee Stadium to get a Yankees blanket and closed the account the day the card was received without activating the card, 2006-2009 BOA AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) MC never used, 2009-2013 BOA AOPA Visa closed due to inactivity.
My relevant BOA history: Only other BOA cards have been Alaska which I’ve churned for 9 years, 17 cards, first 11 personal each closed at 3-6 months (used to be completely acceptable), last 6 biz (to stay under Chase 5/24) each closed at 12.5 months, minimal use of any beyond SUB minimum spend usually on first statement, ~650k Alaska miles earned, 1 Alaska flight during that time. Original goal was Alaska miles to redeem for Emirates award flight but of course that went away a few years ago and I ended up using AA miles for Etihad award flights.
Most recent Alaska Biz cards: 9/21-9/22, 3/22-4/23, 8/22-9/23, 6/23-still open, 11/23-still open. 3/22 application was mid-March, thus 24.6 months ago.
Applied a couple of days ago, declined. Called immediately, multiple times with multiple forwarding(s) to get through to recon, learned the numbers above (the hard way). Lovely agent submitted an “exception request” a day or 2 ago, said it would take 3-5 days, called 1 day later on Friday (I’ve had many patients, I have no patience) was told it had been reviewed and (still) declined, I asked why, agent said “velocity”, I asked “too many BOA or too many overall”, she said “Alaska in 24 months”. Plan to apply again in early May.
Let us know how it goes! I've never considered churning Alaska cards until I learned about the Starlux partnership...and now I'm desperate to find ways to generate more points to my retired parents can fly Starlux Business Class (75k each way) to Taiwan. I'm even buying points and hit Alaska MVP Gold flying just to maximize my points earnings.
Do you have any tips for someone new to churning Alaska Biz cards? Specifically:
- Do you typically use your LLC or just your SSN, or do you alternate?
I applied with my legitimate rental LLC that earns $60k+/yr and still somehow went through weeks of business verification hell with BoA's awful reco system, despite my objectively stellar personal credit profile (very high credit score and personal income). Prob the worst experience I've had second to Barclays. Meanwhile, my dad and my sister both got instant approvals using their SSN, no business (similar credit scores).
- Is once every ~6 month the generally recommended velocity?
- Do you have a business banking relationship with BoA?
I've read in a few places BoA is more lax with 3/12 or 7/12 (for deposit account holders) for Business cards. I've also heard that business cards require a business deposit account (rather than personal) to get 7/12.
This thread doesn't seem super active, so I'd love to learn this process and avoid the hard time I had getting approved the first time around.
Originally Posted by
gef100
Was declined for Alaska BIZ too. No previous BOA cards ever. I did recon and they also mentioned velocity, in which the are including biz cards aswell? They pulled TU and there was literally only 1 other inquiry on there, amex from 10/2023. We denied again on recon for same reasons. I've had a hard time finding weather the 3/12 are any bank or BOA only. Any tips?
DoC (Doctor of Credit) has an old but detailed thread on this:
- Have BoA Deposit Account: 6 new cards in the last twelve months is tolerated. If you have 7 new cards in the past 12 months, your application will be denied.
- No BoA Deposit Account: 2 new cards in the last twelve months is tolerated. If you have 3 new cards in the past 12 months, your application will be denied.
- If you have $250k+ with Bank of America, you may be able to bypass the 7/12 rule.