A credit limit increase lowers your utilization ratio and demonstrates to other lenders that you are managing credit responsibly. Here is how to pursue one on each of the four main bad-credit cards — and what to expect.
Why Credit Limit Increases Matter
A higher credit limit with the same spending habit immediately reduces your utilization ratio. If you spend $150/month on a card with a $500 limit, you are at 30% utilization. Raise the limit to $1,000, and you drop to 15%. That improvement can add meaningful points to your score.
Capital One Platinum: Automatic Review After 6 Months
Capital One reviews all Platinum accounts for credit line increases automatically at the six-month mark. You do not need to request it. If your payment history has been clean, you will receive a notification with an offer. There is no hard inquiry for this automatic review.
After the first increase, Capital One continues periodic automatic reviews. Cardholders who received an initial low limit ($300–$500) often see it raised to $750–$1,000 at the first review.
Check your approval odds for the Capital One Platinum card: See if you qualify with no impact to your credit score.
Discover it Secured: Upgrade to Unsecured
The Discover it Secured card does not offer a traditional credit limit increase in the same way. Instead, after seven months of good payment history, Discover reviews your account monthly for graduation to an unsecured card. Upon graduation:
- Your credit limit typically increases
- Your security deposit is returned
- Your account number stays the same (no hard inquiry for the upgrade)
If you want a higher limit before graduation, you can increase your security deposit, which directly raises your credit limit.
Apply for the Discover it Secured card: Start building credit with cash back rewards.
OpenSky Secured Visa: Increase Your Deposit
The OpenSky credit limit equals your security deposit. To get a higher limit, increase your deposit. You can do this by contacting OpenSky customer service and requesting a deposit increase — you fund the additional amount, and your limit increases accordingly up to $3,000.
OpenSky does not have an automatic credit limit review program like Capital One. The path to a higher limit is entirely through the deposit.
Apply for the OpenSky Secured Visa: No credit check required — approval based on your deposit.
Chime Credit Builder: Add More Money
The Chime Credit Builder’s spending limit equals your Secured Deposit Account balance. Move more money into the account to increase your available spending. There is no formal credit limit increase process — it is simply a matter of funding level.
Open the Chime Credit Builder card: No credit check, no fees, no interest.
What to Do If Your Request Is Denied
- Wait and ask again in 6 months
- Ensure your payment history is clean and your utilization is low before requesting
- If denied for a Capital One automatic review, call customer service to ask what specific factors are preventing the increase
- For secured cards, increasing your deposit is always available as an alternative path
When a New Card Makes More Sense Than an Increase
If you have been using a secured card for 12+ months with good payment history but cannot get a limit increase, applying for a new card may be more effective. A second card adds new available credit, which improves your utilization ratio while also diversifying your credit profile.
Terms verified at issuer websites on September 18, 2026. Card terms change frequently — verify current rates and fees at the issuer’s website before applying.