The Red Money

Best Credit Cards for a 680 FICO Score

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Looking for a new credit card can be confusing when there are so many options. If you have a FICO score of 680, then you’re arguably just over the edge for “good credit”.

In fact, depending on who you ask, it may fall just under what is considered good credit. As some actually categorize a good credit score as starting around 690 or even 700.

That’s why this number is so important to evaluate to see exactly what credit cards you can get approved for.

That being said, this article will take you through some of the best credit cards you can get with a 680 FICO score in 2023. Let’s dive in!

Best Credit Cards for Those With a 680 FICO Score

We did the research so you don’t have to go through the myriad of cards out there! Here are our top 8 picks, in no particular order:

  • Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards – Best Cash Rewards
  • DCU Visa Platinum – Best Balance Transfer
  • Chase Freedom Flex – Best for Travel Points
  • Petal 2 Visa – Best Higher Credit Limits
  • Capital One Platinum – Best for Building Credit
  • American Express Blue Cash Preferred
  • Discover It Cash Back
  • Citi Rewards

Before we break each one of these down, it is important to note that with a 680 FICO score you’re going to be on the edge of good credit and this means there are no guarantees you will get approved.

Approval odds will likely also be dependent on income and other factors as well. That being said, if you want to apply for a more “sure thing” you could always apply for beginner credit cards instead.

With a 680 FICO score you’d be almost guaranteed to get approved for most of those, but you likely won’t have the perks these cards do. The great thing about a 680 FICO is that you still have good odds to get approved for one of these “better” cards. Here’s some more info on these.

1. Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card – Best for Cash Rewards

The Capital One QuicksilverOne credit card is an excellent option for those looking for great cashback rewards. It has a set annual fee and offers cash rewards for every purchase made using the card. Here are some of its main features:

  • Credit Score Required: This credit card is appropriate for people with good credit score ratings of 670+. It offers a great balance between interest rates, credit limits, cashback rewards, and annual fees. 
  • Unlimited Earnings: Every time you use this credit card, you earn a 1.5% cash back reward. That may seem low, but given that the annual fee for this card is set at $39 you will definitely earn that money back quickly if you use your card wisely. However, on the negative side, unlike some credit cards, the Capital One Quicksilver does not offer higher cash reward rates or bonuses for large purchases.
  • Qualify for Higher Credit: If you get this credit card, you can qualify for a higher credit limit in just six months.  That is faster than most other credit cards that have annual credit reviews. However, this is only applicable if you make your payments on time in those first six months.
  • High APR: The Capital One QuicksilverOne credit card has an Annual Percentage Rate (APR) of 24.99%. This is quite high but it is due to the fact that the card is for those with good but not excellent credit scores. However,  this is the max APR that you will be charged, even if you are late on payments.

Pros

  • Extra perks such as fraud protection
  • Unlimited cash-back rewards

Cons

  • Annual fee
  • High APR

2. DCU Visa Platinum Credit Card – Best for Balance Transfer

The DCU Visa Platinum credit card is an amazing option with a lot perks you may not expect. Here are the highlights:

  • Low  APR: This credit card is a popular choice because it has extremely competitive interest rates.  The APR rate can be as low as 13.25%, which is well below the average interest rates seen across the country. The rate does vary depending on your credit score but does not exceed 18%, which is still better than most credit card companies.
  • No Hidden Fees: There are no hidden fees with this credit card. This means there are no annual, foreign transactions, balance transfers, or cash advance fees. It is a huge advantage and the reason why the card is a popular choice for consolidating debt via balance transfers.
  • Great Protection: In addition to potential fraud notifications, you get identity theft protection and extra protection if you use your card details on a mobile wallet app. It is also possible to freeze and unfreeze your card if need be. This saves you the hassle of having to apply for a new card all over.
  • Excellent Resources: In addition to your monthly statement, you will also have access to your credit score. This will allow you to track any changes. Furthermore, there are resources provided that explain why your credit score has changed and what you can do to improve it. This allows you to maintain a good credit score and learn new ways to build credit over time.

Pros

  • No balance transfer fee
  • No ongoing fees
  • Low APR

Cons

  • No 0% intro APR

3. Chase Freedom Flex – Best for Travel Points

The Chase Freedom Flex credit card is a popular choice among good credit score holders. Let’s take a look at its main features:

  • Great Cash-Back Offers: With this credit card, you get a 1% cash-back reward on all purchases. However, it gives you higher cash-back rewards on travel, restaurant, and drugstore purchases. This is set at 5% for travel purchases and 3% for restaurant and drugstore purchases. Furthermore, you get quarterly bonuses and can earn $200 if you spend $500 or more in the first three months of card usage.
  • 0% Intro APR: Chase Freedom Flex offers 0% intro APR in the first 15 months that your account is open. However, after this period the APR will vary between 19.74% and 28.49% depending on your credit score at the time. Furthermore, this APR can go up to 29.99% should you be late on your payments.
  • Fees: There is no annual fee associated with the Chase Freedom Flex credit card. However, there are fees for balance transfers, cash advances, foreign transactions, and late payment penalties. These vary between 3% and 5%, with late payment penalties reaching a maximum of $40.
  • Chase Credit Journey: The Chase Credit Journey is a resource that helps you track your credit score. It is a free service that gives you access to your latest score, and real-time notifications of any changes to your credit score. This helps you use your credit card responsibly.

Pros

  • You can earn bonuses
  • Get cash back from travel purchases
  • Extra perks from other companies such as Lyft, Instacart, and Doordash

Cons

  •  High variable APR
  • Must read the fine print to understand the fees

4. Petal 2 Visa Credit Card – Best for Higher Credit Limits

The Petal 2 Visa card is a solid credit card that is available to those with a FICO score over 630. Let’s take a look at the key features of this card:

  • Variable APR: This credit card has varying APRs between 17.74% and 31.74%. The starting APR is pretty standard for an unsecured credit card with the upper limit being very high. Of course, the APR you qualify for will depend on your credit score and how well you repay your credit card.
  • No Penalty Fees: There are no penalty fees associated with the Petal 2 Visa card. In addition, the APR does not increase beyond the maximum of 31.74% if you are late on repayments. 
  • Cash-Back Rewards: With this credit card, you receive two types of cash-back rewards. The first is Petal Rewards, whereby you receive between 1-1.5% back on every purchase made on the credit card. You start off with 1% and get increased to 1.5% after 12 months — if you make your payments on time. In addition, you also receive Merchant Offers, which are rewards you receive from specific stores. With Merchant Offers, your rewards range between 2% and 10%.
  • Credit Building: The Petal 2 Visa credit card is great for building credit as well. It reports to three major credit bureaus and you can track your credit score. The credit card provider also provides resources that help you learn more about responsible credit card behaviors and how to improve your score.

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • Higher credit limits for people with fair credit
  • Lower minimum FICO to get approved (Only around 630)

Cons

  • Variable APR
  • Cash-back rewards only after 12 months
  • Balance transfers are not allowed

5. Capital One Platinum Credit Card – Best for Building Credit

The second Capital One card on our list does not offer many of the perks as the previous one. However, what it does provide is a starter credit card for someone who wants to build credit much like the Petal 2 listed just before. Here are the main features of the Capital One Platinum Credit Card:

  • Low Credit Limits: The Capital One Platinum Card offers much lower credit limits than other cards. The reason for this is simple — it is designed for those with fair credit scores between 600 and 699 that want to build credit. It is also a good choice for a first credit card if you are unsure how you will handle having a credit card. However, despite the low credit limits to begin with, they will assess your account again after the first six months to check if you qualify for a higher credit limit.
  • Variable APR: The APR rate for this card is 29.99%. It does not matter what your credit score is, the rate remains high. This rate is much higher than other credit cards available, especially since there is no intro APR or lower APRs for higher credit scores. However, it is because of the nature of the credit card and who it is aimed at, that the rate is so high.
  • Fraud Protection: This card has great fraud protection. It offers a $0 Fraud Liability cover which basically states that you are not liable for any fraudulent purchases on your credit card. This is provided that you report a stolen or cloned credit card immediately. 
  • Fees: There are no annual fees associated with this credit card. You also don’t have to worry about foreign transaction fees or balance transfer fees. There is, however, a late penalty fee of $40 and a cash advance fee of 3% of the cash advance amount you request.

Pros

  • No hidden fees
  • Fraud Protection
  • More likely to get approved

Cons

  • 29.99% variable APR
  • No rewards

6. Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express

The Blue Cash Preferred Card is also a great credit card if you are looking for cash rewards. However, it does have some pretty hefty fees which often scare people away. Here are the key features of this card:

  • Intro APR: This credit card comes with an Intro APR of $0 for the first 12 months. After this period, the APR ranges between 18.74% and 29.74%, depending on your credit score and repayments in those first 12 months. The APR is high but if you are responsible with this credit card, you can benefit greatly from the rewards and keep APR rates to a minimum.
  • Rewards: This is the most attractive feature of this card. You get an impressive 6% cash-back from purchases at any US supermarket and one certain streaming service. In addition, you get 3% cash-back at gas stations when you fill up and with certain transit options like trains, buses, and taxis. Furthermore, you receive a 1% cash back on all purchases made using this credit card.
  • Bonus: In the first six months after the activation of your card, you can earn a $250 credit bonus if you spend $3000 or more in purchases. Even though it is a high spend amount, it does come in handy should you need to make large purchases. Considering that the APR is 0% in the first year, you can make the best of this offer without having to worry about high-interest rates on repayments.
  • Fees: There are no annual fees in the first year. However, after this period, the annual fee is set at $95. This is quite high, but it all depends on how you use your card. If you use this credit card responsibly, you can make the best of the rewards and make up for the annual fee.

Pros

  • Great rewards
  • Can split up large purchases into monthly installments

Cons

  • High annual fees after the first year

7. Discover It Cash Back Card

The Discover It Cash Back card has a variety of cash back offers. They give cash back up to 5% on various purchase while giving 1% back on all purchases.

  • Redeemable Cash Back: Discover gives different offers quarterly where you can earn cash back up to 5%. So as long as you choose the eligible lenders you’ll get a 5% cash back return and it can even be redeemed directly back to pay your bill, making this an excellent added feature for Discover.
  • Bonus: For every cash back offer you receive Discover will match it for the first 12 months/365 days of owning your card.
  • Intro APR: Discover offers and intro period of 15 months with a 0% APR then moves it to the regular rate of anywhere between 16.99% to 27.99%.
  • Fees: There is no annual fee but does have a 5% balance transfer fee (3% the first 3 months).

Pros:

  • Great cash back offers
  • 15 months 0% intro APR
  • No annual fee

Cons:

  • High APR after intro period

8. Citi Rewards Card

The Citi Rewards Card is another credit card on this list that uses a redeemable point system. It is pretty popular because of it, along with the longer-than-average intro APR. Let’s take a look:

  • Redeemable Points: The Citi Rewards Card offers credit card users reward points for every purchase made. Furthermore, you get double points for the first $6,000 you spend at supermarkets and gas stations you spend annually. These points can then be redeemed as gift cards that you can choose on thankyou.com.
  • Bonus: If you spend more than $1,500 in the first three months of your account activation, you will receive a massive bonus of 20,000 points which is equivalent to a $200 gift card. 
  • Intro APR: There is a 0% APR for the first 15 months of use on this credit card. Thereafter, the APR ranges between 18.24% and 28.24%. This is comparable to the APR rates of other credit cards for good credit scores.
  • Fees: The Citi Rewards card has no annual fees. However, there is a 3-5% balance transfer fee associated with this card. It is 3% within the first three months of account activation and 5% for every balance transfer that follows after that time.

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • Reward points
  • 15 month intro 0% APR

Cons

  • High APR

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Credit Card

When choosing a credit card there are some important factors that you need to consider before you make your final decision. Let’s take a look at the main factors.

  • Affordability

You want to consider the affordability of the credit card you choose. Just because you have a good credit score, does not mean that you should get distracted by the credit limits you will be offered. 

You must assess how much credit you can handle and how much you can afford to pay every month. In addition, you must compare the APRs and perks of different credit cards to assess which one is the best for your requirements.

  • Credit Limit

Following affordability, you must consider the credit limit the card offers. While having a higher credit limit is great because it gives you more spending power and can help your credit utilization, it can be a bad thing if you have bad spending habits and don’t keep a strict budget.

Even with a good credit score, you should still calculate how much credit you would be comfortably repaying as this will prevent you from being unable to pay monthly installments. 

Also, higher credit limits may entail higher interest rates. Thus, you should always check the fine print to see if there are hidden fees associated with repayments.

  • Interest Rates

APRs will vary with every credit provider. A FICO score of 680 puts you in the “average” or “good” range depending on the provider. 

However, these ranges will still have higher interest rates because you are still considered a higher risk than those with excellent credit scores. 

Furthermore, when an APR is stated as being variable, you should check under which circumstances they vary and the range in this variation.

FAQs

  • How good is a FICO score of 680?

A FICO score of 680 falls into the range of “good” in the credit score range. However, some credit card providers will group it into the fair or average range based on their rankings. In other words, you’re literally right on the edge of good credit for the most part.

  • How much can I get approved for with a 680 credit score?

It is not just your FICO score that will determine your credit limit. Credit card providers will also evaluate your income, credit history, and employment status.

Depending on those other factors you could get approved for anywhere between several hundred dollars to over 5 figures on a single card, leaving you with an overall credit limit into the tens of thousands (or even hundreds of thousands) depending on how many cards you have.

That being said, you should always be factoring in what you can actually pay monthly and what balance you can keep on cards without hurting your credit utilization.

  • How long does it take to go from a 680 to a 700+ credit score?

Well, the answer to this question depends on several factors. All in all, the biggest factor will depend on how well you handle the credit you have. 

Whether it be a credit card or loans, you can improve your credit score by paying your installments on time, avoiding taking out too much bad debt, and being responsible with your spending. 

If you do this, you can improve your credit score in anywhere between 3 and 12 months depending on your individual case, and in some cases you can even immediately boost your credit score up by improving your credit utilization either by paying down your balances or by adding a new credit limit to your existing profile.

  • Do balance transfers affect FICO scores?

Balance transfers can both positively and negatively affect FICO scores. Firstly, if you consolidate your debt and end up with lower interest rates, you can pay off your debt sooner. In this case, your credit score will improve.

So transferring credit cards can positively affect your score if you’re moving your high interest rate payments over to 0% intro cards. This means you’ll likely lower your minimum monthly payment, but you’ll also be giving away less money to credit card companies if you’re not paying interest. Just keep in mind there is typically a balance transfer fee that ranges between 2-5%.

Simply do the math, a lot of times it will make sense to just pay this balance transfer fee up front instead of paying interest on your balance until you can pay off your balance in full.

In addition to being able to pay less interest, by taking out a new card you are doing a couple of things: you’re adding a new inquiry, but you’re also increasing your credit card limit.

Considering “credit utilization” is 30% of your score while “credit inquiries” are 10% of your credit score.

This means while taking out a new credit card will negatively affect the category that is 10% of your score it could positively affect the category that makes up 30% of your credit score, and that could give you an immediate boost.

Conclusion

A FICO score of 680 makes you eligible for several quality credit cards. The credit cards presented in this article are some of the best currently available due to their rewards, discounts, and competitive interest rates. 

You just need to assess which one best meets your requirements and which offers the rewards and cash-backs that you can make the most use of.

These cards listed and a variety of others could play a role into pushing yourself further into the good FICO range. What do you think about these cards? Are there any others you would include? Let me know in the comments below!