To qualify for a credit card in the United States, applicants typically need a minimum credit score of 670, stable income, and proof of employment or assets. Lenders evaluate creditworthiness using the FICO score system, with lower scores often leading to denials or higher interest rates. Income verification via pay stubs or tax returns is mandatory to assess repayment capacity, while existing debt levels and credit utilization ratios (ideally below 30%) are critical factors.

The primary requirements stem from risk mitigation strategies. A credit score of 670 aligns with the median U.S. score (688 in Q2 2023) reported by Experian, ensuring applicants pose minimal default risk. Income verification, mandated by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), ensures applicants earn at least $25,000 annually (median household income is $78,876) to meet debt service obligations. For example, the Federal Reserve notes that 60% of rejected applications involve insufficient income or poor credit history. Debt-to-income (DTI) ratios exceeding 43% (per CFPB guidelines) often result in denials, as seen in 2022 data where 35% of applicants with DTI >40% were rejected. These criteria balance accessibility with financial stability, ensuring lenders avoid excessive defaults while enabling responsible credit access.