You Can Now Consolidate/Reallocate Credit Limits With Capital One Online (And Close Cards)

Update: Seems to be a soft pull

Capital One now allows it’s cardholders to consolidate/reallocate credit limits between multiple cards within their online interface, in the past Capital One didn’t let it’s cardholders reallocate credit limits at all, so this is a massive improvement.

[Read: Rules For Reallocating Credit Limits With Different Credit Card Issuers]

How To Use The New Feature

  • Log into your account
  • Go to the Services tab
  • Click Request account combination
    • Simplify your wallet
    • Combine credit limits onto your preferred card
    • Close cards you don’t use

account combination

If you have no eligible cards (see requirements below) you’ll receive an error message.

account combination

Rules & Other Important Information

  • Unsure if this is a hard or soft pull, please share your experiences in the comments. Data points:
    • Soft pull: 1
    • Hard pull:
  • It’s supposed to take only five minutes for the account combination to occur
  • Cards must be in good standing
  • Cards must be open for at least six months
  • One card must have a $0 balance and no pending transactions
  • Card’s must be linked in your online banking profile

Final Thoughts

This is a significant improvement to what Capital One previously offered (nothing), Capital One did promise improvements when made two negative changes to redeeming rewards, so this is great firs step – hopefully they continue to make improvements. I actually think Capital One has the best system for credit reallocation and account closure out of all credit card issuers (American Express’ online system is also pretty good when it’s working). Hopefully this also puts pressure on other credit card issuers to improve their own reallocation and account closure systems.

I just wish Capital One wouldn’t do a hard pull on all three credit bureaus when you apply for a card, then they really would be much more competitive with Chase, Citi & American Express.

Hat tip to 

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29 Comments
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qmc
qmc (@guest_1398564)
June 21, 2022 23:41

From the comments, it seems like this thread and the links in the “Rules For Reallocating Your Credit Limit With Each Credit Card Issuer” article could use a quick update.  William Charles

xx
xx (@guest_814583)
September 25, 2019 09:30

No more “Services” tab and just called them and they don’t reallocate anymore 🙁 BOO!

JOhn
JOhn (@guest_781672)
July 11, 2019 11:47

I can confirm as of today, I spoke with several reps and they all stated that CapOne doesnt allow reallocation of limits anymore. I was able to close the account online though.

_angel35_
_angel35_ (@guest_714244)
January 30, 2019 13:46

 William Charles I know this is an old thread, but thought I would share that a month ago (Dec ’18) I could still see the option to do this, however today it appears that the option has been removed, and searching for the option only brings up a ‘close account’ link that does not offer the combining of credit limits.

Heather
Heather (@guest_722571)
February 14, 2019 21:26

It’s the same for me: was there in Dec and now gone in Jan. I was hoping to consolidate 2 cards too. Wonder if they are bringing it back?

@_angel35_
@_angel35_ (@guest_753313)
April 29, 2019 09:09

I was just informed by the rep who answered the phone that CapitalOne no longer allows credit reallocation, was the rep mistaken or have they truly removed this ability?
Anyone else getting same response?

Cameron
Cameron (@guest_493012)
October 12, 2017 18:35

Can you reallocate only a portion and leave both cards open?

Pat
Pat (@guest_475625)
September 12, 2017 13:05

I consolidated 2 Cap1 cards and closed them. Their CL was transferred to my primary Cap1 card. I used the account combination application on the online banking website. The balance had to be zero on all 3 accounts. I closed the cards, right after combining. There weren’t any hard pulls on Experian. I will have to wait til CK updates here in a few days to check the other reports.

Mark
Mark (@guest_440118)
July 15, 2017 10:05

Met all of the criteria but system said I was ineligible.

Nick
Nick (@guest_422236)
June 17, 2017 04:05

DP from June 2017: no HP when consolidating cards. The available balance on my older card hasn’t updated on the credit report yet, but I think it will in time.

Benjie
Benjie (@guest_296329)
September 18, 2016 01:06

I tried to combine my Cap One accts and the above criteria didn’t apply to me. However, I was deemed ineligible. After a phone call to Cap One and a transfer to an upper division of customer service I was informed that since I received a credit line increase last week, that I had to ‘prove’ myself responsible for six month before I could combine my Cap One accts….lame…..my intent for months was to have one $10k credit card for travel, now I have to wait until April and HOPE there isn’t some other hidden policy that restricts me from combining…..

WowItWorked
WowItWorked (@guest_279792)
July 30, 2016 18:01

Thank you for this info! I was able to combine my QuicksilverOne and VentureOne cards, to move all the credit onto VentureOne. I have older cards and the Quicksilver One was only about 11mos old. I got it for a 0%APR and 0% fee deal on balance transfers. I then paid that off on my own time, at no cost to me. But the card comes with a $40 annual fee, which I was soon approaching. Plus, the VentureOne is newer, and still has an active 0%APR on new purchases for the next 6 mos. I could certainly use the CLI on that to lower my current utilization rate while I use them for an interest free loan, and then it definitely helps to have extra room should I need an emergency card for any additional unexpected expenses, before I either pay this card off, or transfer the balance to another 0%APR/$0 fee transfer offer from another company when the rate is up 6 mos from now. I am really surprised – contrary to your guess here, they actually did not appear to pull my credit at all, soft or hard. There was never any mention of credit at all on the pages, and the only question was whether I had 2 cards that were eligible (meaning both at least 6 mos old, the one being closed with a 0 balance, both in good standing, linked on the same acct/user). All I had to do was select them from the drop down menu (they are my only Cap1 cards so that was easy), and check that I agreed to the terms – which never mentioned credit, just standard stuff about handling autopays, and the acct being permanently closed and reported to credit bureaus as such. Once I clicked submit it was done instantly, no waiting to see if I was “qualified” or checking a soft pull or anything like that. So I’m pretty sure it won’t affect my credit at all. I had already checked to see if either acct was available to receive a CLI BEFORE doing this, and was denied on both accts. The older acct already had a CLI that they offered me without my asking less than 6 mos ago. The newer acct was denied because I have too much debt on my cards overall from a soft pull… but that is not surprising to me, because as I said I am using them for an interest free loan, since cash is precious, so why in the world would I pay them off if I don’t have to and it’s not costing me anything? I just wanted to increase the limit, not to spend more, but to help keep the utilization percentage low, because it was close to 60%. Now with the combination, it’s at 33% – so that’s at least better. An important note that was included in the terms and conditions: “This card will be ineligible for a credit line increase for up to… Read more »