Tired of Low Credit Limits? Here’s a Simple Way to Fix It

Do you have credit cards with really low limits, and no matter how many times you apply, you still can’t get approved for higher ones?

Low limits can hold you back. Maybe you want to book a trip, but your card can’t cover it. Or you get a 0% APR offer but can’t really use it because the limit’s too small.

Before you apply for yet another card (and risk a hard inquiry plus another tiny limit), there’s a smarter move you might not know about.

If you already have another credit card from the same bank, here’s a simple trick: move some of the credit limit from one card to the other. It usually takes just a few clicks online. It can help you bump up your limit, clean up your wallet, and even give your credit score a little boost.

Here’s how shifting credit limits can help, which banks allow it, and how to do it with each one.

Why Combine Credit Limits

1. You want to cancel a card without hurting your credit

Thinking about closing a card you no longer us, maybe the annual fee isn’t worth it anymore, or the rewards just don’t fit your spending? Before you go ahead, consider what you’re giving up. When you close a card, you lose the credit line attached to it. That lowers your total available credit, which can push your utilization higher and potentially lower your score. Instead, ask the bank to move that limit to another card you plan to keep. You’ll avoid the fee, keep your available credit, and help protect your score.

2. You need more room on a new card

Just got a card with 0% interest or a great sign-up bonus, but the limit is super low? If you have another card with that bank, you can move some of the limit over.

Now your new card has more room for big purchases, earning rewards and easily hitting the spending for a bonus.

3. Improve Your Credit Score Before Major Applications

Your credit score doesn’t just include your total debt, it also factors in the percentage of available credit you’re using. This is called credit utilization, and it’s a main factor affecting your score and whether or not you get approved. The general rule is to keep your balance under 10 percent of your card’s limit. If you’re carrying $700 on a $1,000 limit, that’s 70 percent utilization, which is too high. But if you combine cards and raise your total limit to $3,000, that same $700 balance drops to just 23 percent.

Lower utilization means a higher credit score and more potential for approvals.

4. Set Yourself Up for Higher Limits Later

Banks often set new limits based on what limits you already have and are managing well. By combining credit limits your report will show that you handle larger amounts responsibly, increasing your chances of higher limit approvals down the road.

How to Combine Credit Limits (by Bank)

Not every bank lets you move credit limits between cards but many do. And some even make it easy to do online, without calling customer service.

Capital One

• Transfer credit between personal-to-personal or business-to-business cards.
• Log in to your Capital One account, select the card you want to increase, and move credit online.
• Transfers are usually instant, no hard credit check, once every six months.

American Express

• Move credit between personal-to-personal, business-to-business, and even personal-to-business.
• Amex Line Reallocation page online or call customer service.
• Transfers allowed once every 30 days, no hard credit check.

Chase

• Move credit between personal or between business cards online with Chase Credit Line Exchange.
• No hard credit check, typically straightforward and quick.

Citi

• Rarely approves transfers; cards must be open six months or more.
• Call customer service; expect supervisor approval and possible hard pull.

Discover

• Doesn’t typically allow transfers; try requesting a limit increase first, then reallocation.
• Confirm whether it’s a soft or hard pull.

U.S. Bank

• Typically doesn’t allow transfers but may reconsider upon escalation.
• Call customer service, speak with a supervisor, and explain clearly why you need the transfer.

Quick Tip to Wrap It Up

Combining credit limits is one of those quiet money moves that can make a big impact. It helps you keep your credit healthy, gives you more flexibility, and lets you clean up your wallet without applying for anything new.

If you have multiple cards from the same bank, check your options. A few clicks or a quick call could give you more control where it counts.