How to increase the credit limit on a Self Secured Card

How do I request an increase in my Secured Card credit limit?

The process for requesting an increase in your Secured Card credit limit is simple, fast, and entirely digital. The institution offers modern channels that allow you to make the request without leaving home, saving time and ensuring convenience. The official app is the most recommended method, as it concentrates all the functionalities in an intuitive and secure interface.

Through the app, you can track the status of your request in real time and receive notifications about each step of the process. Check out the detailed step-by-step guide to requesting a credit limit increase:

• Visit the official website: www.self.inc
• Log in using your registered CPF (Brazilian tax identification number) and password. If this is your first time accessing the site, you will need to create a password following the security instructions displayed on the screen.
• On the home screen, locate the main menu and look for the “My Card” or “Manage Card” option, where all the features related to your credit card are gathered.
• Within the card menu, tap “Limit” or “Manage Limit” to access options related to your available credit.
• Select the “Request Credit Limit Increase” option and check if there are fields to update your current income. Keep your information up-to-date, as this directly influences the analysis.
• Enter the desired value for the new limit or choose from the options suggested by the system, if the application displays pre-approved values.
• Review all the information you’ve entered, confirm the details, and submit the request by tapping the “Confirm” or “Request” button.
• Please wait for the bank’s review, which may take from a few minutes to a few business days. You will receive a response via notification in the app, SMS, or the registered email address.

Following these steps correctly and maintaining good financial practices significantly speeds up the approval of your application. Transparency in your information and a positive usage history are your best allies in this process.

Good practices for increasing the limit.

Financial responsibility and the intelligent use of credit cards are fundamental to gaining the trust of the financial institution. The bank constantly monitors customer behavior and rewards those who demonstrate responsible use of available credit.

Adopting a few simple daily practices makes all the difference in building a solid financial profile. Here are the main actions that contribute to increasing your credit limit:

• Always pay the full bill on time: Avoid minimum payments and never pay after the due date.
• Use the card regularly, but in moderation: Make frequent purchases, but keep your usage to no more than 30% of your available limit. Using it little or not at all shows that you don’t need the credit, while using it close to the limit indicates excessive dependence.
• Update your income information whenever there is an increase: Inform the bank about promotions, new jobs, or additional sources of income.
• Maintain a good relationship with the institution: Utilize other bank products and services, such as checking accounts, savings accounts, or investments.
• Avoid multiple credit cards with high limits: Having many cards can indicate excessive debt. Concentrate your spending on a few cards and demonstrate financial control.
• Keep your CPF clean and your credit score high: Settle any outstanding debts, pay bills on time, and avoid excessive credit checks.
• Only ask for a raise when you really need it: Frequent requests without justification can be interpreted as financial desperation.

These actions significantly strengthen your relationship with the bank and build a positive financial reputation. Over time, you will notice that credit limit increases become more frequent and substantial, reflecting the trust you have gained with the institution.

How long does it take to increase the limit?

The average time it takes to get an increase in your Secured Card credit limit ranges from 3 to 6 months of responsible card use. This period allows the bank to gather sufficient information about your financial behavior and assess whether there are safe conditions to grant more credit.

However, it’s important to point out that this timeframe can be shorter or longer depending on various individual factors. Clients who already have a long-standing relationship with the bank, maintain high and verifiable income, have an excellent credit score, and use other financial products from the institution tend to receive increases in shorter periods.

Behavior during this waiting period is crucial. Maintaining discipline in payments, using the card responsibly, and demonstrating financial stability accelerates the process. Patience combined with responsibility is the perfect combination to achieve the desired raise in a timely manner.

What is the maximum credit limit for a Secured Card?

There is no fixed, universal maximum limit for the Secured Card. The credit limit you can achieve depends entirely on your financial profile, the relationship you’ve built with the bank, and your proven ability to manage large sums responsibly.

Several factors directly influence the maximum goal you can achieve:

1. Proven monthly income: The higher and more stable your income, the higher the credit limit available. The bank needs to be sure that you have the financial capacity to cover your expenses.
2. History of relationship with the bank: Long-standing customers with a solid relationship and consistent use of financial products receive preferential treatment and more generous credit limits.
3. High credit score: High scores from credit bureaus indicate low risk and financial responsibility, essential factors for higher credit limits.
4. Responsible card usage time: The longer you demonstrate timely payments and responsible use, the more confidence the bank will have in offering additional credit.
5. Spending and payment profile: Using the card regularly and paying bills in full demonstrates financial maturity and justifies higher credit limits.
6. Assets and investments declared: Having assets, investments, or other financial holdings in the bank strengthens your profile and increases your potential credit limit.
7. Absence of credit restrictions: Maintaining a clean credit history, without outstanding debts or negative entries, is fundamental to obtaining and maintaining high credit limits.

The maximum credit limit on your Secured Card is actually a direct reflection of your financial creditworthiness. The more you invest in building a solid and responsible profile, the more credit the bank will be willing to extend to you.

Can I request a credit limit increase at any time?

Yes, you have the freedom to request an increase in your Secured Card credit limit whenever you feel the need. Digital channels are available 24 hours a day, allowing you to make the request whenever it is most convenient for you. There are no technical restrictions preventing the request, and the process is quick and straightforward.

However, there are important caveats that should be considered before making the request. Ideally, you should have built a positive history of card usage, with at least three months of on-time payments and responsible use of credit.

Furthermore, it’s crucial to choose the right time to apply. If you’ve just received a raise, been promoted at work, or started a new source of income, this is the ideal time to update your information and apply for more credit.

Is the credit limit increase automatic?

The bank’s system constantly monitors customer behavior and, when it identifies profiles with responsible usage, a positive payment history, and a healthy relationship with the institution, grants spontaneous credit limit increases as a way to reward and retain good customers.

To increase your chances of receiving frequent automatic raises, follow these guidelines:

1. Keep your payments strictly up-to-date: Never be late or pay only the minimum. Punctuality is the most important factor the system evaluates when granting automatic raises.
2. Use your card moderately: Make regular purchases, but avoid exceeding 30% of your available credit limit. This demonstrates a genuine need for credit and balanced usage.
3. Update your registration information regularly: Keep your income, address, phone number, and email address always up-to-date in the bank’s system.
4. Avoid debt rollover: Don’t use revolving credit or make installment payments for minimum amounts. The bank needs to see that you have complete control over your finances.
5. Concentrate your spending on a single card: If you have multiple cards, prioritize using the Secured Card to demonstrate engagement and a need for a higher credit limit on that specific card.
6. Keep other products active at the bank: Having an active checking account, investments, or savings account at the same institution significantly increases the chances of automatic increases.
7. Build long-term relationships: The longer you remain a loyal and responsible customer, the more frequent and valuable the automatic increases you will receive.

These automatic increases typically occur at specific times, usually after a few months of consistent card use. The customer is notified of the new limit via in-app message, SMS, email, or mail, and the additional amount becomes available immediately.

My request was denied. What now?

Receiving a negative response on a credit limit increase request doesn’t mean the end of possibilities. This response only indicates that, at that specific moment, the bank identified some factor preventing the granting of more credit. The situation is temporary and can be reversed with the right actions and patience to rebuild trust in the institution.

The most common reasons for denial include: recent history of late payments, excessive use of the current credit limit, low credit score, insufficient income for the requested amount, short length of relationship with the bank, or outstanding debts with other institutions.

Pay all bills in full and on time, reduce your credit limit usage percentage, settle any outstanding debts that may be affecting your credit score, and update your income information if it has increased. After three to six months of exemplary behavior, submit a new application.

Does having a bad credit history prevent you from getting a raise?

Yes, having a negative credit history is one of the main obstacles to getting an increase in your Secured Card credit limit. When you have credit restrictions, the bank understands that there is a high risk of default and, consequently, drastically reduces its confidence in granting more credit.

Having a restricted CPF (Brazilian taxpayer ID) hinders credit limit increases for several reasons:

1. High risk of default: A negative credit rating indicates that you have failed to pay previous commitments, signaling to the bank that you may repeat this behavior with the card.
2. Compromised credit score: Restrictions on your CPF (Brazilian taxpayer ID) drastically reduce your score with credit protection agencies, a crucial factor in credit analysis.
3. Loss of institutional trust: The bank needs to trust that you will use the additional credit responsibly, a trust that is broken by a negative credit rating.
4. Risk management policy: All financial institutions have policies that limit or prevent the granting of credit to clients with credit restrictions.
5. Indicator of financial disorganization: Having a negative credit history suggests a lack of planning and control over personal finances, factors that concern banks.
6. Automatic blocking in systems: Many credit analysis systems automatically reject applications from customers with restricted CPF numbers (Brazilian taxpayer ID), without even evaluating other criteria.
7. Difficulty in proving ability to pay: Even if your income is adequate, a negative credit history overshadows this positive aspect and harms the entire profile analysis.

A negative credit rating indicates unresolved financial problems, and no institution feels comfortable extending credit to someone who demonstrates difficulty in honoring existing commitments.

How many times can I request a raise?

On average, you can request a credit limit increase for your Secured Card every three to six months. This interval is considered ideal because it allows the bank to observe your financial behavior over a reasonable period and make decisions based on consistent data.

The bank does not set a maximum number of annual requests, but it is important to understand that very frequent requests can be interpreted negatively. If you request an increase every month, for example, the institution may suspect financial desperation or mismanagement of available credit.

When you request credit increases manually, the bank evaluates your request specifically and may approve or deny it based on the criteria at that time. Automatic increases, on the other hand, occur on the bank’s own initiative when the system identifies you as an exemplary customer.

How do I apply for a Secured Card?

Applying for the Secured Card is a completely digital, fast, and secure process. The institution uses cutting-edge technology to intelligently analyze your financial profile, providing a quick response regarding approval. You don’t need to wait in line at branches or fill out stacks of physical documents. The entire procedure takes place online, providing convenience and practicality.

The application process is simple and can be completed in just a few minutes. See the complete step-by-step instructions:

• Access the official website of the bank that issued the Secured Card or download the app from your smartphone’s app store, ensuring you are using official channels, and click on “Request Card” or “Open Account” on the homepage and choose the credit card option from the products offered.
• Please fill in your complete personal information, including full name, CPF (Brazilian tax identification number), date of birth, mother’s name, mobile phone number, and a valid email address.
• Please provide your financial information, especially your verifiable monthly income, full residential address, and professional details such as the name of the company where you work and your job title.
• Send the requested documents, usually your ID card or driver’s license and proof of recent income. Many banks allow you to take photos of the documents directly through the app.
• Create a secure password for your account, following the security guidelines provided by the system.
• Review all the information you have entered, accept the terms and conditions of use, and submit your request by clicking the confirmation button.
• Please wait for the credit analysis, which may take from a few minutes to a few business days. You will receive the answer by email, SMS, or notification in the app. If approved, the card will be sent to your registered address.

The Secured Card offers several benefits and rewards programs that make its use even more advantageous. You accumulate points with every purchase, have access to exclusive discounts at partner establishments, and have insurance and protection included. In addition, the app offers complete control over your spending, allowing you to track bills, make payments, and manage your credit limit with total ease.

How do I contact my card issuer?

The Secured Card provider offers various customer service channels to ensure you receive support whenever you need it. This multi-channel support allows you to choose the most convenient way to resolve questions, make requests, or obtain information about your card.

The main channels of contact include:

• Customer service phone line , available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for urgent issues and immediate support;
• The official app , where you can resolve most issues without needing to speak to customer service representatives, accessing information, making requests, and managing your card independently;
• The official website offers a customer service area with online chat, contact forms, and a frequently asked questions section;
• Institutional email , for requests that do not require an immediate response and that you wish to document in writing; and
• Physical branches are available if you prefer in-person service or need to resolve issues that require physical documentation.

It is crucial that you always use the official channels provided by the bank to ensure your security and avoid scams. Be wary of phone numbers or websites found on search engines that are not official, as scammers frequently create fake pages to steal customer data.