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I just opened a new credit card because it gives me better cash back on the things that I purchase. However, it has a credit limit that is only 1/3 of that of my existing card. Just before I got the new card, I was invited to increase the credit limit of my old card, which I did. However, I'd rather have the increased limit on my new card, and when I applied for an increase there, it was denied because of my income. Both cards are through the same company, but one is handled by Visa (old) and the other by Mastercard (new).

Is there any way to increase the limit on my new card while simultaneously decreasing the limit of my old card, maintaining the same total credit line?

If so, will this for some convoluted reason lower my credit score?

So I called my credit card company, and they told me they do not do credit limit 'transfers'. They will not take credit limit from one card and move it to another. They said the only way that I would be able to do this is by requesting a credit limit decrease on one card, and once that goes through, try requesting an increase on the other card. However, they said there's no guarantee that the increase would go through on the other card, even though my total credit limit/line would be staying the exact same. Sometimes I just scratch my head....

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  • Since both cards are from the same issuer, you could call them and ask. That's the only way to know.
    – BrenBarn
    Aug 21, 2015 at 19:05

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That one is serviced by MasterCard and the other by Visa doesn't matter. What matters is that both cards are issued by the same bank.

Yes, you can decrease the credit line on one in exchange for an increase in the other, you just have to call the bank and ask them to do it for you. They can technically say no, but I can't think of a reason why they would.

This should not affect your score. However, there's a slim chance that the bank might perform a hard inquiry to increase the credit line on the new card, which might cause your score to drop by 2 or 3 points. It is very unlikely that the bank would do such a thing though, since in the end, your overall available credit will be the same.

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