How do you check the status of a credit card application?

In some cases, credit card applications completed online result in an instant credit approval. Other times, approval requires manual review by a bank employee. The procedure for determining a credit card application status varies from bank to bank.

Some banks allow individuals who have applied for a credit card to inquire about the status of a pending credit application over the phone. For instance, Citibank offers the relevant contact information under a "Check Your Application Status" page on its website.

Other banks allow credit applicants to fill out a form and receive an online update on their application status. A Web-based form offered by Bank of America requires applicants to enter some personal information to begin the status check.