Sign in

Why Do Credit Card Issuers Lower Credit Limits?

Gayle Sato profile imageBy Gayle Sato
4 min readApr 16, 2022
Light bulb icon.

Quick Answer

Credit card issuers may lower credit lines to limit risk and increase their ability to lend to new customers. You may be at risk of a credit limit decrease if you under- or over-use your card, or if the economy is in turmoil.

A woman types on her laptop while holding her credit card.

Credit card companies may lower your credit limit when your card is inactive or your credit usage seems risky. They may also cut credit lines when their overall credit portfolios need adjusting or when the economy is unstable.

News of a limit decrease may leave you wondering what it means for your credit—and your financial health. A credit line reduction can have credit score implications, but there are steps you can take to recover.

Why Do Credit Card Companies Lower Credit Limits?

Credit card companies generally cut credit lines to help manage their business and risk. Here are some common triggers for credit line reductions:

Your Account Is Inactive or Rarely Used

Card companies make money from credit card accounts in two primary ways: transaction fees and interest on revolving balances. Credit card issuers can only extend a finite amount of credit to their customers, so if you're not using your credit card and you don't carry a balance, your credit limit could be reduced so the company can lend to someone else.

You're Maxed Out or Overextended

On the other hand, maxing out a credit line, repeatedly going over your credit limit, missing payments or altering your spending habits may signal to the card company that you're in danger of default. A recent drop in your credit score or high credit utilization overall may also cause a card issuer to reevaluate your credit line due to risk.

Their Lending Portfolio Needs Adjustment

Card companies may recalibrate their credit lines based on regulation or their own priorities. For example, because card issuers are legally limited on how much credit they can extend, they may decide to cut credit limits to meet these risk requirements, or to improve profitability across the board.

The Economy Is in Turmoil

Major economic factors can affect how card companies view credit risk. For example, between 2020 and 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread economic upheaval and uncertainty, which in turn caused some credit card companies to tighten their belts and cut credit lines. A similar trend occurred during the Great Recession in 2008.

How Does a Lower Credit Limit Affect Your Credit?

A lower credit line means less available credit, which can affect your credit utilization ratio if you're carrying a balance. How does credit utilization work? Say you have a $2,500 balance on a card with a $10,000 limit. Your credit utilization ratio on that card is 25%, which is generally considered to be low enough to avoid major credit score harm. Credit utilization is one of the most important factors in your credit score, so low credit utilization can help you maintain good credit.

Now suppose your card company cuts your credit limit to $5,000. If your balance stays the same, your credit utilization would climb to 50%. Credit experts suggest keeping your credit utilization under 30%, so your new utilization ratio of 50% is considered high and may lower your credit score. You're also more vulnerable if you carry a high revolving balance. If your card's balance is zero, your utilization ratio will remain unchanged—though it could limit the card's usefulness if you need to carry a balance in the future.

What to Do if Your Card Issuer Reduces Your Credit Limit

Any cut to your credit line is worth a bit of follow-up. Depending on your circumstances, consider the following options:

Keep Your Credit Clean and Your Card Active

If a credit limit reduction has caused your credit utilization to take a hit, work on paying off your remaining debt to bring it back into line. Make your monthly debt payments on time to avoid missing a payment, which can really harm your credit. Apply for new credit if you need it, but be strategic: Avoid causing more hard inquiries into your credit than is necessary.

Though it's hard to eliminate the risk entirely, you can reduce the chances of having your credit lines cut by using your cards regularly and responsibly, and maintaining good credit practices across the board. You can review your credit score and stay on top of changes to your credit file with free credit monitoring from Experian.

Don’t apply blindly

Apply for credit cards confidently with personalized offers based on your credit profile. Get started with your FICO® Score for free.

See your offers
Promo icon.

About the author

Gayle Sato

Gayle Sato

Gayle Sato writes about financial services and personal financial wellness, with a special focus on how digital transformation is changing our relationship with money. As a business and health writer for more than two decades, she has covered the shift from traditional money management to a world of instant, invisible payments and on-the-fly mobile security apps.

Read more from Gayle

Explore more topics

Share article

Experian is a globally recognized financial leader, committed to being a Big Financial Friend—empowering millions to take control of their finances. With innovative tools and expert guidance, we’re here to help you manage your credit, protect your identity, and save on loans, credit cards, and more. Our goal is simple: to help bring Financial Power to All™.

Support

Education & advice

Credit resources

Experian app.

Download the free Experian appCarry trusted financial tools with you

Download from the Apple App Store.Get it on Google Play.
Experian's Diversity logo.

Experian’s Inclusion and BelongingLearn more how Experian is committed

Data privacy logo.

Data privacyYour privacy choices