Credit Score Needed for PayPal Credit?

J

James white

Member
Has anyone here applied for PayPal Credit recently and can share what kind of score was needed for approval? It’s issued through Synchrony Bank, but the information online is all over the place. Some people say approval is possible with fair credit in the low 600s, while others suggest you need a much stronger score, closer to the high 600s or even 700s.

Curious if PayPal Credit always runs a hard inquiry and whether it shows up on all three credit bureaus. Also wondering if responsible use (like keeping balances low and paying in full) actually helps build credit over time, or if it’s just more of a financing option with limited benefits.

Would love to hear from anyone who’s applied and been approved or denied. What was your score at the time, and did the account help or hurt your overall credit profile?
 
I applied for PayPal Credit in late 2023 with a FICO around 635 and got approved for a $1,200 limit. Honestly surprised because I thought I needed at least 670+. They definitely did a hard pull on Experian for me. It shows up as a line of credit on my report, but it didn’t give me the same utilization benefit as a regular credit card since it’s not revolving in the same way. Still, it helped a bit with mix of credit.
 
I had a totally different experience. Applied with a 640 last summer and got denied instantly. Synchrony seems really inconsistent with approvals. Some people with lower scores get in while others with higher scores don’t. I think income and current debt levels play a bigger role than people give credit for. And yes, mine was a hard pull too.
 
It did report to all three bureaus for me. Opened in 2021, limit was only $500 at first. Paid it off in full every month, and after about 8 months, they bumped it up to $1,800. That utilization padding definitely helped my score. So yeah, it can build credit if you use it right. Just don’t expect crazy credit limit growth like with Amex or Chase.
 
I work in lending (not Synchrony, thank god), and my guess is they weigh recent inquiries and utilization super heavily. People with borderline scores can still get approved if they look stable overall. Meanwhile, someone with 700+ but maxed-out cards might get denied. It’s more nuanced than just score alone.
 
That actually tracks. When I was denied, my utilization was like 75%. I thought since I had a 690, I’d be fine. Nope. Guess Synchrony didn’t like that I was living life on the edge with my cards.
 
For me, PayPal Credit didn’t report right away. Took almost 3 months to show up on Experian. That annoyed me because I was hoping for an immediate bump to my available credit. Eventually, it did, but honestly, I’d rather have opened a Discover or Capital One card. They’re more predictable with approvals and credit growth.
 
I use it mostly for 6-month no-interest financing on big purchases. It’s great if you pay it off in time. But if you don’t? The deferred interest is brutal. Like, here’s all the interest you would’ve owed from day 1 brutal. So it’s not something I’d recommend if you’re not super disciplined with payments.
 
Applied in 2022 with a 650 and got $1,000. Never missed a payment, and they auto-increased me to $3,500 after a year. It shows on all three bureaus and helped me get my utilization down. Honestly, Synchrony is trash, but PayPal Credit has worked out okay for me.
 
It’s not always about the score, y’all. I got in with a 610 but clean history (no recent lates, no collections). Meanwhile, my buddy had a 680 with a charged-off account from 2 years ago, and he was denied. Synchrony just wants to see you’re not a total risk right now.
 
Yeah, PayPal Credit is a mixed bag. Got denied with a 720, no baddies, low utilization. Only reason I can think of is that I already had two Synchrony accounts open. They must’ve thought I was gaming them or something. Lowkey feels like they don’t want responsible customers sometimes.
 
As far as credit building goes, it helped me. Showed up as a new account, boosted my mix, and lowered utilization a bit. I went from 655 to 670 in about 4 months. Nothing life-changing, but it did move the needle. Wouldn’t apply solely for that reason, though.
 
I think Synchrony secretly uses vibes-based underwriting. Like, does this applicant spark joy? No? Denied. But for real they’re inconsistent as hell. I’ve got 710 FICO, got denied for PayPal Credit but approved for a Lowe’s card two weeks later.....same bank.
 
I’ve heard they’re stricter now than a few years ago. Back in 2018, people with 580-600 were getting in easy. These days, it seems closer to 650-670 is safer. If you’re under 630, I wouldn’t even bother unless you’re just testing your luck.
 
If you’re applying just to build credit, I’d go with something like a secured card or a Capital One QuicksilverOne. More reliable reporting, and you can grow it into a solid account. PayPal Credit feels like a gamble and doesn’t always benefit your profile the way a regular credit card does.
 
Mine didn’t help much tbh. Opened in 2020 with $1k limit. Kept it at 0 balance most of the time, but my score didn’t move. The bureaus seem to weigh it differently than regular revolving cards. Only benefit was utilization padding. Not worth the stress of applying unless you actually use PayPal often.
 
The financing option is the main draw. Got a $600 TV interest-free for 6 months, paid it off before the promo ended. That part is awesome. But if you slip and miss the promo deadline, the interest will destroy you. Gotta be real disciplined with this account.
 
Yeah, agreed. It’s more of a financing tool than a credit builder. I wouldn’t put it in the same category as a starter card. Think of it like Klarna or Affirm but with a revolving account attached. Just don’t expect it to be a magic bullet for credit scores.
 
same for me! Only showed up on EQ and EX. TU never updated, even after a year. Honestly makes the whole thing feel less useful as a “builder.” If it’s not reporting to all three, kinda defeats the purpose.
 
if your main goal is credit building, I’d suggest looking elsewhere. If you want the PayPal financing perks, then go for it. Approval odds are best if you’re above 650 with low utilization and not too many recent inquiries. Otherwise, you’re rolling dice with Synchrony.
 
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