Questions and Answers

Ben,

I understand that what I am about to ask may seem counter-intuitive to an organization that generates its livelihood from linked credit card applications (a business plan I completely endorse and support), but I think it would be highly relevant to discuss the current sentiment among credit card applicants (both hackers and non-hackers alike): The new Chase Reserve card has changed the industry and there is now a very different expectation regarding what is considered a real incentive for signing up for a new card and what services and benefits are expected in order to make a new card the primary solution in your wallet/purse.

And although I have no specific data available to me, I am confident that most major credit card issuers in the U.S. (and sites that host links to these cards) have seen a significant decline in the number of new card applications during the past month (the Chase Sapphire Reserve obviously being excluded). Add to this the incredible volatility in the marketplace, which is creating a feeling of uncertainty about what is going to happen next (e.g., hotel mergers, airline acquisitions, etc.), and you have a perfect recipe for the “I think I’m going to wait and see what happens” mentality. I believe all of your readers would be incredibly interested in reading an article about this topic and learning what, if anything, the major credit card issues are considering as responses to this situation.

Thank you for listening,

Giovanni