If you’ve ever held a metal credit card—think the sleek, weighty ones that feel substantial in your hand, far from the flimsy plastic of standard cards—you’ve probably wondered: what does it take to qualify for one? As someone who’s spent the last eight years working directly with manufacturers and banks to source custom metal credit card blanks and end-to-end card solutions, I get this question at least once a week, from small business owners building their co-brand card programs to individuals curious about the gap between “regular” credit cards and those premium metal options. Metal Card
It’s a fair question, and the answer isn’t as cut-and-dry as a single number. Credit card issuers and fintechs design metal cards for two main audiences: people with excellent credit who want a status symbol, and businesses that use metal cards to build loyalty or elevate their brand. I’ve seen it all: a small bakery launch a metal gift card for top repeat customers, a tech giant roll out a metal corporate card for employees, a luxury airline’s co-brand card that requires near-perfect credit to qualify. Let’s break down the credit score requirements, the nuances that affect them, and why that number matters for both issuers and the people buying metal cards.
First, let’s clarify: when we talk about “credit scores” for consumer-facing metal credit cards, we’re almost always referencing FICO Scores, the most widely used model in the U.S., and to a lesser extent VantageScore. FICO’s range is 300 to 850, with tiers that issuers use to segment applicants. Here’s the baseline, based on what I’ve observed from dozens of our issuer clients over the years: most premium metal credit cards for individual consumers require a FICO Score of 720 or higher. That’s the threshold for “good” credit per FICO’s definitions, but many top-tier metal cards—think the ones with airport lounge access, 2%+ cash back, and annual fees north of $400—require a 750 or higher, which falls into the “excellent” credit tier.
This isn’t arbitrary. Metal cards carry higher costs for issuers than plastic ones. A standard plastic credit card costs roughly $1 to manufacture; a metal card can run $5 to $20, depending on the material (stainless steel, titanium, brass, even gold-plated steel) and customizations (embossing, engraving, chip technology). To offset that cost, issuers target applicants who are less likely to default: people with a long history of on-time payments, low credit utilization, and a mix of credit types, all of which add up to a high credit score. If you’re someone who has a 750 FICO Score, you’re 3x less likely to default on payments than someone with a 650 score, per FICO’s own data, which makes the extra cost of a metal card a lower risk for the issuer.
That said, there are exceptions to the 720 rule, and I want to be transparent about them because I’ve seen these play out for our clients. First, secured metal cards. These are for people building or rebuilding credit, and they require a security deposit (usually $200 to $500) as collateral to offset the risk of lower credit scores. We worked with a fintech last year that launched a secured metal card with a $300 security requirement, and their ideal applicant had a FICO Score as low as 580, which falls into the “fair” credit tier. The catch? These cards usually have lower perks (no cash back, no travel benefits) and often carry higher annual fees to cover the metal production cost.
Second, small business metal cards. If you’re applying for a business credit card, issuers look at both your personal credit score (for sole proprietors) and your business’s financial health, so the requirements are a bit more flexible. For example, a marketing agency we partnered with wanted a metal card for their top clients, not their own employees, so they worked with a bank to design a co-brand card for clients with personal credit scores as low as 680. That’s not unheard of—many business-focused metal cards target 670 to 700 credit scores, because business owners often have slightly more varied credit profiles and need access to credit for operations, so issuers are willing to lower the bar a bit to capture that audience.
Third, premium student metal cards. I know, it sounds like a luxury, but we’ve worked with several university alumni groups that launch student loyalty metal cards for top undergrads. Their credit requirements? Usually 650 to 680. These are for students with part-time jobs and a limited credit history, so issuers take into account their steady income rather than just their credit score. It’s a way for universities to build loyalty early, and the metal card becomes a status symbol for students at a prestigious school.
Now, let’s talk about the myths that muddle this conversation. I often get asked, “Do you have to have perfect credit for a metal card?” The answer is no, and that’s a common misconception. A FICO Score of 720 is not “perfect”—it just means you have a solid credit track record. That said, there’s a difference between getting approved for a basic metal card and getting approved for the top-tier ones. For example, a credit card with a $95 annual fee and a 1.5% flat cash back might approve someone with a 720 score, while a card with a $550 annual fee and unlimited airport lounge access will only approve people with 750 or higher. The higher the card’s perks and annual fee, the higher the credit score requirement.
Another myth: metal cards are only for rich people, so you don’t need to care about credit scores. That’s not true for small business and co-brand metal cards. We work with a lot of small to mid-sized businesses that launch metal gift cards or employee benefit cards for their customers, and many of these cards don’t require the customer to have a credit score at all. Some are debit cards, some are prepaid cards, and they use metal as a way to stand out from the generic plastic cards that most businesses use. For these, the credit score rule doesn’t apply, because they’re not lines of credit—they’re stored value cards. That’s a key point I want to emphasize, because most of the questions I get from non-consumer clients are about this: metal cards aren’t just for revolving credit, so their requirements are different.
So, what if you’re someone who wants a metal card, but your credit score is lower than 720? There are paths to get there, and I’ve seen many of our clients help customers build credit while using metal cards. First, if you have a fair credit score (580 to 669), a secured metal card is a great option. You put down a refundable deposit, and as you make on-time payments, your credit score builds, and you can often upgrade to an unsecured metal card after 12 to 18 months of good behavior. We had a client who launched a secured metal card targeted at people building credit, and 60% of their customers upgraded to an unsecured metal card within two years, which is way higher than the industry average.
Second, if you’re a small business owner, look for business credit cards that don’t base approval solely on personal credit. Some issuers look at your business’s annual revenue and cash flow, so even if your personal credit is 680, you might qualify for a business metal card. We worked with a landscaping company last year that wanted a metal card for their top 100 clients, and their average client credit score was 675, so we helped them design a co-brand card with a 670 minimum requirement, which was a big win for their customer loyalty.
Now, let’s talk about how issuers determine the credit score requirements for metal cards, because that’s where a lot of people don’t see the backstory. As a metal card supplier, we work closely with banks and fintechs to understand their audience, and that directly shapes the card’s design and the credit bar. For example, if a client wants a metal card for high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), we use titanium or solid stainless steel, add custom engravings, and the issuer will set a credit score requirement of 780 to 800, because HNWIs care about exclusivity and status, and the issuer can charge a higher annual fee to cover the production cost. If a client wants a metal card for a startup’s employees, we use a thinner stainless steel (to keep costs lower, since a thin metal blank is cheaper than a thick one) and the issuer will set a credit requirement of 700, because startup employees might be early in their careers but have steady income.
Another factor: the metal card’s purpose. A corporate metal card, where the company is the one paying the bill, doesn’t require an employee’s personal credit score at all. The company’s credit history is the only factor, so we’ve designed corporate metal cards for small businesses with as little as $50,000 in annual revenue, and their credit score requirement is based on the business’s, not an individual’s. That’s a huge difference from consumer credit cards, which rely solely on personal credit.
I should also mention that credit score models have evolved, and metal card requirements have shifted along with them. Ten years ago, most premium credit cards were plastic, and a metal card was a rare luxury only for people with 800+ credit scores. Now, as metal card production has become more affordable (we’ve seen production costs drop 30% since 2018 due to improved manufacturing techniques), issuers have expanded their offerings. We’ve even seen banks launch metal cards for people with 650 credit scores, though those usually have lower perks and no annual fee, which makes sense for both the issuer and the customer.
Let me share a real example from my work to make this concrete. Last year, a regional bank came to us wanting to launch a metal credit card to compete with the big national banks. They didn’t want a high annual fee, so they set their target customer as people with a 720 credit score—someone who had good credit but not perfect, who wanted a metal card to upgrade from their standard plastic card. We designed a thin stainless steel blank with a matte finish, added a contactless chip, and the bank priced the card with a $50 annual fee and 1% cash back on all purchases. Within six months, they issued 12,000 of these cards, and their default rate was 1.2%, which is exactly in line with what they projected for applicants with 720 credit scores. That’s the sweet spot, in my experience: metal cards don’t have to be for the top 10% of credit scores, they can be for a broad group of people who value the feel and status of a metal card.
Now, if you’re a business owner or issuer looking to launch your own metal card, there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to credit score requirements. First, align the requirement with your target audience. If you’re targeting luxury travelers, aim for 750+. If you’re targeting small business clients, aim for 670 to 700. If you’re building a card for people with fair credit, go with a secured model. Second, balance the cost of the metal card with the risk. A thicker titanium card will have higher production costs, so a higher credit score requirement makes sense, while a thin stainless steel card can support a lower requirement. Third, be transparent with your applicants. If you set a 720 requirement, clearly communicate that in your application materials, so you don’t waste applicants’ time or have people get denied and leave negative reviews.
For individuals looking to get a metal card, here’s a quick checklist: Check your credit score first—you can get a free copy of your FICO Score from the three major bureaus once a year, and from most credit card issuers. That way, you know which range you fall into, and you can target cards that fit. If your score is below 720, look for secured or business metal cards. If it’s above 750, you’ll qualify for the best perks. And remember: a metal card is a tool, not a status symbol—make sure you can afford the annual fee and pay your balance on time, regardless of your credit score.
At the end of the day, the credit score required for a metal card isn’t a one-size-fits-all number. It depends on what the card is for, who it’s for, and what the issuer’s risk tolerance is. As someone who’s worked in metal card manufacturing for years, I’ve seen first-hand how the space has evolved, from a niche product for millionaires to a common option for small businesses, students, and everyday people looking for a better credit card experience.
If you’re an issuer, business owner, or organization looking to launch a custom metal card—whether it’s a consumer credit card, corporate card, gift card, or co-brand card—we can help you design and produce a metal card that fits your audience and your budget. Our team has worked with hundreds of clients across industries, from startups to Fortune 500 companies, to create metal cards that stand out, build loyalty, and align with your goals. For more information on custom metal card solutions, reach out to our team to discuss your project.
Echo Friendly Plastic Card References
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (2023). Credit Card Basics: Understanding Credit Scores.
FICO. (2024). Credit Score Ranges and What They Mean for Card Approval.
Nilson Report. (2023). Global Metal Credit Card Market Trends and Production Costs.
Small Business Administration. (2022). Business Credit Card Requirements for Small Business Owners.
TransUnion. (2023). Secured Credit Card Usage and Credit Score Improvement.
Shenzhen Razlon Technology Co., Ltd.
Shenzhen Razlon Technology Co., Ltd. is one of the most professional metal card manufacturers and suppliers in China, specialized in providing high quality customized service. If you’re going to buy or wholesale bulk metal card in stock, welcome to get quotation and free sample from our factory. For price consultation, contact us.
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E-mail: Rachel@razlon.com
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