How to Increase Your African Bank Credit Card Limit – Complete Guide

Understanding the African Bank Credit Card Limit

Your credit card limit is the maximum amount you can spend on your African Bank credit card. The bank determines this amount based on several important factors:

Key factors that determine your limit:

• Your verified monthly income
• Your credit score and credit history
• Your payment behavior with African Bank
• Your existing debt with other creditors
• How long you’ve been a customer
• Your employment stability

African Bank analyzes these factors to calculate how much credit they can safely extend to you without risking over-indebtedness. The stronger your financial profile, the higher the limit you’ll receive.

Your credit limit isn’t fixed forever. As your financial situation improves and you demonstrate responsible credit use, the bank can increase your limit either automatically or upon request.

How to Request an African Bank Credit Card Limit Increase?

African Bank offers several convenient ways to request a credit limit increase. Choose the method that works best for you:

Option 1: Through Online Banking

1. Log into your African Bank online banking account – www.africanbank.co.za/en/home.
2. Navigate to the “Credit Cards” section
3. Select your credit card
4. Look for “Request Credit Limit Increase” option
5. Complete the application form with updated information
6. Submit your request and wait for feedback

Option 2: Via the Mobile App

1. Open the African Bank mobile app on your smartphone – Play Store | App Store
2. Log in with your credentials
3. Go to “My Products” and select your credit card
4. Tap on “Increase My Limit”
5. Fill in the required details
6. Submit your application

Option 3: By Phone

Call the African Bank customer service line at 0860 20 45 80. A consultant will assist you with the application process and inform you of any documents you may need to provide.

Option 4: In Branch

Visit any African Bank branch near you. Bring your ID and recent proof of income. A bank representative will help you complete the application and answer any questions.

Best Practices to Increase Your Credit Limit

Follow these proven strategies to improve your chances of getting approved for a credit limit increase:

Always pay on time: This is the single most important factor. Never miss your minimum payment deadline. African Bank reviews your payment history closely and rewards reliable customers.

Keep your credit utilization low: Try to use only 30-50% of your available credit. If you’re constantly maxing out your card, the bank may see you as a high-risk borrower.

Increase your income: If you get a salary raise or additional income, update this information with African Bank. Higher income means greater ability to handle more credit.

Reduce your debt: Pay off other loans and credit cards. The less debt you carry, the better your debt-to-income ratio, which improves your creditworthiness.

Use your card regularly: Make purchases throughout the month and pay them off. This shows the bank you’re an active, responsible user of credit.

Keep your information current: Make sure African Bank has your correct contact details, address, and employment information. Outdated information can delay or derail your application.

Build a relationship with the bank: The longer you’ve been a good customer, the more likely you are to receive approval. Banking loyalty counts.

How Long Does It Take to Increase the Limit?

The processing time for a credit limit increase varies depending on your situation and the method you use:

Instant approval: In some cases, if you have excellent payment history, you may receive immediate approval through the app or online banking within minutes.

2 to 5 business days: This is the typical timeframe when the bank needs to manually review your application and verify your information.

Up to 7 business days: If your application requires additional documentation or further credit checks, it may take slightly longer.

African Bank will notify you of their decision via SMS, email, or through your online banking portal. If approved, your new credit limit becomes available immediately or within 24 hours.

If you haven’t heard back within a week, contact the bank to follow up on your application status.

What Is the Maximum African Bank Credit Card Limit?

African Bank doesn’t have a single fixed maximum credit limit that applies to everyone. The maximum limit depends on your individual financial profile.

For most middle-income customers, credit limits typically range from R10,000 to R100,000. However, customers with exceptional credit profiles and high incomes may qualify for limits exceeding R150,000.

The bank calculates your maximum possible limit using the affordability principle. Your total monthly debt repayments (including the proposed credit card payments) shouldn’t exceed 40-50% of your gross monthly income. This protects you from over-indebtedness.

Your maximum achievable limit grows as your financial situation improves over time. Regular reviews and responsible credit behavior can lead to substantial increases.

Can I Request a Limit Increase at Any Time?

Technically yes, you can request an increase whenever you want, but timing matters for approval success:

Best times to request:

• After 6 months of responsible card use
• Following a salary increase or promotion
• After paying off significant debts
• When your credit score has improved
• After a period of on-time payments

Avoid requesting when:

• You just opened the card (wait at least 3-6 months)
• You have recent late payments
• Your card is maxed out or near the limit
• You requested an increase less than 6 months ago
• You recently applied for other credit

Strategic timing significantly improves your chances of approval. Be patient and build your case before applying.

Is the Credit Limit Increase Automatic?

African Bank offers both automatic and requested limit increases, depending on your profile:

Automatic increases: The bank grants these without you asking, typically every 6 to 12 months, if you meet these criteria:

• Consistently pay on time without missed payments
• Use your card regularly for purchases
• Maintain a good credit score
• Show stable employment and income
• Have no adverse credit bureau listings

Requested increases: You initiate these when you need more credit. The bank evaluates your current financial situation before approving.

If you’re a good customer, African Bank may proactively offer you limit increases through SMS or email. You can accept these offers online or through the app without going through a full application process.

Automatic increases are usually smaller and more conservative than what you might get by requesting an increase directly.

My Request Was Denied. What Now?

Don’t worry. A denial isn’t permanent, and there are steps you can take:

Step 1 – Find out why: Contact African Bank and ask for the specific reason your application was declined. You need to know what to improve.

Common reasons for denial:

• Recent late payments or defaults
• High debt-to-income ratio
• Low credit score
• Insufficient time since last increase
• Maxed-out credit utilization
• Recent adverse credit bureau listings

Step 2 – Address the issue: Work on fixing the specific problem. This might mean making on-time payments for several months, reducing debt, or correcting errors on your credit report.

Step 3 – Wait before reapplying: Give the bank time to see improvements in your financial behavior. Wait at least 3 to 6 months before requesting again.

Step 4 – Consider alternatives: While you work on improving your profile, you could request a supplementary card for a family member or explore a personal loan for immediate funding needs.

Remember that a denial doesn’t affect your existing credit card. You can continue using it normally with your current limit.

Does Bad Credit Prevent a Limit Increase?

Yes, having a poor credit record or adverse listings with credit bureaus like TransUnion, Experian, or Compuscan significantly reduces your chances of getting approved, but doesn’t always make it impossible.

If you have bad credit:

• African Bank will likely decline your increase request
• The bank prioritizes protecting you from further debt problems
• You need to rehabilitate your credit profile first

What to do:

1. Check your credit report for errors and dispute any mistakes
2. Pay off outstanding defaults and judgment debts
3. Make consistent on-time payments on all accounts
4. Keep credit utilization low across all cards
5. Wait for adverse listings to clear (typically takes time)

African Bank pays special attention to your payment behavior with them specifically. If you’ve been paying your African Bank card on time despite having issues with other creditors, you may still have some chance of approval, though it will be limited.

Focus on building a positive payment history. Even with past problems, consistent responsible behavior over 6-12 months can improve your chances significantly.

How Many Times Can I Request an Increase?

There’s no official limit on how many times you can request an increase, but requesting too frequently can hurt your chances:

Recommended approach: Request a limit increase no more than twice per year (every 6 months). This gives the bank enough time to see meaningful improvements in your financial profile.

What happens if you request too often:

• The bank may view it as a sign of financial distress
• Each application creates a credit inquiry on your record
• Your approval chances decrease with each request
• You may be flagged as a high-risk customer

Quality beats quantity. It’s better to make one well-prepared request every six months than multiple rushed attempts. Use the time between requests to genuinely improve your financial standing.

If African Bank has denied your request, wait at least 6 months and address the reasons for denial before trying again.

How to Apply for an African Bank Credit Card?

If you don’t have an African Bank credit card yet and want to apply, here’s the process:

Basic requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a South African citizen or permanent resident
• Have a valid South African ID
• Earn a minimum monthly income (varies by card type)
• Have a clear or manageable credit record
• Provide proof of residence

Steps to apply:

1. Visit www.africanbank.co.za
2. Go to the “Credit Cards” section
3. Compare available card options and benefits
4. Click “Apply Now” on your preferred card
5. Complete the online application form
6. Upload required documents (ID, proof of income, proof of residence)
7. Submit your application

You can also apply by visiting any African Bank branch or calling their customer service line. A consultant will guide you through the process and tell you exactly what documents to bring.

The approval process typically takes 2 to 5 business days. African Bank will conduct credit and affordability checks before making a decision.

How to Contact African Bank Credit Card Services?

African Bank provides multiple channels to help you with your credit card:

Customer Service Line: Call 0860 20 45 80 from anywhere in South Africa. Available Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, and Saturday 8am to 1pm.

Credit Card Queries: 0860 11 11 77 for specific credit card assistance

Email: Send your query to [email protected]

Online Banking: Use the secure messaging feature in your online banking portal

Mobile App: Access live chat support directly through the African Bank mobile app

Branches: Visit any African Bank branch nationwide. Find your nearest branch using the branch locator on the website

Social Media: Reach out to @AfricanBank on Twitter or Facebook for general inquiries

WhatsApp: Message African Bank on WhatsApp at 087 240 3337

For credit card-specific issues like limit increases, disputed transactions, or payment queries, calling the dedicated credit card line or using the app’s chat function typically provides the fastest response.

Have your ID number and credit card number ready when contacting the bank to verify your identity and speed up service.

With this complete information, you’re ready to request your African Bank credit card limit increase. Remember that success comes from maintaining good payment behavior and being patient with the process. Good luck with your application!