How long does it actually take to receive an instant decision?

Is instant decision really instant?

If you decide to apply for an “instant decision” credit card, how long the process will actually take? Although the word "instant" invokes images of receiving your approval the moment after you submit the application for the credit card, the truth is that it may take some time to process the application.

The process can indeed be relatively quick: your credit score is obtained, the information you supply on your credit application is reviewed, and the decision is made whether to approve the application, send it for further review, or turn it down.

This is all accomplished in a matter of seconds, and in some cases you will receive your instant decision within a minute.

This scenario, however, is certainly the best case scenario and does not occur for every applicant. You should also not expect to receive your approval so quickly that your decision arrives back before you can even refresh your screen.

When you consider all the information that is reviewed in order to approve your application, though, a minute seems like a more than reasonable amount of time to await a decision from the credit card issuer.