I'm still using my student credit card almost 2 years post graduation from college. It has no perks, and I want one that gives cash back. What do cards such as this require in terms of credit history and score to approve you?

My bank rejected me for such a card in Nov. for an "insuficient number of credit references". I have had my student card for 6 or 7 yrs, pay the full balance every month, and have never had a late payment. I bought a new car in august, and have been paying more than the minimum due each month, on time, every month. My credit score is 731 (one place has me at 803!)

That was in November. Since then, I decided to buy my first home, found one, and am closing on the 15th. With all this going on, should I wait to attempt to apply for a card again until I've been paying my mortgage for a while? Will my mortgage give me enough credit at last? Any advice is helpful - I need to know how to get "sufficient" credit so I can be approved for a better card.

. A charge card does not extend credit to the cardholder whereas a regular credit card like a Visa or Mastercard does.

2. Because a charge card does not extend credit, by definition, you have to pay in full every month. A credit card does does not require that you pay in full every month. All that is required is that you pay the minimum balance. That is one of the ways credit card issuers make money from you (via extending credit and earning interest). Many charge cards these days have the option for users to pay for some purchases over time. American Express charge card customers, for example, can enroll in the Extended Payment Option and pay for purchases over $200 over time. They can also opt-for Sign & Travel to be able to pay for eligible travel-related expenses over time.