Can a card issuer consider my sex or marital status when deciding whether to issue a credit card to me?
Card issuers cannot deny credit or offer less favorable terms on the basis of sex or marital status.
Typically, card issuers may not even ask your sex on an application form, and the form has to disclose that you do not have to indicate Mr., Miss, Mrs., or Ms. on the application. There are also restrictions on asking for information about your marital status. A creditor may not ask about your marital status if you are applying for individual, unsecured credit unless you live in a “community property” state or are relying on property located in a “community property” state as a basis for repayment of the credit requested. The “community property” states are Alaska (if you sign a special agreement), Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. If you are applying for joint or secured credit, the creditor may only ask if you are married, unmarried, or separated. The creditor must explain that the “unmarried” category includes single, divorced, and widowed persons.