Updated: 05/15/2023
There are lots of reasons why people may want to submit several credit card applications at the same time; getting multiple welcome bonuses at once, getting more money on 0% APR, and more. When a credit card issuer sees too many recent credit inquiries on your credit report then they may decline your credit card application due to too many recent inquiries. If you’re planning to apply for several credit cards at the same time you need to do it smartly so you don’t get declined due to the new credit inquiries.
Years ago, it was possible to apply for multiple credit cards by submitting the applications within the same second using different browsers. This used to help avoid the banks from seeing each other’s credit inquiries. This trick is now dead. The credit bureaus update credit reports within a microsecond and it is impossible for you to act faster and submit a second application before the first credit inquiry shows up.
Thankfully, most credit card issuers only pull one of your three credit reports. So you can apply for multiple credit cards by making sure you split up the credit inquiries between the three credit bureaus by choosing the right banks.
If you apply for multiple cards within the same bank on the same day then sometimes the bank will only pull your credit once. More info on that can be found here.
Here’s a list of which credit bureau each credit card issuer usually pulls. Alternatively, you can check out our Credit Card Database where users report real-time information on which credit bureau was pulled on their recent applications.
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American Express will usually pull your Experian credit report.
For existing Amex cardholders, Amex does not pull your credit for new credit card applications.
New! With the new “Apply With Confidence” feature, Amex will first do only a soft pull on your credit report and will let you know if approved or not. Only after you accept the approval will Amex do a hard pull on your credit (this feature is currently only available on Amex consumer cards. See more details below*)
See more data in our Credit Card Database.
Apple card -Goldman Sachs Bank will only do a soft pull when you apply. They will tell you if you are approved or not and for which credit limit you are approved for, and only once you accept the approval will they do a hard pull. They will usually pull either your Equifax or Transunion credit report.
Some have had success of avoiding the hard pull by freezing Transunion and Equifax after the preapproval, but before the final decision).
See real-time data in our Credit Card Database.
Barclays
Barclays will usually pull your Transunion credit report.
If you freeze your Transunion report then Barclays will pull your Experian credit report.
See real-time data in our Credit Card Database.
Bank of America will usually pull your Experian credit report for personal cards and Transunion credit report for business cards.
If you freeze your Experian report they will pull your TransUnion credit report for personal cards as well.
See real-time data in our Credit Card Database.
Capital One
Capital One will usually pull your Experian, Transunion, and Equifax credit reports.
If you freeze one credit bureau you can still get approved (the credit bureau you freeze cannot be Transunion on Capital One personal applications).
See real-time data in our Credit Card Database.
Chase will usually pull your Experian credit report.
See real-time data in our Credit Card Database.
Citi
Citi will usually pull your Experian credit report, sometimes Equifax, and sometimes Experian and Equifax (depending on your state, search your state in our Credit Card Database).
- Brooklyn: NY is usually Equifax
- Upstate NY and Lakewood: NJ is usually Experian
See real-time data in our Credit Card Database.
Citizens will usually pull your Equifax credit report.
See real-time data in our Credit Card Database.
Discover
Discover will usually pull your Experian credit report, sometimes Equifax.
If you freeze your Experian credit report then Discover will be glad to pull from either TransUnion or Equifax.
See real-time data in our Credit Card Database.
Fidelity – Elan Financial will usually pull your Experian credit report.
See real-time data in our Credit Card Database.
HSBC
HSBC will usually pull your Equifax credit report.
See real-time data in our Credit Card Database.
Key Bank will usually pull your Equifax credit report.
See real-time data in our Credit Card Database.
M&T Bank
M&T will usually pull your Experian credit report.
See real-time data in our Credit Card Database.
Synchrony Bank will usually pull your Transunion credit report.
See real-time data in our Credit Card Database.
TD Bank
TD will usually pull your Experian credit report.
See real-time data in our Credit Card Database.
US Bank will sometimes pull your Experian credit report, but they will usually pull your Transunion credit report when you apply for business cards.
If you frequently apply for credit cards, first freeze your IDA/ARS bureaus before applying for a US Bank credit card.
See real-time data in our Credit Card Database.
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo will usually pull your Experian credit report (in some states they pull Experian and Equifax).
See real-time data in our Credit Card Database.
*The new application experience is currently available for individuals applying for a U.S. Personal Card via HelpMeBuildCredit, at AmericanExpress.com/us/credit-cards, or by calling American Express, and is not available if you apply for a Card after you log into an existing Card Member Account.
