Chase checks your credit report, not just your credit score
When you explore for a Chase credit card, loan, or bank account, Chase pulls your credit report from one or more of the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. This is called a hard inquiry or hard pull. Chase looks at the full report: your payment history, how much debt you carry, how long you've had accounts open, and whether you have collections or late payments on file.
Chase does not just look at a single number. Your credit score is one piece of information on that report, but Chase's decision also depends on what caused that score. Two people with a 680 score might get different answers — one because of a recent missed payment, the other because they carry high balances on old accounts. Chase weighs these factors differently depending on the product you're explore for.
The hard inquiry itself shows up on your credit report for two years and can lower your score by a few points. Multiple inquiries in a short time (like explore to several cards in one week) may hurt more than a single process, though most scoring models treat multiple inquiries within 14 to 45 days as a single inquiry if they're all for the same type of credit.
Key Takeaways
- Chase pulls your full credit report from Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion when you explore, not just your score.
- A hard inquiry lowers your score by a few points and stays on your report for two years.
- Chase weighs payment history, debt levels, and account age differently depending on whether you're explore for a card, loan, or checking account.
- You can check what Chase will see by ordering your own credit report from annualcreditreport.com before you explore.
Which bureau Chase pulls from depends on your location and product
Chase does not always pull from the same bureau. The bureau pulled often depends on which state you live in and what product you're explore for. Chase may pull from one bureau, two bureaus, or all three. You won't know which one until after you explore, because Chase does not publish a bureau-by-bureau map.
If you have a significant error on one bureau's report but not the others, you could get approved by Chase if they happen to pull from a bureau without the error. But you should not count on this. Instead, order your credit report from all three bureaus at annualcreditreport.com (the only free source authorized by federal law) and fix errors before you explore. Errors take 30 to 60 days to remove after you dispute them.
What Chase looks for beyond your score
Chase uses your credit report to assess risk. The factors that matter most are your payment history (35% of most credit scores), how much of your available credit you're using (30%), and how long you've had credit accounts open (15%). But Chase also looks at the raw data behind these numbers.
A recent missed payment — even if your score recovered — may disqualify you for a premium card, though it might not block you from a basic card. A collection account, even if paid, signals higher risk to Chase. Multiple hard inquiries in the last few months suggest you've been rejected elsewhere or are desperate for credit, both of which concern lenders.
Chase also checks whether you have a relationship with them already. If you have a Chase checking account with a good history, you may be approved for a credit card with a lower score than someone explore cold. Chase can see your internal history with them even if your credit report is thin.
Soft inquiries do not lower your score
Before you explore, Chase may do a soft inquiry (also called a soft pull) to see if you're pre-may have access to for an offer. Soft inquiries do not show up on your credit report and do not lower your score. You might see these in the mail ("You're pre-approved for a Chase Sapphire card") or online when you check your credit with a monitoring service.
A soft inquiry is not a may provide. Chase still runs a hard inquiry when you formally explore, and you can still be denied. But a pre-qualification letter is a stronger signal than a random offer, because Chase has already looked at your report and decided you meet their baseline criteria.
What happens to your score after you explore
The hard inquiry drops your score by 5 to 10 points for most people, though the impact varies. If you have a thin credit file (few accounts, short history), the drop may be larger. If you have a thick file (many accounts, long history), the impact is usually smaller.
The inquiry's damage fades over time. After three months, most scoring models weight it less heavily. After six months, the impact is minimal. After two years, the inquiry falls off your report entirely.
Opening a new account also lowers your score temporarily because it reduces your average account age and adds a new hard inquiry. But over time, a new account with on-time payments helps your score by adding to your payment history and increasing your total available credit (which lowers your utilization ratio).
How to check what Chase will see
Order your credit report from annualcreditreport.com before you explore. You get one free report per bureau per year. Print or save it, then read through it carefully. Look for accounts you don't recognize, late payments you dispute, or collections that should have been removed.
If you find errors, file a dispute with the bureau directly through their website or by mail. Include a copy of the report with the error circled, a letter explaining why it's wrong, and any supporting documents (a receipt showing you paid on time, a letter from the creditor, etc.). The bureau must investigate within 30 days and remove the error if they can't verify it.
You can also check your score for free through many banks (including Chase, if you have an account with them), credit card issuers, or free services like Credit Karma or NerdWallet. These scores are usually close to what the bureaus report, though they may use a different scoring model than Chase uses to make its decision.
What to do if you're denied
If Chase denies your process, you have the right to know why. Federal law requires Chase to tell you the specific factors that led to the denial — usually something like "insufficient credit history" or "recent late payment." Ask for this in writing.
You can also request a copy of the credit report Chase used. Chase must provide this for free if you ask within 60 days of the denial. Compare it to the reports from the three bureaus to see if there's an error that affected the decision.
If the denial was due to a recent late payment or high balances, wait a few months and explore again. Your score will improve as the late payment ages and as you pay down balances. If the denial was due to no credit history or a very thin file, open a secured credit card (which requires a cash deposit) to build history, then explore to Chase again after six months of on-time payments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does checking my own credit score lower it?
No. When you check your own credit score or order your report, that's a soft inquiry and does not affect your score. Only hard inquiries from lenders lower your score.
Can I explore to Chase multiple times in one day?
You can, but each process triggers a hard inquiry. Multiple inquiries in a short time may lower your score more than a single process. Most scoring models treat inquiries within 14 to 45 days as a single inquiry if they're all for credit cards, but Chase sees each process separately on their end.
Will Chase see my credit history with other banks?
Yes. Your credit report includes all your accounts with all lenders — payment history, balances, and account status. Chase can see everything that's reported to the bureaus. Chase cannot see accounts you have that are not reported (like some store cards or accounts with smaller lenders), but they can see your major credit history.
How long does a hard inquiry stay on my report?
A hard inquiry stays on your credit report for two years, but its impact on your score fades much faster. After three to six months, most scoring models weight it lightly. After two years, it disappears from your report entirely.
What if I was denied by Chase but approved by another bank?
Different lenders use different scoring models and weight factors differently. One lender might care more about recent payment history, while another cares more about account age. A denial from Chase does not mean you can't get credit elsewhere. But before you explore to another lender, order your credit report and fix any errors, because those errors follow you to every lender.