What is the difference between a soft pull and a hard pull?
Two types of credit checks. Soft pulls don't affect your credit score; hard pulls do.
There are two types of credit checks a bank can run when you apply to open an account, and they have very different effects.
A soft pull doesn't affect your credit score at all. The bank can see some basic information, but it doesn't show up as a new inquiry to other lenders. Most bank account applications use soft pulls, which is one of the reasons bank bonuses are a lot more credit-friendly than credit card sign-up bonuses.
A hard pull does show up on your credit report and can knock a few points off your score temporarily. If you have several hard pulls in a short window, it can start to look like you're aggressively seeking new credit, which lenders pay attention to. Some banks, especially ones with premium or high-balance accounts, do perform hard pulls.
Before opening an account for a bonus, it's worth a quick check to see what kind of pull the bank does. It matters most if you're planning to apply for a mortgage or a car loan in the near future. Each bonus listing on this site includes the credit inquiry type.
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