Which Credit Report Does Chase Pull?

The credit report that Chase is most likely to pull for your credit card application is your Experian credit report.

We reviewed 293 consumer-reported credit inquiries from the past 24 months and found that Chase pulls credit reports from all three major U.S. credit bureaus, but it seems to favor Experian.

Using this data, you can get a better idea of which credit report will be pulled when you submit an application for a Chase credit card.

We found that in certain states, the bank may rely on a different credit bureau for an applicant’s credit application.

Here is a state-by-state rundown of the anecdotal credit report data from applicants for Chase credit cards:

Chase Credit Reports Data

*Denotes the most commonly used credit bureau in that state's dataset.

Where We Got the Data

Probably to no surprise to you, Chase (and all other banks) does not tell us which credit report will be pulled for any particular loan application.

That’s why we can only do our best to gather information from people who actually applied for a Chase credit card.

They can see which credit report had a hard inquiry from Chase and share that data point with the rest of us.

We tapped the database from CreditBoards.com, where people can submit their credit application results.

While the data goes back many years, we opted to collect results from the last 2 years for the most up-to-date credit inquiry practices by Chase.

What Our Research Means for You

We’re here to help you identify the most relevant credit report that affects your chances of approval for a Chase credit card.

Find your state in the table above and see which credit bureaus are likely used by Chase for your specific application.

With this knowledge, you should take steps to improve your credit reports at these particular credit bureaus.

Ideally, your effort will increase the chances and likelihood of approval success. Chase may pull credit reports from more than one credit bureau.

To be clear: We believe that everyone should be diligent in maintaining pristine credit reports at all U.S. credit bureaus. This research shows which credit bureaus to focus on first.

How to Check Your Own Credit Reports

We recommend that you retrieve your credit reports for free through AnnualCreditReport.com.

This is not a website that will charge you in the future or collects credit card information for a subscription service.

It is the only government-sanctioned website that provides a free credit report directly from each of the three U.S. credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — per year.

I have pulled my credit reports for free for the past 10 years and here are some things to watch for when you are using the website to pull your own reports:

• Make sure that your personal information is entered 100% accurately or you may be prohibited from accessing your credit reports temporarily.
• The verification process contains trick questions and answers that may not apply to you at all — just answer “none of the above” where appropriate.
• Save or print a copy of your credit report immediately after getting it as you may not be able to view it again if you close your browser window.
• You don’t have to pull all three reports at the same time. I like to spread them out every 4 months to keep an eye on my credit.

You can also request your credit report through the phone by calling 1-877-322-8228.

If you prefer mail, you must fill out this form and mail it to:

Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

Phone and mail requests will be mailed within 15 days of the request.

In the event that you were denied for any credit line, you can ask the bank for a copy of the credit report that was used for rejecting your application. (It is your legal right to ask for this.)

Once you have the opportunity to review your credit report, there are steps you can take to improve your credit. We’ll share some of the tried-and-true methods of polishing your credit report.

How to Make Your Credit Report Look Better

If you’ve pulled your own credit report and you’re looking to increase your chances of getting approved by Chase, these are the most impactful ways to make a positive difference in your credit profile:

Fix all errors

Look over your credit report thoroughly to see if any information on it is inaccurate. Is there a missed payment that shouldn’t be there?

Is your personal information wrong? These are some of the errors that could hurt your credit. At the end of each and every credit report, the credit bureaus show detailed instructions on what you should do to dispute any errors.

Remove any and all delinquencies

Are there any negative records that show a past default or unpaid debt? It is best to negotiate with those creditors to have the remark erased from your file.

Pay down debt as much as possible

Creditors, such as Chase, don’t want to see irresponsible credit behavior. Those who carry high balances on their credit lines may signify that they are extremely dependent on borrowed funds.

Increase your credit limits

By raising the amount that you can borrow, it will appear as if you’re using a small percentage of your borrowing potential. Many credit card companies allow you to submit a request for a credit limit increase through your online account or by phone.

Be wary that the credit card company may perform a hard inquiry on your credit for this action -- you can cancel the request and not have it affect your credit.

When you’re finished, don’t go immediately to Chase to complete your credit application. You’ll understand why in the next section.

When Your Credit Report is Updated

Changes to your existing credit accounts are not reported to credit bureaus on a daily basis.

In fact, it can take up to 30 days for your credit reports to update. Usually, your credit report logs the most recent changes after a statement cycle with any particular lender.

Your Income and Expenses Matter Too

Don’t forget that your credit is not the sole factor in determining your qualification for a new credit line.

Chase also asks for your annual income and monthly housing expenses. After all, the bank doesn’t know if you can repay your balance without knowing how much free cash flow you have on a regular basis.

Without a doubt, a higher income and lower expenses mean that you’re more financially capable of paying off your debt.

I’ve been approved for two Chase credit cards and I’ve never had to show proof of income and expenses. Looking through several financial forums, it does not appear that Chase makes it a point to verify these two pieces of financial information.