What is Hard Inquiry (Hard Pull)?
Credit Card Glossary · Updated April 2026
A credit check that occurs when you apply for credit (credit card, loan, mortgage). Hard inquiries can lower your credit score by 5-10 points and remain on your credit report for 2 years, though their impact diminishes after 12 months. Multiple inquiries for the same type of loan within 14-45 days are often counted as one.
Frequently asked questions
What is Hard Inquiry?⌄
A credit check that occurs when you apply for credit (credit card, loan, mortgage).
What does Hard Inquiry mean on a credit card?⌄
A credit check that occurs when you apply for credit (credit card, loan, mortgage). Hard inquiries can lower your credit score by 5-10 points and remain on your credit report for 2 years, though their impact diminishes after 12 months. Multiple inquiries for the same type of loan within 14-45 days are often counted as one.
What terms are related to Hard Inquiry?⌄
Closely related concepts include Soft Inquiry (Soft Pull), Credit Score. Each of these helps clarify different aspects of the same topic.
Where does Hard Inquiry apply?⌄
Hard Inquiry is a credit score concept. It typically appears in the context of credit bureaus, FICO scoring, and credit-building.
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