update: a number of data points have rolled in and I feel pretty comfortable stating that this is a generally applicable rule. How close the applications need to be is up in the air, but 30 days seems to be the maximum limit.
Recently, Bank of America has approved some different-day credit card applications, using an applicant’s existing credit file (without issuing an additional hard pull). Bank of America is known to combine hard pulls for same-day applications, but not different-day applications.
Data points are scant at the moment, but my assumption is that this can only happen when the applications are within 30 days and for personal cards.
If you have any recent data points for BOA (different-day applications in 2016, within 90 days of each other), please share them in the comments or use this handy Google form, which tracks a wide scope of information. American Express have also been doing something somewhat similar as well (approvals without a hard pull). It’s possible this means that the lack of a hard pull is due to the way that the consumer reporting agencies, rather than the card issuers themselves. If you have noticed this recently with any other card issuers, please let us know in the comments.
You can learn how to monitor your credit for free at this link.
View Comments (27)
Recently approved for the BOA Premium Rewards. Are there any recent data points on whether applying for the Alaska card, in 30 days window, would result in the pulls being combined at Experian?
Did you ever try this out?
I applied and was approved for 3 BoA business cards on Friday but all went to recon. I'm seeing 3 separate hard pulls on TU. Is this the typical reporting nature then they combine or did I play with fire and get burned?
You may see multiple hard pulls at once that later drop off. I had this happen with Barclays—CK showed two hard pulls that day, but later only 1 hard pull was still on my report.
Cool thanks! I'll report back
And we never heard from him ever again.
Did they combine?
DP: Applied 12/20 and 1/16 and they used the same pull.
Anybody know if this applies to biz cards? Requested a cli on Friday (cash rewards), thinkinh of pulling the trigger on the Alaska biz tomorrow. It was a TU pull for the CLI (California)
Can also confirm. Applied for BoA cards on Friday and Monday. Spoke with reconsideration rep on Tuesday and she said pulls were combined into just 1
Denied for the BBR 11/20 (INQ) and approved for Alaska VS 5k 12/2, same EX pull
I have my Experian frozen before I applied for Merrill lynch credit card on 11/17, asked to pull Trans Union so there was a hard pull there, of course later on I received my Merril CC. But about 1-2 weeks later, realized they added cash reward CC to my account. I did apply for it some time ago but couldn't remember the date. But only 1 BOA inquiry on Trans Union. I'm in New York.
I would love for BOA to pull my equifax! Don't think that would happen ever though! Happy citi and disco usually pull EQ!
Can confirm this. I was approved for an Alaska card on 07/07 but unfortunately for the plus. Decided to cancel then re-applied on 8/30, same HP.
2 years ago a B of A credit VP told me it was standard policy to use a credit pull 30 days or fresher. It was reliable and less costly for the company. Made sense to me and as I had 5 Alaska cards applied for on 5 different days and only 2 pulls over 3 months, it shook out.
Don't know what it is today.
BoA pulled Experian on 11/5, and it was valid for new application on 11/28 and credit consolidation on 12/5.