What a Soft Credit Pull Is (And Why It Won't Hurt Your Score)
A soft credit pull, also called a soft inquiry, allows certain information from your credit profile to be reviewed without affecting your credit score. This differs from a hard inquiry, which typically occurs when you formally apply for credit and may cause a small, temporary score decrease. Understanding this distinction can help you check potential loan terms with more confidence. If you're considering a personal loan, you may hesitate before checking your options because of one question: will this hurt my credit score? The answer depends entirely on the type of credit inquiry being performed. A soft credit pull can be used in certain situations to review information from your credit profile without affecting your credit score. A hard inquiry, on the other hand, typically occurs when you formally apply for new credit and can affect your score. Understanding the difference between these two processes can help you know what to expect before you check potential loan terms. It ...