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Will A Credit Limit Increase Result In A Hard Credit Pull?

- Mar 24, 2021 Credit Card Info21 comments

Updated: 03/12/23

As you move on in life, your expenses grow, so you will want to increase your credit line. Therefore, you will probably ask your bank for a credit line increase. Your bank may want to make a credit inquiry, commonly known as a hard pull, on your credit report. Although one hard pull will not affect your credit much, a couple of hard pulls in a short time period will. To help you, I have put together this list so you can easily see which bank will and which bank won’t make a hard credit inquiry when requesting a credit increase. Before applying for a credit card, skim through this list and choose a bank that will give you the option of increasing your credit without making a hard pull. (No one likes the bank that will penny and nickel you.)

Please note: I’m not the CEO or the one that writes the policy at any of the banks listed below, so when I say bank policy, I’m referring to the way I understand and researched the bank’s policy in regard as to when they will make a hard credit pull when requesting a credit increase.

American Express

Bank Policy

  • A credit line increase may result in a hard pull with no way of knowing beforehand.
  • You can request a credit line increase online or over the phone.

Data Points Shown

  • Most requests do not result in a hard credit pull.
  • You can request a credit increase in as little as 60 days from opening the account. There is a lot of data points saying that they got up to a 200% increase from their current credit line. Check it out here.
  • It is recommended to wait six months between requests.

Barclay

Bank Policy

  • A credit line increase will always result in a hard credit pull.
  • You can request a credit line increase at any time over the phone, or online -under account management.

Data Points Shown

  • On doctor of credit, I found a comment from the man who can which reads as follows. “If you first ask for an APR deduction, you will be transferred to the department that handles the APR deductions, and then that same department can give a credit limit increase without making a hard credit pull.”
  • You can ask the representative if there is a targeted offer on your account for a credit line increase. These types of increases are only a soft pull.

Bank of America

Bank Policy

  • A credit increase will result in a soft credit pull only.
  • You can request a credit increase at any time (even right after account opening) by phone, or online- under manage your account.

Data Points Shown

  • The same results
  • It is recommended to wait six months before you request another credit increase.

Capital One

Bank Policy

  • No hard credit pull.
  • You can request a credit increase every six months over the phone or online.

Data Points Shown

  • People see the best results by waiting a year before requesting an increase.
  • Capital One will usually want to see high credit usage before approving a credit line increase.

Chase

Bank Policy

  • Update: Chase no longer does hard pulls for credit limit increases. a credit limit increase will only result in a soft pull.
  • A credit line increase can be requested over the phone or online.

Data Points Shown

  • The same results
  • You can ask the representative if there is a targeted offer on your account for a credit line increase. These types of increases are only a soft pull.

Citi

Bank Policy

  • There is an option, if eligible, to get a credit line increase without a hard pull. If you are not eligible, it will result in a hard pull (you will be notified.)
  • It can be done over the phone or online-under account management/services.

Data Points Shown

  • If you’re not approved on the spot, cancel your request, since that may indicate that it will be a hard pull.
  • It is recommended to wait six months before requesting a credit line increase.

Discover

Bank Policy

  • Discover usually does not make a hard pull when requesting a credit increase. If they do need to make a hard pull they will notify you.
  • You can request a credit increase once every 90 days over the phone or online. 

Data Points Shown

  • The same results

US Bank

Bank Policy

  • A credit limit increase can be done without a hard credit pull.
  • It can be done online or by phone. 

Data Points Shown

  • Most of the time it’s a soft pull. There are reports, though, of a hard pull.

Wells Fargo

Bank Policy

  • You can request a credit line increase with a soft pull. If you’re not approved, then you can request a credit line increase with a hard pull.

Data Points Shown

  • The same results

Synchrony Bank

Bank Policy

  • A credit limit increase can be done without a hard pull
  • It can be done by phone or online

Data points show

  • The same results
  • Some suggest requesting the increase by phone rather than online they claim approval rates are higher by phone than online.

What To Do If A Hard Pull Was Done?

If the bank ended up making a hard pull on your credit report, don’t sweat. Your score will only go down by a few points. But what you should do is keep in mind that too many hard pulls can hurt your score. Therefore, it’s important to keep them below four to six a year.

If you have any data points that you would like to share, please enter them below. Thanks!

Frequently asked questions
Does Amex pull credit for a credit limit increase?
In 99% of the cases, Amex will not do a hard pull on your credit for a credit limit increase
Does Barclays bank pull credit for a credit limit increase?
Yes
Can I move credit limits between my Capital One cards?
No

Was this article helpful?

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Sam Sam has nearly a decade's worth of experience educating his many readers on everything credit. Sam spends his days checking out credit cards for a full report, from the minute benefit details to the shebang of welcome bonuses. Plus studying the ins and outs of building proper credit. It’s his favorite pastime and he loves sharing it with others.

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21 Comments

  1. Wow, Just in time. I just experienced a late payment the first time in 7 years and are applying for a mortgage in the near future. Thanks for this advice, it is very helpful.
    Thanks loads.

    Reply
    • My pleasure!

      Reply
      • Does a Apple Card. credit line increase. Shows on your credit report?

        Reply
        • Yes. Apple recently started reporting to all three credit bureaus

          Reply
          • I think they only do a soft pull to approve for the card

        • Apple does not do a hard pull for a Limit increase.

          Reply
  2. I have an Amex card. What is a safe amount to ask for a credit line increase that will be approved?

    Reply
    • After the account is open for sixty or more days you can request %200 increase of your current credit line.

      Reply
      • Thanks.
        Great site. Lots of useful info, I learned a lot. Thanks a lot for doing it.

        Reply
    • Thank you so much for your sound advice on all matters credit ! I for one am very appreciative and also new to credit as I’ve only had it for approximately two years now OMG, what did I ever do without it ? I’ll be 60 my next birthday and I went all that time without ever owning a credit card because I always bought everything in cash and if you couldn’t pay for it in cash then you didn’t need it, well that’s just B.S. it just makes life harder sometimes not having credit !

      Reply
  3. I don’t think Bank of America allows increasing credit online this post might not be updated

    Reply
    • You can find this option under Informaoin and Services – Manage your account.

      Reply
      • Where?

        Reply
    • I also couldn’t locate this setting online with Bank of America.

      Reply
  4. I have gotten credit increases more then once in 90 days by discover

    Reply
    • How much did they increase you?

      Reply
  5. Depending on the time up to a $1000 more 35 percent more then before

    Reply
  6. by Barclays only by a credit line increase you can freeze your trans union and a few hours later it will poll experian

    Reply
    • Good to know. Thanks!

      Reply
  7. I found the option to request a credit line increase by Bank of America under “help & support”.

    Reply

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