John Miller, Credit Cards Moderator
@john_miller
Most credit cards use Experian for approval, though keep in mind that this is according to anecdotal sources. However, credit card issuers don’t exclusively rely on one bureau. Many pull from any of the three - Experian, Equifax or TransUnion - and the bureau used can vary based on factors like region or the issuer’s policies.
For example, Chase is known to favor Experian but has also pulled from Equifax or TransUnion. Some issuers may even pull reports from more than one bureau when you apply, which means you could see multiple inquiries on your credit reports from a single application.
Credit Bureaus Pulled by Major Credit Card Issuers*
| Issuer | Bureau |
| Experian | |
| Experian | |
| TransUnion | |
| All three | |
| Experian | |
| Experian | |
| TransUnion | |
| TransUnion | |
| Either of the three |
*According to anecdotal evidence
If you’re not sure which bureau a credit card issuer will use, you can always contact them directly before applying. This way, you can prepare by temporarily unfreezing your credit reports if needed, to make sure that there are no delays in the approval process.
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