Skip to main content
An official website of the United States government
(855) 411-2372
Submit a Complaint

About us

We're the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a U.S. government agency that makes sure banks, lenders, and other financial companies treat you fairly.

Learn how the CFPB can help you

Does a credit inquiry have a different impact on my score if I'm approved or denied?

Answer:

Credit models generally do not give positive or negative weight to the outcome of the credit inquiry.

Credit scoring models typically evaluate credit inquiries based on:

  • How recently the inquiry occurred
  • How frequently inquiries are made
  • How many inquiries are made

Being approved for credit could impact other variables in credit scoring models, such as your credit utilization rate – the amount of credit you’ve been given compared to the amount you’ve used.

Was this page helpful to you?

Note: Do not include sensitive information like your name, contact information, account number, or social security number in this field.

The content on this page provides general consumer information. It is not legal advice or regulatory guidance. The CFPB updates this information periodically. This information may include links or references to third-party resources or content. We do not endorse the third-party or guarantee the accuracy of this third-party information. There may be other resources that also serve your needs.

Read full answer Hide full answer