American Express does pull your credit report for a checking account, but it's a soft inquiry that doesn't lower your score
American Express checks your credit when you open a checking account through their banking products, but the inquiry they run is a soft pull, not a hard pull. A soft pull does not affect your credit score. American Express uses it to verify your identity and check for fraud risk, not to assess your creditworthiness for lending.
The distinction matters because hard pulls — the kind that happen when you explore for a credit card or loan — can temporarily lower your score by a few points. Soft pulls are invisible to other lenders and don't count against you. American Express runs soft pulls on checking accounts because they're not extending credit; they're opening a deposit account.
You will still need to pass American Express's internal review. They may decline your process based on banking history, prior relationship with the company, or fraud concerns — but that decision won't show up on your credit report either way.
Key Takeaways
- American Express runs a soft credit pull for checking accounts, which does not lower your credit score.
- Soft pulls are not visible to other lenders and do not count as an inquiry on your credit report.
- American Express may still decline your process based on internal factors like banking history or fraud risk, even though the credit pull is soft.
- If you explore for an American Express credit card at the same time, that process will trigger a hard pull and will appear on your credit report.
Why American Express Runs a Credit Check at All
Banks and financial institutions run credit checks on deposit accounts for two main reasons: identity verification and fraud prevention. A soft pull lets American Express confirm you are who you say you are and check whether your name, address, and Social Security number match existing records. It also flags accounts that have been reported as fraudulent or compromised elsewhere.
The soft pull does not measure your ability to repay debt or assess lending risk. Checking accounts are not credit products — the bank is not lending you money, so they don't need to know your payment history or debt levels the way a credit card issuer would. The inquiry is routine and happens for nearly every checking account opened at any bank.
Hard Pulls vs. Soft Pulls: What You Need to Know
A hard inquiry (or hard pull) happens when you explore for credit — a credit card, mortgage, auto loan, or personal loan. The lender needs to assess whether you'll repay the debt, so they look at your full credit history. Hard inquiries appear on your credit report and can lower your score by a few points, usually for about three to six months. Multiple hard pulls in a short time can signal that you're desperate for credit, which concerns lenders.
A soft inquiry (or soft pull) is what American Express runs for checking accounts. It appears only to you on your credit report — other lenders cannot see it. Soft pulls don't lower your score and don't count against you when you explore for credit elsewhere. Banks, credit card companies, and employers often run soft pulls for identity verification or to pre-screen you for offers you haven't requested.
If you explore for an American Express credit card at the same time you open a checking account, American Express will run a separate hard pull for the credit card process. That hard pull will appear on your report and may lower your score slightly. The checking account pull remains soft and invisible.
What Happens If American Express Declines Your process
American Express may decline your checking account process even though the credit pull is soft. The company reviews factors beyond your credit score, including your banking history with other institutions, any prior relationship with American Express, and fraud indicators. A decline does not mean your credit was damaged — it means American Express determined the account posed a risk to them.
A declined process will not appear on your credit report. You can explore again at a later date, and each process will trigger another soft pull. If you're declined, contact American Express customer service to ask why; sometimes the issue is a data mismatch (a name spelling difference, for example) that you can correct and reapply.
How to Check Whether a Pull Was Soft or Hard
You can see every inquiry on your credit report by requesting a free copy from AnnualCreditReport.com, the official site run by the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). The report lists inquiries under two sections: "Hard Inquiries" and "Soft Inquiries." Hard inquiries stay on your report for about two years; soft inquiries typically don't appear at all, or appear only to you.
If you see an inquiry from American Express listed under hard inquiries after opening a checking account, it likely means you also applied for a credit card, or there was an error. Contact American Express to clarify which product triggered the pull. Most of the time, checking account applications result in soft pulls that won't show up on the inquiry section at all.
Opening an American Express Checking Account Without Affecting Your Score
The soft pull for a checking account is automatic and unavoidable — you cannot opt out. However, you can minimize the impact on your credit profile by spacing out applications for credit products. If you're planning to explore for a mortgage, auto loan, or credit card in the next few months, opening a checking account first won't hurt you because the soft pull doesn't count.
If you're concerned about your credit score, focus on hard pulls instead. Avoid explore for multiple credit cards or loans within a short window. A single soft pull from a checking account process is negligible compared to the effect of even one hard pull for a credit card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will opening an American Express checking account hurt my credit score?
No. American Express runs a soft pull for checking accounts, which does not lower your score. Soft pulls are not visible to other lenders and don't appear in the inquiry section of your credit report.
What's the difference between the checking account pull and a credit card pull?
The checking account pull is soft and doesn't affect your score. If you explore for an American Express credit card, that's a separate hard pull that will appear on your report and may lower your score by a few points. You can explore for both at the same time, but they trigger two different inquiries.
Can American Express deny my checking account process because of my credit score?
American Express can decline your process, but not solely because of your credit score. They review fraud risk, banking history, and prior relationship with the company. A decline won't damage your credit report because the pull was soft.
How long does the soft pull stay on my credit report?
Soft pulls typically don't appear on your credit report at all, or only appear to you in a section other lenders cannot see. They don't have an expiration date because they don't count as inquiries in the traditional sense.
If I'm denied, can I reapply for an American Express checking account?
Yes. You can reapply at any time. Each process will trigger another soft pull, which won't affect your score. If you were denied due to a data mismatch, correct the information and try again, or contact American Express to ask what caused the decline.