Premier Bank's Credit Check Method

Premier Bank uses a hard pull (also called a hard inquiry) when you request a credit card. This means the bank will request your full credit report from one or more of the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion — and the inquiry will show up on your credit report and affect your credit score.

A hard pull typically lowers your score by a few points, though the impact is usually temporary. Multiple hard pulls within 14 to 45 days for the same type of credit (like credit cards) often count as a single inquiry, so shopping around on the same day or within a short window causes less damage than spacing applications weeks apart.

Premier Bank does not offer a pre-qualification or pre-approval process that uses a soft pull. If you want to know whether you might be approved, you will need to submit a full application, which triggers the hard pull.

Key Takeaways

  • Premier Bank performs a hard pull when you submit a credit card request, which appears on your credit report and temporarily lowers your score.
  • The bank does not use soft pulls for pre-qualification or pre-approval offers, so checking your odds requires a full application.
  • Multiple hard pulls for credit cards within 14 to 45 days typically count as one inquiry, so timing your applications close together minimizes the score impact.
  • Your credit score recovers from hard pull damage within a few months, and the inquiry itself falls off your report after two years.

Why Premier Bank Uses a Hard Pull

Premier Bank is a subprime lender, meaning it serves people with lower credit scores or limited credit history. Because the bank takes on higher risk, it needs to see your actual credit report — not just a summary — to decide whether to approve you and what terms to offer. A soft pull would not give the bank enough information to make that decision responsibly.

The hard pull also protects you. It signals to other lenders that you have recently requested credit, which helps them understand your recent activity and avoid overlending to you. Without hard pulls, someone could apply to dozens of cards in a single day without any lender knowing.

How a Hard Pull Affects Your Credit Score

A single hard pull typically lowers your score by 5 to 10 points, though the exact impact varies by scoring model and your credit profile. If your score is already low, the damage may be slightly less noticeable. If your score is higher, the impact may be more visible.

The hard pull stays on your credit report for two years, but its effect on your score fades after about three to six months. After that time, the inquiry is still visible to lenders but does not actively drag down your number.

If you are planning to apply for Premier Bank's card, do it when you are not also shopping for a mortgage, auto loan, or other major credit product. Lenders see multiple hard pulls in a short window and may worry you are taking on too much debt.

Timing Multiple Applications to Minimize Damage

If you are comparing Premier Bank to other cards and plan to apply to more than one, submit all your applications within a 14-day window if possible. Credit scoring models treat multiple inquiries for the same type of credit (revolving credit, like credit cards) as a single pull if they happen close together.

Some scoring models extend this window to 45 days, so there is some variation depending on which bureau and which lender is looking at your report. The safest approach is to do all your shopping within two weeks, then wait at least a month before applying for anything else.

This strategy matters most if your score is borderline for approval. If you are well below Premier Bank's typical approval range, the timing of hard pulls is less important than rebuilding your credit first.

What Happens After You Apply

Once Premier Bank completes the hard pull and reviews your application, you will receive a decision within a few business days. If approved, the card will arrive within 7 to 10 business days. If denied, the hard pull still remains on your report even though you were not approved — this is normal and happens with every lender.

If you are denied, you can request the reason from Premier Bank. Common reasons include a score that is too low, insufficient income, or too much existing debt. Some of these you can fix before reapplying; others require waiting a few months for your credit to improve.

Do not reapply immediately after a denial. Wait at least three to six months, and use that time to pay down debt, dispute any errors on your credit report, or build credit history with a secured card or credit-builder loan. A second hard pull within weeks of the first will hurt your score further without improving your odds.

Soft Pulls vs. Hard Pulls: The Difference

A soft pull does not appear on your credit report and does not affect your score. Lenders use soft pulls to check your credit for pre-qualification offers, to monitor existing accounts, or to verify your identity. You might see a soft pull when a credit card company sends you a pre-approved offer in the mail.

A hard pull is a full credit report request that shows up on your report and temporarily lowers your score. Hard pulls happen when you request credit — a credit card, a loan, a mortgage, or a line of credit. Only you and lenders you have directly requested credit from can trigger a hard pull on your behalf.

Because Premier Bank does not send out pre-may have access to offers and does not have a pre-approval process, there is no soft pull option. The moment you apply, you get a hard pull.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I check if Premier Bank will approve me without a hard pull?

No. Premier Bank does not offer a soft pull pre-qualification tool or pre-approval process. You can review the bank's stated requirements (typically a score of 550 or higher, though this varies), but the only way to know if you will be approved is to submit an application, which triggers a hard pull.

How long does the hard pull stay on my credit report?

The hard pull remains visible on your credit report for two years. However, its impact on your score fades after three to six months. After that, lenders can still see it, but it no longer actively lowers your number.

Will applying for Premier Bank hurt my chances of getting approved elsewhere?

One hard pull will have a small, temporary impact on your score, but it should not disqualify you from other credit products. If you are also shopping for a mortgage or auto loan, space those applications at least a month apart from your credit card applications to avoid looking like you are taking on too much debt at once.

What if I am denied — can I reapply right away?

You can reapply, but another hard pull within weeks will hurt your score further without improving your odds. Wait three to six months, pay down existing debt, and check your credit report for errors before reapplying. A second application too soon signals to lenders that you are desperate for credit.

Does Premier Bank do a hard pull for credit limit increases?

Premier Bank may perform a hard pull when you request a credit limit increase, though some banks use soft pulls for existing cardholders. Contact Premier Bank directly to ask whether a limit increase request will trigger a hard pull before you submit one.