Can You tell me which credit report Bank of America checks?

If you apply for a credit card at Bank of America, the bank will likely pull your credit report from Experian. Bank of America will use Equifax once they've exhausted their options with Experian. In rare cases, the bank may consult TransUnion information. If you know which credit reports lenders look at, you can check them out in advance of applying for a loan, which can help you fix any problems in your credit history.

We found this out by looking at 94 reports of credit inquiries made by consumers between January 2016 and December 2017. This proved that Bank of America uses Experian more often than not when performing credit checks on their customers. It's possible that there are subtle variations between states when it comes to which bureau is used

Here's a rundown, state by state, of which credit bureau Bank of America uses depending on where you live when you apply.

Financial Information on Credit Reports from Bank of America

State The Use of Credit Reporting Agencies Alabama TransUnion Arkansas Experian Arizona Experian California TransUnion, Experian*, and Equifax Colorado TransUnion Florida TransUnion, Experian*, and Equifax Georgia TransUnion Illinois The Two Major Credit Bureaus, Experian and TransUnion Kentucky Both Experian and TransUnion Maryland Experian Massachusetts Experian* Mississippi Experian Minnesota Experian Missouri Experian Nevada In contrast to competitors Equifax and Experian*, New Jersey Experian New York Experian Geographical Indication: North Carolina Credit reporting agencies Equifax, Experian*, and TransUnion Ohio Experian Oregon Two major credit reporting agencies: Experian and TransUnion Pennsylvania Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, etc. Carolina del Sur TransUnion Tennessee Experian Texas Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion Virginia Experian Washington TransUnion, Experian*, and Equifax

In each state, *indicates the most widely-used credit reporting agency utilized by Bank of America.

You probably aren't surprised to hear that banks don't disclose to customers or the general public which credit bureaus they use in the decision-making process when issuing credit cards. Consequently, we can only collect this data from people who have actively sought out a Bank of America credit card.

Lenders check your credit history when you apply for a credit card. This is done by requesting a copy of your credit report from a credit bureau. The number of "hard pulls" recorded on your credit report by a credit bureau stays there for two years. Any time your credit is checked, it takes a hit. Because it's a sign of financial distress to apply for multiple loans at once

If a lender requests your credit report, you can see the credit bureau they accessed it through the hard pulls that are recorded on your report. The pull will be reflected in one report only.

The CreditBoards were put to use. database at com to collect the majority of this information. Online credit application outcomes are shared so that potential cardholders may better assess their own approval chances. For the sake of providing you with the most current data, we focused only on the most recent two years of performance.

Results and Implications of Our Study

Our mission is to aid you in determining which of your credit reports is most relevant to your eligibility for a Bank of America credit card. To see which agencies are most likely to be involved with your application, look up your state in the above table. Your credit score reported by the bureau can then be improved with the knowledge gained from this analysis.

Though improving your credit with any one bureau will help the others, it may be simpler to work on just one at first. Consider that Bank of America may request information from multiple bureaus.

Instructions for Performing Your Own Credit Checks

There are a variety of ways to access your credit report if you're interested in doing so on your own. AnnualCreditReport.com is the best place to go to get your free credit reports every year. There are no hidden fees or obligations to keep a subscription you don't want when using this site. You can get a free credit report from each of the three major bureaus through this site, making it the only official government portal that does so.

You are entitled to a free report once a year from each agency.

The annual report is the only paid option, but there are other free choices if you want to view your data more frequently. Free credit report services are offered by some third-party money management and credit monitoring apps. Capital One isn't the only credit card company that lets you view your credit report.

Even though these reports aren't coming straight from the bureau, they're still useful for monitoring your credit and keeping tabs on any significant changes. After seven years of using all three strategies, my credit score finally reached the elusive 800 mark.

If and when you need a duplicate of your report, AnnualCreditReport.com is where you can go to get it. You can use these suggestions on com.

• Make sure the data you enter is correct by checking it twice. Making a mistake may result in a temporary lockout.
• Authentication questions will be posed to you. You can safely answer "none of the above" to any of the trick questions. ”
• If you don't save or print a copy of your report right away, you'll lose it when you close the browser window.
• Each quarter, consider requesting your report from a different agency. As a result, you can receive regular updates at no cost.

It is also possible to request a report over the phone by dialing 1-877-322-8228, or through the mail by filling out and sending in the following form:

• Service Request for Credit Report Once Per Year O APO/FPO: Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

All written and verbal requests will be fulfilled in a timely manner, typically within 15 days.

You can also get a free copy of your credit report by asking for one from a bank after being turned down for a credit card. They will provide you with a copy of the report they used to reject your application.

Ways to Improve the Appearance of Your Credit Report

Checking your credit report is the first step toward bettering it. There are many options available to you to improve your grade. If you want a better chance of getting a loan from Bank of America, follow these guidelines.

Make Corrections Where Necessary

It is common for credit reports to have mistakes. It is possible to have inaccurate information on your credit report if you share a name with someone else or if a lender reports the wrong information. Examine your credit report for things like unanticipated late fees, newly opened accounts, and other anomalies.

One's credit score may take a hit due to these mistakes. Errors on your credit report can be disputed by following the procedures outlined by each bureau.

Pay Off Overdue Bills

Do you have any unfavorable credit history or defaults to pay? Talk to them about a payment plan that will wipe the mark from your credit report.

Reduce Currently Held Debt

Creditors need assurances that they will be repaid. Lenders may be hesitant to extend you further credit if they determine you already have a high debt-to-income ratio. Pay off as much debt as possible to ease lenders' concerns and raise your credit score.

Raise Your Available Credit

Concurrently, if you increase your credit limit, your current debts will constitute a smaller share of your total credit. In the end, this is good for your credit.

A limit increase request can usually be made online, though some issuers may perform a hard pull on your credit, which can have a negative impact on your score.

Dates of Credit Report Updates

There is not a constant flow of data from lenders to credit bureaus. Any positive changes to your credit, such as lower balances or increased credit limits, won't show up on your report for at least 30 days. After the statement cycle closes with each lender, the updated information will be included in your credit report.

Your Earnings and Expenses Are Important, Too

Creditworthiness is contingent upon your income and outgoings, so keep that in mind. The annual income question is required by Bank of America. Also included are questions about your monthly housing costs and whether you own or rent.

Lenders care primarily about recouping their initial investment, so this makes sense. There's no way you can afford a new credit card if your rent and utilities cost you 0 each month, even if your take-home pay is $1,000. It's more likely that you'll be able to make your mortgage payments if your monthly expenses are $2,000 rather than $10,000.

I can attest to the fact that increasing my income has boosted my success with credit card companies. The likes of Capital One and other financial institutions will periodically request that you verify your annual income.

A few months after getting a raise at work that more than doubled my yearly income, I was contacted by Capital One and asked to provide an update. After updating my income information, Capital One proposed a credit limit increase of several thousand dollars. Because of this, my credit score improved significantly as a result of the increase in my available credit.

Debt repayment is facilitated by an increase in both income and reduction in outgoings. Bank of America intends to do just that. Be honest and thorough in your application. Bank of America may request proof of income or residency, such as a recent rent receipt or pay stub, in order to process your application.

If you provide Bank of America with reasonable numbers, they will probably not ask for verification. But if you say you make $1 million a year, the bank may ask for documentation.

Conclusion

Credit card applications are notoriously complicated. If you follow these guidelines, you'll have a better shot at being approved for a Bank of America credit card.

Experian's report is the most important, but improving your credit with all three bureaus will increase your chances of being approved for a credit card.