What Is a Perfect Credit Score? (And How to Get One) [2022]

The “perfect credit score” is a bit of a misleading term because just being in the top tier of credit scores usually will grant you the same privileges as having the highest possible credit score.

Nevertheless, many people are interested or at least curious about how to obtain a perfect credit score and there are a number of things you can do to set yourself up to achieve that.

Here’s everything you need know about how to get a perfect credit score.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

What Is a perfect credit score?

The perfect credit score is 850 on both the popular Vantage and FICO models, which have a range of 300 to 850.

But this is a bit misleading because credit scores that are much lower will usually give you all the benefits of a perfect credit score as described below.

Credit scores broken down

In case you need a refresher, here’s how your FICO score is calculated.

Your FICO credit score is determined in the following way:

Payment History (35%)
Utilization (30%)
Credit History (15%)
New Credit (10%)
Mixed Credit (10%)

Payment History (35%)

Payment history is the #1 factor for determining your credit score.

Late payments will stay on your credit report for 7 years, although some bankruptcies (Chapter 7 bankruptcy) will remain on your report for up to ten years!

Luckily, the negative effect of late payments and other negatives begins to lessen as more times passes, so although it might stay on your report for 7 years, the effect will usually only be felt for a limited amount of time (i.e., a few years).

How much a late payment affects your credit score depends on a mix of factors, including:

How late they were and the number of past due items listed on a credit report
The amount of money still owed on delinquent accounts or collection items
How much time has passed since any delinquencies, adverse public records, or collection items

Utilization (30%)

Utilization is your credit to debt ratio. You find this by dividing the amount of debt you have by your total credit limit. So for example, if you have a $10,000 total credit limit and owe $5,000 in debt, then your utilization is at 50%.

Credit History (15%)

The credit history category consists of the of the following factors:

Longest opened account
Average age of account
Time since newest account
Time since each account was last used

The most important of these factors is the age of the longest opened account while average age of accounts is second.

New Credit (10%)

This category is most known for its effect felt from hard inquiries.

Hard inquiries result when your credit is pulled for review by lenders and certain other institutions and they differ from soft inquiries in that the latter don’t affect your credit score.

Other factors besides hard inquiries in the new credit category are:

How many new accounts you have
How long it’s been since you opened your last account

Mixed Credit (10%)

This category evaluates your overall “mix” of credit lines.

So for example, it wants to see if you have a diverse range of credit consisting of different types of credit lines like student loans, auto loans, home loans, credit cards, etc.

If you need to freshen up your knowledge on credit reports, check out my introduction to credit scores and reports.

There are dozens of credit scores

There are tons of different types of credit scores so it’s good to know that there can be different types of perfect scores (850, 900, etc.).

Just like new software systems like Microsoft Windows are rolled out every few years, FICO every few years comes out with different editions of its scoring model.

For example, here are some of the previously released editions:

FICO 98 (1998)
FICO NextGen (2001)
FICO 04 (2004)
FICO Score 8 (2008)
FICO Score 9 (2014)
FICO Score 10 (2020)

Each edition is implemented in order to more accurately predict the credit worthiness of consumers based on new developments in modeling, testing, and research.

For example, when FICO Score 8 came out it lessened the blow that isolated late payments would have on a credit score, devalued the benefit of authorized users, ignored collection accounts of less than $100, and made high balances on credit cards more punishable.

Also, the FICO 9 model helps eliminates the negative effect of a paid collection account and also lessens the negative effect of medical collections.

Industry specific credit scores

FICO also develops industry specific FICO scores.

In addition to the “general” credit score, there are industry specific scores for the following:

Auto
Mortgage
Credit card
Installment loan
Personal finance

These industry scores don’t typically follow the 300 to 850 scoring model of the general credit score so you might see perfect scores of 900.

But while the scores can vary, they are generally pretty close. Also, it’s never guaranteed that a given industry will use an industry specific score, since some choose to use the general scores.

Different bureaus

Each of these different industry versions also have different editions and also come in different versions based on the credit reporting agencies applying them (three major credit bureaus are Equifax, Experian and TransUnion).

So for example, you have your “general” FICO Equifax credit score in multiple editions, your “auto” FICO Equifax in multiple editions, and so on and so on.

That’s how you get to over 50 FICO credit scores (or even over 60 when FICO 9 is fully implemented) different types of credit scores. The chart below (via Bankrate) breaks this down in chart form which may help:

How many people have a perfect credit score?

According to CNBC of the 232 million U.S. consumers who have FICO credit scores, about 1.6 percent, have perfect 850s.

In the end, you don’t actually need an 850 to get the benefits of a perfect credit score, though.

In fact, the real perfect score is likely a 760.

According to CNBC, a 760 can qualify you for the best mortgage rates while a 720 can qualify you for the best car loan rates.

The FICO mortgage calculator seems to back this up, lumping credit scores at or above 760 in with the best interest tier.

So all you really need to do is try to get to that upper bracket of credit which usually is about a 760.

Once you get over that, there’s really nothing to gain in many situations, though it’s possible that in certain markets you might get a slight nudge if you’re closer to 780, 800, etc.

Personally, I would rather hover around 720 to 760 while being able to take advantage of awesome credit card rewards then worry about maintaining an 850.

However, if you really want that perfect score here are some tips.

5 Tips for getting a perfect credit score

#1 Your payment history needs to be squeaky clean

Payment history is the #1 factor for your credit score so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that you’re not going to have a perfect credit score if you have late payments, bankruptcies, liens, judgments, collections, etc. on your credit profile.

According to FICO data, “a 30-day delinquency could cause as much as a 90 to 110 point drop on a FICO Score of 780 for a consumer who has never missed a payment on any credit account.”

So you can imagine how difficult/impossible it would be to climb up into the mid 800s with negative marks showing on your credit report.

Those negative marks do lose their affect on your credit score over time, but when it comes to obtaining a perfect credit score, you’re not going to get there with a negative history.

The good news is that you can still achieve a very high credit score even with negative marks.

The key is that there needs to be some time between the present time and your negative marks.

Also, if your credit report is littered with negative marks, that’s a very different situation from someone with an isolated one or two hiccups.

#2 Utilization needs to be low but not too low

You’re never going to have a perfect credit score if your utilization is high. And if you want to hit the perfect score, I’d shoot for somewhere between 2% to 4%.

Remember, having 0% utilization won’t benefit you as much as having a little bit of utilization.

According to MyFICO, Barry Paperno, consumer operations manager for FICO stated that a tiny reported balance can trump a zero balance.

“In short, the lower a consumer’s credit utilization, the better, but having a small balance is slightly better than having no balance at all.”

In fact, according to TMF, “the average FICO high achiever (800+ FICO score) uses 4% of their overall revolving credit limit,” so that should give you an idea where your utilization should stay.

So if you’re shooting for a perfect credit score, you want to make sure that you’re paying off your credit card at the correct time so that your credit card statement will reflect a small balance that puts your utilization under 5%.

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#3 Credit Mix plays a role

Credit Mix makes up 10% of your credit score and it’s often considered the least important factor for your FICO score. Because of that fact, many people don’t ever think about credit mix.

But credit mix does play a role in obtaining a perfect credit score.

Practically speaking, mixed credit is important because FICO says having a variety of loans is necessary for earning a perfect credit score.

Here are the different types of credit:

Installment credit lines

For installment credit lines you usually pay a fixed amount each month until you pay down an entire balance due. Common examples of installment loans are:

Home loans
Auto loans
Student loans
Personal loans (can often be revolving)

Revolving credit lines

Revolving credit lines offer you a credit limit that you can utilize at whatever pace you want to. Common examples include:

Credit cards
Store credit cards (Macys’ card, GAP card, etc.)
Trade lines (credit line at a jewelry store or furniture store)
Personal loans

Open lines of credit

Open lines of credit are credit lines where you’re given an unspecified amount of credit usually on a monthly basis and expected to pay that balance in full each month. Many open lines of credit will not reflect on your personal credit report (unless you miss a payment).

Other open lines like charge cards do report on your credit report.

Common examples include:

Utilities
Charge cards

The ratios needed for mixed credit

It’s not clear what the ratio needs to be in order to maximize your credit mix but just having one of each type of loan probably helps a lot.

I’d venture to guess that if you had a few credit cards and a couple of installment loans, you’d probably be able to maximize that category.

Paperno at FICO and states that, “The number of each type of account is not as important for a person’s score as simply having experience with both types of accounts, either currently or within the recent past.”

There are two take-a-ways from this quote for me.

First, it’s important to note that the number of different accounts doesn’t matter much. This makes a lot of sense since a lot of people probably don’t have more than one type of home loan, auto loan, etc.

Second, the quote stresses that what is most important is having “experience” with “both” types of accounts.

That’s important to me since it seems to imply that what’s most important is just having a mixture of both installment loans and revolving credit, since those are the two major different types of credit lines.

My ultimate take-a-way from this is that if you only have installment loans or only have revolving accounts, you probably won’t be able to achieve a perfect credit score but having a couple of each will take you far in this category.

You can read more about credit mix here.

#4 Credit history is huge

Credit history may only make up 15% of your credit score, but it’s essential for obtaining a perfect credit score.

Credit Karma reports that a “2011 study by SubscriberWise, a credit reporting agency for the communications industry, found the average length of a credit history for someone with an 850 FICO score was 30 years.“

That tells you a whole lot about getting a perfect credit history — it’s just going to take time.

If you’re relatively new to credit and have accounts only a few years old, you’re probably going to struggle to get to the top and so I would not worry about getting a perfect credit score.

If it ends up happening great, but it’s not worth obsessing over when in reality you might be years away of obtaining it due to a lack of credit history.

#5 New credit can bring you down

When you apply for credit, you’ll typically see a drop in your credit score from the hard inquiry of a few points, depending on how high your credit score is.

So if you want a perfect credit score, you don’t want any recent inquiries on your credit report.

Of course, not ever applying for credit would defeat the very purpose of achieving a perfect credit score in the first place.

But since the impact of hard inquiries usually diminishes after 90 days and falls off all together after one year, applying for new credit isn’t likely to drop you way below a perfect score if you’re already there. It would probably only be a matter of months until you’re back at a perfect credit score or near to it.

Tip: If you’re really focused on maintaining a perfect credit score then consider opening up small business credit cards since many of them don’t report to your personal credit report.

Opening those cards won’t show up as new accounts and won’t shorten your average age of your accounts, so it’s a great way to preserve your perfect credit score.

Perfect Credit Score FAQ

What is the perfect credit score?

The perfect credit score is 850 on both popular Vantage and FICO models, which have a range of 300 to 850. Other models may go up to 900.

How many people have a perfect credit score?

According to CNBC of the 232 million U.S. consumers who have FICO credit scores, about 1.6 percent, have perfect 850s.

How low does utilization need to be for a perfect credit score?

If you want to hit the perfect score, I’d shoot for somewhere between 2% to 4%.

How much credit history do you need for a perfect credit score?

A 2011 study by SubscriberWise found the average length of credit history for someone with an 850 FICO score was 30 years.

Do you need a perfect credit score for the best rates?

No, according to Informa Research the lowest rates offered on mortgage loans went to people with scores at or higher than 760. And, the lowest rates offered on various auto loans went to people with scores at or higher than 720.

Final word

Getting the perfect credit score is an ambitious goal but with questionable utility.

You’ll need to manage your credit score the normal way by making on-time payments, keeping your debt low, and avoiding too many new inquiries. And you’ll also have to have well-aged credit accounts and a mix of installment and revolving accounts to give yourself a good shot at a perfect credit score.

But in the end, just getting to about 760 is all that’s needed to reap the perks that come along with the perfect credit score in many cases.

Daniel Gillaspia

Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time credit card rewards/travel expert and has earned and redeemed millions of miles to travel the globe. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.

How To Order Checks From Chase (Online, Phone, Prices) [2022]

Are you trying to order new checks or checkbooks from Chase?

Well, the process is very simple and it can be done online, over the phone, or even in-branch.

This article will show you exactly how to order new Chase checks step-by-step, and will also show you how to get custom designs and checkbook accessories

Interested in finding out the top travel credit cards for this month? Click here to check them out!

How To Order Checks From Chase

You can order your checks and checkbooks online by logging into your Chase account or you can order (personal and business checks) on the Deluxe website or by calling 1-888-560-3939.

You can also order both personal and business checks by visiting a Chase branch.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Ordering personal checks from Chase

Log-in to your Chase account and then in the Bank accounts section click on “More,” for the account you wish to order the checks.

Then click on “Order checks & deposit slips.”

Make sure that your pop-up blocker or ad-blocker is disabled because a pop-up window needs to come up.

From this window you’ll be able to select the new checks that you’d like to order and personalize those checks if you wish.

Checkbook prices

Here are examples of check prices as of September 2022. Note that depending on the design that you go with, the prices could fluctuate.

Also, there are some types of Chase accounts that could offer free checks or discounted checks. For example, Chase Private Client offers free personal checks (and no fees for counter checks, money orders or cashier’s checks).

Single/Wallet
- 1 box: $20.00
- 2 boxes: $40.00
- 4 boxes: $80.00
Duplicate
- 1 box: $24.00
- 2 boxes: $48.00
  4 boxes: $96.00

Single/wallet checks are top-bound, single part checks in a standard single/wallet format.

Duplicate checks are top-bound checks with carbonless duplicates for instant copies and fast, easy record keeping.

How many checks are in a box?

Most personal check designs have 100 checks per box.

(Mini-Paks have 1 pad of 25 checks per box.)

Design

There are a lot of design options that you can choose from, including:

High security
Animals
Charitable
Classic characters
Classical
Contemporary
Disney
Exclusives
Floral & Nature
Guideline
Inspirational
Mini-Paks
Scenic
Special Account
Sports & Leisure
Top Stub/End Stub
Warner Brothers

Check Imprint

You can choose the font for your check imprint (where your personal information shows up in the top left corner).

You can choose to put the following info on your checks:

Name
Address
Home phone
Work phone
Business Name
Miscellaneous Line

By the way, if you need a detailed breakdown on all of the different parts of a check, click here.

Check enhancements

Check Details

You can also choose which check number you’d like to start from but by default the system calculates the next logical starting number based on your previous order.

Symbol / Monogram

A symbol or monogram (also known as a woodcut), may be added to accent the look of your checks. These symbols appear in the upper-left hand corner.

Message

The message (or byline) adds extra character to your checks and is printed above the signature line. You can also choose to add an additional signature line.

Background Images

A background symbol may be chosen to enhance the look of your checks. These background symbols will appear as a shadow in the background.

Security features

You might be wondering what kind of security features your checks comes with.

Micro Printing

A line of type normally too small to photocopy clearly.

Tip: Read how to send checks securely through the mail.

Security Square

Cannot be reproduced by copiers or scanners.

Security Screen

The words “Original Document” printed lightly so checks are more difficult to duplicate.

Heat Reactive Ink

Ink color fades when warmed by touch or breath. If copied, the color will not fade.

Padlock Icon

This symbol indicates that security features present in the check are described in the Warning Box on the back.

Personalized Microprint

The date line is your name and the check number, in tiny print that appears as a solid line until magnified. Microprint cannot be reproduced by a copier.

Chemically Sensitive Paper

Stains or spots may appear if a fraud perpetrator uses chemicals to alter handwritten information on your checks.

Fraud Warning

Indicates that high security features are present to deter fraudsters.

Chemical Wash Detection Area

Chemical alteration attempts result in stains or discoloration in this area.

Original Document Back Pattern

Deters cut-and-paste alteration attempts.

Additional products

You’ll also be able to order additional products like leather checkbook covers, labels, debit card covers, debit card registers, name and address stamps, and checkbook registers.

Payment

When you place an order for checks, a third-party entity authorized to act as an ACH Originator makes a deduction from your account for the total amount, including any additional fees for expedited delivery, processing, and services.

This will appear on your bank account as an “ACH” fee.

Delivery time

Allow 10-14 days for production and standard delivery.

If you want your checks sooner, there are express delivery options available for most products. Orders with expedited delivery methods placed later in the day may be produced and shipped the next day.

Ordering business checks from Chase

You can order checks on the Deluxe website or by calling 1-888-560-3939.

Make sure you know your routing/transit and account numbers as you’ll need to supply those.

The ordering process on the Deluxe website is very similar to what is above — you can choose the same type of customized options.

In-branch

You can also order both personal and business checks by visiting a Chase branch.

Chase Counter checks

If you need Chase counter checks (temporary checks) it will only cost you $3 per page if you have a Chase Total Checking Account (or equivalent).

Each blank page consists of three personal checks that Chase prints out on the spot.

Just to be on the safe side, you might want to call up the branch before you to visit them just to make sure that they have counter checks available. If they do, don’t forget to bring your ID and possibly a debit card with you to the branch so they can look up your account easier.

Also remember that some merchants don’t like to accept counter checks due to fraud concerns. You can always inquire with the merchant about that beforehand.

Note: counter checks are different from Cashier’s Checks which are $10.

If you want to find out more about bank fees for Chase Total Checking Accounts click here.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Changing your address

You can change the address on your checks as part of the ordering process, but this doesn’t change your address in the Chase system.

So you’ll need to make sure to change your address directly with Chase which you can do at 1-800-935-9935 or by visiting a Chase branch so they can update your address.

Chase credit cards

If you’re interested in pursuing Chase credit cards you should read my guide here.

Ordering Checks From Chase FAQ

How much do checks cost from Chase?

The price of your checks can change based on the type of designs you choose but you can expect pay around $20 to $25 per box.

How many checks come in one box?

Most personal check boxes come with 100 checks.

Do Chase checks come with security features?

Chase checks can come with lots of security features which include things like micro printing, heat reactive ink, chemically sensitive paper, fraud warnings, and other features.

How can I pay for my checks?

You can pay for your checks by authorizing an ACH transfer directly from your bank account.

How long does it take to receive your checks?

You should allow about 10 to 14 days for your checks to be delivered with a standard delivery.

If you need checks sooner than that you can order express delivery which may be produced and shipped the next day.

Can I get counter checks?

Yes, you can get counter checks from Chase. These are issued three checks per page which will cost you $3.

Final word

Ordering Chase checks and check books isn’t difficult at all and it can be done online, over the phone, or in-branch. If you’re not ordering directly through Chase, be sure to take down your routing number and account number so that you can fill out the forms properly.

Daniel Gillaspia

Parts of A Check Labeled & Explained (with Diagrams) [2022]

Not as many people today use checks as they did in the past. In fact, in 2013 a survey showed that roughly 50% of millennial’s do not use checks. In 2019, that number is probably much higher. Since so many people resort to ACH and wiring and are unfamiliar with checks, they may not know how to use checks and how to understand the different parts of the check.

In this article I will tell you everything you need to know about checks including some important info about filling them out that you may have not known. I’ll also show you helpful diagrams with labels so that you can properly identify and understand each part.

Parts of the check explained

Below, I will go over all of the different parts of the personal check with a complete diagram. Note that a business check could look a little different from a personal check.

1. Contact information

In the upper left hand of a check, you should find the personal contact information. Typically, this will include the first and last name in addition to the home address and sometimes you might even find some type of a logo or design next to the name. If there are two payors, you might see two names (such as a husband and a wife).

Some checks (like starter checks) may not have contact information in this section but they can still be valid. With no contact information, some merchants might give you a hard time about it but if you write your contact details on the check (and have a matching ID), that might not be a major issue.

Also, in some cases the personal contact information might be scratched out with additional contact information written out. This would happen if you had a change of address and you needed to write the updated address on the check. But note that if your old address was out-of-state, that could pose some problems due to fraud concerns.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

2. Date

When you write a check to someone you will need to include the current date. This is very important because if you are not paying attention when you write the date, it is possible that you could write the wrong date or year and your check could be voided (some banks will still accept outdated checks but banks don’t have to accept checks that are more than six months old).

You can write the date in whichever format you prefer but if you would like to be on the safe side, I would write out the month in the following format: “September 22, 2020.” By writing out the month you can decrease the risk of your date being read wrong by you or anybody else (especially if you are accustomed to date formats in other parts of the world).

It is possible for you to put a future date in this field. This would be known as “post-dating” the check. You might want to do this if you don’t want the other person to cash the check until a certain date because you might be waiting on funds to arrive, for example.

Keep in mind that in many instances the individual can still cash the check even if you have it postdated (debt collectors are usually an exception to this). Also, some establishments might be weary of accepting a post-dated check because it can make them nervous or suspicious. So post-dating a check is typically for when you are dealing with an individual that you trust.

3. Pay to the order of

The “pay to the order of” blank is designated for the individual or the organization that you are making your check out to. In other words, you are telling your bank to deliver funds to this person or entity. This person or entity is known as the “payee.”

The payee is the only person who can cash or deposit this check although it is possible for them to sign the check over to somebody else. (More on that below.)

If you are not sure who to put in this line, you should call up the individual or entity that you are dealing with. Many times, on bills or invoices, you can see an address and contact information for where a check should be sent and addressed.

There is also something called “Pay to the Order of: Cash.” This means that your check can be cashed or deposited by anybody. As you probably can understand, this is a pretty risky option to go with. (Some people do this simply to draw cash out of their own account.)

And finally, there is sometimes the ability to assign your check to someone else by writing “Pay to the Order of: [name of recipient]” on the back of the check. In order to do this, you need to make sure the issuing bank of the check and the recipient bank of the check are okay with it first but this is yet another use of “Pay to the Order of.”

Tip: Read how to send checks securely through the mail

4. Transaction amount

Underneath the Pay to the Order of line is where you will actually write out the dollar amount of the transaction.

For example, if you were writing a check for $124.73 you would write out, “One Hundred Twenty Four Dollars and 73/100.”

Many people blow off this section and simply scribble out something but that is a huge mistake as I explain below. I would always recommend to try to write out the total amount in clear, plain handwriting.

5. “Money box”

The little box area on the right side of the check is where you will enter the numerical amount for the transaction. So instead of writing out the words for your transaction totaled you will simply write the numerical version. Sticking with the example above you would simply write: “$124.73.”

Something to keep in mind that a lot of people don’t realize is that this little box is not the official way to determine how much I check is written for. Instead, the official amount for the check is determined by what is written out by words.

If there was ever a circumstance where there was a difference between what was written in the money box and what was written out in words, whatever is written out in words will take precedence. So this is why you really want to make sure that you clearly write out the dollar amount.

6. Memo

The memo blank of a check is probably the least important field you can find on a check. The memo is an opportunity for you to make special notes about the transaction that might be helpful to yourself or to the party receiving the check.

You can literally write whatever you want to write in this section and your check will still be valid. Just try to avoid certain words or phrases (e.g., “crack rock”). Also, if you would like to leave the memo section blank that is fine.

7. Signature line

In order for your check to be valid it must be signed by yourself. If there ever is any fraud (or suspected fraud) on your account the signature will be key and an agent may review it to make sure that it matches your signature card. Therefore, I would suggest to not simply scribble your name or signature but to put some effort into it to make sure that you are providing a valid signature in this blank.

Your signature should always be the very last item that you put on a check because you could potentially be authorizing someone to take out large amounts of money your account.

If you see “MP” on the signature line like on the image below, that means that there is “microprint” on the check. When MP is there, the signature “line” isn’t actually a line and is instead made up of very fine print that says something like “Authorized Signature Only” or something along those lines. It’s like a secret message and actually pretty cool.

You might also see a signature line on the back of the check but that is where the recipient of the check would sign for things like deposits.

8. Routing number

Each bank has a specific ABA routing transit number (known simply as the “routing number”) and this nine-digit code could change depending on the state or location of the bank. You can always find routing numbers pretty easily online. These numbers are out in the public so there’s no need to attempt to conceal them from others.

9. Account number

The account number is the number tied to your specific bank account. This is a number that you do not want to share with other people and want to keep it as private as possible since sharing it with others could lead to others accessing your account.

I should note that usually you’ll find the numbers in the following order: Routing Number, Account Number, and then Check Number. But that’s not always the case.

For that reason, if you’re looking for the Routing Number and Account Number, sometimes you’ll want to verify these online. Since routing numbers can be viewed by all the public, you can usually use process of elimination to find the account number.

10. Check number

This is usually a small number that simply helps you keep track of the number of checks you have written. You typically will find this number in the upper right-hand corner of the check and on the right side of the bottom as well.

Parts of a check FAQ

Do checks expire?

Some banks will not accept a check that is dated more than six months ago.

Can you put a future date on a check?

Yes, you can put a date in the future on a check. This is known as “post-dating” and is usually done when someone does not want the check cashed until a specified date in the future.

Just note that post-dated checks can still be cashed prior to the date on the check sometimes.

What should go under the “pay to the order” of field?

The person or entity that you would like to cash your check is who you should list under the pay to the order of field.

What does “Pay to the Order of: Cash” mean?

This means that your check can be cashed or deposited by anybody. You should use extreme caution when using this method since anybody can cash or deposit your check.

Do I need to write out the dollar amount?

Yes, you need to write out the dollar amount on your check.

The written dollar amount takes precedence over the dollar amount listed in the money box. Therefore, you should pay extra close attention when writing out the dollar amount.

What is the memo section for?

The memo section is an optional field on checks that you can use to make special notes about the transaction. It is okay to leave this section blank.

What does “MP” mean on a check?

MP stands for micro print and it is a security measure that is found in the signature section of a check.

Where is the routing number on a check?

The routing number will be the number on the bottom left corner of the check in most cases.

Where is the account number on a check?

The account number is typically located to the right of the routing number on the bottom of the check.

Where is the check number located?

The check number is often located in two places.

You can find it in the upper right corner of the check and also on the bottom to the right of the account number.

Final word

As you can tell, there are many different parts of a check. Understanding what each of these are and their importance is crucial for avoiding silly mistakes that could cause your check to be voided or leave you vulnerable to fraud.

Daniel Gillaspia

Chase ATM Daily Withdrawal Limit Guide: (Resets and Increases) [2022]

ATMs are extremely convenient and allow you to withdraw cash as well as make deposits with both cash and checks. But banks set certain limits for your withdrawals and Chase is no different. In this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about Chase daily ATM withdrawal limits, including when they reset, how to get increases, and how to avoid certain fees. I’ll also cover making ATM deposits as well.

What is the Chase daily ATM withdrawal limit?

For many Chase checking accounts your withdrawal limit will be $500 to $1,000 per day and your purchase limit will be $3,000 to $7,500 per day. However, you can take advantage of higher withdrawal limits by going in-branch during business hours.

If you actually go to a Chase branch while it’s open during business hours you can usually withdraw much higher limits from the ATMs. In my case, my usual $500 daily limit goes all the way up to $3,000 so the limit can be substantially higher.

You can find a Chase branch here.

Tip: Check out the free app WalletFlo so that you can optimize your credit card spend by seeing the best card to use! You can also track credits, annual fees, and get notifications when you’re eligible for the best cards!

The in-branch limit is separate from the non-branch ATMs. So you should be able to withdraw $3,000 from inside a branch and then head over to a Chase ATM machine (not located at a branch) and withdraw another $500 since the limits are separate.

However, the in-branch limit applies across all of your Chase debit cards so it wouldn’t be possible for you to withdraw $3,000 with one Chase debit card in-branch and then to go back to Chase and attempt to withdraw $3,000 in-branch with debit card #2 on the same day.

Also, keep in mind that the Chase ATM withdrawal limit varies based on the type of Chase checking account that you have and possibly on the state that you opened up your account in. For the most accurate information, simply call the number on the back of your Chase debit card for more information. But if you’d like to see what the limits are for some Chase checking accounts keep reading.

When does the Chase ATM withdrawal limit reset?

The Chase ATM withdrawal limit will be reset every 24 hours so you’ll be able to withdraw $500 or $1,000 on consecutive days if you’d like. The exact time that the reset takes place is at midnight Eastern Standard Time (EST) so plan your withdraws accordingly.

I have heard of people successfully double dipping on an ATM withdrawal by waiting for the clock to turn midnight and then making a withdrawal shortly after.

What is the international withdrawal limit?

The the international withdrawal limit should be the same as the limit you have at home. But keep in mind that you’ll be charged fees for the foreign transaction unless you have a certain type of account like Chase Private Client or Sapphire banking.

If you are traveling out of state like from California to New York, you should also have the same withdrawal limits for ATMs. In some cases, you might be limited to lower limits at non-Chase ATMs. For example, you could be limited to $500 for non-Chase ATMs if your limits would otherwise be at $1,000. So once again, it’s a good idea to call the customer service number on the back of your debit card for more details.

Chase withdrawal limit increase

It is possible for you to get a withdrawal limit increase with Chase. These can happen in two different types of ways.

The first is that you are given a temporary increase. These are handy when you only need to pull out more for a big event or some other type of spending need. Getting a temporary increase usually isn’t that difficult, especially if you can provide Chase with a specific reason for why you need it.

The second type of increase is a permanent increase. In order to get a permanent increase you’ll likely need to keep a certain amount of funds in your bank account (such as $1,000 every day). Thus, these type of increases will be a little tougher to get.

The amount that you can get increased to varies by customer. In some cases you might be able to increase your daily limit from $500 to $1,000 but in other cases it might be a smaller or larger amount.

If you’re able to sign-up for a Chase Sapphire banking account or Chase Private Client account you can also get higher limits for your withdrawals. For example, with Chase Private Client you might be able to pull out up to $2,000 or even $3,000 depending on the location. Also, your daily purchase limit will likely be higher at around $7,500.

Other options with higher limits include the Premium Platinum Debit Card with limits of $3,000 at Chase ATMs.

If you’d like to request a higher limit simply call the Chase customer service phone number at: 1-800-935-9935.

Similar to getting a credit limit increase, it will help if you can explain to the agent why you need an increased limit.

Student card ATM withdrawal limits

If you have one of the student cards issued by Chase like a High School debit card your limits may be much lower. For example, your withdrawal limit might be capped at $500 and your purchase limit might be even lower. Some cards for students are strictly ATM cards and can’t be used on purchases at all so keep that in mind.

Non-ATM (teller) withdrawals

Remember that you can always go in-branch to a teller for withdrawing money out of your bank account. If you bypass the ATMs and deal directly with a teller, you should not have any limits on the amount that you can withdraw.

And if you can’t make it to a bank, consider going into a place like a grocery store to pull out cash back after your purchase. Many people but something like a drink or pack of gum and then request cash back. Just be aware that you’ll be limited by how much cash back you can get.

Chase bank withdrawal ATM fees

If you have a standard Chase Total Checking account you’ll have to pay fees for non-Chase ATMs. These are ATMs that do not have Chase branded on them and belong to other banks. However, you can avoid some of these fees with other account types and you can read more about those below.

Keep in mind that just because you are not charged a fee from Chase, that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. The ATM owner may still impose a fee on you (although again you can get this refunded with certain types of accounts like Sapphire and Private Client).

Chase Total Checking

$2.50 ($3 effective 6/12/2022) for any inquiries, transfers or withdrawals while using a non-Chase ATM in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Fees from the ATM owner still apply.
$5 per withdrawal and $2.50 ($3 effective 6/12/2022) for any transfers or inquiries at ATMs outside the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Chase Premier Checking

$0 for the first four inquiries, transfers or withdrawals each statement period at a non-Chase ATM. Fees from the ATM owner still apply. A Foreign Exchange Rate Adjustment Fee from Chase will apply for ATM withdrawals in a currency other than U.S. dollars.
$2.50 ($3 effective 6/12/2022) for any additional inquiries, transfers or withdrawals over four while using a non-Chase ATM in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Fees from the ATM owner still apply.
$5 per withdrawal and $2.50 ($3 effective 6/12/2022) for any transfers or inquiries at ATMs outside the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (the $5 withdrawal or $2.50 Transfer or Inquiry Fee can be waived as part of the first four inquiries, transfers or withdrawals). Fees from the ATM owner still apply.

Chase Sapphire and Private Client

No withdrawal fees worldwide

Find a Chase ATM

If you’re looking for a Chase ATM you can find one near you here. Some ATMs might be cardless which means that you can use a mobile wallet like Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, or Google Pay to make transactions at Chase ATMs. Look for the cardless logo to see where these are located.

In addition to withdrawing funds, you can also deposit checks and cash at Chase ATMs. Many of the ATMs are open 24 hours a day so this is a great way to deposit your funds at all hours (though remember that you can use the Chase mobile App to make deposits as well).

You can also make transfers, view your balances, see your recent transactions and in the future you will be able to make payments to your credit card.

Chase ATM deposit limits

The limits for depositing at ATMs are as follows: you can deposit up to 30 checks and 50 bills at a time at select ATMs. If you need to order Chase checks or find out more about ordering those checks you can click here. Also, if you need to find out more about how to make transfers with Chase Quick Pay read on here.

Keep in mind that if you make a deposit with a check, you may only have limited access to your funds the next day. For example, you might only have access to $200 the next day until your check clears.

Chase ATM Withdrawal Limit FAQ

What is the most I can withdraw from a Chase ATM?

The standard withdrawal limit for Chase ATMs is $500 to $1,000 per day.

However, if you have a premium bank account you might be able to withdraw higher amounts ranging from $2,000 to $3,000.

How can I increase my withdrawal limit?

By going inside a Chase branch during business hours you can typically withdraw much more than your daily limit from an ATM.

You can also call Chase and request a temporary increase in your ATM withdrawal limit.

How can I find out my withdrawal limit?

Because different accounts have different limits, the best way to find out your withdrawal limit is to call the number on the back of your debit card.

When will my withdrawal limit reset?

The withdrawal limit will reset at midnight Eastern standard time.

What is the limit for international ATM withdrawals?

The limit for international ATM withdrawals will likely be the same as the limit in the US.

How much can I withdraw from the bank?

If you are withdrawing funds from a bank teller at a Chase branch then you should not have any limit on the amount you can withdraw.

How much are the non-Chase withdrawal ATM fees?

The fees will depend on the type of bank account you have opened.

Certain types of accounts such as Chase Sapphire and Private Client will not charge you ATM fees for using non-Chase ATMs.

But for a standard account, you will be charged $2.50.

Where can I find a Chase ATM?

You can find one near you here.

Final word

Chase has some pretty standard limits for ATM withdrawals. But if you’d like to up your limits you can also make a special request to a customer service agent and possibly get your limits increased from $500 to $1,000. Also, some Chase accounts allow you to have higher withdraw limits and also come with lower fees, so check those out.

Daniel Gillaspia

Where & How to Get Quarters in 2022 (5 Tips)

These days, most of us go around using plastic for just about everything: bills, dining, shopping, etc. And coins are becoming more and more obsolete for things like parking meters and even vending machines. Nevertheless, in many places around the country you still might need to pull out some quarters for various needs.

In this article, I’ll show you different ways that you can get quarters (including rolls of quarters) in this day and age and give you some tips so you don’t end up wasting time and in some cases money.

Getting quarters from the bank

The first place you might think of when you need to exchange dollar bills for quarters is the bank and you’re mostly correct that it’s a good place to check out. Banks will have “quarter rolls” which are rolls full of 40 quarters that comes out to $10.

Thus, if you want to exchange cash for an entire quarter roll, you’ll need $10 in cash. Of course, you can ask for less than that, it just makes thing easier when your request is in $10 increments.

Here’s the thing about heading to banks to get your quarters: they won’t always do it for you.

If you are a customer of that bank (meaning you have something like a checking account or savings account) they should honor your request. In that case, you could also make a withdrawal specifically for quarters or simply tell the teller that you’re in need of quarters.

If you are not a customer, you might be met with some resistance for your request. For example, some banks might be hesitant to honor your request and say something like “we don’t exchange money here” (because what kind of financial institution would do something of the sort, right?).

Sometimes you can simply ask them to make a one-time exception and they might do it. Your odds of them saying yes to your request are better with smaller amounts. For example, you will usually be more successful asking for one roll of quarters versus three.

Other banks like Wells Fargo might be more accepting and will honor your request even if you are not a customer but many times it just comes down to your specific location and what kind of day the teller has had.

If you know you will be needing quarters on a regular basis over the span of several months or years, you probably should have a bank account with a local bank where you can always go in and get quarters without issues.

Just watch out for the bank fees which could end up costing you something like $10 or $15 a month and thus not be worth it in many cases. Also be on the lookout for ways to get free money when opening up an account.

If you’re worried about a bank refusing your request then simply call around your town to inquire about whether or not they will honor your request.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Head to a grocery store or corner store

Many stores, such as grocery stores, gas stations, and some pharmacies, will exchange your dollar bills for quarters but you’ll typically need to make a purchase. For a grocery store, you can simply purchase something like a piece of candy or bottle of water and then ask for change in quarters.

You might have better odds if you approach the customer service desk at many places, too. At these desks, you may not have to make a purchase at all and they may be more willing to give up rolls of quarters. This would be my recommenced approach.

Depending on how they are stocked in their register, stores may have to limit your quarter request to a certain amount. Often you may be limited to only $5 or $10 worth of quarters but this type of thing will just depend on the place. Once you start asking for over $10 worth of quarters, that’s when things really start to get difficult.

(This is when being extra polite can go a long way.)

If you need a lot of quarters then simply rinse and repeat this process at different stores and eventually you’ll have all the quarters you need. This approach is good for Sundays especially when banks are typically closed but note that the customer service desks might be closed during very early or late hours.

Vending machines

You could also insert a larger bill into a vending machine to get quarters. For example, you could insert a $5 to pay for a $1 snack and get 16 quarters back. Or some machines allowed you to hit the “change” button right after you insert your bills and you wouldn’t actually have to purchase anything.

The only risk with this is that if the machine is low on quarters, it’s possible that it could spit you out dimes. Also, these typically only work on more “old-school” vending machines.

This same type of trick could be applied to other machines where quarters are often used like car washes, arcades, etc. Car washes can be good places if you need change late at night when other places are closed. Just make sure the machine is dispensing quarters and not tokens for the car wash.

Laundromats

If you need quarters for laundry, many laundromats should have change machines located inside and many are also open late at night or even open 24/7. Back when I lived in Berkeley, California, I don’t recall a laundry mat ever NOT having a change machine on the inside but I know many others are not so lucky.

The only problem was that occasionally that machine would run out of change or it would not be functioning so be prepared with a back up plan.

Also, there may be some ethical issues with utilizing quarter machines at places like laundromats. Your use takes a toll on the machine and could cost the business owner maintenance costs and inconvenience their paying customers.

Street performers

Street performers often have a lot of change, such as quarters. You might be able to approach them (when they are not performing) and ask if they are willing to exchange. Having a large bill on display could help their odds of getting bigger tips but they might also ask for more value in the exchange so you might have to trade $5 in cash for $4 in quarters, etc.

Pre-1965 quarters are worth more $

If you’re dealing with quarters a lot there’s something you should know. Before 1965, all quarters were made of 90% real silver. This means that the silver in those quarters makes the quarter worth much more than 25 cents.

Of course, you can’t use the quarter for more than 25 cents at a store but you could hold on to that quarter and potentially sale or trade it.

The value will depend on the silver spot at the time but the quarter could be worth around $3.50. Check here for the latest estimated amount in value for pre-1965 quarters.

So this is just something to keep in mind.

Tip: The best back-up plan is to have a stash of quarters. Whenever you pull out quarter rolls or you get quarters you should always try to pick up an amount that is 2X or 3X the amount you’ll need at that time. This will help remove a lot of the headache when dealing with quarters.

FAQ

How many quarters are in a roll?

A full quarter roll contains 40 quarters.

How many quarters are in 10 dollars?

40 quarters comes out to $10.

How many quarters are in 5 dollars?

20 quarters comes out to $5.

How much is 100 quarters worth?

100 quarters comes out to $25.

Do vending machines take $20 bills?

Many vending machines do not take 20s unless they have the ability to give change in dollar bills. Therefore, it’s very rare to receive quarters as change when paying at a vending machine with a $20 bill.

What quarters are worth more?

Pre-1965 quarters were made of 90% real silver and are worth much more than 25 cents. The exact value will depend on the silver spot at the time but the quarter could be worth around $3.50.

Final word

As we move more into the future, I’m sure coins will eventually be completely obsolete. But for now, many people still need to use quarters for various purposes and some even depend on them for daily tasks like laundry or even parking. I’d recommend getting set up with a bank for quarter needs but if they are closed then head to to a customer service desk at a grocery store.

Daniel Gillaspia

How to Get Chase Debit & Credit Card Designs (Disney Discounts) [2022]

Sometimes it’s nice to add a little bit of a personalized touch to your debit and credit cards to keep things interesting. And it’s even nicer when this comes with the added plus of additional discounts and perks that can save you money on things you love like travel.

In this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about custom Chase debit card designs, including all your different options and how they can offer you special savings. I’ll also show you which Chase credit cards come with custom deigns as well.

What type of Chase debit card designs can I get?

Chase offers several different types of debit card designs that you can choose from.

The catch is that all of them are Disney inspired so hopefully you are a fan of the Mouse.

If you’re looking for sports teams you can’t get that with Chase, and other issuers have dropped sports-related card options like Bank of America with MLB and Barclays with the NFL. You might still be interested in the Marvel credit card, though.

Below are the different types of custom debit card designs that you can choose from with Chase. Note: Disney Visa Debit Cards are not available for Chase High School Checking and Chase Access Checking accounts.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Mickey Mouse debit card

Disney Cinderella’s Castle debit card

Frozen debit card

Star Wars — Darth Vader debit card

Star wars — BB-8 debit card

Mickey Mouse Gang debit card

Disney Debit card discount perks

With the Disney debit cards, it’s not just about getting a custom design to showcase your Disney loyalty, either.

You can actually enjoy some additional discounts and save some cash money.

These discounts come with a lot of exclusions and terms and conditions so be sure to read up on the terms so that you know for sure if you’ll be eligible for the discount.

With the Disney debit cards, you’ll be able to get the following benefits:

Disney store discount

Save 10% on select purchases at Disney store and shopDisney.com.

At the shopDisney, you can find all sorts of different products like apparel, toys, accessories, and even products for your home.

Also, if you’re looking for things like Disney costumes for your kids this could be a great place to find them. Sometimes you can even find free shipping which makes this discount even more valuable.

Photo perks at Disney

Cardmember-exclusive Character Experience photo opportunities with Disney or Star Wars Characters, held in private locations at Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort.
Entry is good for up to 6 people per cardmember account and each cardmember account may be used for entry only one time per day.
Offer includes complimentary downloads of your Disney PhotoPass photos taken at the Disney Visa Character Experience location that are associated to your Disney account.

Picture downloads may cost $14.95 so this could be an easy way to save a pretty substantial amount of money, especially if you will be downloading pictures for up to six people. (Keep in mind that Disney does offer special passes like MaxPass that allow you to download unlimited photos.)

Discounts on merchandise

10% off select merchandise purchases of $50 or more at select locations at Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort

Discounts on dining

10% off select dining locations most days at Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort.
Offer excludes alcoholic beverages, select new food and beverage offerings, merchandise, tobacco, room service, holiday buffets, tax and gratuity.

You can get discounts at some of the most popular dining destinations in the parks like:

Kona Cafe (Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort), Tiffins (Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park), Biergarten Restaurant (Epcot), The Wave…of American Flavors (Disney’s Contemporary Resort), and many others.

Just be aware that the discounts likely won’t be valid on certain dates: 4/17/22, 5/8/22, 5/30/22, 6/19/22, 7/4/22, and 9/5/22.

Discounts on tours and “recreation experiences”

15% off the non-discounted price of select guided tours at Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort.
10% off the non-discounted price of select recreation experiences at Walt Disney World Resort.

Guided tours

The following is a list of guided tours that are included at the Disneyland Resort:

Walk in Walt’s Disneyland Footsteps (Guided Tour)
Disney’s Happiest Haunts Tour (offered seasonally)
“Holiday Time at Disneyland” Tour (offered seasonally)

The following is a list of guided tours that are included at Walt Disney World Resort:

Magic Kingdom Park

Disney’s Family Magic Tour
Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom Tour
Disney’s The Magic Behind Our Steam Trains Tour
Taste of Magic Kingdom^® Park VIP Tour
Ultimate Disney Classics VIP Tour
Walt Disney: Marceline to Magic Kingdom Tour

Some of these tours like the Disney’s Family Magic Tour are only $39 so the savings are pretty modest. But other tours, such as the tour described below in the Animal Kingdom are much more expensive so the savings or more impressive.

Epcot

Gardens of the World (offered seasonally)
The UnDISCOVERed Future World Tour
Epcot Seas Adventures — Dolphins in Depth
Epcot Seas Adventures — Aqua Tours
Epcot Seas Adventures — DiveQuest
Behind the Seeds
World Showcase: DestiNations Discovered

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

Wild Africa Trek
Savor the Savanna: Evening Safari Experience
Ultimate Night of Adventure VIP Tour

Just to give you an example of the savings here, the Wild Africa Trek tour is about $200 to $265 per person. With a 15% discount, that’s a savings of $40 per person.

So with the family of five, you’d be saving $200 total on a tour costing $265 per person. Not bad for simply having a debit card.

Multiple Theme Parks, Backstage Areas and Resort Hotels

Ultimate Day of Thrills VIP Tour
Ultimate Day for Young Families VIP Tour
Ultimate Day at Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
Ultimate Disney Classics VIP Tour
Ultimate Night of Adventure VIP Tour
Backstage Magic
Disney’s Holiday D-Lights Tour (offered seasonally)
Disney’s Yuletide Fantasy (offered seasonally)
Wilderness Back Trail Adventure

Recreation experiences

The following is a list of recreation experiences that are included at Walt Disney World Resort:

Carriage Rides at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
Horseback Trail Rides at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground

Tips for using these perks

Here are three things to always keep in mind when going for these discounts.

Always have your Chase debit card

Make sure that you always have your Chase debit card on hand because you may need to show it in order to take advantage of perks like the special photo opportunities.

Be sure to mention the discount

When using your Chase Disney debit card for the retail discounts be sure to mention that you are entitled to the discount due to your debit card.

Always check for exclusions

There are lots of exclusions for the merchandise discount such as ticket media, Disney Gift Cards, Park Admission, Arcades, tobacco, alcohol, Outdoor Vending (e.g., in-Park balloon vendors, glow vendors) and many others you can read about it the terms here.

Dining discount excludes alcoholic beverages, select new food and beverage offerings, merchandise, tobacco, room service, holiday buffets, tax and gratuity

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Is it free to get a custom Chase debit card?

Yes, Chase will issue you a custom debit card design for free.

How do I order a custom Chase debit card?

Simply call the phone number on the back of your debit card or call 1-800-935-9935. You can also go here to order your card online if you are a Chase customer.

The card should arrive within five to seven business days in an unmarked envelope. If you want to expedite your debit card and receive it within two business days you can do that but you’ll have to pay $5 for the expedited delivery fee.

Can I get custom Chase business debit card designs?

Chase does not currently offer custom business debit card designs so that it currently not an option.

Can I get Chase custom credit cards?

Chase also offers custom credit cards but not for most of their credit cards.

If you are going for some of their best rewards cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve, you’re not going to be able to customize those credit cards.

You also won’t be able to customize most of the co-branded credit cards like the Chase Southwest, Marriott, IHG, United, and other similar cards.

But, like you might expect, you can get custom Disney credit cards. Just like the debit cards, there are a lot of different options to choose from (10 unique designs).

You can get these custom cards with the Disney Premier Visa Card and the Disney Visa Card. The Disney cards aren’t the best travel rewards credit cards because they don’t come with the highest welcome bonuses or with the best bonus earning potential, so I’d consider other Chase cards (like the Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve) if you are truly interested in maximizing your travel rewards.

Final word

I would recommend anybody remotely interested in Disney to get a custom Chase debit card design. It’s free to do so and it can save you money on a lot of different types of Disney purchases and get you access to special photo opportunities. The cards also look pretty cool as well and can help your card stick out so that it’s easier to locate.

Daniel Gillaspia

Chase Safety Deposit Box Guide: (Locations, Fees, & Rules) [2022]

Safety deposit boxes can be smart ways to store some of your valuable belongings. However, they are not perfect by any means and are not designed to store all of your precious valuables. And when it comes to safety deposit boxes with Chase Bank there are some restrictions that you need to know.

In this article, I will tell you everything you need to know about Chase safety deposit boxes. I’ll cover things like the fees/prices, rules, locations, and also give you some tips on things to store and not store in your safety deposit box.

What exactly is a safety deposit box?

Just in case you need some clarification, a safety deposit box is a secure holding place where you can store certain belongings with a bank. These are typically stored in a secure area like a safe and are great for people looking for added security beyond storing something in a safe at home or resorting to things like midnight gardening.

Common items that are stored in a safety deposit box include:

Important paper contracts
Marriage certificates
Birth certificates
Special photographs
Valuable jewelry (you don’t wear often)
Valuable collection items
Deeds and titles
Stock and bond certificates

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

2022 Update [IMPORTANT]

Many customers have received a message like the following:

“We’re no longer renting new Safe Deposit Boxes. We want to let you know that we’re no longer renting new Safe Deposit Boxes. This doesn’t affect any boxes you may already rent with us today. If you have questions, please call the number at the top of this statement. We accept operator relay calls.”

Others have also received messages that all Chase safety deposit boxes will be canceled permanently. This will reportedly be a nationwide policy, although I don’t have verification yet. So if you have a Chase safety deposit box it will be a good idea to start looking at alternatives.

Does Chase offer safety deposit boxes?

Yes, you can lease a Chase safety deposit boxes for an annual fee. You will need to have a Chase bank account (like a checking) or be partnered with someone who does and the fee for the safety deposit box will likely be taken out of that account. If you need to search for Chase bank locations near you can do that here.

Update: Please note that this article is a review of the Chase safety deposit box policies. I am not directly affiliated with Chase and cannot respond to appointment inquiries. Do NOT post any personal information in the comments below.

If you would like to set up an appointment email: [no longer available]

Include: your full name, home zip code, branch name/address and your safe deposit box number. You will receive a confirmation email of a scheduled access appointment the following business day.

Appointments may be scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30-1:30PM only, on a first come first serve basis. Chase cannot accomodate same day or next day appointments.

What are the fees for Chase safety deposit boxes?

The fees for a safety deposit box with Chase are going to vary based on the location and size of your box.

Here are some sample prices:

3X5: $80
3X10: $140
5X10: $220
10X10: $350

Prices can differ

You should note that the prices can change and once again they will differ based on your location (they could be cheaper or more expensive). It is also possible that you could get a free safety deposit box if you open up the right type of bank account. For example, Chase Private Client members get a free safety deposit box. Chase Premier Plus Checking members also get free boxes.

You might be waitlisted

Some Chase bank locations may not have any safety deposit boxes available for you to rent. It is not uncommon for some banks to be completely booked up and so you might have to get on a waiting list. If that happens, you might want to shop around and check out a few different locations/branches to see which have available safety deposit boxes. You might also inquire with the banker to see if they can check availability for other branches if possible.

The lease time

Typically, you will probably be looking at a one-year lease time. You can terminate your lease agreement at any time but you likely will not be refunded.

Entering into a lease agreement for a safety deposit box creates a landlord tenant relationship. This can be significant for legal purposes so I would suggest to review your contract to see what the implications of this relationship are when it comes to things like access.

However, the lease does not create a bailor and bailee relationship between you and the Bank. This basically means that they are not responsible for anything that happens your belongings while in the possession.

Terms may state:

You assume all risks of injury, loss or damage of any kind (including but not limited to loss or damage due to fire, water, other mishap, robbery or burglary) arising out of the deposit of anything in the box, provided we have exercised ordinary care.

Chase safety deposit box rules

You will not be able to place any items that you wish and your safety deposit box. That is because the lease agreement will have specific exclusions for certain items. Below, I have pulled out some language from a lease agreement to give you some insight into what might be excluded. Please note that your individual lease agreement may have different language.

Money

With Chase you are not to use the box to store money, coin or currency unless it is of a collectable nature, and you assume all risks and hold the Bank harmless of any loss or alleged loss of said money, coin or currency.

So if you collect bullion for example, those collectible coins can be allowed in the safety deposit box. But if you are just trying to find a place to store something like Silver Eagles (recognized more as a type of currency) then a safety deposit box like this is probably not a good choice. This also means that you are not to store cash in your safety deposit box.

Dangerous items

You agree NOT to store any item that is inherently dangerous, including but not limited to:

Firearms, guns or ammunition
Other weapons even if such weapons are lawfully owned by you
Anything illegal to possess, or of a character or nature which we believe may injure the premises of the Bank, its employees or customers
Liquid, corrosive, pressurized, hazardous, or explosive materials such as dynamite, fireworks, flares, tear gas and self-defense sprays

Unlawful purpose

You will have to agree to not use your safety deposit box to store anything for an unlawful purpose. Chase can turn over any of your belongings to the government or to law-enforcement if they believe that you have violated their lease terms.

When can I access my safety deposit box?

You will be able to access your safety deposit box during normal business hours. In some cases this may mean a typical schedule of 9 AM a.m. to 5 PM p.m. Monday through Friday. Some locations might have weekend hours but it just will depend.

This is a big reason why they suggest not to include items that you might need in an emergency. For example, putting a passport, a power of attorney, medical directive, or something along those lines in a safety deposit box is normally not a good idea.

You should be aware that the lease agreement probably will have language that states that your access can be restricted. For example it states:

We can restrict access to your box for any reason, including but not limited to past due rent and fees, information we receive in court documents, our inability to obtain information that satisfies our “Know Your Customer” requirements, and any unexpected circumstances (natural or manmade)

You also can rent these boxes jointly so that you and someone else has equal access.

You should be able to appoint an agent (“deputy”) or Attorney in Fact (“AIF”) to have access to or surrender the box. I highly suggest that you look at the terms and conditions closely if you’re considering giving authority to someone on this basis. And it goes without saying but you obviously want to have a high level of trust with that individual.

In order to access the safety deposit box you will need to show your ID and access it in the presence of a bank agent.

Are my contents insured?

A big question that people have with safety deposit boxes is: Are my contents insured? When it comes to chase, at your contents inside the safety deposit box or not insured by the FDIC or Chase bank.

They state:

The contents of your safe deposit box are not protected against loss or damage under the insurance coverage maintained by the bank or Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. For your protection, you may wish to secure your own insurance through an insurance company of your choice.

So it would be a good idea to seek out insurance options for your belongings. Remember, a natural disaster can strike anywhere and while your belongings are pretty secure in a vault, they will not be invincible. For that reason, some people like to put their belongings in a waterproof sealed case, bag, or container and then insert that into the safety deposit box.

It is also a very good idea to thoroughly document every single item in your safety deposit box. A great way to do this is to take high-quality photos of every item.

Final word

Chase safety deposit boxes are great ways to store your valuable belongings if you are okay with some of the disadvantages. This can be a great way to go especially if you have free access to them with the right type of Chase account.

Update: Please note that this article is a review of the chase safety deposit box policies. I am not directly affiliated with Chase and cannot respond to appointment inquiries.

Daniel Gillaspia

How Does Becoming an Authorized User Affect Your Credit Score? [2022]

Becoming an authorized user can do wonders for your credit report but it can also do some harm if you’re not careful. Here’s a run down on how becoming an authorized user can affect your credit score.

How does becoming an authorized user affect your credit score?

Getting added as an authorized user can boost your score in some cases but it can also hurt your score if not done properly.

Keep reading below to find out everything you need to know about getting added as an authorized user.

The Basics

FICO determines your credit score in the following ways:

Payment History (35%)
Utilization (30%)
Credit History (15%)
New Credit (10%)
Mixed Credit (10%)

Thus, becoming an authorized user can improve your credit score by doing these things:

1) Lowering your credit card utilization
2) Improving payment history
3) Increasing the average age of accounts
4) Diversifying your credit (this factor plays a very limited role).

1) Lowering your credit card utilization

In my opinion, the best (and quickest) way to boost your credit score with an authorized user is to lower your credit card utilization.

Your credit card utilization is how much of your current credit line you are using. So by getting added to a card with a low utilization, you can bring down your own utilization and boost your score.

2) Improving payment history

Another great way to improve your credit score with an authorized user is to boost your payment history. Payment history is the number one factor (35%) for your FICO credit score so it is extremely important.

This can be especially helpful because some banks, such as Capital One, will backdate the open date to the date the original account was opened.

This means that if the primary cardmember had 10 years of solid payment history, you can benefit from that by getting added to their account.

3) Increasing the average age of accounts

Your credit history is only 15% of your credit score but you can give it a nice boost by getting added to an old credit card that back dates. Look to banks that are known to backdate like Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, and US Bank.

4) Diversifying your credit

Credit mix only makes up 10% of your FICO score and does not carry a whole lot of weight. In fact, it is most relevant to people trying to obtain a perfect credit score.

Still, if you only have installment loans which are loans like student loans, car loans, etc., then getting added to a credit card could be a fantastic way to diversify your credit mix.

Maximizing the effect of an authorized user account

To maximize the benefits of being added as an authorized user, your goal should be to get added as an authorized user to an account that:

1) Has as close to 0% utilization as possible
2) Has flawless payment history and no negative reports
3) Is older than your average age of accounts.

1) Has as close to 0% utilization as possible

The ideal credit card utilization is above 0% but still very low, likely around 5% or so. But as long as you can keep your utilization between 10 to 20%, you are probably doing okay.

If utilization is the major factor holding you back then you can expect to see a pretty substantial bump by getting added to someone who has a very low utilization.

2) Has flawless payment history and no negative reports

As talked about below, sometimes negative marks from the primary account holder will damage your credit score.

So when seeking out someone to add you as an authorized user you need to make sure that they have a squeaky clean payment history and that they will continue to make on-time payments.

3) Is older than your average age of accounts

If you have a very thin credit profile meaning that you don’t have a lot of accounts and they are very young then you want to find an account that has been around for a long time.

And remember, you also want to make sure that that bank will report and backdate the authorized user account. Otherwise, your average age of accounts will not benefit.

Weighing the factors

While the three factors above can help guide your decisions, you always need to keep in mind what factors matter the most for your credit score.

For example, if utilization is your sole problem and you can knock it down significantly by getting added as an authorized user, then that should take precedent over your average age of accounts.

For example, let’s say you have one maxed-out credit card with a $1,500 credit limit and that credit card is 5 years old. So your overall utilization is 99% and your average age of accounts is 5 years.

Now, let’s say you could be added to someone’s card with a $10,000 credit limit but the card is only sixth months old.

This will bring down the average age of accounts for you to around 2.5 years but it will knock your utilization down to 13%.

Since utilization carries way more weight in determining your credit score than your average age of accounts, it would make sense to jump on as an authorized user.

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How much can your score benefit?

How much your credit score can increase all depends on various factors that are at play, so it’s impossible to predict in any specific way.

Generally speaking, however, if you have a very thin profile, then bringing down your utilization and increasing your average age of accounts can have a substantial effect on your credit.

Anywhere from a 20 to 50 point increase is certainly obtainable, although YMMV.

Just don’t expect too much benefit.

The credit bureaus employ formulas to minimize the benefit to those who are solely trying to bolster their score with these tactics called “piggy backing.”

This means that you probably will start to hit a point of diminishing returns after being added as an authorized user to several credit cards.

And if it looks like you are engaging and suspicious activity to boost your score, that is certainly not going to help.

Make sure the new account is reported

Not all banks require you to provide a social security number when adding someone as an authorized user but it all depends.

American Express will usually ask for a social security number at some point while banks like Chase don’t.

If the person adding you is associated with you (e.g., you share the same address), then there may be a better chance for the banks to report it to the authorized user’s credit report but you should always follow up to ensure that it gets reported.

Authorized users and hard pulls

I’m not aware of any bank that conducts a hard pull on your credit when being added as an authorized user.

And it really wouldn’t make sense for them to do it — after all, you’re not liable for the payments in anyway so you couldn’t really pose a true risk to banks.

Although, if you ran up a crazy high balance I guess you could indirectly pose a threat to them but that’s another story.

Negative marks on the primary cardholder’s account

According to Credit Karma:

The VantageScore 3.0 model only includes positive information from authorized user accounts. On the other hand, the FICO model includes positive and negative marks from legitimate authorized user accounts…

There may even be differences based on the credit bureau policies.

For example, Experian may remove an authorized user’s account from the credit report if the primary account becomes derogatory.

Other bureaus like TransUnion and Equifax will likely report both positive and negative information.

Thus, you should expect for negative remarks on the primary cardholder’s account to affect your credit score.

They might not always count against you but I would just assume that they will, unless you know 100% for sure that they don’t.

So before you go requesting to be added to different credit cards do your best to get assurance that the credit history on that account is as flawless as possible.

Is the primary cardholder reliable?

Make sure you that the person adding you as an authorized user is not irresponsible.

If they end up maxing out the credit line that you’re added to, your utilization will go way up and your credit score will likely go way down!

Although you wont be personally responsible to pay the credit card bill, you will “pay for it” with a lower credit score.

Removing yourself as an authorized user

Usually, removing yourself as an authorized user is simple.

You contact the bank and tell them you need to be removed and they take you off. It is usually instant but may take a short while to show up on your credit report.

If it doesn’t show up as removed or if you want to expedite the process, simply file a dispute with the credit bureaus.

Just remember that your score might go down if you were relying on that account to lower your utilization, maintain a longer average age of accounts, etc.

Business accounts

Most, if not all, authorized users on business credit card accounts will not be reported to your personal credit report.

Therefore, being added to a card like the Chase Ink Business Cash, should do you no harm but also no good in terms of your personal credit report.

Authorized user FAQs

How long does it take for an authorized user account to show up on a credit report?

When you become an authorized user on a credit card, the credit card should show up on your credit report within a month or two.

What is the minimum age to be added as an authorized user?

The minimum age is determined by the bank. 18 is a common minimum age but some banks allow younger authorized users to be added.

Will negative marks on the primary cardholder’s account affect my credit score?

Different credit models treat negative marks on the primary card holder’s account differently. Equifax and TransUnion will likely report both positive and negative information but Experian may not report derogatory marks.

How much can your score go up from being added as an authorized user?

The amount your score can go up depends on the factors that are holding you back and is nearly impossible to predict but in some cases you can expect a 20 to 50 point bump if you get added to the right account.

Will lenders know if my account is an authorized user account?

Yes, typically your credit report will display your responsibility as an authorized user which will let the lender know you are not the primary cardmember.

Is there a hard inquiry for getting added as an authorized user?

In most cases, there should not be a hard inquiry when you get added as an authorized user but you should check with the bank beforehand.

Final word

As you can tell, there are several ways that becoming an authorized user can benefit your credit score. It usually boils down to what factors are holding back your score and how that authorized user account can help improve those factors.

So by strategically seeking out an authorized user account, you can address the needs that are holding you back the most and see the most improvement.

Daniel Gillaspia

Can You Write A Check to Yourself? [2021]

There are a few reasons why you would want to write a check to yourself. Typically, you are probably wanting to transfer some money from one account to another or trying to withdraw cash from your account. You might also be up to no good or you actually might be up to a lot of good (I’ll explain later). In this article, I will tell you everything you need to know about writing a check to yourself.

How to write a check to yourself

If you are not familiar with the different parts of a check I recommended that you read up on those so that you know how to write a check. I know that this might seem like common sense to some people but there are a lot of individuals who never deal with checks and perhaps have never even written one in their life. Heck, I think I have only written a couple of dozen objects in my entire life.

Filling out checks is pretty straightforward but there are some things you need to know (like the difference between writing the dollar amount in words vs putting the amount in the money box). So I recommend checking out that article if you need to.

If you are writing a check to yourself you will actually write out the check to pay to the order of: “Your name.” So if your name is “Random Person” then the check will be made out to pay to the order of “Random Person.”

If you have identifying information on your check (usually in the upper left corner) then this means that your name will appear two times on the check (three if you count the signature) and that is perfectly fine. Some people wonder whether or not it is illegal to write a check to yourself but I can assure you that it is perfectly legal.

Well, that is assuming that you have the funds to cover the check. For example, it would be very illegal for you to write a check to yourself and then try to cash that check if you knew you had no money in your bank account — even if you believed you would have them by the time the check was cleared (this practice is known as “check kiting“).

That is a form of fraud and you could get yourself in criminal trouble so don’t do it!

By making the check out in your name, you will be the only person that is able to deposit or cash this check (there may be exceptions if you are able to assign the check to someone else but that’s another story).

You should be able to cash or deposit this check at your bank or possibly at another bank/institution. Just remember that when cashing a check, you may not have access to all of the available funds right at that moment (it could take a few days for you to get access to all of the funds).

If you need to withdraw cash I would highly recommend that you go much more efficient routes such as using an ATM, visiting a bank, or perhaps even withdrawing cash from a store by making a small purchase (just know that this store will likely impose limitations on your cash withdrawal).

Pay to the order of: Cash

Something else that you can consider is to pay to the order of “Cash.”

This means that instead of making your check out to the named individual you simply put “Cash.” The drawback to this method is that it can be risky because this means that anybody can cash or deposit the check. If you were to lose that check and some random stranger found it on the street they could theoretically cash that check.

Therefore, I don’t recommend that you do this since it could potentially backfire and also because there are just so many easier methods for withdrawing cash.

Related: How to Mail a Check Safely

Alternative transfer methods

There are other ways that you can transfer funds between accounts and I’ll go over some of these below.

Intrabank transfers

If you are trying to transfer funds between separate accounts at the same bank you should just do that electronically. Simply sign into your online banking account and then make a transfer and it will be processed immediately in many cases. This is by far the easiest method to accomplish this task.

ACH transfers

One of the most common methods is to simply electronically transfer funds between financial institutions. This is often done via an ACH (Automated Clearing House) transfer. Many banks will allow you to add an external account and link that account to your bank account so that you can transfer funds between accounts. You can often do this for free, with both small and large financial institutions so always inquire about this possibility.

The big thing you need to know about this method is that sometimes it can take several days up to a week to get the accounts linked. Sometimes you can simply log into the external account and quickly link the accounts but other times they are subject to verification or perhaps even a test deposit that you will use to verify the account.

P2P transfers

Some banks offer ways to expedite the transfer process with P2P transfers.

I am a huge fan of Chase Quick Pay with Zelle. Using this method, if you can instantly transfer funds to a lot of different banking institutions for no fee at all.

There are some limitations to these transfers but they are pretty generous and they even allow you to transfer between business accounts. The recipient will need to sign up with Zelle but that only takes a couple of minutes to do so this is a very easy process.

Alternatively, one of the easiest ways to get funds between accounts is to use a service like PayPal or VenMo. It’s not that difficult to set up an account with these services — you just need to link your routing and account number and have an email address. After linking your bank account you will be able to send and receive funds between banks.

Wire transfers

You can also choose to make your transfer to another account with a wire transfer. Wire transfers will typically incur fees, though. Sometimes these fees can be quite high and you could easily be paying over $20 dollars just to make a simple wire transfer. Some types of bank accounts allow you to make wire transfers for free and those would be premium accounts like Chase Private Client.

Joint bank accounts

If you have a joint bank account it is also possible for you to write a check to yourself or to the other named individual on the bank account. So for example if you were a married couple, let’s say Rick and Bob, Rick could write a check to Bob and Bob could deposit it into another bank account.

Business accounts

If you are a small business owner like myself you can write a check to yourself from your business account. The biggest requirement here is that you need to have the authority to sign off on a check from your business account.

When you set up your bank account you should have also set up who has this authority and if you are doing a business by yourself chances are that you have already automatically done this.

Do keep in mind that it is not a good idea to have a co-mingling of funds so if you are doing this, be sure to document everything very clearly just in case something happens in the future.

Law of attraction

There may be one final reason why you would write a check to yourself…

Many people believe in the law of attraction and do certain things to bring them into existence. In this case, you could write yourself a check for $1 million with the mindset that one day you will be able to cash that. This is famously what Jim Carrey did.

Some people may choose to put a specific date on the check and possibly even something in the memo blank for what they plan on buying. It all just depends on your dreams and aspirations.

I personally am a huge proponent of the law of attraction and think that mindset is everything when it comes to reverse engineering success. Therefore, if this is your type of thing then I say to go for it.

FAQs

Can you write a check to yourself?

Yes, you can legally write a check to yourself but there are some considerations involved in doing so.

Can I cash a check written to myself?

Yes, you can cash a check written to yourself but be extra sure you have the sufficient funds to cash it. If you don’t, you could be charged with a crime.

Final word

Overall, it is completely possible to write a check to yourself when filling out a check if you would like. However, as shown above there are a lot of more efficient methods for transferring funds between accounts that could save you a lot of time. Therefore, I would stick to looking into the electronic methods of transfer just to make things easier.

Daniel Gillaspia

Credit Pulls Database Guide: Experian, TransUnion, or Equifax? [2021]

Virtually every time you apply for a line of credit, such as a credit card, your credit report will be hit with a credit pull. But not every credit pull is equal and not every credit pull affects all of your credit scores.

This comprehensive article will first explain what credit pulls are and the difference between hard pulls and soft pulls. I’ll then show you how to find out which credit bureau (Experian, TransUnion, or Equifax) a bank will pull from when you apply for a credit card by utilizing credit databases.

What are credit pulls?

Credit pulls are when an entity, usually a lender, “pulls” your credit report to review your creditworthiness (i.e., how likely it is that you will responsibly borrow and pay back funds).

There are two different types of credit pulls: “soft pulls” and “hard pulls.” Knowing the difference between these two is very important.

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Soft pulls

Soft pulls do not affect your credit score.

These can be done by lenders for things like pre-approvals but they are probably most commonly done when you check your credit score using something like Credit Karma or other times when something like a background check is done on you.

Hard pulls

Hard pulls are just like soft pulls except that they do affect your credit score. These are almost always done when you apply for a credit card or for any type of financing (home loans, car loans, etc.). And they can even happen for things like utilities and cell phones.

Unlike soft pulls, you want to limit hard pulls because they affect your credit score, as explained in more detail below.

How do credit pulls affect your credit score?

It’s really helpful to understand how credit pulls (hard pulls) affect your credit score.

Hard pulls affect the “New Credit” category of your FICO score which accounts for only 10% of your total credit score. Below is how your credit score is determined:

Payment History (35%)
Utilization (30%)
Credit History (15%)
New Credit (10%)
Mixed Credit (10%)

Each time your credit report is pulled, your credit score will likely drop a few points, typically 3 to 5 points. For people with more established credit profiles, this drop might be even smaller. For people with weak credit scores, this drop could be larger (even over 10 points.)

The good news is that your score will bump back up over the course of a few weeks or months. After 12 months, the credit pull won’t even effect your FICO credit score and after two years it will drop off entirely. To read more about how hard inquiries affect your credit score, click here.

Why does it matter which credit bureau will be pulled?

You might be wondering why it even matters which credit bureau will be pulling your credit score. Well, there are a few important reasons why it matters.

Mitigate damage to your credit report

It’s important to give your credit report a break every now and again. By alternating credit bureaus pulled, you’ll be able to mitigate the dings to your credit report.

For example, if you have three recent hard inquiries on your Experian report and you can choose to apply for a card that will pull from only TransUnion, that will allow you to give your Experian score a break.

Minimize appearance of hard pulls

Many credit card issuers don’t like to see a dozen plus inquiries over the past year or two, so by trying to go for certain bureaus, you can minimize the appearance of being a credit savage.

Using the same example as above, if you were to apply to a bank that pulls TransUnion they would not technically see your recent Experian inquiries. So it would not look like you are aggressively pursuing credit as much as you are, which is a good thing.

Utilizing your “cleanest” credit report

Some banks will not approve you if you have negative marks like late payments or collections on your credit report. So by knowing which banks pull which credit bureau, you can avoid those banks at least until more time passes and your negative marks don’t mean as much.

It is not uncommon for derogatory remarks or certain types of negative reports on your credit to only be reported to one or two bureaus. Some banks will deny you even if those negative marks are very old. So if you have one report clean from any negative marks and you can rely on that one report for a credit card application, that can help you get approved.

Utilize your highest credit score

Sometimes your credit score can vary dramatically between the bureaus in which case you’d obviously want to go for banks who might use your higher score.

Remember that just because one or two credit bureaus are pulled, your new account will still likely show up on all three of the major credit bureaus. This is great because if you only have one good credit report like TransUnion, you can leverage that one to get new cards which will eventually boost the score of your other credit reports!

Are credit pulls worth it?

Credit pulls are absolutely worth it when you’re able to secure a much-needed loan or pick up one of the best rewards credit cards.

When you’re earning hundreds (or even thousands of dollars) in credit card rewards, a short-term ding on a credit report is well worth it.

How to find out which credit bureau will be pulled

The truth is that all we have are imperfect tools to work with to determine which credit bureau will be pulled.

With that said, we also have certain trends that we can base our predictions on. These trends and tools can at least help us make an educated guess as to which bureau will be pulled.

I’ll start by identifying which credit card issuers are known for pulling certain bureaus and then get into the different methods for figuring out which bureau will be pulled by using databases.

Credit card issuer trends

The information below is based on my experience with dealing with these issuers for myself and for many others over the past few years. It’s also based on a review of the data found in CreditBoards. Understand that your experience could differ greatly from my findings below.

American Express

American Express loves to pull Experian.

For every single one of my Amex issued credit cards over the past few years, they have always pulled from Experian (and only Experian). However, sometimes they can mix it up and pull from another bureau like TransUnion. But if you apply for an Amex card, you can almost always count on Experian being pulled.

Note: If you are a current Amex customer, they typically only do a soft pull if they reject you for a credit card and sometimes only do a soft pull when they approve you!

Barclaycard

Barclaycard is great because they usually pull from TransUnion. This allows you to give your other credit reports a break as they’ll sometimes only pull from TransUnion (bot not always).

Capital One

Capital One likes to invite everybody to the party and they pull from each of the three credit bureaus. In the past you could freeze one bureau like Experian to save yourself the hard pull, but recent data points show that’s not always successful.

This “freezing” technique can work for other credit card issuers, too. But you need to pay close attention to what works and what doesn’t since these type of things can be in flux sometimes. For more info on this check out the DOC’s article here.

Chase

Chase is a hard one to predict. I’d say expect an Experian pull and one additional bureau but it could be very location-specific.

Citibank

Citibank will mostly pull from Experian and Equifax and in rare cases TransUnion. Expect for Citi to pull from at least two credit bureaus.

As you can tell, it’s hard to pinpoint which bureau will be used for the credit pulls. But you can use the tool below to narrow your focus by region and potentially get a more accurate idea of what to expect.

Creditboards Credit Pull Database

The Credit Pull Database on Creditboards.com is the most popular source for checking which credit bureau will pull your credit for a credit application.

The key is to remember that the data you’ll find is usually self-reported. This means that it could be inaccurate, outdated, or perhaps even anomalous data that doesn’t accurately represent a given segment of society.

But that’s okay, because at least we have guiding posts for the data on credit pulls.

As long as you always remember that the data you’re relying on may not be 100% correct in every scenario, you won’t be surprised if your experience doesn’t accord with the data you found.

Using the Credit Pull Database

The Credit Pull Database is extremely easy to use.

Just click on this link and you’ll be able to search by the following criteria:

Consumer State
Credit Reporting Agency
Date applied
Approved

You do not have to select all of the details. I selected Texas and Equifax and found credit pulls data points for the following banks:

NFCU
Wells Fargo
Discover
PenFed
US Bank
USAA
Chase

In addition to the credit bureau data you can also see other relevant data points. You can see user details like:

The applicant’s ZIP Code
The date applied
Whether or not they were approved for the credit card
Their credit score
Credit limits
Random comments

The comments can be really helpful because you can find out if people were approved with things like bankruptcies on their credit report. Also, if there were multiple credit bureaus pulled sometimes people will report them in the comments.

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Alternative methods for finding credit pulls

Reddit spreadsheet

The folks over at Reddit have put together a spreadsheet with credit card application data. The spreadsheet includes even more criteria than CreditBoards such as income, average age of accounts, and how many accounts have been opened in the past 3, 6, and 12 months.

This data is incredibly useful but may not be as voluminous as CreditBoards.

The data also might be skewed in favor of people with better credit scores since I imagine the demographics of those who frequent that forum are from more affluent sectors of society or at least have better credit scores.

Personal credit reports

You can also search your own credit reports to see which credit bureaus were pulled in the past. The issue with this is they they won’t show up beyond 2 years. Also, the credit bureaus could change what bureaus they pull from.

You can check your credit score for free with Credit Karma (TransUnion and Equifax) and FreeCreditReport.com (Experian).

Credit card issuers who do soft pulls

Outside of the Amex exceptions mentioned above, there aren’t many other issuers that will conduct a soft pull of your credit when applying for a credit card.

So what can you do?

You can try out something called the “Shopping Cart Trick.”

There are a few steps that you’ll need to follow but if you’re successful, it’s actually possible to get approved for a credit card without ever having a hard pull on your credit card. It’s not going to be a huge credit line, but at least it’s something.

Read more about how that method works here. Note that this method does not work as much as it used to.

Credit limit increases

Before you ever request a credit limit increase from a bank make sure you inquire with whether or not they conduct a hard pull on your credit report.

Amex

American Express will not conduct a hard pull when you request a credit limit increase. To request an increase, you typically want your account to be open for 60 to 90 days and will likely shoot for an increase of 2X to 3X your credit. If you would like to find out more about how to request a credit limit increase with American Express click here.

Barclays

Barclays will usually do a hard pull when you request a credit limit increase but they are pretty generous when it comes to auto increases.

Capital One

Capital One will conduct a soft pull. You can find out more about how to get a credit increase with a Capital One here.

Chase

Chase will conduct a soft pull — read more about getting Chase credit limit increases here.

Citi

Citi will do both hard pulls and soft pulls but they should notify you beforehand. Just call the number on the back of your card to inquire with a rep of whether or not you’ll get a hard pull or soft pull. Read more about Citibank credit limit increases here.

Discover

The process varies for Discover. If they accept your initial request, that’s usually a soft pull but if you’re trying to get a larger credit line increase, then that could result in a hard pull.

Final word

In the end, you’ll probably have to leave some of this stuff up to chance.

But it’s still a good idea to check these resources out so that you can at least give it a shot at trying to navigate your way through the hard pull landscape. Even if you only get it right 50% of the time, those instances could still work in your advantage and allow you to minimize damage to your credit score.

Daniel Gillaspia

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