When you apply for credit, whether it’s a credit card or a loan, the lender will usually perform a “hard inquiry” on your credit report.
This means that they will request a copy of your credit report from one of the major credit bureaus, such as Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion.
A hard inquiry can have a small negative impact on your credit score, usually by a few points.
However, the impact of a hard inquiry is usually short-lived, and your credit score should bounce back within a few months, as long as you continue to make on-time payments and keep your credit utilization low.
In fact, the impact of a hard inquiry on your credit score is usually much smaller than the positive impact of having a new credit account, such as an Apple Card.
It’s important to note that if you apply for multiple credit cards or loans within a short period of time, this can have a more significant impact on your credit score.
This is because lenders may see multiple credit applications as a sign that you are taking on too much debt, and therefore may be a higher credit risk.
This is known as “credit shopping” and can lead to a more significant decrease in your credit score.