A fuller guide to this term is on the way. In the meantime, the related terms below explain the ideas around it.
Related MoneyPedia terms
- Hard InquiryA credit check triggered when you apply for new credit, which can slightly lower your score and stays on your report for two years.
- Credit ReportA detailed record of your borrowing history, including accounts, balances, and payment behavior, kept by the credit bureaus.
- Credit ScoreA number that sums up how you've handled borrowing, shaping the rates you're offered.
- PrequalificationA preliminary estimate of what a lender might offer you, based on a soft credit check that does not affect your score.
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Plain-English education — not personalized legal, tax, or investment advice.