If you’ve ever applied for credit or a loan, it’s a feeling you’ll know well. Submit your application, hold your breath, hope that it goes through as you wait for a response. Yay or nay, accept or reject; it could be either one.
Regardless of the result, have you ever wondered where a bank, credit card company, or lender obtains the data they need to evaluate your creditworthiness? They will consult with the three major credit reporting agencies, which keep track of and aggregate all of your credit history, both positive and negative.
For example, Citi pulls credit reports on potential clients using data from all three agencies, but it primarily cites Experian as the agency of choice. After analyzing 211 consumer-reported credit inquiries over the previous two years, we discovered that Experian is typically the most widely used U S. credit bureau by Citi.
Note: Citibank is the retail banking branch of Citi, which is the branch that handles consumer loans other than mortgages and credit cards. Its a small distinction, but many people tend to interchange the two.
Although we make every effort to determine which credit report will be chosen in your instance, state-by-state variations may occur. That’s why we put together a list of the credit reporting data for Citi customers by state. So, you can use it for reference to see which credit report is most relevant to you.
Citibank reports a credit card’s credit limit, account balance, payment history, and more to all three of the major credit bureaus: TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian Citibank may use a certain credit bureau more than another, though, depending on the applicant’s home state and other factors.
The credit bureau that Citibank is most likely to use in each state is broken down here:
- Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Wisconsin: Experian
- Delaware, Hawaii, Kansas, Minnesota, West Virginia: Equifax
- South Dakota, Utah: TransUnion
Here’s a table summarizing Citibank’s credit bureau usage by state:
| State | Credit Bureau |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Experian |
| Arkansas | Experian |
| Colorado | Experian |
| Delaware | Equifax |
| Hawaii | Equifax |
| Indiana | Experian |
| Iowa | Experian |
| Kansas | Equifax |
| Minnesota | Equifax |
| New Mexico | Experian |
| Oklahoma | Experian |
| South Dakota | TransUnion |
| Utah | TransUnion |
| West Virginia | Equifax |
| Wisconsin | Experian |
It’s important to note that this is just a general guideline. Citibank may use a different credit bureau in your state or they may use multiple credit bureaus. The best way to find out which credit bureau Citibank is using for your application is to contact Citibank directly.
Why does Citibank use different credit bureaus?
Citibank may use various credit bureaus in different states for a number of reasons. One explanation for this is that state laws and regulations pertaining to credit reporting vary. Another explanation is that Citibank might have various affiliations with various credit bureaus in various states.
What does this mean for you?
If you are applying for a Citibank credit card, it is important to check your credit reports from all three major credit bureaus. This will give you a better idea of your creditworthiness and the likelihood of being approved for a Citibank credit card.
Additional Resources
- Citibank Credit Card Application
- TransUnion Credit Report
- Equifax Credit Report
- Experian Credit Report
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does Citibank report authorized users to credit bureaus?
A: Yes, Citibank reports authorized users to all major credit bureaus.
Q: Which credit bureau is used the most?
A: There is not necessarily one credit bureau that lenders use the most. Instead, lenders will typically look at a consumer’s FICO credit score, which all major credit bureaus provide. Individual lenders, like Citibank, will evaluate the reports generated by each bureau differently.
Q: How can I improve payment history on my credit report?
A: Paying your bills in full and on time is the simple way to improve your payment history on your credit report. Your credit score is impacted by underpaid or late payments; therefore, the lower your score, the better. Additionally, you ought to periodically review your free credit reports to identify and contest any underreported payments or other inaccuracies that could be harming your credit score.
Q: Does Citibank make a hard inquiry?
A: Citibank will more than likely make a hard inquiry upon your credit report when evaluating your application for a credit account. If you remain in good standing with Citibank, it will likely help your chances of getting approved for an additional card, but this doesn’t guarantee you won’t see another hard inquiry.
Q: Can I get a Citibank credit card with bad credit?
A: It is possible to get a Citibank credit card with bad credit, but it will be more difficult. You may have to pay a higher interest rate or have a lower credit limit. You may also need to have a cosigner.
Q: How can I increase my chances of getting approved for a Citibank credit card?
A: There are a few things you can do to increase your chances of getting approved for a Citibank credit card:
- Check your credit score and make sure it is as high as possible.
- Pay your bills on time and in full.
- Keep your credit utilization low.
- Apply for a card that is right for your credit score and income.
- Be prepared to provide documentation of your income and employment.
Citi Credit Reports Data
| State | Credit bureaus used |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Experian |
| Arkansas | Experian |
| Arizona | Equifax, Experian*, and TransUnion |
| California | Equifax, Experian*, and TransUnion |
| Colorado | Experian |
| Connecticut | Equifax* and Experian |
| Delaware | Equifax |
| Florida | Equifax and Experian* |
| Georgia | Equifax* and TransUnion |
| Hawaii | Equifax |
| Illinois | Equifax*, Experian, and TransUnion |
| Indiana | Experian |
| Iowa | Experian |
| Kansas | Equifax |
| Kentucky | Equifax* and Experian |
| Maryland | Equifax, Experian*, and TransUnion |
| Michigan | Equifax* and Experian |
| Minnesota | Equifax |
| Nevada | Equifax and Experian* |
| New Hampshire | Equifax and TransUnion |
| New Jersey | Equifax and Experian* |
| New Mexico | Experian |
| New York | Equifax, Experian*, and TransUnion |
| North Carolina | Equifax* and Experian |
| Ohio | Equifax and TransUnion |
| Oklahoma | Experian |
| Oregon | Equifax and Experian |
| Pennsylvania | Equifax, Experian*, and TransUnion |
| South Dakota | TransUnion |
| Tennessee | Equifax* and TransUnion |
| Texas | Experian* and TransUnion |
| Utah | TransUnion |
| Virginia | Equifax and Experian* |
| Washington | Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion |
| West Virginia | Equifax |
| Wisconsin | Experian |
*Denotes the most commonly used credit bureau in the state.
How (and Where) We Found the Data
Banks, lenders and credit card providers are a mysterious bunch. They don’t like to reveal where they pull your credit from. The data we researched from CreditBoards. Customers who applied for credit through Citi also made com publicly available. Citi is a website where people can submit the results of their credit applications.
The information we gathered provided a comprehensive understanding of Citi’s preference to use Experian for the past two years rather than Equifax and TransUnion. (Even though results reach back further. ).
Simple. To help you improve your credit standing through that specific bureau—Experian in this case—we would like you to confirm which credit reporting agency Citi uses for credit checks.
Knowing this gives you the ability to manage your credit and take action to improve both your credit score and credit history. Too often, when you apply for credit, you do so without understanding your credit score or what is in your credit report, but you still submit the application and hope it gets approved. You’re taking a chance without truly knowing where you stand if you assume your credit is good enough to get approved for a line of credit, even if it is.
It is possible to increase your credit score and increase your chances of getting credit approved if you check your credit, know where you stand, and which credit agency banks like Citi use.
Checking your credit isn’t some clandestine, covert mission that requires a bunch of secret info, a plethora of PINs and passwords — or worse, money. Checking your own credit is absolutely free and as simple as making one request. You can visit AnnualCreditReport.com for a copy of your current credit report, compiled from Equifax, TransUnion and Experian.
My favorite way is to download a credit-monitoring app, which allows you to always access your credit report and score from various credit reporting agencies, updated on a weekly basis.
Important information: You should not be afraid to obtain your credit report because doing so will not, repeat, lower your credit score. A “hard” pull, such as one made by Citi, is when a bank investigates your credit and may result in a few points being deducted from your FICO score. But checking your own credit is a “soft” pull, and won’t affect your score in the slightest.
Obtaining your own credit is easy and usually doesn’t take long, but be cautious and aware of certain details that might make things more difficult.
Make sure all of the financial and personal information you enter on your credit report application is accurate before clicking “submit.” An incorrect Social Security number or misspelled last name could cause the application software to block you from continuing, which would slow down the process.
Always double check your information.
If you are asked if you have lived at any of the following addresses but you haven’t, select “none of the above.” Beware of trick questions that you might be asked and don’t force yourself to choose an answer just for the sake of choosing. The application verification process often contains trick questions that may not apply.
Always print out your credit report after retrieving it. You are allowed one free credit report per year, so this can help you compare and contrast it with that. Additionally, if you try to refresh or close the page, your browser might prevent you from seeing it again. Having a hard copy on hand helps.
Please mail this form to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P. if you are uncomfortable obtaining your credit report online. O. Box 105281 Atlanta, GA 30348-5281 for a hard copy, or call 1-877-322-8228.
Asking the bank or lender for a copy of the credit report they used to reject your request is a good place to start if you applied for credit before checking your report and were turned down. It’ll list in detail the reasons that contributed to a credit rejection, such as:
- Low credit score
- Not enough credit — both installment and revolving
- Too much active, delinquent or defaulted debt
- Accounts in collections, or recent bankruptcies
Recall that you are legally entitled to obtain your credit report from them, and that they must comply with your request for a copy of your credit report within 15 days. After you have your report in front of you in clear print, it’s time to make the most of the information and restore your credit to its former glory.