As the mother of four children, my aunt had to make peace with the idea that she couldn’t stay on top of every child every minute. Instead of trying to maintain constant vigilance — which would have been impossible (and exhausting) — she often relied on her children to report the important things to her (which they typically did at the top of their little lungs).
Like my aunt, the consumer credit bureaus have too many people to keep track of to spend time seeking out information on them all. Instead, they rely on information reported to them by creditors and lenders.
Since some creditors fail to report to all three bureaus, the information in your reports can vary based on the source. At the same time, future creditors, including credit card issuers, can choose which bureau (or multiple bureaus) to query when checking your credit.
No Issuer Exclusively Pulls From TransUnion
In some cases, the fact that each credit report could hold different information can mean that your ability to qualify for a certain credit card may depend on which credit bureau the issuer queries. Unfortunately, it’s not really possible to predict which credit bureau(s) an issuer will use at any given time, as that decision can vary based on anything from the specific product to your location.
Furthermore, despite the occasional blog or forum post full of anecdotal “evidence,” no issuer exclusively pulls from a single credit bureau for every individual credit check. This applies to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion alike.
That being said, some types of information will tend to rely most heavily on TransUnion data; specifically, the credit scores you receive from a variety of popular credit score tracking websites will typically use TransUnion data and VantageScore modeling to generate your scores.
Credit Card Issuers that Frequently Use TransUnion Data
While credit card issuers don’t exclusively use a particular bureau, issuers, like people, are habitual, and many will frequently use the same bureau for credit checks. For instance, the issuers below are reported to regularly rely on TransUnion data for credit card applications.
Of course, there are no guarantees that an application for one of these cards will use a TransUnion credit inquiry to evaluate your credit risk. Your application process may involve data from TransUnion, but may use Equifax or Experian data instead of — or in addition to — information from your TransUnion report.
Chase | Capital One | Barclays | Fifth Third Bank | US Bank
Capital One
Capital One is a young bank, founded just a few decades ago in 1988, that has quickly grown into a major player, now with over 750 locations across the country. Whether you prefer to earn unlimited cash back or blackout-free travel rewards, Capital One has a matching card to add to your wallet.
4.9
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
- Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
0% for 15 months
|
0% for 15 months
|
19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
|
$0
|
Excellent, Good
|
4.9
- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.24% - 29.24% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
0% for 15 months
|
0% for 15 months
|
19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
|
$0
|
Excellent, Good
|
4.9
- Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
|
N/A
|
19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)
|
$95
|
Excellent, Good
|
An extra perk of Capital One’s credit cards is that they can be used to get a discount on coffee purchased with your card at any Capital One Café location around the country.
Chase
While its most recent rebranding occurred in 2000, the ancestry of JPMorgan Chase, or Chase Bank, goes as far back as 1799. One of the largest banks in the world, Chase has more than 4,700 branches in the US alone, and offers more than a dozen credit cards, including a variety of co-branded partner cards.
4.9
4.8
4.8
Many of Chase’s credit cards earn the popular Ultimate Rewards points, which can be redeemed for cash back, merchandise, or travel reimbursement. Ultimate Rewards points can also be transferred to airline and hotel partners for added redemption value.
Barclays
The Barclays credit card was launched in 1966 as the first British credit card to be introduced to the UK. Today, Barclays offers a range of co-branded credit card products for consumers and businesses.
4.5
- Earn 50,000 travel miles after spending $1,000 on purchases with your card within 90 days of account opening
- Earn 5X miles on eligible purchases at flyfrontier.com, 3X miles on restaurant purchases, and 1X miles on all other purchases
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening (balance transfer fee applies), then a variable APR applies
- Earn a $100 flight voucher every account anniversary after spending $2,500 or more on purchases with your card during your card membership year
- Cardmembers enjoy Zone 2 priority boarding
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
|
0% for 15 months
|
20.74% - 29.99% Variable APR
|
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99
|
Good
|
8. JetBlue Card
4.6
- Earn 10,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days
- Earn 3X points on eligible JetBlue purchases, 2X points at restaurants and grocery stores, and 1X points on all other purchases
- Enjoy 50% inflight savings on cocktails and food purchases
- 0% introductory APR for the first 12 billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening (transfer fee applies), then a variable APR applies
- No foreign transaction fees, no blackout dates, and points never expire
- $0 Annual Fee
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
|
0% for 12 billing cycles
|
20.74% - 29.99%
|
$0
|
Good
|
4.6
- Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days, plus 10,000 bonus points when a purchase is made on an employee card in the first 90 days
- Earn 6X points on eligible JetBlue purchases, plus 2X points at restaurants and office supply stores, 1X points on all other purchases
- Earn 5,000 bonus points every year after your account anniversary
- Receive a 50% savings on eligible inflight purchases of cocktails and food on JetBlue-operated flights
- Enjoy an annual $100 statement credit after purchasing a JetBlue Vacations package with your card
- Free first checked bag for you and up to 3 companions on the same reservation when you use your card to book JetBlue-operated flights.
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
|
N/A
|
20.74% - 29.74%
|
$99
|
N/A
|
Barclays operates as a digital bank and partners with travel, entertainment, retail, and affinity institutions in the US.
Fifth Third Bank
Originally launched as the Bank of the Ohio Valley in 1858, Fifth Third Bank has over 150 years of experience offering banking and credit services to the American public. Fifth Third now operates over 1,200 locations country-wide, serving Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee, West Virginia, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina.
10. Fifth Third Cash/Back Card
You won’t have to keep track of rotating categories with the Fifth Third Cash/Back Card. Instead, enjoy an unusual return of 1.67% cash back on every purchase you make.
- Earn 1.67% cash back on every purchase
- No limits on rewards or expiration dates
- Pay no annual fee
The Cash/Back card comes with cellphone protection and touch-free payments.
11. Fifth Third 1% Cash/Back Card
A popular option for those thinking of a balance transfer, Fifth Third’s 1% Cash/Back Card provides an introductory 0% APR offer on purchases and balance transfers that can help make paying down debt more affordable.
- Enjoy 0% APR on new purchases and balance transfers for 21 billing cycles after you open your account
- No penalty APR for missed payments
- Pay no annual fee
You can also receive protection for your cellphone by paying your monthly wireless bill with your Truly Simple® Credit Card.
12. Fifth Third Secured Card
With as little as a $300 deposit, you can open a Fifth Third Secured Card that reports to all three credit bureaus, making it a good choice to establish or rebuild your credit.
- Credit-builder card secured by a minimum $300 deposit
- Increase your credit line by adding to your deposit
- $24 annual fee
You can increase your available credit limit anytime by adding to your deposit, with your credit line equal to 100% of your deposit amount.
US Bank
Although its modern iteration was founded nearly 50 years ago, US Bank’s heritage can be traced back over 150 years. Today, US Bank has over 3,100 branches across the country and offers a wide range of consumer credit products, including cash back and travel rewards credit cards.
4.6
- Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days of account opening. That's a $200 value redeemable toward merchandise, gift cards, cash back, travel, and more. Points never expire.
- Earn 4X points on dining, takeout, and restaurant delivery
- Earn 2X points at grocery stores, grocery delivery, streaming services, gas stations, and EV charging stations -- all other purchases earn 1 point per $1
- Enjoy a 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR applies
- $15 credit for annual streaming service purchases like Netflix, Apple TV+, Spotify® and more
- $0 Annual Fee
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
0% for 12 billing cycles
|
0% for 12 billing cycles
|
17.74% - 28.74% (Variable)
|
$0
|
Good/Excellent
|
4.7
- Earn 50,000 bonus points worth $750 on travel when you spend $4,500 in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center.
- Earn 3X points for every $1 spent on eligible travel purchases and 3X points on eligible mobile wallet purchases
- Complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership gives you 8 free visits to over 1,500 airport VIP lounges and experiences worldwide
- Get reimbursed up to $325 in annual credits for eligible travel purchases and dining, takeout and restaurant delivery purchases
- $400 Annual Fee
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
|
N/A
|
21.74% - 28.74% (Variable)
|
$400
|
Excellent
|
4.9
- For a limited time, get a special 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 21 billing cycles. After that, the APR is variable.
- Get up to $600 reimbursement if your cell phone is stolen or damaged when you pay your monthly cell phone with your card
- View your credit score anytime, anywhere in the mobile app or online banking. It's easy to enroll, easy to use, and free to U.S. Bank customers.
- Enjoy the protection that comes from ID Navigator Powered by NortonLifeLock™
- Choose your payment due date
- $0 Annual Fee
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
0% for 21 billing cycles
|
0% for 21 billing cycles
|
18.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
|
$0
|
Excellent Credit
|
Additional Disclosure: The information related to this card has been collected by CardRates.com and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product.
Rewards points earned with your US Bank card can be redeemed toward merchandise, gift cards, cash back, and travel, among other options. Rewards points never expire.
Regularly Check All Three Credit Reports For Best Results
When it comes to applying for a new credit card, you can do a lot to improve your odds of approval by simply applying for the card for which you are most qualified. While it may be tempting to try and nudge the odds by selecting cards from issuers that only pull from the bureau with your cleanest credit report, the unfortunate truth is that there really is no controlling or accurately predicting which bureau(s) will be queried.
The easiest way to ensure your credit always looks its best is to regularly check all three of your credit reports, which you can do once a year for free through AnnualCreditReport.com. Like my aunt’s periodic trips from room to room to double-check that everyone was where they were supposed to be, routinely keeping up with your credit report can go a long way toward keeping your financial house in order.
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Editorial Note: Our site content is not provided or commissioned by any credit card issuer(s). Opinions expressed on CardRates.com are the author's alone, not those of any credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by credit card issuers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information; however, all credit card offer details, including information about rewards, signup bonuses, introductory offers, and other terms and conditions, is presented without warranty. Clicking on any offer on CardRates.com will direct you to the issuer's website, where you can review the current terms and conditions of the offer.
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