topic Re: Warning about US Bank Pre Approvals in Credit Cards

Warning about US Bank Pre Approvals

chasmfiend1995 — Wed, 28 May 2025 19:45:33 GMT

Earlier this month, I tried out the US bank pre approval in the app, after filling out the form and submitting, I received a 7-10 day message for the Altitude connect and Cash+. Today, I called in to see if they had any info for me since I had received no communication about it. After the transfer to underwriting, they told me I had submitted a full application. I asked if the pre approval tool counted as a full app on their side and they said yes. Luckily they didn't pull reports but the rep advised that they often pull reports for the pre approval tool. This is incredibly bizarre, so I called again and a different rep told me the same thing. Be careful using US Bank pre approval.

Re: Warning about US Bank Pre Approvals

Varsity_Lu — Wed, 28 May 2025 19:50:03 GMT

I'll be honest, with this kind of thing added to the Smartly Visa debacle earlier this year, I am certainly not eager to get in with US Bank. I've always thought of them as the least evil big bank, but I am starting to see a trend of incompetence developing. I think I'll stay away for now.

Re: Warning about US Bank Pre Approvals

chasmfiend1995 — Wed, 28 May 2025 19:52:46 GMT

@Varsity_Lu wrote:
I'll be honest, with this kind of thing added to the Smartly Visa debacle earlier this year, I am certainly not eager to get in with US Bank. I've always thought of them as the least evil big bank, but I am starting to see a trend of incompetence developing. I think I'll stay away for now.

I agree. I currently have the altitude go and they will not pc it for me. I like the connect alot for travel but I'm worried it's next to be nerfed, and this experience doesn't inspire confidence at all.

Re: Warning about US Bank Pre Approvals

Jeffster1 — Wed, 28 May 2025 22:53:01 GMT

Personally, I have found USBank the weirdest of all the banks with whom I have had dealings.

Re: Warning about US Bank Pre Approvals

CreditMagic7 — Thu, 29 May 2025 03:04:09 GMT

@Jeffster1 wrote:
Personally, I have found USBank the weirdest of all the banks with whom I have had dealings.

Likewise I use to like US Bank 10 yrs ago but something changed with them.

For my effort of getting approved for the Smartly Metal Card at an enemic and profile defeating SL of $500 i straightway closed it that same day. Then i reapplied a few days later for a subprime card of theirs, Kroger i think, and not only ended up with the denial but now have 3 in a row Hard Inquiries from these doofes with Zilch to show for it, except a now closed metal card souvenir. I am so finished with them as in Night Night for good.

Re: Warning about US Bank Pre Approvals

portlandmusician — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 21:48:01 GMT

@chasmfiend1995

I used the pre-approval tool, too, and had a similar experience I documented here:

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Card-Applications/U-S-Bank-Pre-Approval-tool-data-point/td-p/6817668

Just an FYI and another data point on a. U.S. Bank pre-approval tool.

Re: Warning about US Bank Pre Approvals

ElvisCaprice — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 08:28:13 GMT

@chasmfiend1995 wrote:
Earlier this month, I tried out the US bank pre approval in the app, after filling out the form and submitting, I received a 7-10 day message for the Altitude connect and Cash+. Today, I called in to see if they had any info for me since I had received no communication about it. After the transfer to underwriting, they told me I had submitted a full application. I asked if the pre approval tool counted as a full app on their side and they said yes. Luckily they didn't pull reports but the rep advised that they often pull reports for the pre approval tool. This is incredibly bizarre, so I called again and a different rep told me the same thing. Be careful using US Bank pre approval.

There are two types of pulls, soft pull, hard pull. Are you sure the rep didn't mean soft pull? I see later in the thread you said you had three hard pulls? Is this verified from your Transunion credit report?

I've used this pre-app of US Banks and have never had a hard pull.

Re: Warning about US Bank Pre Approvals

Dilbert934 — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 19:41:52 GMT

Odd, when I did a preapproval for the Connect last year I got a "You are preapproved" message, with no HP. The HP only occured a couple of days later when I accepted the preapproval.

Edit: Looks like the pre-approval tool is gone.

Re: Warning about US Bank Pre Approvals

portlandmusician — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 20:13:01 GMT

@Dilbert934 It's still there for me. I see it at the top of the screen on all personal cards:

See if you're pre-approved for the Altitude Connect card without affecting your credit score.

Re: Warning about US Bank Pre Approvals

Pppoolboy — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 14:13:16 GMT

I don't see the "prequal" button for all personal cards but, for the ones I don't see it on, it's pretty easy to "hack" the link to make it show up. Just look at the URLs and do some judicious cutting and pasting.

Re: Warning about US Bank Pre Approvals

Jessie — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 22:55:54 GMT

Do you see a hard inquiry on your credit report, and have you ever gotten a decision on this supposed application?