topic Re: CITI Cards No longer soft-pull(?) in Credit Cards

CITI Cards No longer soft-pull(?)

MachoHombre — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 22:48:21 GMT

I have the Citi Costco and Custom Cash.

Last years have been diligent on asking for CLI every six months as allowed. Always Soft-Pull, typically get a small CLI on the Costco, ocassionally get a small CLI on the Custom Cash.

This month, I happened to note different language on the Custom CLI request form -it wanted to know the amount I wanted and mentioned credit bureau inquiry .....indication that it was no longer a Soft Pull.

So i did the Costco card CLI request, no HP and a small increase. I did not want to risk a HP on the Custom Cash card so didn't request a CLI.

***It looks like Citi is no longer doing soft pulls on the Custom Cash (and likely other cards). This is new.

Anyway, data-point and likely others have more and good information.

Re: CITI Cards No longer soft-pull(?)

CreditCuriosity — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 23:29:17 GMT

Sure they do just depends on person and profile. Can flip for SP to HP or HP to soft over time etc

Re: CITI Cards No longer soft-pull(?)

Tdatb64 — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 00:40:19 GMT

I just hit my Custom Cash for a CLI a few days ago - same language, soft pull. A "soft pull" is still an "inquiry".

Re: CITI Cards No longer soft-pull(?)

Vinjints — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 01:15:24 GMT

You requested a CLI and didn't get a HP. All seems good to me.

Re: CITI Cards No longer soft-pull(?)

MachoHombre — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 01:52:15 GMT

@Vinjints wrote:
You requested a CLI and didn't get a HP. All seems good to me.

If I would have requested a CLI on the custom cash, I'm confident it would have been a HP. Unlike the last years where it wasn't. The Costco is still be a soft-pull CLI

Re: CITI Cards No longer soft-pull(?)

MachoHombre — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 01:55:15 GMT

@Tdatb64 wrote:
I just hit my Custom Cash for a CLI a few days ago - same language, soft pull. A "soft pull" is still an "inquiry".

Were you required to enter the CLI amount requested and taken through the additional verbiage about credit bureau etc.

I had never been asked this before, and same day was not asked this for the Costco CLI

Re: CITI Cards No longer soft-pull(?)

CreditCuriosity — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 04:00:28 GMT

Have two Custom cashes both are exact same sreen for me.

Re: CITI Cards No longer soft-pull(?)

DoppelgangerD — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 02:51:32 GMT

I'm finally able to request another CLI on my Custom Cash in 10 days.

Better not be a ****ing hard pull or I'll be pissed.

I'm so tired of banks being so ridiculous with the hard inquiries.

I really don't understand how it benefits them to do that.

I've gotten 5 CLIs this year...

3 were soft, 2 hard...

The 2 hard ones were decent increases.

(I really wanted those 2, so I allowed the hard inquiries)

...of the 3 soft ones, 1 was ok, the other 2 were crap.

I've seen others get decent increases without hard inquiries, so my experience is just bad luck within my card lineup I guess.

Re: CITI Cards No longer soft-pull(?)

Vinjints — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 03:51:45 GMT

Just checked my Custom Cash and screen shows same as @CreditCuriosity They explicitly stated they will not obtain a credit bureau report. Gave me another 4k, too, with an instant decision just as they described.

Re: CITI Cards No longer soft-pull(?)

coldfusion — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 12:58:12 GMT

They've been primarily performing soft-pull CLIs on their core cards in response to online CLI requests since before the pandemic.

At least until recently the normal practice was to process the request using a soft pull and if successful they might come back and give you the option to be immediately considered for a larger CLI if you authorized a hard pull without any risk to the just-approved soft pull CLI if you declined.

Different story however with cards issued through Citi Retail Services, some of them like the ThankYou (ex-Sears Mastercards) use soft pulls but others like the Home Depot card (and Best Buy IIRC) hard pull in response to CLI requests.

Re: CITI Cards No longer soft-pull(?)

unsungivy — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 15:54:19 GMT

@coldfusion wrote:
They've been primarily performing soft-pull CLIs on their core cards in response to online CLI requests since before the pandemic.

At least until recently the normal practice was to process the request using a soft pull and if successful they might come back and give you the option to be immediately considered for a larger CLI if you authorized a hard pull without any risk to the just-approved soft pull CLI if you declined.

Different story however with cards issued through Citi Retail Services, some of them like the ThankYou (ex-Sears Mastercards) use soft pulls but others like the Home Depot card (and Best Buy IIRC) hard pull in response to CLI requests.

Experience has been that the main Citi cards, such as CCC, are soft pulls. Citi Retail Services sort of depends on the card... Macy's has always been soft pulls, but Best Buy has been hard pulls. Recently with the change to the SYW card, CSR response seems to be that they will do a hard pull UNLESS you don't approve it OR your credit is locked... in which case they will do a soft pull. People have been sucessfull with the soft pulls while locked, and I will also give it a go on the Best Buy next time too.

Re: CITI Cards No longer soft-pull(?)

zerofire — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 20:40:03 GMT

Citi is definitely still doing soft pulls, they also are doing hard pulls. It really depends on what product you have and what their plan is for you. For SP's you usually need to ask nicely when Citi is thinking of where they can stash some extra funds. Some people do not ask frequent enough and eventually Citi will increase the limit on their own but don't rely on that.

Re: CITI Cards No longer soft-pull(?)

DoppelgangerD — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 04:51:07 GMT

@DoppelgangerD wrote:
I'm finally able to request another CLI on my Custom Cash in 10 days.
Better not be a ****ing hard pull or I'll be pissed.
I'm so tired of banks being so ridiculous with the hard inquiries.
I really don't understand how it benefits them to do that.
I've gotten 5 CLIs this year...
3 were soft, 2 hard...
The 2 hard ones were decent increases.
(I really wanted those 2, so I allowed the hard inquiries)
...of the 3 soft ones, 1 was ok, the other 2 were crap.
I've seen others get decent increases without hard inquiries, so my experience is just bad luck within my card lineup I guess.

Well today was the day that I was finally allowed to apply for a credit limit increase on my custom cash card.

Just used the app and did the normal form for applying with all of my credit frozen.

They did the standard soft inquiry and I got a $2k increase.

WOOHOO !!!! 🎉🥳💳👍

Re: CITI Cards No longer soft-pull(?)

Vinjints — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 15:34:07 GMT

Congrats DD. Can also confirm a SP CLI for the CCC on the 18th for me.