silverwayfunding › Soft Credit Inquiry vs Hard Inquiry: What Happens When You Request a Loan
Credit basics
Soft Credit Inquiry vs Hard Inquiry: What Happens When You Request a Loan
A soft inquiry (or soft pull) is a look at your credit that does not affect your credit score; a hard inquiry can lower it a few points and stays on your report for about two years. Sending a request through silverwayfunding is a free referral step — silverwayfunding is not a lender and does not pull your credit. Any credit check happens only if a lender you connect with chooses to review your application, and many lenders begin with a soft pull.
| Type | Score impact | When it happens | On your report |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft inquiry | No score impact | Pre-qualification, your own rate checks, background checks | Stays private |
| Hard inquiry | May lower score a few points | A formal application you submit to a specific lender | ~24 months on report |
Common questions
Will requesting a loan here hurt my credit score?
Submitting a request to silverwayfunding does not affect your score — we are a referral service, not a lender, and we do not pull credit. A lender may run its own check later if you continue with an application.
What is a soft pull?
A soft pull is a credit check that does not affect your score. It is often used for pre-qualification so you can see potential options before formally applying.
How long do hard inquiries stay on my report?
Hard inquiries typically remain on your credit report for about two years, though their score impact usually fades within a few months.
Related reading: how loan matching works.
Send a free request →