Which Credit Bureau Does Truliant Pull? Here's What Happens

Truliant Federal Credit Union checks Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion when you apply for credit. They also query ChexSystems if you want a checking or savings account. Whether this affects your credit score depends on the type of inquiry they run.

How Truliant Uses Credit Bureaus

Every lender needs proof you'll repay borrowed money. Truliant accesses your credit report to see your payment history, outstanding debts, and public records like bankruptcies or judgments. The three major bureaus—Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion,maintain these files and calculate your FICO score using algorithms that weigh your payment behavior, credit utilization, and account age.

Truliant pulls from all three agencies because each bureau may hold slightly different information. One might show an account another doesn't. Checking multiple reports gives Truliant a fuller picture of your creditworthiness.

The credit union uses different FICO models depending on the loan. Auto loans trigger the Auto FICO Score 8. Mortgages use older FICO versions like FICO 2, 4, or 5. Personal loans and credit cards typically rely on FICO Score 8 or 9. Each model weighs factors differently, so your score can vary by product.

Truliant Membership and ChexSystems

Joining Truliant requires more than a decent credit score. The credit union screens applicants through ChexSystems, a consumer reporting agency that tracks deposit account behavior. ChexSystems logs bounced checks, overdrafts, unpaid fees, and account closures due to fraud or abuse.

If you've ever left a negative balance unpaid or wrote bad checks, ChexSystems flags your profile. Truliant uses this data to decide whether you can open a checking or savings account. A clean ChexSystems report matters as much as a good credit score when you apply for membership.

About 80% of U.S. Banks and credit unions use ChexSystems, according to industry estimates. A single overdraft won't disqualify you, but repeated issues or unresolved negative balances can keep you out. ChexSystems retains records for five years unless you dispute and win.

Soft Pulls vs. Hard Pulls at Truliant

Truliant conducts soft inquiries when you check rates, pre-qualify, or request a credit limit increase on an existing account. Soft pulls don't appear on credit reports that lenders see, so they won't lower your score.

Once you formally apply for a loan or credit card, Truliant performs a hard inquiry. Hard pulls shave 5 to 10 points off your FICO score, sometimes more if you have a thin credit file. The impact fades within a year, and the inquiry drops off your report after two years.

If you're rate shopping for an auto loan or mortgage, FICO treats multiple hard pulls within 14 to 45 days (depending on the FICO version) as a single inquiry. That protects your score when you compare offers. Personal loan and credit card inquiries don't get the same grace period. Each one counts separately.

What Happens During a Truliant Credit Check

You submit an application online, in-branch, or by phone. Truliant pulls your credit report from one or more bureaus within seconds. The system flags your debt-to-income ratio, recent delinquencies, and total available credit. Underwriters review the data and decide whether to approve, deny, or request additional documentation.

Approval odds improve if your FICO score exceeds 650, your debt-to-income ratio stays below 40%, and you have no recent missed payments. Truliant may approve borrowers with lower scores if they provide a co-signer or accept a higher interest rate.

If denied, Truliant sends an adverse action notice within 30 days. The letter explains which bureau they pulled, why you were rejected, and how to request a free copy of the report they used.

How Truliant Reports to Credit Bureaus

Truliant sends account updates to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion every 30 days. That includes your payment status, current balance, and credit limit. On-time payments build your credit. Late payments,defined as 30 days or more past due,damage it.

A single 30-day late payment can drop your FICO score by 60 to 110 points if you previously had excellent credit. The impact lessens over time, but the mark stays on your report for seven years. Paying off the balance doesn't erase the late payment; it only updates the account status to "paid."

Charge-offs and collections hit harder. If you stop paying a Truliant loan, the credit union may charge off the debt after 120 to 180 days of delinquency. The account appears as a charge-off on all three credit reports, sinking your score by 100 to 150 points. Truliant may sell the debt to a collection agency, which can sue you if the statute of limitations hasn't expired.

North Carolina Statute of Limitations on Debt

Truliant is based in North Carolina, where the statute of limitations is three years for most debts. Once that window closes, collectors can't sue you to force repayment. The debt remains on your credit report for seven years from the date of first delinquency, regardless of the statute.

If you're sued, ignoring the lawsuit guarantees a default judgment. That lets Truliant or its debt buyer garnish your wages or freeze your bank account. If you're facing a lawsuit, you can explore bankruptcy options or negotiate a settlement before the court rules.

Fixing Credit Report Errors That Affect Truliant Decisions

Mistakes on your credit report can tank your approval odds. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that 20% of consumers have errors on at least one of their three credit reports. Common issues include accounts that don't belong to you, incorrect payment statuses, and outdated personal information.

Order free reports from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion at AnnualCreditReport.com. Review each line. If you spot an error, file a dispute directly with the bureau that's reporting it. They have 30 days to investigate and respond. If they don't fix the mistake or remove the item, send a follow-up letter with supporting documents.

Truliant offers free credit report reviews for members. A financial counselor walks you through your report, identifies errors, and advises on boosting your score. This is a soft service,it doesn't involve a hard pull.

Disputing ChexSystems Reports

ChexSystems errors are less common but more damaging when they occur. If you believe ChexSystems wrongly flagged you, request a free report at ChexSystems.com. Disputes follow the same 30-day timeline as credit bureau disputes. Provide proof that the overdraft was paid, the account wasn't yours, or the information is outdated.

ChexSystems removes verified errors immediately. If they confirm the information is accurate, the record stays for five years. Paying off old overdrafts doesn't erase the ChexSystems entry, but it may improve your odds of approval at Truliant or other institutions.

What to Do Before Applying at Truliant

Check your credit reports at least 60 days before you apply. That gives you time to dispute errors and let corrections post. If your FICO score is below 650, focus on paying down credit card balances and avoiding new hard inquiries.

Request your ChexSystems report if you've had deposit account issues in the past five years. Resolve any negative balances before applying for Truliant membership. Even $50 in unpaid overdraft fees can disqualify you.

If you're unsure whether bankruptcy makes more sense than taking on new credit, use our bankruptcy screener to see if you qualify. Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 can wipe out unsecured debts and stop collections, though the filing stays on your credit report for seven to ten years.

The Bottom Line

Truliant pulls from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion for credit decisions and checks ChexSystems for deposit accounts. Hard inquiries ding your score temporarily; soft pulls don't. Fix errors before you apply, and know that unresolved debts or overdrafts will show up.