American Express Canada has made applying for a credit card a little less nerve-racking.
When applying for any American Express personal card, you can first get a soft credit check and find out if you’re likely to be approved before submitting your full application.
This new soft credit check feature allows you to check your eligibility without impacting your credit score.
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Soft credit checks help applicants move forward with confidence
Before this update, anyone applying for a credit card faced a hard credit check right away. A hard check (or inquiry) temporarily lowers your credit score by a few points because it signals a potential new credit account.
For those who have limited credit or are working to rebuild their credit, that small dip could be enough to affect an application for a new card.
American Express' soft credit check changes that process. Now, potential applicants can confirm whether they’re likely to be approved without any impact on their credit report. You won’t be hit with a hard credit check until you’re ready to move forward with the full application.
To start, all you need to do is visit the American Express product webpage and click ‘Apply Now’ under the promise "Get an instant decision with no impact to your credit score." Then follow a short process and answer some simple questions. That’s it.
Addressing credit application anxiety
Credit cards are crucial to helping Canadians manage their finances, but fear of rejection and potential drops in their credit score often deter people from applying. The ability to check eligibility without risk could help more Canadians access credit responsibly.
Financial educators and consumer advocates have long noted that uncertainty plays a major role in people delaying or avoiding credit applications. By providing an upfront look at approval odds, Amex takes away some of that uncertainty, especially for first-time applicants or newcomers to Canada who may be building their credit from scratch.
Soft vs. hard credit checks: What’s the difference?
While both assess your credit, hard credit checks and soft credit checks aren’t the same.
A soft credit check (also called a soft inquiry or soft pull) happens when your credit information is reviewed for non-lending purposes. For example, when you check your own score or receive a pre-qualification offer. Soft credit checks do not affect your credit score.
On the other hand, a hard credit check (or hard inquiry) happens when a lender reviews your credit file to make a lending decision. Each hard inquiry can temporarily lower your credit score by a few points, which can make an impact, especially if several hard credit checks appear close together.
Why soft credit checks matter
The ability to do a soft credit check before applying for an Amex card reflects a broader trend toward consumer-friendly practices in the credit industry. Tools that minimize risk or improve clarity have become more common as Canadians pay closer attention to their credit health.
For Amex, the feature could also attract new customers who previously hesitated to apply, particularly younger Canadians and those exploring premium cards for the first time. With competition in the credit card market heating up, any initiatives that reduce stress and boost transparency can offer a big advantage.
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