Does checking my credit score lower it?

No. Checking your own credit score through platforms like Credit Karma, your bank's app, or AnnualCreditReport.com is recorded as a 'soft inquiry'. Soft inquiries are visible only to you on your personal credit file and have a 0-point impact on your FICO or VantageScore ratings. In contrast, 'hard inquiries' occur only when you formally apply for new credit (credit cards, mortgages, auto loans, or personal loans), and a hard inquiry typically knocks only 2 to 5 points off your FICO score temporarily, rebounding within 3 to 6 months of on-time payments.