Discover how credit scores and credit reports differ, why each is important, and how they impact your financial life.

Discover how pre-approved credit offers affect your credit score, including the difference between soft and hard inquiries ...

When you’re applying for a loan, credit card or lease, knowing the difference between your credit score and credit report can give you some insight into how your lender or landlord views you from a ...

Credit scores go up and down for a number of reasons. Here's what causes dips and why steady habits usually push it higher in ...

Some people aren’t kind about credit scores. Comments on the social media platform Reddit range from jabs calling them “useless” or “ridiculous” to stronger scoldings saying they’re a “gimmick” or ...

Lindsay VanSomeren is a personal finance writer based out of Kirkland, Washington. Her work has appeared on Business Insider, Credit Karma, LendingTree, and more. Lindsay VanSomeren is a personal ...

When you're browsing personal finance advice, "boosting your credit score" gets all the hype—understandably so, since credit scores are checked when you’re trying to rent an apartment, or a car, or ...

Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation. Ever ...

Borrowers will see their credit score take account of rental payments for the first time under a major overhaul being rolled out by Experian to better reflect how credit applications are assessed by ...

The average credit score in February 2025 was 715, according to FICO, the data analytics firm whose scoring models are used in 90% of lending decisions. That's compared to 716 in January 2025 and 717 ...

Your bank app may let you check your credit score for free. But how is that different from your credit report? They are both measures of your financial health, but your score is a three-digit number ...