Although you didn’t ask to have your credit analyzed, the fact is that you have a credit score.
The three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) use your personal financial data to create your credit score, which directly impacts your ability to get loans or reasonable interest rates.
Fortunately, it’s not hard to check your score for free.
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- Credit Sesame
Free credit score and report summary from TransUnion. - Credit Karma
Free VantageScore monitoring with Equifax and TransUnion.
Why Are Credit Scores Important?
Your credit score indicates to banks, credit card companies, and other lenders how much of a lending risk you are.
And while people may go years without thinking about their credit score, that could be a big oversight. If you wait until it’s time to apply for a mortgage or take out a loan, you could end up paying much more in interest — or worse, not qualifying for the loan at all.
Your credit score is a number, usually between 300 and 850. The higher your score, the better your chances of getting approved and getting a good interest rate — potentially saving you thousands of dollars on major loans!
READ MORE: What Is a Good Credit Score?
Ways to Check Your Credit Score for Free
You've got a few different free options for checking your score.
While there are some paid options out there, they usually offer extras like identity theft protection. You can typically just check your score without paying anything.
Check your FICO score for free with myFICO
FICO, an industry standard, is used by 90% of top lenders (VantageScore is another major model). Luckily, FICO is also one of the best credit score platforms.
You can sign up for free access through myFICO. You'll get coverage from one bureau (Equifax) as well as credit score monitoring.
Credit monitoring means that your FICO account keeps an eye on your credit at all times. But it doesn’t mean all transactions or data are monitored. It’s just an extra layer of security that notifies you of changes so you can investigate anything out of the ordinary.
myFico also has paid tiers that offer extras like theft insurance and identity monitoring.
Check your FICO score for free with Experian
Experian, one of the three major credit bureaus, also has a free credit score service. The credit score you’ll be able to see is your FICO score, and you’ll also receive a free credit report from Experian.
You can find out about any specific events or transactions affecting your score, examine your credit report for any new activity, and monitor for signs of identity theft and errors.
Check your VantageScore for free with TransUnion
Another credit bureau, TransUnion, also lets you view your credit report and access your score for free. They also offer credit monitoring and critical alerts so you can stay on top of any fraud risks.
TransUnion reports your VantageScore rather than your FICO score. The number will fall between 300 and 850, just like with FICO.
While FICO is more widely used by lenders to make lending decisions, checking your VantageScore will also give you a decent idea of your credit health.
Check your VantageScore for free with a third party
There are also third-party services for checking your credit score, such as Credit Karma or Credit Sesame. You can check as often as you want for free.
The score you see from Credit Karma is your VantageScore from two of the bureaus, Equifax and TransUnion. Credit Sesame pulls its data from TransUnion.
Credit cards and banks with free credit scores
You can access free credit scores from any number of banks and credit card issuers, along with other financial platforms.
FICO scores are more frequently offered to credit card holders, while VantageScores tend to be more accessible to anyone who signs up for the free service.
| Bank or issuer | Credit score type | Who is eligible |
|---|---|---|
| American Express | FICO | Anyone |
| Bank of America | FICO | Cardholders |
| Barclays | FICO | Cardholders |
| Capital One | VantageScore | Anyone |
| Chase | VantageScore | Anyone |
| Citi | FICO | Select cardholders |
| Credit Karma | VantageScore | Anyone |
| Credit Sesame | VantageScore | Anyone |
| Discover | FICO | Cardholders |
| Experian | FICO | Anyone |
| myFICO | FICO | Anyone |
| NerdWallet | VantageScore | Anyone |
| OneMain Financial | VantageScore | Accountholders |
| Synchrony | VantageScore | Customers |
| TransUnion | VantageScore | Anyone |
| U.S. Bank | VantageScore | Bank customers |
| Wells Fargo | FICO Score | Account holders |
Be sure to look at your own bank or credit card issuer's app to see if there's any credit score access available. You can also check agreements with your bank or card company to find out if you’re entitled to this benefit.
RELATED: How to Build Credit Over Time
What to Do After Checking Your Credit Score
Whether you’re monitoring your credit more carefully because of plans to buy a house or car soon, or simply out of the desire to be more aware, be prepared to make changes. If your credit score is lower than you’d like, there are steps to raising it.
Most urgently, look for any suspicious activity, such as loan applications you didn’t originate or incorrect aliases and unknown accounts. Fix those mistakes ASAP.
Otherwise, pay attention to your payments. Pay every loan on time. Setting up automatic payments is a great way to avoid late fees and dings to your credit score.
Also, pay more than the minimum if possible. Otherwise, meet the minimums on all debts until you can reduce your balances.
Over time, consistent payment of loans and credit card bills on time will boost your payment history and yield a higher credit score.
READ MORE: How To Increase Your Credit Score (the Right Way)
FAQs
Can I check my credit score without harming it?
Yes! Simply checking your credit score has no effect whatsoever on the number. Lenders only see “hard inquiries” when you apply for a loan. You are entitled to know what creditors say about you as a borrower.
Is checking your credit score and checking your credit report the same thing?
Your credit score and your credit report are two different things, although they are connected.
Your score is a three-digit number that lenders use to decide loan approvals. Your credit report is a detailed statement showing your credit history, such as loan payments, total debt, and credit inquiries.
It's a good idea to check both your score and your report to ensure accuracy.
TL;DR: Check Your Credit Score for Free
Several institutions offer free credit scores, and some even provide credit scores and credit reports. You can sign up for a free option like myFICO or Credit Karma, or your bank likely has a way for you to regularly check your score for free.
Checking your credit score or credit report doesn't impact your score — it's your right to access this information so you can correct any errors. By checking it regularly, you can assess your finances, pay attention to outstanding accounts, and get yourself on the right track.
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