What is My Credit Score?
Your credit score is reviewed by banks, credit card issuers, auto loan companies, insurers and even employers to figure out your creditworthiness – that is, how likely you are to pay your bills on time. A good credit score can save you thousands of dollars on interest payments and bank fees.
Your credit score is issued by each of the three credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. It is important that you review your credit scores issued by all three credit reporting agencies, as the information reflected in the credit score issued by one credit bureau may not be reflected in the credit score issued by another.
What is the Credit Score Range?
Credit scores range from 349-849 with 723 being the national average. If your credit score is 720 or above, you are generally considered by lenders to be among the best of credit risks and are most likely to receive a better interest rate. Because of increased scrutiny by banks and credit card issuers in determining who qualifies for their best rates, it is increasingly important to make sure that you do all that you can to ensure that you have the highest possible credit score before applying for a mortgage, car loan or other extension of credit. This includes checking for errors in your credit report and taking steps recommended by financial experts to improve your credit score.
What determines My Credit Score?
The principal factors in determining your credit score are your bill-paying history (that is, whether you have paid your bills on time), your credit utilization ratio (or your credit balance as a percentage of your total available credit), the number of inquiries on your credit report and the types of credit on your credit report (for example, credit reports listing a mortgage, auto loan and credit card may earn a higher credit score than a credit report listing only credit cards).
How often should I review My Credit Score?
Most financial experts recommend that you review your credit scores and credit reports frequently to find and fix errors before they can negatively affect your ability to get credit. Additionally, reviewing your credit report and credit score may alert you to early signs of identity theft.