Your credit score is one — but not the only — factor that lenders use to decide your rate and loan amount. Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us.

The most common credit scoring models are FICO and VantageScore. FICO scores have been around since 1989 — longer than VantageScores, which were developed by credit bureaus Experian, Equifax and ...

Did you know your credit score could be different from one lender to the next? For example, if you’re trying to choose a mortgage lender who offers the lowest interest rate, you would probably ...

Read more here. A credit score is a number ranging from 300 to 850 that indicates to lenders how likely you are to pay back your loans on time. It affects what kinds of loans you can get and what ...

Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. Whether your credit score is in the 500s because you’re building your credit from scratch or trying to rewrite credit history ...

Your credit score is the key to qualifying for credit cards, mortgages, personal loans and a host of other financial products. In the late 1980s, data analytics company Fair Isaac Corporation (now ...

Joyce Bertilson is a dedicated personal finance writer and educator. In addition to producing marketing content for privately-owned financial brands and professionals, Joyce has spent nearly 40 ...

Keeping on top of your credit score is a basic personal finance move that can do you a world of good. Knowing approximately where your score falls means you can target credit cards and loans that ...

Maintaining a good credit score is crucial for getting a loan, mortgage, or credit card. This guide will provide information about what constitutes a “good” score, factors that impact your ...

But what is a credit score, exactly? And why does it matter so much? Credit scores reflect how well you’ve managed debt in the past and help creditors predict whether you’ll pay back what you ...

We sell different types of products and services to both investment professionals and individual investors. These products and services are usually sold through license agreements or subscriptions ...

Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. If you’re looking to improve your credit score, opening a credit card and using it responsibly is a smart place to start.