When you apply for credit by getting a credit card, a car loan, or a mortgage, finance companies, banks and lenders will pull your Credit Report to see your credit history and view your Credit Score. They do this to determine your credit risk.

Your Credit Score is based on information the credit bureaus keep on file about you; Information like your payment history on your bills, your loans, your credit cards and any other types of credit you currently have – even your telephone bill.  Every month this information may change based on your payments and how much you owe to different creditors.

Taking steps to always know your Credit Score and improving your Credit Score can help you qualify for better rates on loans from lenders, or better credit cards, or even a better car or home. By seeing your Credit Report every year, as well as working with a company who can provide Credit Monitoring – which can watch your credit score for you and alert you if changes are made to your Credit Report or Credit Score – you will be in a better position to obtain the credit that you want and need.

Lenders may use a variety of credit-scoring models to determine your level of “credit-worthiness”. Each Credit bureau analyzes your Credit Report uniquely and generates different scores. Banks and lenders also use their own scoring system, but they all are based on many of the same variables.
Credit Scores range from 300 to 850. Most people will have scores between 600 and 800. A score of 720 or higher will get you the best interest rates on a mortgage, credit card, auto loan, or personal loan.