Credit Score
What is Credit Score?
A number that summarizes how likely you are to repay borrowed money, based on your credit history.
Understanding Credit Score
Lenders use credit scores to decide whether to lend and at what interest rate. The most widely used U.S. model, FICO, ranges from 300 to 850.
FICO weights payment history most heavily (about 35%), followed by amounts owed (30%), length of credit history (15%), new credit (10%), and credit mix (10%).
In 2026
Mortgage lending is changing which score counts. In 2026, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac opened VantageScore 4.0 to all approved lenders as an alternative to the long-used Classic FICO score; a lender picks one model per loan. VantageScore 4.0 can use rent and utility payment history and ignores small unpaid medical collections. FICO 10T is also approved, with adoption expected later.
Sources
FAQ
Does checking my own score lower it?
No. Checking your own score is a soft inquiry and does not affect it. Applications for new credit can cause small, temporary drops.