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How to Check Your Credit Score
By Jessica Walrack MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
Wondering how to check your credit scores? You have no shortage of options! Credit scores are now available from a variety of companies such as banks, credit card issuers, and lenders. However, the pricing, score types, and extra features can vary greatly from one provider to the next. So where can you find the best deal? Here’s what you need to know — including how to find your credit scores for free.
Table of contents:
What is a credit score?
Credit scores are ratings assigned to individuals and businesses to evaluate their creditworthiness. They’re based on the information in credit reports which, for individuals, includes your payment history, amounts owed, new credit accounts, length of credit history, and credit mix. Once you’re at least 18 and have credit accounts, you’ll likely have personal credit scores with the three main credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion).
Why do credit scores exist? Credit card issuers, lenders, employers, landlords, and other interested parties can check your credit scores to see how well you manage your financial commitments. It helps them assess the amount of credit risk you present when they’re considering doing business with you. As a result, your credit scores often determine what credit you can get approved for as well as the rates and terms available to you (e.g. interest rates, credit limits, etc.). And they can be factored into an employer’s decision to offer you a job or a landlord’s decision to rent to you
FICO Scores and VantageScores
The two most widely used credit scoring models are VantageScores and FICO scores.
- FICO Scores: Created by the Fair Issac Corporation, the first FICO Score came out in 1989. Today, FICO scores are used by over 90% of the top lenders. The FICO 8 and 9 score versions are currently the most popular which range from 300 to 850. FICO also offers separate scores for auto, credit card, and mortgage lending.
- VantageScores: VantageScores came out much later in 2006. They were created through a collaborative effort by the three main credit reporting agencies. Like FICO scores, VantageScores range from 300 to 850. They’ve evolved from the original Vantage Score 1.0 to the 3.0 and 4.0 models used today.
When checking your credit scores, it’s a good idea to check your FICO and/or VantageScores from all three credit bureaus. You never know which bureau an interested party will contact. Further, your scores will likely vary from one bureau to the next as they often receive different information from third parties. For example, your auto loan lender may only report to Experian while your personal loan lender might report to TransUnion and Equifax.
Where can you check your credit score?
There are a variety of ways to check your credit score, and many of them are free. You can go straight to the credit bureaus, or you can turn to a variety of other sources like banks and credit card issuers. Learn more from the list below.
How to check my credit score
Figuring out how to check your credit score can be confusing as there are many options today. Some companies charge while others don’t, and all seem to offer different score types — so which is best? Here are five places to consider and what you should know about each.
1. Check with your bank
Many banks are now providing free access to one of your credit scores along with other helpful features like credit education resources and alerts. To get a better idea of what’s available, let’s look at ten of the largest U.S. banks and their free credit report offerings (or lack thereof).
| Bank | Free Credit Score | Score Type Available | Update Frequency | Customer Requirements | Other Benefits |
| Chase | Yes | VantageScore 3.0 by Experian | Weekly | None, don’t have to be a customer. | Alerts, identity monitoring, and customer support |
| Bank of America | Yes | FICO score from TransUnion | Monthly | Must have a B of A credit card and online banking. | Insights, comparisons, and tips |
| Wells Fargo | Yes | FICO Score 9 from Experian | Monthly | Deposit, loan, or credit card account holders enrolled in online banking | Credit report, monthly score history, and tips |
| Citibank | Yes | FICO Score from Equifax (Bankcard Score 8 model) | Monthly | Citi cardmembers enrolled in Citi Online | None |
| US Bank | Yes | VantageScore 3.0 by TransUnion | Monthly | US Bank customers with online banking | Credit education, trend graphs, and score simulator |
| PNC Bank | Not found | – | – | – | – |
| Truist Bank | Not found | – | – | – | – |
| TD Bank | Not found | – | – | – | – |
| Capital One | Yes | VantageScore 3.0 by TransUnion | Weekly | None, don’t have to be a customer. | Alerts, tips, TransUnion credit report, and credit simulator. |
| Fifth Third Bank | No | – | – | – | – |
In most cases, banks require you to be a customer to get a free credit score. You may also need to have a specific type of account. However, both Chase and Capital One are currently offering standalone credit monitoring to people who are at least 18 years old and have a Social Security number. If you sign up for both programs, you can get free VantageScores from Experian and TransUnion each month.
2. Check with your credit card providers
Next, check with your credit card providers. Many of the biggest credit card issuers are banks featured on the list above. Additionally, the following companies have released free credit score offerings:
- American Express offers MyCredit Guide, a free service that lets you see your VantageScore 3.0 from TransUnion along with your TransUnion credit report.
- Discover offers the Credit Scorecard program that gives you access to your FICO Score 8 from TransUnion. You can view it on your monthly statements as well as in your online account.
- Credit One provides cardholders with monthly VantageScores from Experian through their online banking platform and mobile app.
Not sure if your credit card provider offers credit score access? Review your online account management portal, mobile app dashboard, and monthly statement. If you don’t find one, give the company a call to see if you’re missing it.
3. Check with your lenders
Do you have a mortgage, car loan, or personal loan? You may just find one of your credit scores on your account summary page or loan statement. As we mentioned above, Wells Fargo offers free Experian FICO scores to its loan customers. Additionally, both One Main Financial and Lending Tree offer monthly TransUnion VantageScores to their customers. Your lender may too.
4. Enroll in a credit monitoring service
You can also look to companies that offer credit monitoring services. Some focus primarily on credit improvement, while others focus more on identity theft or personal finance. Here are some of the most popular companies to consider and details about their credit score offerings.
| Company Offering Credit Monitoring | Free Credit Score | Score Type Available | Update Frequency |
| Credit Sesame | Yes | VantageScore 3.0 from Transunion | Daily |
| Credit Karma | Yes | VantageScore 3.0 from Equifax and TransUnion | Daily |
| Mint | Yes | VantageScore from TransUnion | Daily |
| MyFico | No, plans start at $19.95 per month | FICO scores from all 3 bureaus | Monthly |
| Identity Force | No, the plan is $23.95 per month | VantageScores from all 3 bureaus | Daily |
| Privacy Guard | No, plans start at $19.99 | VantageScores from all 3 bureaus | Monthly |
Which company is best? Check out the best credit monitoring services.
5. Check with the credit bureaus
Lastly, you can go straight to the source — the three main credit bureaus. However, they won’t necessarily offer you the best deal.
Experian
Experian offers free access to your FICO 8 credit score and real-time alerts through its CreditWorks Basic plan. You can also see the factors that affect your credit score and boost it by attaching documentation of payment of qualifying bills.
If you want more information, you can upgrade to a paid plan for $24.99 per month that lets you view your FICO mortgage, auto, and credit card scores. Additionally, the paid plan delivers monthly FICO scores from all three bureaus.
Equifax
The Equifax base plan, Core Credit, offers free access to your VantageScore 3.0 and credit report on a monthly basis. If you want daily access and other perks like credit monitoring, you’ll need to upgrade to Equifax Credit Monitor for $4.95 per month. The company also offers a Complete Premier plan for $19.95 which includes an annual view of all three of your VantageScores and credit reports.
TransUnion
TransUnion doesn’t offer a free credit score or any free services. However, it does have a credit monitoring plan for $29.99 per month that includes unlimited access to your TransUnion Vantage Score and credit report. It also includes identity theft insurance, email alerts, the ability to lock your score, and more. You may be able get a better deal on your TransUnion credit score from the various other sources mentioned earlier in the article.
The bottom line is that you can track your credit scores from all three credit bureaus for free from sources like Experian, Equifax, Capital One CreditWise, Credit Karma, and more. However, to keep tabs on all of your scores for free, you’ll likely have to use multiple services. If you want the convenience of having all of your scores in one dashboard, that’s likely going to come at a price — such as Experian’s $24.99 monthly package.
How to check your credit score FAQ
Does checking my credit score lower it?
Checking your own credit score won't affect it because the request is processed as a soft inquiry. Hard inquiries, on the other hand, do hurt your score. They may be used to prequalify you for a credit product and are always used when you decide to move ahead with a loan or credit card offer.
How do I check my credit score for the first time?
To check your credit score for the first time, you can contact the major credit bureaus, sign up for a credit monitoring service, or see if your score is provided by your bank, credit card issuer, or loan provider.
How can I check my credit score without a credit card?
If you don't have a credit card, you can try to get your credit score from a bank, a lender, a credit card issuer, companies offering credit monitoring services, or the credit bureaus.
How often should I check my credit score?
It's a good idea to check your credit scores and reports at least once per month. Doing so can alert you to changes in your credit profile and flag any mistakes or fraudulent activity on your credit record.
You'll also want to check your credit scores before you plan to apply for any type of loan or credit card. That way, you can get an idea of what you qualify for and which lenders will likely approve you.
How do I know if my credit score is good?
What's considered a "good credit score" can vary because each of the credit scoring models has its own definition. For example, good FICO scores range from 670 to 730, while good Vantage Scores range from 661 to 780. Typically, you won't have to look very far to figure out what your score means because most credit score reporting services tell you how the credit score ranges are categorized (e.g. bad credit, fair credit, etc.).
Can I get my credit reports for free?
You are legally entitled to a free copy of your credit report from each of the credit bureaus once per year. You can get yours by visiting annualcreditreport.com.
Summary of Miami Herald’s Guide on How to Check Your Credit Score
- Your credit score is a rating, often from 300 to 850, that reveals how likely you are to pay your bills on time.
- The most common credit scores you’ll encounter are FICO scores and VantageScores.
- Lenders, issuers of credit, landlords, and even some employers will check your credit with one or more of the three main credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
- The scores can vary among the credit bureaus because they don’t all receive the same information from third parties.
- Banks, lenders, credit card issuers, identity theft companies, personal finance companies, and credit bureaus offer credit scores to consumers.
- You can access free credit scores from all three bureaus if you look in the right places.
- For convenient access to all of your credit scores in one place, you’ll likely have to pay for a credit score service.
