The next time you're ready to apply for a credit card, auto loan or mortgage, first check your FICO Score, the three-digit score lenders use to determine creditworthiness.
Knowing and understanding your FICO credit score is key to gauging what lines of credit and loans you qualify for and the terms you’ll receive. The higher your FICO Score, the better chances you have of receiving low interest rates and competitive terms.
Many resources are available to check your FICO Score, but most charge a fee. There are several ways to review your score for free, however.
Where to get your free FICO Score
The first place you should check for your free FICO Score is with your credit card issuer. Many provide cardholders with free access to their credit score. The key is knowing whether it’s your FICO Score or VantageScore.
Both scoring models are helpful, but FICO Scores are the industry standard, used in 90% of lending decisions.
Issuers that provide free FICO Score access to their cardholders include:
- American Express
- Bank of America
- Capital One
- Citi
- Discover
- Wells Fargo
If you don’t have an eligible credit card, anyone can access their FICO Score for free with CreditWise® from Capital One or Experian Boost™
Free FICO Score resources offered by card issuers and credit reporting companies typically provide you with updates every 30 days.
If you want to stay on top of changes to your credit file, credit monitoring services alert you to changes in your credit report, like new inquiries or new accounts opened in your name.
Experian IdentityWorks℠ and TK provide you with an early notice of potential fraud, so you can take steps to protect your personal information.
Experian Dark Web Scan + Credit Monitoring
Cost
Free
Credit bureaus monitored
Experian
Credit scoring model used
FICO®
Dark web scan
Yes, one-time only
Identity insurance
No
Terms apply.
Experian IdentityWorks℠
Cost
Basic: Free; Premium: 7-day trial, after $24.99 per month; Family: 7-day trial, after $34.99 per month
Credit bureaus monitored
1-bureau credit monitoring, alerts and reports: Experian, with Basic plan only and 3-bureau credit monitoring, alerts and reports: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion®, with Premium and Family plans only
Credit scoring model used
FICO® Score 8, with all plans
Dark web scan
Yes, with all plans
Identity theft insurance
Yes, up to $1 million with all plans
Terms apply.
*Identity Theft Insurance underwritten by insurance company subsidiaries or affiliates of American International Group, Inc. (AIG). The description herein is a summary and intended for informational purposes only and does not include all terms, conditions and exclusions of the policies described. Please refer to the actual policies for terms, conditions, and exclusions of coverage. Coverage may not be available in all jurisdictions.
Credit scores FAQS
What is the best credit score you can have?
FICO scores range from 300 to 850. It's extremely rare to have a perfect 850, but even if you did, it probably wouldn't qualify you for a better rate. In the mortgage space, for example, a FICO720 score generally earns you the best rate. If you're shopping for a car loan, a 760 will open as many doors as an 850.
What is credit monitoring?
Credit monitoring is an aspect of identity theft protection that focuses on reviewing your credit score and credit history. Credit monitoring services regularly check your credit reports from one or more of the three major credit bureaus and alert you to changes or suspicious activity. CNBC Select has named Aura, LifeLock and IdentityForce among our top credit-monitoring services.
How often should I check my credit score?
- Check your FICO score several times a year. Even if you haven't taken on any debts, you can check for errors or fraud.
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At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every tax article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of insuranceproducts. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
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