Discover how credit scores and credit reports differ, why each is important, and how they impact your financial life.

When you’re applying for a loan, credit card or lease, knowing the difference between your credit score and credit report can give you some insight into how your lender or landlord views you from a ...

What is considered a good credit score depends on the type of credit score used. You have multiple credit scores, but the ...

Discover how pre-approved credit offers affect your credit score, including the difference between soft and hard inquiries ...

Meredith Dietz is Lifehacker’s Senior Staff Writer. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English and Communications from Northeastern University, where she graduated as valedictorian of her college.

Lindsay VanSomeren is a personal finance writer based out of Kirkland, Washington. Her work has appeared on Business Insider, Credit Karma, LendingTree, and more. Lindsay VanSomeren is a personal ...

Credit scores go up and down for a number of reasons. Here's what causes dips and why steady habits usually push it higher in ...

Some people aren’t kind about credit scores. Comments on the social media platform Reddit range from jabs calling them “useless” or “ridiculous” to stronger scoldings saying they’re a “gimmick” or ...

The average credit score in February 2025 was 715, according to FICO, the data analytics firm whose scoring models are used in 90% of lending decisions. That's compared to 716 in January 2025 and 717 ...

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