What-are-credit-scores Apr 2026

Lenders use this number to quickly assess the risk of lending you money for mortgages, auto loans, or credit cards. Generally, higher scores signal lower risk, granting you access to better interest rates and higher credit limits.

The most widely used scoring model is the , which is calculated using these five categories: Credit Scores - FTC Consumer Advice what-are-credit-scores

A credit score is a (typically ranging from 300 to 850) that represents your creditworthiness , or the likelihood that you will pay your bills on time. Lenders use this number to quickly assess the