How lenders use FICO® Scores in credit checks

How lenders use FICO® Scores

90% of top U.S. lenders use FICO® Scores when making lending decisions

When you apply for credit—whether it's for a credit card, car loan, mortgage or other type of credit—lenders will want to know your credit risk. That is, they'll want to do a credit check to know how likely you are to pay back your credit obligations as agreed. To help them understand your credit risk, lenders use FICO Scores.

FICO Scores help lenders quickly, consistently and objectively evaluate potential borrowers' credit risk. So when you apply for credit or a loan, there’s a very good chance your lender will use your FICO Scores to help them decide whether to approve you, and what terms and rates you qualify for.

Different lenders use different versions of FICO® Scores

You have more than one FICO Score—depending on what type of credit you're seeking, your lenders may evaluate your credit risk using different FICO Score versions. Auto lenders, for instance, often use FICO® Auto Scores, an industry-specific FICO Score version that's been tailored to their needs. Most credit card issuers, on the other hand, use FICO® Bankcard Scores or FICO® Score 8.

It's also important to note that for most credit evaluations—such as a credit card application—lenders will use a FICO Score from just one of the three credit bureaus. For a mortgage or home equity loan application, however, lenders usually take into account a FICO Score from each of the three credit bureaus.

Learn more about the different FICO Score versions lenders use when evaluating your credit risk.


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