How FICO Credit Scores Are Calculated

Because we live in a computer-driven world, it's probably not that surprising that your creditworthiness boils down to a single number. Credit reporting agencies use your loan payment history in order to build this score.

Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax, the three major credit reporting agencies, each have their own proprietary formula for building a credit score. The original FICO model was developed by Fair Isaac and Company. While Experian still calls its score "FICO", TransUnion calls its score "Beacon" and Equifax uses "Empirica." While these methods vary from one agency to another, all of the agencies use the following to build a credit score:

• Credit History - Have you had credit for many years, or for just a short time?
• Payment History - Do you have any payments later than 30 days?
• Your Credit Card Balances - How many accounts? How much do you owe?
• Requests for Credit - How many times have you had your credit checked for a loan?

These factors are weighted a little bit differently depending on the formula being used. The results are added up and distilled into a single number. FICO scores range from 300 to 800. Higher is better. Most borrowers getting a mortgage these days score 620 or above.

Credit scores make a huge difference in your interest rate

FICO scores affect more than your ability to get a loan. They also affect your interest rate. Higher scores indicate you are probably a better credit risk, and thus may qualify for a better mortgage rate.

Improving your score

Is there any way to raise your FICO score? Because the credit score is based on a lifetime of credit history, it's very difficult to change it quickly. (Of course you can and should appeal incorrect items on your credit report.)

How do I find out my FICO score?

To improve your credit score, you've got to get the credit reports that are used to build it. Of course, you need the score as well. Fair Isaac has created a web site (www.myFICO.com) that lets you do just that. For a reasonable fee, you can get your FICO score from all three reporting agencies, along with your credit report. Also available are information and online tools that can help you understand how to improve your FICO score.

You can get a federally-mandated free credit report once per year from the three major credit reporting agencies when you visit AnnualCreditReport.com. You won't get a free credit score from AnnualCreditReport.com, but getting it is fast and inexpensive.

Now that you have all the facts, you will be a more informed consumer and you'll be better positioned to get the right mortgage for you.

Want to know more about your FICO score? Call us: 504-866-5626.