Thinking about renting a home, taking out car finance, applying for a mortgage or getting a credit card? If so, be prepared for lenders to take a close look at your credit score. This important score ...

Rajeev Dhir is a writer with 10+ years of experience as a journalist with a background in broadcast, print, and digital newsrooms. Betsy began her career in international finance and it has since ...

The financial services industry has made substantial progress in democratizing access to credit scores. Today, 95% of banks and credit unions offer customers visibility into their credit scores ...

Americans' credit scores can have a dramatic impact on their lives, with a low score potentially delaying homeownership, marriage, starting a family, or even preventing them from renting an apartment.

The average U.S. credit score is 715, according to FICO's Score Credit Insights, which examined data from April 2025. That's still in the "good" range, but it represents a two-point drop ...

With a background in journalism and counseling, Penny Min blends analytical research with real-world insight to help readers make informed financial decisions. At Forbes Marketplace, she specializes ...

I wasn't chasing the elusive 850 credit score, but this one easy change got me there anyway. Here's what I did. Tiffany Wendeln Connors was a senior editor for CNET Money with a focus on credit cards.

Congratulations: You just earned a perfect 850 credit score. That's a major financial achievement, and definitely cause for celebration. But in terms of actual, tangible benefits, a perfect credit ...

A person's credit report tells a story about their childhood. New research, released last month by Harvard's Opportunity Insights, shows that a strong predictor of an adult's bill-paying habits—the ...

This map of the average credit score by state shows how credit scores differ by region Aaron McDade is a breaking news reporter for Investopedia. He is an experienced journalist who has covered ...

As you draw closer to retirement, it becomes more important than ever to stay on top of your financial health — which means looking at metrics like your credit score. Depending on how you've dealt ...

Only 1.76% of Americans have a perfect 850 FICO® Score in 2025, according to Motley Fool Money research and Experian data. And honestly, that tiny percentage says everything. Hitting perfection takes ...