Is FICO score 8 the most used?
FICO Score 8 – the eighth major revision of the credit score – is the most widely used by businesses. FICO scores are the most popular credit score that businesses rely on when they want to get a sense of whether someone is a good “risk” to pay back borrowed money.
However, FICO Score 8 remains one of the most widely used FICO credit scores, according to the credit-scoring company. Businesses choose which type of credit scores they use when making lending decisions. And using FICO Score 8 might make the most sense for them because of the criteria it takes into account.
Though the FICO® Score 9 is an updated version of FICO® Score 8, the FICO® Score 8 is still the most widely used base score by lenders, meaning that, while you may have a better credit score from the FICO® Score 9 model, lenders are more likely to still use the previous version.
1 Two of the most common are the FICO Score 5 and the FICO Score 8. Both are used by lenders to determine a prospective borrower's creditworthiness. But FICO 5 is commonly used in the mortgage lending industry, while FICO 8 is mainly used by credit card issuers.
1.6% of Americans have a perfect 850 credit score, but here's the only one that matters, according to experts.
This is mainly because of two reasons: For one, lenders may pull your credit from different credit bureaus, whether it is Experian, Equifax or TransUnion. Your score can then differ based on what bureau your credit report is pulled from since they don't all receive the same information about your credit accounts.
If you've ever wondered what the highest credit score that you can have is, it's 850. That's at the top end of the most common FICO® and VantageScore® credit scores. And these two companies provide some of the most popular credit-scoring models in America.
FICO 8 is still the most widely used credit score today. If you apply for a credit card or personal loan, odds are that the lender will check your FICO 8 score. FICO 8 is unique in its treatment of factors such as credit utilization, late payments, and small-balance collection accounts.
For other types of credit, such as personal loans, student loans and retail credit, you'll likely want to know your FICO® Score 8, which is the score most widely used by lenders.
| FICO Model | Description |
|---|---|
| FICO 8 | Most common. Used for Auto and Bankcard lending. |
| FICO 5 | Used by mortgage lenders. Built on data from Equifax. |
| FICO 4 | Used by mortgage lenders. Built on data from TransUnion. |
| FICO 2 | Used by mortgage lenders. Built on data from Experian. |
Does Amex use FICO 8?
American Express provides its cardholders with not only an educational FICO score but also their Fico Score 8. The latter number is the credit score the issuer uses to manage cardmembers' accounts and is based on data from a major credit-rating agency, Experian.
Definition and Examples of the FICO Score 8
Even though it was released by FICO more than a decade ago, Score 8 is the version utilized most often by all three of the major credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
A 900 credit score may be the highest on some scoring models, but this number isn't always possible. Only 1% of the population can achieve a credit score of 850, so there's a certain point where trying to get the highest possible credit score isn't realistic at all.
Although ranges vary depending on the credit scoring model, generally credit scores from 580 to 669 are considered fair; 670 to 739 are considered good; 740 to 799 are considered very good; and 800 and up are considered excellent.
According to FICO, about 98% of “FICO High Achievers” have zero missed payments. And for the small 2% who do, the missed payment happened, on average, approximately four years ago. So while missing a credit card payment can be easy to do, staying on top of your payments is the only way you will one day reach 850.
Credit scores from the three main bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) are considered accurate.
Your Credit Karma score should be the same or close to your FICO score, which is what any prospective lender will probably check. The range of your credit score (such as "good" or "very good") is more important than the precise number, which will vary by source and edge up or down often.
| Poor | Very good | |
|---|---|---|
| FICO® Score 8 | 300 to 559 | 740 to 799 |
While achieving a perfect 850 credit score is rare, it's not impossible. About 1.3% of consumers have one, according to Experian's latest data. FICO scores can range anywhere from 300 to 850. The average score was 714, as of 2021.
The average FICO® Score is unchanged from the September 2021 average of 714, but that stability belies the broad economic indicators over that time, which showed that markets and economic conditions were anything but steady through 2022. A credit score of 714 is generally considered good by lenders.
What is the current average FICO score?
The average credit score in the United States is 698, based on VantageScore® data from February 2021. It's a myth that you only have one credit score. In fact, you have many credit scores. It's a good idea to check your credit scores regularly.
Reasons why your credit score could have dropped include a missing or late payment, a recent application for new credit, running up a large credit card balance or closing a credit card.
Most car dealerships use the FICO Score 8 scale to determine your eligibility for a loan. The FICO score is the most widely used because it is considered to be the most accurate assessment of your credit standing. It takes the scores of all three major credit bureaus to create a FICO score.
In general, lenders look for borrowers in the prime range or better, so you will need a score of 661 or higher to qualify for most conventional car loans.
Your score falls in the range of scores, from 800 to 850, that is considered Exceptional. Your FICO® Score and is well above the average credit score. Consumers with scores in this range may expect easy approvals when applying for new credit. 21% of all consumers have FICO® Scores in the Exceptional range.
It's recommended you have a credit score of 620 or higher when you apply for a conventional loan. If your score is below 620, lenders either won't be able to approve your loan or may be required to offer you a higher interest rate, which can result in higher monthly payments.
According to FICO, about 98% of “FICO High Achievers” have zero missed payments. And for the small 2% who do, the missed payment happened, on average, approximately four years ago. So while missing a credit card payment can be easy to do, staying on top of your payments is the only way you will one day reach 850.
Still, the higher your credit score, the better your chances of locking in lower interest rates – with one caveat. Lenders generally don't distinguish between a score of 800 and 850.
FICO 8 is still the most widely used credit score today. If you apply for a credit card or personal loan, odds are that the lender will check your FICO 8 score. FICO 8 is unique in its treatment of factors such as credit utilization, late payments, and small-balance collection accounts.
Although a lot of people might like the idea of a perfect credit score, Experian reports that only 1.2 percent of consumers' FICO scores are a perfect 850.
What credit score is needed to buy a 300k house?
Generally speaking, you'll need a credit score of at least 620 in order to secure a loan to buy a house. That's the minimum credit score requirement most lenders have for a conventional loan. With that said, it's still possible to get a loan with a lower credit score, including a score in the 500s.
