Credit scores existed for decades before 1989. What changed that year was the introduction of the FICO score, the first generic credit scoring system. Previously, lenders developed and used their own ...

Dave Ramsey says consumers can get by without a credit score. Having a credit score or card isn’t a problem so much as having debt. When used appropriately, credit cards can put extra money in your ...

Throughout life, there are many important numbers to know: your birthdate, your social security number and your anniversary, but none may be able to impact your future quite as much as your credit ...

According to Experian data, the average credit score for Americans in 2023 was 715, and 71.3% had a good credit score. With inflation bringing up the prices of everyday expenses for the last few years ...

In our culture of money, we tend to treat a credit score as a measure of how “responsible” we are. Creditors and lenders use this number to determine whether to trust us with debt, so it must signify ...

Paul Soucy has led the Credit Cards content team at NerdWallet since 2015 and the Travel Rewards team since 2023; he is also director of content for Consumer Credit verticals. He was an editor with ...

Parents can add a child as an authorized user to their credit card account to help build a kid's credit history and credit score. The strategy is generally best for kids in their later teenage years, ...

If your credit score is less than ideal — or you’re just starting out and don’t have one yet — you might be wondering how to get your foot in the door. One smart (and often overlooked) solution? A ...

The average U.S. credit score slipped nationwide, largely due to the resumption of federal student loan delinquency reporting on U.S. consumers’ credit reports, according to FICO. The scoring agency ...

This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today. One of the many economic benefits of ...

You know your credit score affects mortgage rates and credit card approvals. But car insurance? In most states, insurers use your credit to calculate premiums—and it matters more than you think. More ...