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.
FICO Score 8 is the most commonly used FICO credit score among lenders in the financial industry. This score ranges anywhere between 300 and 850.
Base FICO® Scores, such as FICO Score 8, are designed to predict the likelihood of not paying as agreed in the future on any credit obligation, whether it's a mortgage, credit card, student loan or other credit product.
A FICO score of at least 700 is considered a good score. There are also industry-specific versions of credit scores that businesses use. For example, the FICO Bankcard Score 8 is the most widely used score when you apply for a new credit card or a credit-limit increase.
FICO Score 9 has been available to consumers since 2016. You can purchase it from FICO or possibly get it free from your credit card issuer, a lender or credit counselor through FICO's Open Access program, which allows lenders and credit counselors to share scores used in lending decisions.
FICO 8 is still the most widely used FICO credit score today. If you apply for a credit card or personal loan, odds are that the lender will check your FICO 8 scores from one or more of the major credit bureaus.
The scoring model used in mortgage applications
While the FICO® 8 model is the most widely used scoring model for general lending decisions, banks use the following FICO scores when you apply for a mortgage: FICO® Score 2 (Experian) FICO® Score 5 (Equifax)
FICO® Scores are the most widely used credit scores. An industry standard since they were first introduced over 30 years ago, FICO® Scores are used by 90% of top lenders.
Navy Federal Credit Union generally follows Fannie Mae's underwriting guidelines for conventional mortgages. That means you'll typically need a credit score of 620 or better, a down payment of at least 5 percent and a debt-to-income ratio (DTI) of no more than 43 percent.
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.
FICO 9 is similar to FICO 8 but differs when it comes to collections and rent payments. FICO 9 counts medical collections less harshly than other accounts in collections, so a surgery bill in collections will have less of an impact on your credit score than a credit card bill in collections.
Which credit scores does Credit Karma offer? The model used for credit scores on Credit Karma is VantageScore® 3.0. While VantageScore® credit scores aren't used as widely as FICO® scores for credit decisions, they can still give you a good idea of where your credit stands.
One of the most common scores used by mortgage lenders to determine creditworthiness is the FICO® Score (created by the Fair Isaac Corporation). FICO® Scores help lenders calculate the interest rates and fees you'll pay to get your mortgage.
FICO Score 8 is a credit scoring model from the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) that is widely used by lenders to help determine the creditworthiness of potential borrowers and what interest rate they should be charged. This version of the company's base credit-scoring model was released in 2009.
In general, if you're trying to get a new credit card, car loan or consumer loan, then your FICO® Score 8 credit scores can matter. Since FICO® Score 8 credit scores are the most widely used FICO® scores, there's a good chance a potential lender may use it.
FHA loans (score: 580)
Most mortgage lenders accept FICO scores of 580 and above for an FHA loan. And you only need 3.5% down to buy a house with this program. Some lenders even allow credit scores of 500-579 under the FHA program, though you'll need a 10% down payment if your score is in that range.
Credit Score Requirements
NFCU does not have a minimum credit score requirement; however, borrowers with higher credit scores have a better chance of qualifying and receiving favorable terms. We recommend a minimum score of 670.
The Navy Federal credit card approval requirements include a credit score of at least 700, in most cases; this is considered “good” credit. Other Navy Federal credit cards require a credit score of 750, i.e. excellent credit. Ultimately, Navy Federal also offers options for people with bad credit.
On the whole, Navy Federal Credit Union offers better rates than USAA. For starters, the Navy Federal Credit Union Basic Savings Account earns at a 0.25% APY. This includes all account balances, so you don't have to worry about meeting a certain balance to earn interest.
Some credit cards that use Experian only reportedly include Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Citi Premier Card, among others.
Lenders use these scores to calculate your risk of defaulting on a mortgage loan. Since each agency may report a slightly different score, lenders take the middle score of the three. For example, if your scores are 680, 710 and 660, lenders will use the middle score of 680 to assess your loan eligibility.
For a Wells Fargo mortgage, you'll need a minimum credit score of 600 (with a down payment of 3% or more) to qualify for a conventional loan under the yourFirst Mortgage program.
WalletHub, Financial Company
The most accurate credit scores are the latest versions of the FICO Score and VantageScore credit-scoring models: FICO Score 8 and VantageScore 3.0.
Is TransUnion more important than Equifax? The short answer is no. Both TransUnion and Equifax are reliable credit reporting agencies that compile reports and calculate your credit scores using different scoring models.
Though Credit Karma does not currently offer FICO® scores, the scores you see on Credit Karma (VantageScore 3.0 credit scores from TransUnion and Equifax) provide valuable insight into your financial health. It's important to keep in mind that no one credit score is the end-all, be-all.