Every Credit Score Explained
- The Credit Course
- Aug 14
- 7 min read
Updated: Sep 15
Complete Guide to Credit Score Types: FICO, VantageScore, Bureau, and Alternative Models
Credit scoring is not a single, universal number. Instead, it is a system of competing models designed by FICO, VantageScore, credit bureaus, and alternative data providers. Each model has its own purpose, whether it is predicting repayment risk, setting insurance premiums, or evaluating bank account applications. Understanding the differences between these scores can help consumers avoid confusion, interpret their reports more accurately, and make better financial decisions.
1. FICO Scores (Fair Isaac Corporation)
FICO scores are the original and still most widely used credit scoring models in the United States. Created by the Fair Isaac Corporation in 1989, they are designed to predict how likely a borrower is to repay debt on time. While several alternative scoring systems exist, about 90% of top lenders rely on some version of FICO when making credit decisions. Scores range from 300 to 850, with higher numbers indicating lower credit risk. Raising your FICO Score is the best way to increase your chances of approval.
Base FICO Score 8
Launched in 2009, the FICO 8 score is still the most widely used FICO model across banks, credit card issuers, and personal lenders. It p
Places extra emphasis on credit card utilization (balances vs. limits).
Penalizes multiple credit card inquiries more heavily than older models.
Tougher on high credit card balances but more forgiving of isolated late payments compared to earlier versions.
FICO Score 9
Launched in 2014. The FICO Score 9 has been slowly gaining adoption but still less common than FICO 8. Some banks, credit unions, and personal loan lenders have switched, but many mortgage and auto lenders remain on older models.
Medical debt has less of a negative impact compared to other types of collections.
Once paid, collections no longer count against your score at all.
Can include rental payment data (if reported) to help consumers with limited credit histories.
FICO Score 10 and 10T
Launched in 2020, the FICO 10 Suite includes the base FICO 10 model and a more advanced FICO 10T model that uses trended data. Adoption is still limited, but some large institutions have begun testing out these models.
Like FICO 9, Medical debt is treated more leniently, and once paid, collections do not weigh against the score.
Heavier penalties for consumers who take on unsecured personal loans to consolidate debt but then accumulate new balances afterward.
FICO 10T uses trending data to look at 24 months of credit behavior, tracking whether balances are rising, falling, or flat over time, rather than just a one-time snapshot.
Industry-Specific FICO Scores
FICO produces special versions of its models for different lending categories. These are scaled from 250–900 instead of the standard 300–850, giving lenders more granularity when evaluating risk.
FICO Auto Scores
Designed specifically for auto lenders.
Places greater weight on past auto loan performance, late car payments, and repossessions.
FICO Bankcard Scores
Tailored for credit card issuers.
More sensitive to revolving credit behavior, such as high utilization and missed payments on credit cards.
Scaled 250–900 to give card companies finer detail on risk.
FICO Mortgage Scores
Required by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for mortgage underwriting (as of 2025).
Known to be stricter on missed payments and collections than newer models.
FICO SBSS (Small Business Scoring Service):
Scores can range from 0 to 300.
The SBA’s common prescreen threshold is often cited as around 140 to 160.
FICO Insurance Scores
Used by auto and homeowners insurers in many states to help set premiums. These scores are not designed to predict repayment risk but rather the likelihood of filing an insurance claim.
Scores typically range from 250 to 900; however, Consumers generally do not see their insurance score directly.
2. VantageScore
VantageScore was created in 2006 through a collaboration between Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion as an alternative to the FICO model. Like FICO, it uses a 300 to 850 range, but the scoring formula is different. VantageScore was designed to expand access to credit scoring and provide more predictive insights for lenders. It is now the second most widely used scoring model in the United States and is the one most often shown on free credit monitoring platforms such as Credit Karma.
VantageScore 3.0
Introduced in 2013, this version became the first VantageScore model to use the same 300 to 850 range as FICO.
Considers rent, utility, and phone payments when they are reported.
More forgiving of one-time late payments compared to older models.
Allows consumers with as little as one month of credit history to receive a score, compared to six months under FICO.
VantageScore 4.0
Released in 2017, this is the newest model and is being gradually adopted by lenders.
Uses trended data, which tracks consumer payment patterns over time rather than only looking at a single moment.
Reduces the weight of medical collections in the score calculation.
Applies machine learning to better score people with limited or “thin file” histories.
Incorporates alternative data where available, increasing the number of consumers who can be scored.
VantageScore is useful for tracking overall trends, but it may not always reflect the exact score a creditor will use.
While VantageScore is not yet the standard for mortgage lending, it has strong adoption among credit card issuers, personal lenders, and consumer websites. For consumers, it is especially valuable because of its accessibility and because it can provide a score with less history than FICO requires.
3. Proprietary Scores from Bureaus
In addition to FICO and VantageScore, the major credit bureaus and third-party data providers have created their own scoring models. These scores are often used for niche purposes, internal analysis, or consumer education. While they may not match the scores lenders rely on most often, they still influence parts of the credit ecosystem.
Equifax Beacon Score
Equifax’s proprietary version of the FICO score.
Uses Equifax’s credit file data to generate a 300 to 850 score.
Still widely used by lenders when pulling credit reports from Equifax, though most borrowers may not realize they are looking at a “Beacon” version of their FICO.
TransUnion CreditVision Score
A proprietary model from TransUnion that emphasizes trended data, or credit behavior over time.
Focuses on patterns such as whether a borrower is consistently paying down balances or only making minimum payments.
Helps lenders better predict future behavior rather than relying on a one-time snapshot of current balances.
Experian PLUS Score
A consumer-focused score developed by Experian.
Ranges from 330 to 830 and is often included in Experian’s credit monitoring services.
Designed to give consumers a sense of their credit standing, but not widely used by lenders in major lending decisions.
Innovis Credit Score
Created by Innovis, the “fourth” credit bureau.
Less commonly used than FICO or VantageScore but can appear in certain lending or tenant screening processes.
Consumers can request this score when pulling their Innovis credit report.
CoreLogic Credit Optics Score
Built by CoreLogic, this score incorporates alternative data such as rent, utilities, cell phone bills, payday loans, and property records.
Useful for evaluating consumers with “thin” credit files who might not otherwise qualify for a traditional FICO or VantageScore.
Primarily used by specialty lenders, landlords, and subprime markets.
CoreLogic is not a traditional credit bureau but a data analytics company whose models are widely used in subprime lending, tenant screening, and specialty markets.
4. Banking & Account Risk Scores
Banks often use separate reporting systems to evaluate new checking or savings accounts. These deposit account screening and bank account risk scores are not credit scores but can influence your ability to open accounts.
ChexSystems Consumer Score: common range 100 to 899, where a higher score is lower risk. You can request your ChexSystems score and disclosure for free.
Early Warning Services (EWS) Deposit Score: used by many banks for account opening decisions. EWS notes this is not a credit score; consumers can request the report and their deposit score.
👉 Denied for a bank account? Read our ChexSystems Clean-Up Guide.
5. Specialty & Alternative Scores
Beyond mainstream consumer credit scores, lenders and screening firms use specialized models for narrow decisions. These are not the scores you typically see in consumer apps, but they affect approvals, pricing, and screening outcomes in specific contexts.
Bankruptcy Risk Score
Predicts the likelihood of filing bankruptcy within 24 months.
Revenue or Recovery Scores
Used by collection agencies to determine the likelihood of repayment.
Tenant Screening Scores –
Used by landlords, often built on credit + rental history data.
Telecom and utility decisioning
Telecom and utility providers rely on the National Consumer Telecom and Utilities Exchange (NCTUE), a database managed with Equifax, to decide deposits and account terms. NCTUE tracks payment history for telecom, pay TV, and utility accounts.
Fraud and identity risk scores
Banks, card issuers, and fintechs also use device, identity, and transaction-level fraud scores. These are not creditworthiness scores and do not measure repayment risk, but they can affect whether an application is approved or flagged for review.
Insurance Scores
Used by auto and homeowners insurers to help set premiums. Includes FICO Insurance Scores and the LexisNexis Attract Score, both of which correlate credit history with the likelihood of filing an insurance claim.
Employers never see a credit score. With consent, they can review a modified credit report that excludes a score. Any “employment index” you may hear about is an internal tool and not shared with employers.
6. Emerging and Alternative Data Scores
Traditional credit scoring has been criticized for leaving millions of consumers “credit invisible” because it relies mainly on loans and credit card accounts. To expand access, new models and services use alternative data such as rent, utilities, telecom, bank accounts, and subscription payments. These tools are still developing, but they are reshaping how creditworthiness is measured.
UltraFICO
UltraFICO incorporates checking, savings, and money-market account history into the credit score and can reward consumers who maintain consistent cash flow, avoid overdrafts, and keep healthy account balances.
While still in pilot stages, some lenders are testing this model, particularly for applicants who fall just below traditional approval cutoffs.
Emerging and alternative data scores are designed to expand financial inclusion, especially for consumers without deep credit histories. However, adoption varies.
Alternative Credit Bureaus
PRBC (Payment Reporting Builds Credit)
PRBC Score (often scaled 100–850) is used to evaluate applicants with little or no traditional credit history. Consumers can self-enroll and authorize providers to verify payment history for rent, utilities, cable, phone, and insurance payments.
eCredible Consumer Reporting
Builds credit files from verified utility and telecom payments. Consumers can connect accounts and have them reported to TransUnion, creating a tradeline visible in mainstream scores.
Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) Scores
Scoring models that incorporate repayment history from installment plans offered by BNPL providers such as Klarna, Affirm, and Afterpay.
Status: Still emerging. Some BNPL firms are beginning to report repayment data to bureaus (mainly Equifax and Experian). TransUnion has announced pilots for BNPL-specific credit reporting.
“Because repayment terms are short (6 weeks to 12 months), lenders and bureaus are still testing how much weight BNPL data should carry in traditional scoring models.”
While FICO remains the dominant standard, the scoring landscape is expanding. From alternative data models to niche industry scores, consumers should be aware that the ‘credit score’ they see on an app is not always the same score a lender will use. Understanding the differences can prevent surprises when applying for loans, housing, or even insurance.
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