Discover how credit scores and credit reports differ, why each is important, and how they impact your financial life.

Jessica Gibson is a content update editor and writer for Investopedia. She has over 10 years of experience in digital publishing and three years of experience covering financial topics like insurance, ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Achieving a perfect 850 FICO score is an elite status held by fewer than 1% of U.S. consumers, according to recent analyses of credit data. For context, the average American credit score stands at 717 ...

If you just hit an 850 credit score, you might feel like popping some bottles -- and you should. A perfect score is a major financial achievement, proof that you're financially responsible and capable ...