When you apply for credit – whether for a credit card, a car loan, or a mortgage – lenders want to know what risk they'd take by loaning money to you. FICO® scores are the credit scores most lenders use to determine your credit risk.

About FICO® scores
Credit bureau scores are often called “FICO scores” because most credit bureau scores used in the U.S. are produced from software developed by Fair Isaac and Company. FICO scores are provided to lenders by the major credit reporting agencies.

The Three Credit Bureaus
You have three scores, one with each of the three major credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. Each score is based on information the credit bureau keeps on file about you. As this information changes, your credit scores tend to change as well. Your 3 scores affect both how much and what loan terms (interest rate, programs, etc.) lenders will offer you at any given time.

Other Names for Scores
Scores have different names at each of the credit reporting agencies. All of these scores, however, are developed using the same methods by Fair Isaac, and have been rigorously tested to ensure they provide the most accurate picture of credit risk possible using credit report data.

Equifax - BEACON®
Experian - Experian/Fair Isaac Risk Model
TransUnion - EMPIRICA®

Your score may be different at each of the agencies.
The score from each credit reporting agency considers only the data in your credit report at that agency at that time. If your current scores from the credit reporting agencies are different, it's probably because the information those agencies have on you differs.

Your FICO score changes over time.
As your data changes at the credit reporting agency, so will any new score based on your credit report. So, your FICO score from a month ago is probably not the same score a lender would get from the credit reporting agency today.