Credit score

A credit score is a number that predicts the likelihood that a borrower will be able to repay a loan as agreed. Credit-reporting agencies are businesses that collect information about consumers’ loan and bill payment histories. Credit reporting agencies keep these records and, upon request, provide information to creditors in the form of a credit report. When a creditor requests a borrower’s credit report, a credit score is generated based on the information in the credit report. Factors that can damage a credit score include late payments, absence of credit references, too much outstanding credit and unfavorable credit card use.