What Is a Credit Score?

Common Factors

Scoring models generally weigh payment history, the amount owed relative to credit limits (credit utilization), the length of credit history, the mix of credit types, and recent applications for new credit. Exact weights vary by model and country.

Credit Score vs. Credit Report

The credit report is the detailed record of accounts and payments kept by credit bureaus; the credit score is a number calculated from that record.

Different Countries, Different Systems

Many countries have their own credit bureaus and scoring scales, so a score from one country cannot be compared directly with a score from another.