FICO score

FICO Score

A way of measuring an individual's creditworthiness. A FICO score is a quantification of a variety of factors in an individual's background, including a history of default, the current amount of debt, and the length of time that the individual has made purchases on credit. A FICO score ranges between 350 and 850. In general, a score of 650 is considered a "fair" credit score, while 750 or higher is considered "excellent." A FICO score is a convenient way to summarize an individual's credit history and is included in a credit report. The term comes from the Fair Isaac Corporation, which created the system.

---

FICO score. Created by the Fair Isaac Corporation, FICO is the best-known credit scoring system in the United States.

Based on the information in your credit report, your FICO score is calculated using complex, proprietary formulas that weigh the amount of debt you carry relative to your available credit, the timeliness of your payments, the type of debt you carry, and a great many other factors to assign you a credit score between 300 and 850.

The top 20% of credit profiles receive a score over 780 and the lowest 20% receive scores under 620. Lenders use your credit score to assess your credit risk, or the likelihood that you will default on a loan and offer the best -- or lowest -- interest rates to credit applicants with the highest scores.

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) prohibits factors such as race, color, gender, religion, national origin, or marital status from being considered in any credit scoring system, including FICO.

---

Fair Isaac Company (FICO) score

A credit score, based on the name of the company that wrote the software that calculates the scores.

---

FICO Score

See Credit Score.