When you apply for a credit card, the card issuer may check your credit score from Experian, Equifax, or Transunion – or all three. Companies don’t typically disclose which credit bureau they use when checking consumers’ information and there is no guarantee that they will choose a particular one. However, some banks have been known to use one credit bureau more than the others. The state that you reside in might also have an impact on which credit bureau your company will use.
Following are a few examples of credit card companies that use Experian more than other bureaus in general.
American Express:
American Express is known to use Experian the most compared to other credit card companies. It almost always uses Experian exclusively, almost 90% of the time, for a hard inquiry when assessing a credit card application.
Bank of America:
Bank of America also usually uses Experian for about 80% of the time to pull credit reports. For specific cards, they may use TransUnion. In case the applicant has frozen their Experian report, they will most probably use TransUnion.
Chase:
While Chase generally uses Experian slightly more than the other bureaus, the choice of credit bureau may change according to the state you reside in. Some states might prefer TransUnion or Equifax over Experian and some might pull data from at least two bureaus for each application.
Citi:
Citi commonly uses Experian or Equifax to pull credit reports. For some applications, they may use both for a credit pull. Very rarely do they use TransUnion.
Wells Fargo:
Wells Fargo uses Experian around 40% of the time followed by TransUnion and Equifax. The bureau it uses to pull credit reports from also depends mostly on the applicant’s state of residence.
FAQs
Creditors can report details about your credit accounts to the credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax). However, they aren't required to report account information. Some may only report to one or two of the three major credit reporting companies, while others might not report your accounts at all.
What credit score is good with Experian? ›
For a score with a range between 300 and 850, a credit score of 700 or above is generally considered good. A score of 800 or above on the same range is considered to be excellent. Most consumers have credit scores that fall between 600 and 750.
Is Experian better than FICO? ›
How Experian Works. Experian's advantage over FICO is that the information it provides is far more detailed and thorough than a simple number.
Does Chase use FICO or Experian? ›
Which credit bureau the bank uses the most often depends on which state you live in. Based on anecdotal information, Chase generally uses credit data from Experian. However, Chase may opt to review your Equifax or TransUnion credit reports instead depending on which state you live in.
What is the easiest instant credit card to get? ›
- Instant approval for Amazon Prime Visa. ...
- A rewarding card for essentials Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. ...
- Instant access to a great travel card Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. ...
- For below-average credit Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card. ...
- No credit check required OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card.
Here are some of the best credit cards that may use Equifax only:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: $450 annual fee (excellent credit) ...
- Citi Double Cash: $0 annual fee (good credit) ...
- Discover it: $0 annual fee (good credit) ...
- HSBC Premier World Mastercard: $95 annual fee, waived the first year (excellent credit)
While FICO Score 8 is the most common, mortgage lenders might use FICO Score 2, 4 or 5. Auto lenders often use one of the FICO Auto Scores. And credit card lenders can use the FICO Bankcard Scores.
Does Citi use Experian? ›
Experian is the most commonly used source that Citi will draw a report from, but there's no guarantee that they won't decide to pull a different or additional report from another reporting agency. If you're not certain your score is good enough to be approved, you can work on improving your credit.
How rare is an 800 credit score? ›
According to a report by FICO, only 23% of the scorable population has a credit score of 800 or above.
Does anyone have a 900 credit score? ›
A credit score of 900 is not possible, but older scoring models that are no longer used once went up to 900 or higher. The highest possible credit score you can get now is 850.
Credit score distribution: How rare is an exceptional 800 to 850 score?
| FICO® Score range | Percent within range |
|---|
| 650-699 | 12% |
| 700-749 | 17% |
| 750-799 | 24% |
| 800-850 | 23% |
4 more rowsMay 31, 2023
Simply put, there is no “more accurate” score when it comes down to receiving your score from the major credit bureaus.
What is the current average credit score in the US? ›
The average FICO credit score in the US is 717, according to the latest FICO data. The average VantageScore is 701 as of January 2024. Credit scores, which are like a grade for your borrowing history, fall in the range of 300 to 850.
Which credit score is used most? ›
FICO ® Scores are the most widely used credit scores—90% of top lenders use FICO ® Scores. Every year, lenders access billions of FICO ® Scores to help them understand people's credit risk and make better–informed lending decisions.
Who uses Experian credit check? ›
Your Experian Credit Report will be accessed with your consent when you apply for credit. Credit providers such as banks, building societies, credit unions, finance companies, access seekers, mortgage insurers and other businesses that offer to lend you money can access your credit report.
Does Amazon credit use Experian? ›
Chip Lupo, Credit Card Writer
Amazon Credit Card reports the card's credit limit, account balance, payment history, and more to all three of the major credit bureaus: TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. Chase may use a specific credit bureau more than another, depending on the applicant's home state, and other factors.
Does Apple credit use Experian? ›
Today we've made an important step towards overcoming these challenges and supporting responsible lending as Apple becomes the first major BNPL provider to fully furnish “pay-in-4” loan information and payment history directly to Experian.
Does Capital One pull from Experian? ›
Which Credit Bureau Does Capital One Use? Capital One appears to pull from any of the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.
