Your next credit card approval is in the hands of these 3 agencies
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with new information.
Your credit score plays a large role in your overall finances. We talk a lot about what goes into a credit score and how you can keep it in tip-top shape, but where does your score actually come from?
Let’s take a look at the three major credit reporting agencies that determine your score.
The 3 major credit reporting agencies
Three major credit reporting agencies—TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian — collect your financial information and compile it into a report. Those reports are a key part of your credit score, and they’re what banks and creditors pull when you apply for a credit card, loan or other lines of credit.
Each credit reporting agency has its own method for compiling your credit report and determining your credit score, which is why your score may vary by agency. Let’s examine each agency and the scores it produces. Then, we’ll discuss which issuers look at which scores when you apply for a new card.
TransUnion
TransUnion was created in 1968 as the parent holding company of Union Tank Car Company, a railcar leasing operation. In 1969, the company entered the credit reporting business when it acquired the Credit Bureau of Cook County (CBCC). Since then, it has expanded its services beyond credit reporting, but it remains one of the primary credit bureaus in the country.
One of TransUnion's defining characteristics is that it offers a service called Identity Lock. If you believe you are a victim of identity theft, TransUnion will freeze your report and contact Experian and Equifax to inform them of the freeze.
Equifax
Equifax is a global data, analytics and technology company. Like TransUnion, it is another major credit reporting agency used by lenders, although it also offers other financial services. Equifax has been in the spotlight for the past few years after a massive data breach was reported in 2017 that affected 147 million people. In the years since, the company committed to a security transformation, hired new leadership and put forth steps to rebuild its reputation and security infrastructure.
Experian
The last of the “"Big Three"” is Experian. I’ve found that Experian has more to offer in terms of credit education. Based on the data and analytics collected by the company, Experian releases numerous reports each year. Of course, Experian also offers credit reporting and monitoring services.
The company, now called Experian, actually started as a London-based forum back in 1803. However, the U.S. credit reporting operation really began under the company name TRW, which acquired Credit Data (a credit reporting agency) in 1968. Eventually, the London and U.S. companies merged to form Experian, the global company it is today.
Related: How to check your credit score for absolutely free
FICO vs. VantageScore
FICO and VantageScore are the two primary methods credit reporting agencies use to determine credit scores. All three agencies use both of these methodologies to determine different types of scores. FICO is the more established methodology and has been around for much longer. VantageScore is newer, developed by all three of the major credit reporting agencies back in 2006.
Both types of scores range from 300 to 850 — and the higher the score, the more reliable the borrower is. While there is a lot of overlap in the factors each methodology takes into consideration, there are some slight differences between the two.
FICO gives specific percentage weights to each factor:
- Payment history (35%)
- Amounts owed (30%)
- Length of credit history (15%)
- New credit (10%)
- Credit mix (10%)
VantageScore keeps its formula on the vague side, listing out the general level of importance of each factor:
- Payment history (extremely influential)
- Age and type of credit (highly influential)
- Percentage of credit limit used (highly influential)
- Total balances and debt (moderately influential)
- Recent credit behavior and inquiries (less influential)
- Available credit (less influential)
There is no singular credit score used by every credit card issuer, bank and lender. Also, each credit reporting agency may have different financial information on file. Unfortunately, this can mean that your approval odds differ depending on which type of score is being pulled to make a decision.
Related: Your FICO score and which credit issuers offer it for free
Which credit bureaus do banks check?
When you apply for a credit card, the issuer contacts a credit bureau (or several) to purchase a copy of your credit report. Your credit report includes the categories mentioned above. Knowing which credit reporting agency a card issuer uses to pull reports might help give you a better picture of your approval odds.
You can also use this knowledge to space out your applications (or bundle them, as the case may be) in such a way that helps you maintain an optimal credit score, even if you are applying for multiple cards in a shorter time frame.
Many credit card companies rely on one bureau to process credit card applications. However, the credit bureau they use to buy reports may change depending on the state you live in and the specific card you want.
Here are a few anecdotal data points that have been reported over the years:
- Amex primarily pulls Experian, though sometimes Equifax or TransUnion reports.
- Capital One doesn’t have a favorite — but often pulls more than one.
- Chase favors Experian but may also pull Equifax or TransUnion reports.
- Citi usually pulls credit reports from Equifax or Experian.
Let’s say you find out that Citi usually pulls from Equifax, and Chase primarily uses Experian. You could apply for cards from both issuers in a single day and potentially improve your approval odds for both.
Unfortunately, credit card companies don’t publicly reveal which credit bureau they favor. However, there are online resources that gather customer feedback to provide an overall average of which issuer uses which credit bureau.
These resources aren’t perfect and are subject to unverified (and perhaps outdated) user input. Still, you may be able to glean information to help you in your search, as long as you understand that it may not be 100% accurate.
CreditBoards.com
The CreditPulls database on CreditBoards.com is a popular online resource for information about credit card applications. You can use the database to determine which credit report will likely be pulled for your application and the score you may need to get approved for a particular card. (Tip: Check the dates of the posts; there may have been changes since the data was posted.)
Access the database using the following steps:
- Visit CreditBoards.com
- Click the CreditPulls option on the menu bar
- Select your search criteria — the applicant’s state of residence, credit reporting agency (CRA), date applied and whether the application was approved or denied.
- Click “Update”
To see a wider range of card issuer options, only fill in your state and date range in the search criteria. For example, I looked up data for credit pulls throughout the US in 2024. Here are some of the results:
However, I must stress again that the card issuer's agency to pull reports can fluctuate between cities and even individual customers. To get the best picture possible, you should check the site for yourself and enter your own information. Even then, your application results aren’t guaranteed to be the same as what others experienced.
This is really just a guide to help you make an educated guess as to where an issuer may get your data.
Related: Best credit cards for excellent credit
Bottom line
When you apply for a new credit card, your issuer will pull data from one of the “big three” credit reporting agencies. Because the information from each agency differs (and therefore, your scores from each vary), it’s important to stay updated on your credit score at each company.
Under U.S. law, you are allowed to receive your full credit report for free from each agency once per year. Ensure you’re taking advantage of that to keep an eye on your report and the information being compiled (even if you are also monitoring your scores through your credit card issuer’s mobile apps or other financial services).
Related: The best credit cards
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.