Do lenders go by Equifax or TransUnion?

Do Lenders Use Equifax or TransUnion? Understanding Credit Reports and Scores

When applying for a loan or credit card, you might wonder which credit bureau lenders check: Equifax or TransUnion? The answer isn’t as simple as choosing one or the other. While lenders see information from bureaus like Equifax and TransUnion, they don’t directly use a bureau’s specific credit score. Instead, they often use credit scoring models, most notably FICO® Scores, to assess your creditworthiness.

Think of it this way: Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian are libraries containing your credit history. These libraries (credit bureaus) compile data about your borrowing and repayment habits, creating credit reports. Lenders can access these reports to get a picture of your financial responsibility. However, the reports themselves don’t provide a single, easily digestible number summarizing your creditworthiness.

That’s where FICO® Scores come in. FICO®, a separate analytics company, uses the data from each of the three major credit bureaus to generate a credit score. Different lenders might use different FICO® scoring models, and some might even use scores from VantageScore, another credit scoring company. The key takeaway is that these scoring models pull information from multiple bureaus, including both Equifax and TransUnion, rather than relying solely on one.

While the specific FICO® Score or other credit scoring model used can vary by lender, the underlying principle remains consistent: lenders are looking for a comprehensive understanding of your credit health. This means they consider data compiled by various credit bureaus. Therefore, focusing on maintaining positive credit habits across all your accounts is more beneficial than worrying about which specific bureau a lender might prioritize.

Furthermore, different lenders have different risk tolerances and lending criteria. Some may prioritize certain aspects of your credit history over others, such as recent late payments versus a long history of responsible credit usage. This means even with a similar FICO® Score, your loan application outcome might differ between lenders.

In conclusion, the question isn’t whether lenders use Equifax or TransUnion. Instead, understand that lenders often use scoring models like FICO®, which draw information from both Equifax and TransUnion, along with Experian, to paint a comprehensive picture of your creditworthiness. Focus on building healthy credit habits across the board to improve your chances of approval with any lender.