Our pick for free credit score: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
- Everyday cashback: 3% at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%
- 2% at US gas stations and select US department stores
- No annual fee
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Which credit cards offer free credit scores?
Discover is widely known for this feature — here are other issuers that allow a no-charge peek.
Access to your credit score can help you monitor your overall financial health, which is especially important when you’re considering a large purchase, applying for a credit card or taking out a loan.
You might know that Discover offers free access to your FICO Score. But it’s not the only provider to entice cardholders with this perk.
What credit cards offer free access to your credit score?
If you don’t own a Discover card, you’re not left in the cold: Many other providers offer access to some version of your credit score.
| Credit card issuer | FICO or VantageScore | Who’s it available to? |
|---|---|---|
| American Express | FICO | Cardholders |
| Bank of America | FICO | Cardholders |
| Barclaycard | FICO | Cardholders |
| Capital One | VantageScore 3.0 | Everybody |
| Chase | FICO | Slate cardholders |
| Citi | FICO | Everybody |
| US Bank | VantageScore 3.0 | Cardholders |
| USAA Bank | VantageScore 3.0 | Members and cardholders |
| Wells Fargo | FICO | Cardholders |
Credit unions that offer free FICO scores
A participating credit union usually updates your credit score quarterly. Typically, you must have one of its consumer credit cards, but you may be able to access your FICO score if you’re a general member.
| Credit union | Credit bureau |
|---|---|
| 1st United Credit Union | Experian |
| America First Credit Union | Experian |
| Andrews Federal Credit Union | Equifax |
| Community Credit Union of Florida | Experian |
| Coulee Dam Federal Credit Union | Equifax |
| Digital Federal Credit Union | Equifax |
| DuPont Community Credit Union | Equifax |
| Elevations Credit Union | Experian |
| Fairfax County Federal Credit Union | Equifax |
| Fortera Credit Union | Equifax |
| General Electric Credit Union | Equifax |
| Harvard University Employees Credit Union | Experian |
| Healthcare Systems Federal Credit Union | Equifax |
| Interra Credit Union | TransUnion |
| KeyPoint Credit Union | Experian |
| Langley Federal Credit Union | Equifax |
| Listerhill Credit Union | Equifax |
| Michigan State University Federal Credit Union | Experian |
| Mountain America Federal Credit Union | Experian |
| NASA Federal Credit Union | Experian |
| Navy Federal Credit Union | Equifax |
| PenFed Credit Union | Equifax |
| Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union | Experian |
| Polish & Slavic Credit Union | Experian |
| Premier America Credit Union | Experian |
| Robins Financial Credit Union | Equifax |
| Stanford Federal Credit Union | Experian |
| Star One Credit Union | Experian |
| State Employees’ Credit Union | Equifax |
| TrueCore Federal Credit Union | Experian |
| Whatcom Educational Credit Union | Experian |
What is the Discover Credit Scorecard?
The Discover Credit Scorecard breaks down elements of your credit history in an easy-to-scan dashboard. Along with your FICO Score, you’ll see your total accounts open, the length of your credit history, your credit utilization and any missed payments or inquiries.
The best part? You don’t need to be a Discover cardholder to qualify. And it’s free.
Reviewing your Discover Credit Scorecard won’t affect your credit, and your score is updated monthly. You’ll also get insight and suggestions to improve your credit based on your personal scorecard.
See your free Discover FICO Score
To access your Discover Credit Scorecard for free:
1. Go to Discover’s site. Under All Products, click Credit Scorecard.
2. Hit Click to Continue.
3. Enter your full name, email address, date of birth, home address and Social Security number. Click Continue.
4. Review Discover’s terms and conditions. If you consent to its terms, click I Agree.
You should immediately see your Discover Credit Scorecard. For future access, log in to your online Discover account.
Why would Discover let me check my credit for free?
In 2014, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) requested credit card companies to begin allowing free access to consumer credit scores. To comply, providers like Discover created means for customers to see their scores, along with other helpful financial data previously available from the credit reporting bureaus only.
By allowing just about anybody to see their credit information, Discover can easily market its products and services that include credit cards and personal loans.
Discover Scorecard vs. CreditWise from Capital One
Capital One is another major issuer offering free access to anybody who’s interested in their credit history, albeit using a slightly different credit score than Discover.
CreditWise from Capital One is supported by TransUnion, a credit bureau that reports your VantageScore 3.0. This credit scoring model requires only a month of credit history to calculate your score, rather than the six months or more required for FICO.
Like Discover’s Credit Scorecard, CreditWise from Capital One presents important factors of your creditworthiness through a dashboard.
Why you should take advantage of getting your credit score for free
Your credit score is an important part of your overall creditworthiness. It’s what lenders use to determine your eligibility for loans and personal credit, including mortgages. You can also use your credit score to stay on top of potential ID fraud.
The more you know about your credit score, the better. It can empower you to enter into big financial decisions with confidence.
Compare credit cards with free credit score checks
Getting a card with free credit score checks can help you keep an eye on your credit score. Otherwise, you’d have to pay for a credit check every time you want to see where your credit score stands. Compare a few credit card options that offer free credit score checks.
Bottom line
Credit card companies like Discover and Capital One offer free access to credit scores for everyone, even if you’re not a customer.
If you swipe or dip with another credit card provider, chances are they too offer access to your score.
Keep track of your financial history on the go with free apps, and check in monthly to stay on top of changes to your credit score.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I check my credit report for free?
You’re entitled to a free annual credit report from the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. If you plan well, you can rotate through the bureaus for access to your full report every four months.
Will checking my credit score hurt my credit?
No. Generally, only hard credit inquiries affect your credit, which rarely occur outside applying for a loan or credit.
What is a bad credit score?
A score of 580 or lower is considered poor with many credit reporting systems. Fair credit scores range from 580 to 669, with a credit score of 670 or higher considered good.
How can I increase my credit score?
Among the many strategies that can help you improve your overall creditworthiness are reviewing your credit report for inaccuracies, paying all of your bills on time, applying for a credit-builder account and hiring a credit repair specialist.
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