Update: As commenters have pointed out, the Citi score is technically a FICO score, but it is a FICO Bankcard Score 8 instead of FICO score 8 as the other scores are.
The FICO Bankcard Score 8 model has a FICO Score range from 250 through 900.
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-Related post (Read this first!!!): Building Credit And Credit Card FAQs: Your Questions Answered
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It used to be quite hard to obtain your FICO score for free.
Online services that advertise cute or obnoxious jingles to give you your credit score for free are only giving you a FAKO score, not something that’s of much use as lenders don’t ever see those scores. A FAKO score can be significantly different than your FICO score, discrepancies of more than 100 points aren’t uncommon.
The most widely used version of credit score is the FICO score 8. As there are 3 credit bureaus, you will have 3 of these FICO scores.
Luckily many banks are now providing free FICO scores and between them you can access all 3 of your FICO 8 scores for free.
-Citi allows most of its cardholders free Equifax FICO score access. After clicking on the card account there should be a link for the FICO score or you can look under card benefits for the FICO score link.
It’s not surprising that this is my strongest score as it has the least amount of hard pulls:
-Barclaycard allows its cardholders to view your Transunion FICO score by logging in here.
-Discover prints your Transunion FICO score on your monthly statement. It matches my Barclaycard score as they are both Transunion FICO 8 scores.
-And now American Express is rolling out free access to your Experian 8 score. Just click on a card and look on the right side to see if you have the new interface with the option to view your FICO score. Not everyone has the new interface yet, but it will be rolled out to everyone:
Credit card banks love to check your Experian report, so it’s no surprise that my Experian score is the lowest of the bunch:
Still that means even with a lot of hard pulls, the difference between my “clean” Equifax report and my “dirty” Experian report is just 31 points. That’s not a surprise as the new credit category only makes up a total 85 of your 850 points. You can read more about that in this article.
BOFA is also rolling out free FICO scores and Chase will be giving free FICO scores to their Slate cardholders.
Do you have access to all 3 of your FICO scores for free? Want to share your scores? Sound off in the comments!
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54 Comments On "My FICO Scores From All 3 Credit Bureaus, Obtained Monthly Free Of Charge Thanks To Credit Cards"
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I have the new interface of AMEX but don’t see the option to check the score?
Same here @lazer. Any idea when we should see it?
@Dan: Received Amex email today that ShopRunner changing policies on May 1st to require minimum order to receive benefits… Am I the only one?
same as @lazer
@lazer:
@Joseph:
@mdrills:
Keep checking, the interface will change again and the FICO option will be there.
At least that’s what happened for me.
@Moe:
Got that as well.
credit karma?
@anonymous:
FAKO!
I got my FICO score at Citi AA card.
Thanks Dan!
First National Bank of Omaha offers Experian FICO scores monthly as well. You can get a secured card also which is essentially guaranteed approval. If you have an Amex though you may as well wait for it to be rolled out to you.
I also get my EQ FICO monthly on the last Friday of the month from Digital Credit Union (with only a checking and savings account).
@Dan:
Do you need to have a specific amex card or simply any one ?
Capital One is also offering the experian to their customers.
@Anonymous:
AMEX is rolling it out for all cardholders.
@night awl:
My understanding is that Crapital One gives FAKO.
Though they’re happy to hurt all 3 of your FICO scores when you apply for credit with them.
@Anonymous as per a chat rep it’s based on individual card members, not type of card.
@night awl most likely FAKO
Same Fico score from Barclays and Citi Bank. Fico is 783!!!
are citi, barclays and Amex all the Fico score 8 model?
Is capital one fico or fako because it differs greatly from Barclay’s.
what about usaa? they just rolled it out recently also.
@Eli:
783 is a great score!
@Anonymous:
All of these scores appear to be Fico score 8.
@Anonymous:
See comment 13, FAKO.
@joe:
USAA gives FAKO.
I don’t see the fico option on any of my Citi cards, (AA, forward, and TY) but this link takes me there.
https://www.cardbenefits.citi.com/products/free-fico-score.aspx
FICO from Experian also available from Chase if you have a Slate card.
Free FICO® Score:
Your FICO® Score displayed is for your educational purposes and based on data from Experian. It may be different from other credit scores used by Chase and other lenders in making credit decisions. This information is available online only at Chase.com to primary cardmembers with an open account, provided Experian has sufficient credit history in a credit file for a FICO® Score to be generated. Once approved for the Slate card, it may take up to seven days for your FICO® Score and related information to be available on Chase.com. Chase reserves the right to make changes or discontinue this feature at any time. FICO® is a registered trademark of the Fair Isaac Corporation in the United States and other countries.
@Dan what about the new feature on the Chase Slate Card,
where is that score coming from?
Thanks
According to this website, the Citi FICO score is very different that a normal FICO. That one goes up to 900 as you can see in Dan’s screencap. So the numbers are not directly comparable, even without the credit pulls.
Ayain shom:
http://www.magnifymoney.com/blog/building-credit/#citi-free-fico-scores-live-something-different367796063
A question about CreditKarma. It looks like they give out Vantage 3. Why would you consider that “FAKO”?
The reason I am asking is because they built out a business model niche in credit improvement. I am wondering if anyone has thoughts on that.
Should I put much weight in Barclays score of 775 vs. Credit Karmas score of 702 (I did have a lot of pulls recently).
Not showing up for any of my 4 AMEXes
Isn’t Chase offering free score as well now?
I have the new interface but no FICO link. Chatted with a rep and was told to go to americanexpress.com/creditscore which worked but gave me a PLUS Score (not a FICO score) and my Experian credit report. Not sure what I’m missing.
755 from Discover.
should I feel good?
Here is my conversation with a representative
James: Let me explain..
James: The FICO score is not available on all the accounts at the moment as it is in the testing phase currently…
James: Let me also provide steps where you may check if it is showing your account at the moment..
James: Please visit the account home page..
James: There you’ll see a “Useful links” on the right side of your account home page..
James: If available, you’ll be able to view a “FICO Score”link below “Useful Links”.
@JOe
Was wondering about that….i’m showing 835 through CITI. Thought it was too high. Dan can you confirm or let us know if through CITI is the normal FICO score?
Yeah, the Citi one goes to 900. I have an 868 FICO on the Citi site which is obviously impossible on the 850 scale.
@Ike: It’s the correct Transunion FICO
Is it a at all a pull on your credit to check out the FICO score???
@Anon:
Same Here. 5 Amex Cards. New interface but it doesn’t show up
Did they say how long it will take till everyone gets it?
I am not too happy with amex. I am a cardholder since 1979, have the new interface but not the fico score capability. I did a live chat with them and they gave me the standard response “we are rolling it out”.
No new interface for me. I only have plat card.
If you have an amex card you can view your credit score with this link: americanexpress.com/creditscore
@Sam thank you!
All you need its to logout form your account and open americanexpress.com/creditscore
and login again!
@Joe:
Indeed, thanks.
@DXD:
Because by definition if it’s not FICO its FAKO.
@Mark:
1 is FICO, 1 is FAKO.
@Anon:
Like I said, being rolled out.
@sky121:
Only Slate AFAIK.
@Ike:
See post update.
@Sam:
@PM:
That is a FAKO score.
i got a letter from chase today that my ba card wont earn 1.25 on all purchases it will just be 1 point per dollar. mayb starting april or may i dont remember. are you aware of this? is this for everyone or just me? i know this is off topic
My filthiest credit report Experian (obviously) with 17 hard pulls in the last 10 months, has a score of 763! Also, I’m still 18.
Is there any way at the moment to see a FICO score if you just have a Freedom an United Explorer card?
Dan, I have a slate card, how do I get the FICO?
I’m confused to whether or not checking your own FICO hearts credit or not. Dan’s answer to Joe is that it does. But on the article linked on top of this page, Dan clearly wrote “Checking your own credit report does not hurt your score”
@Joel
on the discover card fico score they write, that receiving this fico score will not affect your credit.
You can believe them if you would like.
@Joel:
When did I say it affects your credit??
Checking your own score does not affect your credit at all, something you would know if you read the “Read this first” post.
@Dan at comment 41 it looks like your answer to Joe is that “indeed” it does
@Joel:
You do realize you can click on the @Joe link in comment 41 and see exactly which Joe I’m responding to, right?
Wow I learned something new, I’ve been reading this site for years and never knew about this. Thanks Dan
Dan what is the real practical difference between bankcard model 8 and score 8 model if any?
If I understood the amex rep correctly, the amex credit score is only avail free for the first 30 days, and then its only once a year, does that hold true?
Hi Dan I was wondering if you can help me with this question, if I do a balance transfer on a business credit card and do the minimum monthly payments on the transfer will it affect my personal credit score? Thanx