How Can I Check My FICO (Fair Isaac Corporation) 10 Score?

FICO Score 10 is the newest version of the industry‑standard credit rating, ranging from 300 to 850 and using five‑year trended data to predict how you'll manage credit in the future. Lenders that have adopted the model treat the score as a snapshot of both current behavior and recent trends, so a higher FICO Score 10 signals lower risk and often unlocks better loan terms. (See 'where you can get an official FICO 10 score' for sources.)

For example, a consumer with a 740 FICO Score 10 typically qualifies for a 3.5 % mortgage rate, while a peer at 660 may be offered 4.2 % or denied outright.

If the same person raises credit‑card balances to 45 % of the limit, the score can drop 20 - 30 points, leading to higher credit‑card APRs and a possible pause on new credit applications. Conversely, paying down a card to under 10 % utilization can lift the score by 15 - 25 points, improving approval odds for an auto loan. FICO Score 10 overview illustrates how these shifts occur in real‑world lending decisions.

You can obtain an official FICO Score 10 directly from sources that license the score from FICO.

• MyFICO subscription service - the most reliable way to view your exact FICO Score 10 and its history.
• Discover online account - shows your current FICO Score 10 on the dashboard after you log in.
• Wells Fargo digital banking - provides the score in the 'Credit Score & Monitoring' section for enrolled customers.
• Chase Credit Journey - displays an official FICO Score 10 for credit‑card holders who opt in.
• American Express online portal - offers the score for active card members.
• Experian CreditWorks (premium tier) - includes an official FICO Score 10 for subscribers.
• Mortgage lenders with FICO licensing (e.g., Rocket Mortgage, loan‑origination portals) - reveal the score during the loan‑application process.

These channels deliver the genuine FICO Score 10; free credit‑report sites do not provide the official score.

The below content will be converted to HTML following it's exact instructions:

• Check your credit‑card or banking portal - a few issuers (e.g., American Express FICO Score 10 free for cardholders and Discover offers free FICO Score 10) display the official score at no charge for eligible accounts.
• Visit myFICO.com - when a 30‑day free trial is active, you can view the full FICO Score 10 during the trial period; remember to cancel before the trial ends if you don't want a subscription.
• Some online loan or mortgage applications provide a complimentary FICO Score 10 preview as part of the pre‑approval process; the score appears in your application dashboard without a fee.

The only consumer‑oriented service that sells the official FICO Score 10 is myFICO, the scoring company's own portal.

• Single‑bureau subscription - $19.95 per month (or $199.95 per year). Includes the FICO Score 10 from one credit bureau of your choice.
• Three‑bureau bundle - $39.95 per month (or $399.95 per year). Gives the FICO Score 10 from Experian, TransUnion and Equifax in a single account.
• One‑time 12‑month access - $219 for a single bureau, $419 for all three bureaus. Provides continuous score updates for a full year without a recurring charge.

All plans deliver the official FICO Score 10, not older FICO versions or VantageScore. They also include monthly credit‑monitoring alerts, score simulators, and a downloadable credit report, so you can see why the score moves.

If you've already read about what the score means and where to get an official copy, the myFICO options are the next logical step before checking whether your bank or lender shares the score directly, which we cover in the following section.

FICO Score 10 appears in the consumer portals of several major banks and lenders, though it isn't guaranteed for every account. Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citi, Capital One, Discover, and USAA have started presenting the score on monthly statements or online dashboards for eligible credit‑card or loan customers. Digital‑first lenders such as SoFi, Rocket Mortgage (through Quicken Loans), LendingClub, and Upstart also surface FICO Score 10 within their account views when you qualify for a personal or auto loan.

Availability depends on the product you hold and whether the institution has a current partnership with FICO. If you don't see the score right away, check the 'credit score' section of your online banking or app, and remember that the next section explains why FICO Score 10 can differ from older versions like FICO Score 10T.

FICO Score 10 departs from older models by weighting 'trended' behavior - how balances, payment amounts, and credit utilization change month‑to‑month - rather than a single‑date snapshot, so a steady improvement can boost the score even if the current numbers look similar (see 'where you can get an official FICO 10 score').

FICO Score 10T is a lender‑specific variant that also uses trended data but applies industry‑tailored scoring rules; older versions such as 8 and 9 ignore trends entirely and rely only on static account information, which makes their outcomes less sensitive to recent payment patterns (learn more in FICO's score model guide).

FICO Score 10 incorporates trended data by evaluating up to 24 months of monthly balances, credit‑utilization patterns, and payment behavior for revolving accounts.

1. Collect each month's balance, high‑balance, credit limit, payment amount, and on‑time status for every credit‑card line.
2. Plot these figures to create a trend line that shows whether balances are decreasing, flat, or increasing.
3. Compare the trend to the borrower's overall profile; a steady or declining balance trend signals lower risk, while rising balances signal higher risk.
4. Apply the trend outcome to the score: positive trends can mitigate the impact of a single late payment, negative trends can depress the score even when current utilization is modest.
5. Merge the trend‑derived risk adjustment with the traditional static factors (payment history, length of credit, mix of accounts, recent inquiries) to generate the final FICO Score 10.

This mechanism explains the distinction covered in the earlier 'why FICO 10 differs from FICO 10T and older scores' section and underlies the sudden fluctuations discussed later in 'what to do when your FICO 10 suddenly drops.' For a deeper dive, see the official FICO Score 10 overview.

If your FICO Score 10 drops sharply, act fast by checking for errors, reviewing recent activity, and addressing underlying causes.

• Pull your latest credit reports from the three bureaus using the free annual credit reports and compare the data to the score you saw.
• Scan for new hard inquiries, late payments, or a sudden rise in credit utilization; these are the top reasons a score falls.
• Confirm that trended data hasn't flagged a missed payment or a high‑balance trend, since FICO Score 10 weighs such trends heavily.
• If any information is inaccurate, file a dispute with the reporting agency; the next section 'Fix errors on reports that drag down your FICO Score 10' explains how.
• Reduce balances to below 30 % of each credit line and keep older accounts open to boost the age‑of‑credit factor.
• Hold off on opening new credit cards or loans for at least six months while the score recovers.
• Set up alerts through your bank or a credit‑monitoring service to catch future changes early.

Fix errors on reports that drag down your FICO Score 10 by promptly disputing any inaccuracies you find.

• Pull your free credit reports from each major bureau (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) via Annual Credit Report website and scan for wrong balances, late‑payment tags, or duplicate accounts.
• Highlight each error that could affect the trended data FICO Score 10 uses, such as outdated delinquencies or mis‑reported credit‑line changes.
• File an online dispute with the bureau that listed the error, attach supporting documents (bank statements, payment confirmations), and use the bureau's dedicated portal (Equifax dispute page, etc.).
• Follow up within 30 days; if the bureau corrects the entry, request an updated copy and verify the change through your MyFICO dashboard or lender portal.
• If the error originates from a lender, contact the creditor directly, request a corrected report, and ask them to notify the bureaus of the amendment.

When a ChexSystems entry stems from fraud, file an identity‑theft letter instead of a standard removal request.

1. Begin with a clear statement: 'I am a victim of identity theft' and reference the FTC's Identity Theft Report (include a copy).
2. Cite your FCRA rights: you may demand a 30‑day investigation and the removal of any fraudulent information.
3. List the fraudulent entry details - account number, date opened, and how you discovered it.
4. Attach the strongest evidence you have: police report, FTC report, a government‑issued ID, and proof you never authorized the account (e.g., recent statements showing no activity).
5. Request immediate deletion and written confirmation of removal within the statutory 30‑day window.
6. Send the packet by certified mail, retain the receipt, and log the mailing date for the follow‑up schedule described in the 'send certified mail' section.

For the official FTC guidance, see FTC's Identity Theft Report instructions.

Paying down a credit‑card balance usually lifts your FICO Score 10, because utilization - a key factor - drops sharply.

In a real‑world case, a borrower reduced a revolving balance from $4,500 (≈30 % utilization on a $15,000 limit) to $1,200 (≈8 %). Within one reporting cycle the score rose ≈ 22 points. Similar scenarios show:

• utilization falling from 40 % to 15 % → +10‑25 points
• eliminating the balance entirely → +5‑15 points (credit‑history length stays intact)
• paying $500 on a $2,000 balance (25 % → 12 % utilization) → +8‑12 points

The exact bump varies with overall portfolio health, recent inquiries, and any negative marks; the trend matters more than a single payment.

If the increase feels modest, review the 'what to do when your FICO 10 suddenly drops' section for other levers, and keep an eye on the 'tracking FICO 10 if you have a thin or new file' guide to monitor future swings. For the underlying methodology, see FICO's official explanation of Score 10.