Credit Score in Canada 2024

Credit score is a crucial aspect of personal finance that affects many areas of life, from borrowing money and getting loans to renting an apartment, obtaining insurance, or even getting a job. In Canada, credit scores are commonly used by lenders and financial institutions to assess the creditworthiness of individuals and determine the risk of lending them money.

What is a Credit Score?

A credit score is a three-digit number that represents an individual’s creditworthiness, based on their past financial behavior and credit history. In Canada, credit scores range from 300 to 900, with higher scores indicating better creditworthiness and lower risk.

Credit scores are calculated based on several factors, including payment history, credit utilization, length of credit history, types of credit used, and recent credit inquiries. The exact weight and importance of each factor may vary depending on the credit bureau and scoring model used.

A good credit score is essential for accessing credit and getting favorable terms and rates on loans, credit cards, mortgages, and other financial products. A poor credit score, on the other hand, can limit the options and opportunities available and result in higher interest rates, fees, and denials.

Moreover, credit scores can also affect non-lending decisions, such as renting an apartment, obtaining insurance, or getting a job. Landlords, insurers, and employers may use credit scores as a measure of responsibility, trustworthiness, and stability.

How is a Credit Score Calculated in Canada?

As mentioned earlier, credit scores in Canada are calculated based on various factors that reflect an individual’s creditworthiness and financial behavior. The two main credit bureaus in Canada are Equifax and TransUnion, which gather and analyze credit data from various sources, such as lenders, creditors, and public records.

The most common credit scoring model used in Canada is the FICO score, which was developed by Fair Isaac Corporation and ranges from 300 to 900. The FICO score considers five factors, each with a different weight:

• Payment history (35%): whether you have paid your bills on time and in full, and any delinquencies or collections.
• Credit utilization (30%): how much of your available credit you are using and how much you owe, relative to your credit limits.
• Length of credit history (15%): how long you have been using credit and the age of your oldest and newest accounts.
• Types of credit used (10%): the variety and mix of credit products you have, such as credit cards, loans, and mortgages.
• Recent credit inquiries (10%): how many times you have applied for credit recently and the type of credit.