Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion: What's Different Between the Three Bureaus

Why the bureaus are different

Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion are private companies that compete for creditor relationships. Creditors choose which bureaus to report to — many report to all three, but some report to only one or two. This means your three reports can look meaningfully different.

Why your scores differ between bureaus

Your credit scores differ between bureaus for three reasons:

1. Different data — not all creditors report to all three bureaus
2. Different score models — FICO Score 8, FICO Score 9, VantageScore 3.0, VantageScore 4.0 all use different weights
3. Different update timing — creditors report on different schedules

A difference of 20–50 points between bureaus is common and normal. Differences of 100+ points usually indicate a major negative item reported to one bureau but not the others.

Which bureau do mortgage lenders use?

Mortgage lenders typically pull all three bureaus and use the middle score. For a joint application, they use the lower of the two borrowers' middle scores. This is why you should monitor all three reports before applying for a mortgage.

Which bureau do auto lenders use?

Auto lenders vary by institution and region. Experian Auto is the most common single-bureau pull for auto loans, but many lenders pull two or all three.

Which bureau do credit card issuers use?

Credit card issuers tend to have bureau preferences:

• American Express — Experian (primary)
• Chase — Experian (primary), with Equifax or TransUnion in some states
• Citi — Equifax or Experian (varies by product)
• Bank of America — TransUnion or Experian

These preferences change and are not published — but applicant data-points are tracked on forums like myFICO.com.

See also: Disputing errors at each bureau · How to freeze your credit at all three bureaus