The seven major credit bureaus play a significant role in shaping your credit score. Experian is one of the largest credit bureaus, collecting data on over 200 million consumers worldwide. Equifax is another major player, maintaining a vast database of consumer credit information.
Your credit score is based on the data collected by these credit bureaus. TransUnion's database, for instance, contains over 500 million active credit files. Credit Karma, a popular credit monitoring service, relies on data from all three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
The 7 Credit Bureaus
There are three large credit bureaus you might know: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. However, the list of credit reporting agencies (CRAs) is much larger.
The three large credit bureaus are part of the most common national credit reporting companies. These are the ones you'll likely interact with most often.
Here are the three large credit bureaus again, listed in a table for easy reference:
Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion are the most well-known credit bureaus, but there are many others.
Ownership and Structure
The credit bureaus are not government-operated, but they are regulated by the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
The credit bureaus are publicly traded companies, meaning they are owned by their shareholders. This includes large investment firms like The Vanguard Group, Inc. and BlackRock Inc.
Some of the largest owners of the major credit bureaus include T. Rowe Price Associates Inc. for TransUnion, and Massachusetts Financial Services Co. for Equifax.
Here's a quick rundown of some of the largest owners of the major credit bureaus:
- TransUnion: T. Rowe Price Associates Inc., The Vanguard Group, Inc., and BlackRock Inc.
- Equifax: The Vanguard Group, Inc., Massachusetts Financial Services Co., and BlackRock Inc.
Notable Credit Bureaus
The three primary business credit bureaus are Dun & Bradstreet (D&B), Experian, and Equifax. These companies evaluate the creditworthiness and financial health of businesses, based on data gathered from sources such as suppliers, creditors, public records, and business owners themselves.
Other notable business credit reporting companies include TransUnion, Accurint by LexisNexis, Creditsafe, Seafax, and Tarnell.
Here are the major business credit bureaus:
The three primary business credit bureaus are also major credit reporting agencies for consumers, along with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are secondary credit bureaus?
Secondary credit bureaus" don't exist; they're actually called Specialty Consumer Reporting Agencies (SCRAs), which gather specific types of information beyond traditional credit history. These agencies focus on unique data collections, expanding the scope of consumer reporting.
Sources
- https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/credit-reports-and-scores/consumer-reporting-companies/companies-list/
- https://www.consumerlawfirm.com/credit-reporting-agencies.htm
- https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/credit-reports-and-scores/consumer-reporting-companies/
- https://wallethub.com/edu/cs/credit-reporting-agencies/25518
- https://consumerattorneys.com/resources/list-of-credit-reporting-agencies
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