FICO scores run 300 to 850. Anything above 740 typically qualifies for the lowest published rates on mortgages and auto loans; anything above 760 stops earning incremental rate improvements at most major lenders.
Why your score looks different in different places
Your score is calculated more than once. The same underlying credit file, on the same day, produces different scores depending on which formula a lender pulls.
- FICO 8 — the most widely used. The number you see on a typical credit-card app or in your bank's free credit-score view.
- FICO 9 — newer, treats medical collections and paid collections more leniently. Used by some lenders, not all.
- FICO 2, 4, 5 — older versions still required by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for conventional mortgages.
- FICO Auto 8 / FICO Bankcard 8 — industry-specific versions, run on a 250-900 scale, used in auto and credit-card underwriting.
- VantageScore 3.0 / 4.0 — FICO's competitor, used by Credit Karma and several lenders.
Same person, same day, can have a 35-point spread across these. That's normal. A lender pulls the version that fits the product they're underwriting.
Score bands lenders actually care about
Roughly: 800+ is exceptional. 740-799 gets the lowest rates published. 670-739 is "good" and qualifies for most prime products. 580-669 is fair; you'll get approved but with higher rates and lower limits. Below 580 is the subprime band - most lenders either decline or move you into specialty products.
The score is a snapshot. The underlying file is the lever. To understand what's actually pulling your score down (and what to do about it), the credit repair hub covers the dispute and rebuilding process. For deeper context on each bureau, see our credit bureau guide.