The major credit bureaus in the United States are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. These three private companies collect and compile data on consumers' borrowing and payment histories to create credit reports, which lenders and other authorized parties use to assess creditworthiness
. Key points about the major credit bureaus:
- Equifax is based in Atlanta and operates in multiple countries, dominant in the Southern and Midwestern U.S.
- Experian has its U.S. headquarters in Costa Mesa, California, and operates globally with corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland
- TransUnion is headquartered in Chicago and has offices worldwide
Each bureau may have slightly different information because not all creditors report to all three, so credit reports and scores can vary between them
. None of the bureaus is considered better or more important than the others; lenders may use reports from one or all three when making decisions
. In summary, the three major credit bureaus are:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
They play a crucial role in lending by providing credit reports that reflect consumers' credit histories and help determine credit scores
