The three major credit bureaus in the United States are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. These are nationwide credit reporting agencies that collect and compile data about individuals' credit and borrowing histories from lenders, creditors, and public records. They create credit reports used by lenders and others to assess creditworthiness and make lending decisions
- Equifax is based in Atlanta and operates in multiple countries.
- Experian has its U.S. headquarters in Costa Mesa, California, and operates globally.
- TransUnion is headquartered in Chicago with offices worldwide
Each bureau maintains its own credit reports, which can differ slightly because they may receive different information from creditors. They do not make lending decisions but provide the data that lenders use to evaluate risk
. In summary, the three major credit bureaus are:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
