9 credit scores you didn’t know you had ~ Credit Sesame

Credit Sesame introduces 9 credit scores beyond the ones you see every day and explains how they might affect your financial life.

Most people think they have one credit score, the number they check in a credit card app or a credit monitoring tool. In reality, there are many credit scores, each designed to predict different types of financial behavior.

Your primary credit scores, like FICO and VantageScore, may help lenders decide whether to approve your application for a loan, credit card, or mortgage. These scores estimate how likely you are to repay borrowed money on time.

However, that’s only part of the story. There are dozens of other scores working behind the scenes, possibly influencing decisions on insurance, rentals, and even medical payments. Here are 9 credit scores you may not know you have, and what they could mean for you.

1. FICO Auto Score

This version of your credit score is created for car lenders. It puts extra emphasis on your past auto loan performance and any repossessions. If you have a strong record of on-time car payments, this score might help you qualify for better loan terms.

2. FICO Bankcard Score

When you apply for a credit card, issuers may use this score instead of a general credit score. It focuses on how you handle revolving credit, like balances and minimum payments. Managing your existing cards responsibly could improve this score.

3. Credit-based insurance score

Auto and home insurers often use credit-based insurance scores to estimate the likelihood that you might file a claim. These scores may use similar factors as credit scores but weigh them differently. Some states limit or ban the use of these scores, so the impact depends on where you live.

4. Mortgage industry scores

Mortgage lenders often rely on older FICO versions, such as FICO 2, 4, and 5. These scores might not include the latest scoring updates, and each bureau may provide a different version to the lender. Keeping your credit habits strong over time could help regardless of the version used.

5. FICO Score XD

This score was developed to evaluate people with limited or no traditional credit history. It uses alternative data such as utility and telecom payments. For those who pay these bills on time, this score may create a pathway into mainstream credit.

6. Tenant (rental) score

Landlords and property managers often use tenant screening reports that include proprietary scores or recommendations to estimate whether you might pay rent on time or pose a higher eviction risk. Your credit history may play a big part, but other factors like past rental records could also affect these assessments.

7. LexisNexis RiskView score

LexisNexis RiskView score. This score uses public records and alternative data to assess risk, and it may be used by landlords and some lenders. While you cannot directly view your RiskView score, you can request a copy of your LexisNexis consumer file to see the data used in creating it

8. Customer management score

Lenders may use internal “behavioral” scores to decide whether to increase your credit limit or offer you new products. These scores are based on your account history with that lender and may help them manage risk and tailor offers.

9. New BNPL-inclusive FICO score

The newest FICO score, expected to roll out widely in late 2025, includes Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) transactions when they are reported to credit bureaus. This could help people who make all payments on time build a stronger record, but it could also harm scores if payments are missed or balances pile up. https://www.fico.com/en/newsroom/fico-announces-plans-include-bnpl-data-scores