When you view your credit score, you're likely to see a different three-digit number depending on whether you checked your score online, on your banking app or via another means.
Although you have multiple credit scores, they're mainly calculated by two companies: VantageScore and FICO, which are the two main credit scoring systems used by the majority of lenders to evaluate how well you're managing your credit.
"Think of those like Coke and Pepsi," John Ulzheimer, a credit expert who formerly worked for FICO and Experian, tells CNBC Make it.
And your credit history needs to be at least six months long in order for FICO to generate your score.
Although FICO scores are also used by lenders when you apply for credit, a mortgage or an auto loan, FICO weighs the factors it uses to calculate its credit scores differently.
Persons:
John Ulzheimer, VantageScore, FICO, Matt Schulz, LendingTree's, Schulz
Organizations:
Pepsi, FICO, CNBC
Locations:
U.S