Credit rating: Difference between revisions
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==Personal credit ratings== |
==Personal credit ratings== |
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In countries such as the United States, an individual's [[Credit history]] is compiled and maintained by companies called [[credit bureau]]s. In the United States, [[credit worthiness]] is usually determined through a statistical analysis of the available credit data. A common form of this analysis is a 3-digit [[credit score]] provided by independent financial service companies such as the [[credit score|FICO®]] credit score. (The term, a registered trademark, comes from Fair Isaac Corporation, which pioneered the credit rating concept in the late 1950s.) or by the bureaus themselves. One's credit score, along with their [[Credit history|credit report]], affects one's ability to borrow money through financial institutions such as [[bank]]s. In [[Canada]], the most common ratings are the North American Standard Account Ratings, also known as the "R" ratings, which have a range between R0 and R9. R0 refers to a new account; R1 refers to on-time payments; R9 refers to bad-debt. |
In countries such as the United States, an individual's [[Credit history]] is compiled and maintained by companies called [[credit bureau]]s. In the United States, [[credit worthiness]] is usually determined through a statistical analysis of the available credit data. A common form of this analysis is a 3-digit [[credit score]] provided by independent financial service companies such as the [[credit score|FICO®]] credit score. (The term, a registered trademark, comes from Fair Isaac Corporation, which pioneered the credit rating concept in the late 1950s.) or by the bureaus themselves. |
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One's credit score, along with their [[Credit history|credit report]], affects one's ability to borrow money through financial institutions such as [[bank]]s. |
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In [[Canada]], the most common ratings are the North American Standard Account Ratings, also known as the "R" ratings, which have a range between R0 and R9. R0 refers to a new account; R1 refers to on-time payments; R9 refers to bad-debt. |
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ability to pay a loan, interest, amount of credit used, spending money instead of using it for useful purposes e.g. paying back a loan, saving patterns, spending patterns, and many more.[http://www.equifax.com/EFX_Canada/consumer_information_centre/faqs_e.html#ques14] |
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The factors which may influence your credit rating are:<ref>[http://www.equifax.com/EFX_Canada/consumer_information_centre/faqs_e.html#ques14 "Consumer information center FAQ"], Equifax</ref> |
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*ability to pay a loan |
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*interest |
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*amount of credit used |
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*saving patterns |
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*spending patterns |
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==Corporate credit ratings== |
==Corporate credit ratings== |
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==Sovereign credit ratings== |
==Sovereign credit ratings== |
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A '''sovereign credit rating''' is the credit rating of a [[Sovereignty|sovereign]] entity, i.e. a country. The sovereign credit rating indicates the risk level of the investing environment of a country and is used by investors looking to invest abroad. |
A '''sovereign credit rating''' is the credit rating of a [[Sovereignty|sovereign]] entity, i.e. a country. The sovereign credit rating indicates the risk level of the investing environment of a country and is used by investors looking to invest abroad. |
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==Short term rating== |
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A short term rating is a probability factor of an individual going into default within a year. This is in contrast to long-term rating which is evaluated over a long timeframe.<ref>[http://www.onlineloanofficers.com/Terms/credit-rating.html "Learning about credit rating"], Loan officers guide</ref> |
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==Credit rating agencies== |
==Credit rating agencies== |
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In the United Kingdom, the main credit reference agencies for individuals are Experian, Equifax, and [[Callcredit]]. |
In the United Kingdom, the main credit reference agencies for individuals are Experian, Equifax, and [[Callcredit]]. |
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In the Canada, the main credit bureaus for individuals are Equifax, TransUnion and Northern Credit Bureaus |
In the Canada, the main credit bureaus for individuals are Equifax, TransUnion and Northern Credit Bureaus.[http://www.cibc.com/ca/pdf/student-workbook-en.pdf] p.14 |
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The largest credit rating agencies (which tend to operate worldwide) are [[Moody's]], [[Standard and Poor's]] and [[Fitch Ratings]]. |
The largest credit rating agencies (which tend to operate worldwide) are [[Moody's]], [[Standard and Poor's]] and [[Fitch Ratings]]. |
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<references /> |
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==External links== |
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[http://www.creditbureau.ca/ Northern credit bureaus] |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 19:04, 17 January 2007
A credit rating assesses the credit worthiness of an individual, corporation, or even a country. Credit ratings are calculated from financial history and current assets and liabilities. Typically, a credit rating tells a lender or investor the probability of the subject being able to pay back a loan. However, in recent years, credit ratings have also been used to adjust insurance premiums, determine employment eligibility, and establish the amount of a utility or leasing deposit.
A poor credit rating indicates a high risk of defaulting on a loan, and thus leads to high interest rates.
Personal credit ratings
In countries such as the United States, an individual's Credit history is compiled and maintained by companies called credit bureaus. In the United States, credit worthiness is usually determined through a statistical analysis of the available credit data. A common form of this analysis is a 3-digit credit score provided by independent financial service companies such as the FICO® credit score. (The term, a registered trademark, comes from Fair Isaac Corporation, which pioneered the credit rating concept in the late 1950s.) or by the bureaus themselves.
One's credit score, along with their credit report, affects one's ability to borrow money through financial institutions such as banks.
In Canada, the most common ratings are the North American Standard Account Ratings, also known as the "R" ratings, which have a range between R0 and R9. R0 refers to a new account; R1 refers to on-time payments; R9 refers to bad-debt.
The factors which may influence your credit rating are:[1]
- ability to pay a loan
- interest
- amount of credit used
- saving patterns
- spending patterns
Corporate credit ratings
The credit rating of a corporation is a financial indicator to potential investors of debt securities such as bonds. These are assigned by credit rating agencies such as Standard & Poor's or Fitch Ratings and have letter designations such as AAA, B, CC.
Sovereign credit ratings
A sovereign credit rating is the credit rating of a sovereign entity, i.e. a country. The sovereign credit rating indicates the risk level of the investing environment of a country and is used by investors looking to invest abroad.
Short term rating
A short term rating is a probability factor of an individual going into default within a year. This is in contrast to long-term rating which is evaluated over a long timeframe.[2]
Credit rating agencies
Credit scores for individuals are assigned by credit bureaus (US; UK: credit reference agencies). Credit ratings for corporations and sovereign debt are assigned by credit rating agencies.
In the United States, the main credit bureaus are Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
A relatively new (but important) credit bureau in the US is Innovis.
In the United Kingdom, the main credit reference agencies for individuals are Experian, Equifax, and Callcredit.
In the Canada, the main credit bureaus for individuals are Equifax, TransUnion and Northern Credit Bureaus.[3]
The largest credit rating agencies (which tend to operate worldwide) are Moody's, Standard and Poor's and Fitch Ratings.
References
- ^ "Consumer information center FAQ", Equifax
- ^ "Learning about credit rating", Loan officers guide
- ^ "Student workbook", CIBC p. 14