Fusion Score vs credit score: what’s the difference?

If you’ve signed up to myfreedom using Open Banking recently, you’ll have been given a Fusion Score. But you might be wondering, how does it differ from a traditional credit score? To help you unravel their individual benefits, here’s our quick guide to the Fusion Score vs a credit score.

Understanding your credit score

Your credit score is what lenders have traditionally used to assess whether you can borrow money. It’s calculated solely on how you’ve borrowed money in the past. So, if you’re new to the UK credit market or your finances took a hit a few years ago, it’s likely that your credit score isn’t going to be as strong as it could be. Because of this, when you check your eligibility for a loan, credit card or mortgage, you might not get the results or rates you were hoping for.

Getting to know your Fusion Score

Your Fusion Score is combination of your traditional credit score and your bank transaction data. This means that unlike a credit score, your Fusion Score will take into account the fact that you have a regular income, pay rent each month and save money. By sharing this information with lenders, you can prove to them that you can afford to borrow money. This could secure you an offer that would be otherwise out of reach, or a better rate – reducing your monthly repayments.

Fusion Score vs credit score

Both the scores have their benefits. Here’s why it’s a good idea to look after and keep tabs on each one.

Benefits of a credit score

Universally used by lenders
Positively impacted by a healthy credit history

Cons of a credit score

Doesn’t provide lenders with a complete picture of your finances
Unfairly blocks some people from the credit market who can afford to borrow money

Benefits of your Fusion Score

Provides lenders with a more complete view of your finances
Can help those shut out of the credit market access credit
Can get you a better rate – no matter how strong your credit score
Provides you with personalised insights into how to improve your access to credit

Cons of your Fusion Score

Not currently used universally

The aim of the Fusion Score is to give more people a fairer way to access credit. If you want to find out your Fusion Score and get insights into how lenders really view you, you can sign up to myfreedom for free here. There’s no catch, no cost, and signing up won’t impact your traditional credit score.

Please note: When you create your myfreedom account, you’ll be asked to connect to your bank account via Open Banking. This is a safe, secure and FCA regulated way for us to get the bank transaction data we need to create your Fusion Score.

When you connect us to your account, this will give us one-time, read-only access and we won’t be able to move or affect your money in any way. When choosing your account, please select the one your main income is paid into to ensure you receive the best possible Fusion Score. If you have another account that you use for regular transactions such as rent or bill payments, please add that too before finishing up.

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