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SavvyMoney is a comprehensive program that helps you stay on top of your credit. The program provides free, ongoing access to credit score, monitors your credit report for key changes, and finds savings opportunities on existing and new loans - all through your online banking account.
With this program, you can check your credit score and factors that influence it. The scores are updated automatically every month. You also have the option to refresh and check your latest scores every day. You will always get the most updated offers every time you log in. The program also monitors your credit report daily and informs you by email if there are any big changes are detected - a new account opened, changes in address or employment, a delinquency reported, or an inquiry made. Monitoring helps you keep an eye out for identity theft.
No. SavvyMoney shows your credit scores, ranging from 300 to 850, along with key factors from credit reports. It doesn't include an actual credit report (a detailed report of credit history).
No. SavvyMoney is entirely free and no credit card information is required to register.
The widget within online banking will automatically update the score every 30 days. You can click "update" on the Credit Score Dashboard to refresh your score at any time.
Not at this time. However, we encourage Members to pull one copy of their credit report from each bureau [Experian, Equifax and TransUnion] annually at www.annualcreditreport.com or by calling (877) 322-8228. By pulling a report from one of the bureaus every four months, you can stay on top of your credit and spot any inaccuracies or suspicious activity quickly. If you pull your own credit report, it is considered a soft inquiry and will not show up in your credit history.
SavvyMoney pulls credit profiles from TransUnion, one of the three major credit reporting bureaus, and uses VantageScore 3.0, a credit scoring model developed collaboratively by the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. This model seeks to make score information more uniform between the three bureaus to provide consumers a better picture of their credit health. Key factors that drive the score are the same.
There are three major credit reporting bureaus - Equifax, Experian and Transunion - and two scoring models - FICO or VantageScore - that determine credit scores. Financial institutions use different bureaus, as well as their own scoring models. Over
200 factors of a credit report may be taken into account when calculating a score and each model may weigh credit factors differently, so no scoring model is completely identical. You'll see that SavvyMoney Credit Scores are represented along
a credit score range, which offers you an easier understanding of where you stand. The ranges fall along the following lines:
- 781-850 - This score range is considered "Excellent." In this range, you have a very healthy credit history and are usually eligible for lowest rates on loans and credit cards.
- 661-780 - This score range is considered "Good." You have good credit, but may have had a few blips. You may not get the lowest rates on all types of loans.
- 601-660 - This score range is considered "Fair." You won't get the lowest rates on loans, and opportunities to borrow start becoming limited.
- 501-600 - This score range is considered to be "Unfavorable." You are new to credit or have had significant defaults. Loans rates will be amongst the highest in the market.
- Below 500 - This range is considered to be "Deficient." You are new to credit or have had significant defaults. You may find it hard to find credit.
No, Tech CU uses its own lending criteria for making loan decisions and has no access to SavvyMoney Credit Score.
No, SavvyMoney Credit Score is a free service to help you understand your credit health, make improvements to your scores, and see loan and credit card offers from Tech CU. Tech CU doesn't have access to your credit file with SavvyMoney.
SavvyMoney has put in place bank-level encryption and security policies to keep your data safe and secure. SavvyMoney also has a sophisticated system that scans for and thwarts online bots, intrusions and attacks.
SavvyMoney's policies and processes are reviewed annually by a third-party auditor and have been verified by Fiserv's Security and Compliance for meeting their stringent security guidelines.
SavvyMoney Credit Score can help you manage your credit so when it comes time to borrow for a big-ticket purchase - like buying a home, car or paying for college - you have a clear picture of your credit health and can qualify for the lowest possible interest rates.
The SavvyMoney Credit Score is not intended to be comprehensive and may not provide all information about your accounts. That's why we encourage you to take advantage of obtaining free credit reports from www.annualcreditreport.com to find any incorrect information or discrepancies. Each bureau has its own process for correcting inaccurate information. The Federal Trade Commission website offers step-by-step instructions on how to contact the bureaus and correct errors.
Based on your SavvyMoney credit score information, you may receive Tech CU offers on products that may be of interest. In some cases, these offers may have lower interest rates than the products you already own. The educational articles, written by Jean Chatzky and the SavvyMoney team, are designed to provide helpful tips on how you can manage credit and debt wisely.
If you don't have a credit history and/or a low credit score, you will be shown educational articles or credit-builder type loans (if offered).
No, checking SavvyMoney Credit Score is a "soft inquiry," which does not affect credit scores. "Hard inquiries" are used by lenders to make decisions about your creditworthiness when you apply for loans. Hard inquiries can lower a credit score.
Not at this time. SavvyMoney may offer credit reports in the near future.
Yes. When you pull your credit score successfully the first time, you are automatically enrolled into credit monitoring. Your file will be scanned daily for key changes, and an alert will be sent when a significant change is detected.
TransUnion will provide the following monitoring alerts:
- An account has been included in bankruptcy
- An account is reported as delinquent
- A fraud alert has been placed on the credit file
- A previously derogatory account is now current
- A new account has been opened
- An account in your name shows a different address
- An account in your name listed a new employer
- A new inquiry on the credit file
- A new public record has been reported
If you access SavvyMoney through online banking, you don't need to do anything. Should you change your email address within your online banking profile, SavvyMoney will automatically update it on their end.