Credit scores aren't impacted by checking your own scores. And checking regularly can help you catch mistakes on your credit file, or the first signs of identity theft. As far as security, you should only give your personal information to reputable companies that employ the latest security and encryption technology to protect customer data.

It’s never been easier to check your credit score, and there are numerous places to get it. It’s also never been more imperative to do this regularly, given a lighting-fast digital society where, unfortunately, mistakes happen and identity theft has become increasingly common. Try Credit Scorecard: Credit Scorecard is a simple and free way to check your FICO ® Score—and you don't have to be a Discover customer. Better still, this isn't just another “educational” score that many companies offer, because FICO ® is the score that’s used by 90% of top lenders.

Yes. If you place a Credit Freeze on your credit file, we can only show your Discover Credit Scorecard from the last time you accessed it before the freeze. If you decide to take the freeze off your file, you'll be able to update your Credit Scorecard again.

Staying on top of your credit can be very helpful if you're concerned about a data breach. Every 30 days, you can get an updated FICO ® Credit Score, which includes total number of accounts, number of inquiries and more insight on what's helping and hurting your credit.

Discover is serious about security. We'll never sell your information to third parties and we take steps to protect your privacy. To understand how we handle your data, please review our privacy notice.

Credit scores are three-digit numbers that summarize the positive and negative information on your Experian credit report. They help lenders quickly assess your credit risk, and can influence everything from car loans, to mortgages to credit cards. Scores change over time, so make sure to check back every 30 days to see an updated FICO ® Score. All with no harm to your credit.

We monitor thousands of sites on the Dark Web–a hidden area of the Internet where stolen Social Security numbers can be traded or sold for the purposes of identity theft and fraud. If we find your Social Security number, we’ll send you an alert so you can take action. We also monitor your Experian credit report and notify you whenever any new credit inquiry or new account is reported. In most cases, you will probably recognize it as an account you opened. However, if you don’t recognize the account, you can contact Experian for assistance.

We want you to check your Credit Scorecard without worry, which is why we offer it for free – even if you're not a Discover customer. Nearly all lenders in the US, including Discover, use a FICO ® Score among other information when they make their credit decisions, and they have for more than 20 years. We think that everyone should be informed about their credit so that they can avoid surprises.

No. The FICO ® Score and other credit information we provide will never hurt your credit score. In fact, you can check as often as you like – it will never affect your score. Check back every 30 days to see a refreshed score.

* Credit Scorecard Information: Credit Scorecard is provided by Discover Bank, and includes a FICO® Credit Score and other credit information. Credit Scorecard information is based on data from Experian and may differ from credit scores and credit information provided by other credit bureaus. This information is provided to you at no cost and with your consent. You must be 18 years old and a U.S. resident or a resident of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. Your Credit Scorecard will be refreshed the later of every 30-days or the next time you log in to Credit Scorecard. Discover and other lenders may use different inputs, such as a FICO® Credit Score, other credit scores and more information in credit decisions. This product may change or end in the future. FICO is a registered trademark of the Fair Isaac Corporation in the United States and other countries.

Discover credit monitoring and Social Security number alerts are offered by Discover Bank at no cost, only available online, and currently include the following services: (a) daily monitoring of your Experian® credit report and an alert when a new inquiry or account is listed on your report; (b) daily monitoring of thousands of Dark Web sites known for revealing personal information and an alert if your Social Security Number is found on such a website. This information is provided for free, as part of Discover's Free Credit Scorecard membership to both existing and new members upon successful product registration. Alert services are based on Experian information and data which may differ from information and data at other credit bureaus. Monitoring your credit report does not impact your credit score. This benefit may change or end in the future. Discover Bank is not a credit repair organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. To see a list of Frequently Asked Questions, visit discover.com/free-credit-score.

1The percentages reflected are based on the five categories for the general population.