Credit Bureau

Business, Legal & Accounting Glossary

Definition: Credit Bureau


Credit Bureau

Quick Summary of Credit Bureau


An agency which collects and sells information about the creditworthiness of individuals. A credit bureau does not make any decisions about whether a specific person should be extended credit or not. However, it does collect information that it considers relevant to a person’s credit habits and history, and uses this information to assign a credit score to indicate how creditworthy a person is. When a prospective creditor approaches a credit reporting agency to inquire about a particular person, they are sold a credit report which contains all the information relevant to the person and the credit score calculated by the agency (some creditors might have an ongoing subscription to credit bureau). The prospective creditor then uses that information to decide whether to extend the applicant the desired credit or not.




What is the dictionary definition of Credit Bureau?

Dictionary Definition


A private, profit-making company that collects and sells information about a person’s credit history. Typical clients include banks, mortgage lenders and credit card companies that use the information to screen applicants for loans and credit cards. There are three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and Trans Union, and they are regulated by the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act.


Synonyms For Credit Bureau


credit reporting agency
consumer reporting agency


Cite Term


To help you cite our definitions in your bibliography, here is the proper citation layout for the three major formatting styles, with all of the relevant information filled in.

Page URL
https://payrollheaven.com/define/credit-bureau/
Modern Language Association (MLA):
Credit Bureau. PayrollHeaven.com. Payroll & Accounting Heaven Ltd.
May 18, 2024 https://payrollheaven.com/define/credit-bureau/.
Chicago Manual of Style (CMS):
Credit Bureau. PayrollHeaven.com. Payroll & Accounting Heaven Ltd.
https://payrollheaven.com/define/credit-bureau/ (accessed: May 18, 2024).
American Psychological Association (APA):
Credit Bureau. PayrollHeaven.com. Retrieved May 18, 2024
, from PayrollHeaven.com website: https://payrollheaven.com/define/credit-bureau/

Definition Sources


Definitions for Credit Bureau are sourced/syndicated and enhanced from:

  • A Dictionary of Economics (Oxford Quick Reference)
  • Oxford Dictionary Of Accounting
  • Oxford Dictionary Of Business & Management

This glossary post was last updated: 21st November, 2021 | 0 Views.