LendingTree Study Finds More than Half of My LendingTree Users Improved Credit Scores in Majority of 50 Metros Analyzed

LendingTree Study Finds More than Half of My LendingTree Users Improved Credit Scores in Majority of 50 Metros Analyzed

LendingTree's latest study looks at where credit scores are rising in the 50 largest metros in the U.S.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- LendingTree®, the nation's leading online loan marketplace, today released its study on the top places with rising credit scores. With credit scores being a crucial component of personal financial stability and opportunity, LendingTree analysts decided to look at anonymized My LendingTree users who logged into their accounts in both the first quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of 2018 to determine the top metros for rising credit scores among the 50 largest in the United States.

My LendingTree users can log in any time to see an overview of their credit profiles and scores and receive real-time alerts of any meaningful changes to their reports, such as hard credit inquiries.

Below are some of the key takeaways from the study.

    --  Jacksonville, Indianapolis, Denver and Tampa saw the highest rate of
        rising credit scores among the 50 biggest metros from Q1 2017 to Q1
        2018.
    --  Virginia Beach, Va., Los Angeles and Birmingham, Ala., had the lowest
        rate of rising credit scores, with 47 percent of Virginia Beach users
        raised their credit scores.
    --  San Jose (Silicon Valley) saw the most dramatic rises in credit scores,
        with the highest rates of people who raised their score by more than 75
        points and 100 points.
    --  In the majority of the 50 metros analyzed, more than 50 percent of users
        improved their credit scores between Q1 2017 and Q1 2018.
    --  About one in three increased their scores by over 20 points, and 3.5
        percent were able to improve their scores by 100 points or more.


                                                      The Top 11 Places for Rising Credit Scores

                                                             Between Q1 2017 and Q1 2018
                                                             ---------------------------

                                       Ranked by Percentage of My LendingTree Users Who
                                                    Improved Their Scores
                                       ------------------------------------------------

        Rank Metro                        By Any                    By at Least                   By at Least             By at Least              By at Least

                                        Amount                     25 Points                     50 Points               75 Points                100 Points
    ---      ---                ------        ---------                       ---------                      ---------              ----------

         1   Jacksonville, Fla.                    53.8%                           33.0%                         18.1%                    8.8%                 3.7%

         2   Indianapolis                          53.7%                           30.9%                         17.1%                    7.4%                 3.0%

         3   Denver                                52.9%                           33.0%                         17.6%                    9.1%                 4.4%

         3   Tampa, Fla.                           52.9%                           32.2%                         16.7%                    7.7%                 3.5%

         5   Portland, Ore.                        52.8%                           32.1%                         17.1%                    8.1%                 3.0%

         6   Detroit                               52.6%                           31.4%                         17.0%                    8.2%                 3.1%

         7   Seattle                               52.4%                           30.7%                         16.3%                    7.7%                 3.6%

         8   Pittsburgh                            52.1%                           31.4%                         17.7%                    8.5%                 4.0%

         9   Buffalo, N.Y.                         52.0%                           30.1%                         15.6%                    7.9%                 3.6%

         9   Charlotte, N.C.                       52.0%                           30.7%                         16.6%                    8.3%                 3.6%

         9   Louisville, Ky.                       52.0%                           31.3%                         17.1%                    8.6%                 3.9%
        ---  ---------------                        ----                             ----                           ----                      ---                   ---


                                                   The 10 Bottom Places for Rising Credit Scores

                                                            Between Q1 2017 and Q1 2018
                                                            ---------------------------

                                        Ranked by Percentage of My LendingTree Users Who
                                                     Improved Their Scores
                                        ------------------------------------------------

        Rank Metro                         By Any                    By at Least                  By at Least             By at Least              By at Least

                                         Amount                      25 Points                   50 Points               75 Points                100 Points
    ---      ---                 ------    ---------                       ---------                    ---------               ----------

         50  Virginia Beach, Va.                    47.0%                           26.6%                        15.0%                    7.0%                 3.4%

         49  Los Angeles                            47.5%                           27.8%                        15.3%                    7.2%                 3.4%

         48  Birmingham, Ala.                       47.6%                           26.1%                        13.0%                    7.2%                 2.9%

         46  St. Louis                              48.4%                           29.0%                        15.1%                    7.3%                 2.9%

         46  Las Vegas                              48.4%                           28.4%                        14.3%                    7.2%                 2.8%

         44  San Francisco                          48.6%                           27.4%                        15.5%                    8.0%                 3.4%

         44  San Diego                              48.6%                           28.2%                        15.3%                    7.5%                 3.2%

         42  San Antonio                            48.7%                           28.9%                        14.6%                    7.1%                 2.7%

         42  Riverside, Calif.                      48.7%                           28.0%                        14.1%                    6.7%                 3.0%

         41  New York                               48.9%                           29.8%                        16.3%                    8.1%                 3.7%
        ---  --------                                ----                             ----                          ----                      ---                   ---

Impact of Credit Scores

Increasing credit scores could reduce the cost of borrowing. See how a 50- or 100- point improvement in credit scores has a positive impact on the rate offers reviewed.


                             Mortgage      Personal Loan APR

                             APR
                             ---

    Baseline                          5.4%                   24.3%
    --------                           ---                     ----

    50-point score increase           5.1%                   17.0%
    -----------------------            ---                     ----

    100-point score increase          4.8%                   10.4%
    ------------------------           ---                     ----

Homebuyers who start with scores of 640 - 679 and improve them by 100 points before buying a home could save over $28,000 over the life of a 30-year mortgage by qualifying for a 4.8 percent rather than 5.4 percent APR, assuming an average loan amount of $234,437.

The APRs above are reported in LendingTree's monthly mortgage and personal loan offers reports, which show the average of the best offers made to LendingTree users each month within credit score bands. Score bands used for the rates are: Baseline (640-679), 50-point increase (680-719), 100-point increase (720-759).

"Some consumers want to know their credit profiles and scores out of curiosity, but My LendingTree does more than that; it aids them in achieving their financial goals. My LendingTree recommends the next steps a consumer should take to make improvements to their credit health and financial well-being," said Justin White, Vice President of Product Marketing at LendingTree.

White continued, "At LendingTree, we recognize that the credit system can be complicated. Our credit management tools offer actionable insights and real recommendations based on what we've learned from millions of consumers working toward accomplishing similar goals. Our tools help simplify a confusing process that requires education and discipline. We're thrilled to see that consumers are improving their credit."


                                              Where People Increased their Credit Scores in the Last Year
                                              -----------------------------------------------------------

                       Ranked by percentage of My LendingTree users who increased their credit score between Q1 2017 and Q1 2018
                       ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Rank     Metro                                      By Any                   By at                  By at                  By at             By at

                                                         Amount                   Least                  Least                   Least             Least

                                                                                         25                      50                      75                100

                                                                              Points                 Points                  Points            Points
    ---                                                            ---          ------                 ------                  ------           -------

           1 Jacksonville, Fla.                                  53.8%                  33.0%                  18.1%                   8.8%              3.7%
         --- ------------------                                   ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

           2 Indianapolis                                        53.7%                  30.9%                  17.1%                   7.4%              3.0%
         --- ------------                                         ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

           3 Denver                                              52.9%                  33.0%                  17.6%                   9.1%              4.4%
         --- ------                                               ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

           3 Tampa, Fla.                                         52.9%                  32.2%                  16.7%                   7.7%              3.5%
         --- -----------                                          ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

           5 Portland, Ore.                                      52.8%                  32.1%                  17.1%                   8.1%              3.0%
         --- --------------                                       ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

           6 Detroit                                             52.6%                  31.4%                  17.0%                   8.2%              3.1%
         --- -------                                              ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

           7 Seattle                                             52.4%                  30.7%                  16.3%                   7.7%              3.6%
         --- -------                                              ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

           8 Pittsburgh                                          52.1%                  31.4%                  17.7%                   8.5%              4.0%
         --- ----------                                           ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

           9 Buffalo, N.Y.                                       52.0%                  30.1%                  15.6%                   7.9%              3.6%
         --- -------------                                        ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

           9 Charlotte, N.C.                                     52.0%                  30.7%                  16.6%                   8.3%              3.6%
         --- ---------------                                      ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

           9 Louisville, Ky.                                     52.0%                  31.3%                  17.1%                   8.6%              3.9%
         --- ---------------                                      ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          12 Nashville, Tenn.                                    51.9%                  31.1%                  16.7%                   8.4%              2.9%
         --- ----------------                                     ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          13 Cleveland                                           51.6%                  29.2%                  15.1%                   7.6%              2.8%
         --- ---------                                            ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          14 Atlanta                                             51.5%                  30.7%                  17.1%                   8.4%              3.7%
         --- -------                                              ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          15 Houston                                             51.4%                  31.2%                  16.9%                   8.4%              3.9%
         --- -------                                              ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          15 Miami                                               51.4%                  31.6%                  17.8%                   9.0%              4.0%
         --- -----                                                ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          15 Milwaukee                                           51.4%                  29.3%                  16.3%                   7.2%              3.4%
         --- ---------                                            ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          18 Philadelphia                                        51.2%                  30.1%                  16.1%                   7.8%              3.4%
         --- ------------                                         ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          18 Salt Lake City                                      51.2%                  30.5%                  16.0%                   8.8%              3.7%
         --- --------------                                       ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          20 Baltimore                                           51.1%                  30.8%                  16.4%                   8.4%              3.7%
         --- ---------                                            ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          21 Cincinnati                                          51.0%                  30.8%                  16.4%                   8.4%              4.0%
         --- ----------                                           ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          22 Chicago                                             50.9%                  29.7%                  16.3%                   7.9%              3.5%
         --- -------                                              ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          22 Phoenix                                             50.9%                  30.2%                  16.7%                   8.2%              4.0%
         --- -------                                              ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          24 Columbus, Ohio                                      50.7%                  29.4%                  15.7%                   7.1%              2.5%
         --- --------------                                       ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          24 San Jose, Calif.                                    50.7%                  30.6%                  18.2%                   9.5%              4.5%
         --- ----------------                                     ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          26 New Orleans                                         50.6%                  31.1%                  16.5%                   8.7%              4.1%
         --- -----------                                          ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          26 Sacramento, Calif.                                  50.6%                  28.9%                  15.7%                   6.9%              2.9%
         --- ------------------                                   ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          28 Minneapolis                                         50.5%                  29.2%                  16.2%                   7.4%              3.4%
         --- -----------                                          ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          29 Boston                                              50.4%                  30.3%                  15.8%                   8.0%              3.7%
         --- ------                                               ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          30 Kansas City, Mo.                                    50.3%                  28.8%                  14.0%                   7.1%              3.3%
         --- ----------------                                     ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          31 Austin, Texas                                       50.2%                  28.8%                  16.4%                   7.9%              3.3%
         --- -------------                                        ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          31 Memphis, Tenn.                                      50.2%                  32.5%                  18.6%                   8.5%              4.0%
         --- --------------                                       ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          31 Orlando, Fla.                                       50.2%                  29.8%                  16.9%                   8.6%              4.3%
         --- -------------                                        ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          31 Richmond, Va.                                       50.2%                  29.3%                  14.8%                   6.6%              3.6%
         --- -------------                                        ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          35 Oklahoma City                                       50.0%                  31.3%                  16.6%                   8.5%              3.7%
         --- -------------                                        ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          35 Raleigh, N.C.                                       50.0%                  29.8%                  17.4%                   9.3%              3.4%
         --- -------------                                        ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          37 Dallas                                              49.8%                  29.7%                  16.4%                   8.0%              3.2%
         --- ------                                               ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          38 Washington                                          49.7%                  28.8%                  15.5%                   7.4%              3.7%
         --- ----------                                           ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          39 Providence, R.I.                                    49.5%                  30.1%                  15.5%                   7.4%              3.1%
         --- ----------------                                     ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          40 Hartford, Conn.                                     49.2%                  29.4%                  16.4%                   8.4%              3.9%
         --- ---------------                                      ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          41 New York                                            48.9%                  29.8%                  16.3%                   8.1%              3.7%
         --- --------                                             ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          42 Riverside, Calif.                                   48.7%                  28.0%                  14.1%                   6.7%              3.0%
         --- -----------------                                    ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          42 San Antonio                                         48.7%                  28.9%                  14.6%                   7.1%              2.7%
         --- -----------                                          ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          44 San Diego                                           48.6%                  28.2%                  15.3%                   7.5%              3.2%
         --- ---------                                            ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          44 San Francisco                                       48.6%                  27.4%                  15.5%                   8.0%              3.4%
         --- -------------                                        ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          46 Las Vegas                                           48.4%                  28.4%                  14.3%                   7.2%              2.8%
         --- ---------                                            ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          46 St. Louis                                           48.4%                  29.0%                  15.1%                   7.3%              2.9%
         --- ---------                                            ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          48 Birmingham, Ala.                                    47.6%                  26.1%                  13.0%                   7.2%              2.9%
         --- ----------------                                     ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          49 Los Angeles                                         47.5%                  27.8%                  15.3%                   7.2%              3.4%
         --- -----------                                          ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

          50 Virginia Beach, Va.                                 47.0%                  26.6%                  15.0%                   7.0%              3.4%
         --- -------------------                                  ----                    ----                    ----                     ---                ---

Methodology:
We looked a sample of users who logged into My LendingTree in both the first quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of 2018 and compared their credit scores at each point in time to calculate that user's change in credit score. These results were then aggregated to the 50 largest metropolitan statistical areas by population. My LendingTree has over 8 million users and scores are provided by TransUnion.

To view the full report, visit: https://www.lendingtree.com/credit-repair/top-places-rising-credit-scores/.

About LendingTree

LendingTree (NASDAQ: TREE) is the nation's leading online loan marketplace, empowering consumers as they comparison-shop across a full suite of loan and credit-based offerings. LendingTree provides an online marketplace which connects consumers with multiple lenders that compete for their business, as well as an array of online tools and information to help consumers find the best loan. Since inception, LendingTree has facilitated more than 65 million loan requests. LendingTree provides free monthly credit scores through My LendingTree and access to its network of over 500 lenders offering home loans, personal loans, credit cards, student loans, business loans, home equity loans/lines of credit, auto loans and more. LendingTree, LLC is a subsidiary of LendingTree, Inc. For more information go to www.lendingtree.com, dial 800-555-TREE, like our Facebook page and/or follow us on Twitter @LendingTree.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Megan Greuling
704-943-8208
Megan.greuling@lendingtree.com

View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lendingtree-study-finds-more-than-half-of-my-lendingtree-users-improved-credit-scores-in-majority-of-50-metros-analyzed-300651906.html

SOURCE LendingTree