What everyday consumers really think about their credit in 2026
Tom Patel
Tom Patel
Reporter · Bloomington, IL
With a background in educational policy and a degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Tom has spent the last 6 years covering the Bloomington school district for various outlets. He is passionate about education and has won awards for his investigative pieces on local school funding and reforms.
More from Tom →Reporter · Friday, October 30, 2026 at 6:00 PM · 1 min read
FICO reports that Americans are increasingly engaged with credit, with 89% taking steps to improve financial health, yet many misconceptions persist about scoring.