Three Credit Bureaus in the United States

Businesses and lenders use a consumer's credit score when making decisions about lending out money. In the United States, three major companies provide credit information: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. These companies are for-profit; they are not government entities and receive no funding from the government. Local, independent credit bureaus operate in the U.S., but most are affiliated with one of the three major companies. A fourth credit union--Innovis--exists, but it is not widely used.

Equifax

Equifax is based in Atlanta, Georgia, but it operates officers across the United States, Latin America and Europe. The company was founded in 1899 and is the oldest of the credit bureaus. The business is a credit reporting agency, but it also offers services in fraud detection and marketing. Essentially, the company provides business services to small and large companies.

Experian

Experian also handles matters other than credit reporting. According to Experian's company website, the company helps businesses manage credit and build a credit history. The company also prides itself on being a "leader in credit education." However, Experian is the youngest of the three credit bureaus; it was founded in 1980. The company has headquarters in Texas, but its birthplace is actually in England.

TransUnion

TransUnion began as a railcar holding company. The company was formed in 1968. TransUnion began collecting consumer credit information after acquiring the Credit Bureau of Cook County. Like the other credit agencies, TransUnion provides consumer credit information to businesses.

Innovis

Innovis is a fourth credit bureau, but it operates relatively quietly. According to Bargaineering.com, the company was founded in 1970 and was originally called ACB Services. In 1997, First Data Corporation purchased ACB Services and renamed the company Innovis. Innovis operates like the other credit bureaus but is not widely known. Currently, Innovis is not listed on AnnualCreditReport.com, a website set up by the government to provide consumers with a free credit report from each bureau every year.