Credit assessment by Schufa becomes accessible for consumers starting from 2026

In a significant move, Schufa, Germany's leading credit bureau, has announced the introduction of a new credit score system that will be fully accessible to consumers free of charge from the first quarter of 2026. This announcement was made by Schufa's CEO, Tanja Birkholz, at the "Handelsblatt Banken-Gipfel" in Frankfurt.

The new Schufa score, which is already in use and has been delivered over 70,000 times, is designed to indicate creditworthiness more effectively. It will take into account various factors such as credit card and checking account history, and the absence of negative entries due to unpaid bills.

Schufa has promised full transparency for its assessment process, starting from the first quarter of 2026. To aid consumers in understanding the new score, an explanatory tool will be activated at the same time. This tool will allow even laypeople to calculate their score without much effort.

The previous 'Basisscore' is expected to be phased out by the end of the first quarter of 2026. The new Schufa score will be based on twelve criteria, totaling a score between 100 and 999. A higher total score in Schufa's new system indicates better creditworthiness.

This new system is crucial for banks, mail-order companies, and mobile providers in assessing customer payment reliability. Schufa has agreed migration plans with two-thirds of its largest customers.

Consumer advocates have long criticized Schufa's scoring model for lack of transparency, calling it a "black box". Schufa's commitment to transparency and the simplification of the new score aim to address these concerns.

By the end of this year's fourth quarter, the revised score is expected to account for about 10% of creditworthiness inquiries. The new Schufa score will be fully available to consumers free of charge via the Schufa app or online starting from the first quarter of 2026.