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Generation-Z understands the importance of credit scores, but that awareness comes with a catch.
USAA Bank’s recent report, “Gen-Z and the Path to a Perfect Credit Score,” found that 54% of Gen-Z feels anxious about checking their score. And of those who feel anxious, nearly two-thirds avoid looking at it altogether. It’s a paradox: The more the score matters, the harder it feels to face.
Beyond anxiety, confusion plays a role. Nearly half (45%) of Gen-Z don’t understand what impacts their credit score, and roughly one in five (18%) has never checked it. That leaves many flying blinds, despite credit shaping so much of adult life, from renting your first apartment to snagging a competitive interest rate.
Why Avoiding the Number Backfires
Despite the anxiety, Gen-Z isn’t throwing in the towel. A solid 81% say a strong credit score matters, 76% believe reaching an “exceptional” range—roughly 800 to 850—is possible, and 86% are ready to take steps to boost their score.
Putting off checking your credit score may feel like self-preservation, but it often backfires. When you avoid visibility, you miss the chance to catch errors, spot identity theft early or adjust spending before it gets out of hand. That uncertainty only adds to stress, keeping your score locked in anxiety territory.
A credit score isn’t just a random number either, especially for young adults entering the real world. A higher credit score can mean lower interest rates, competitive credit cards and smoother apartment approvals—while a weak score can make all of that more costly and difficult.
The habits you build early—paying bills on time, keeping debt in check and managing student loans—stick with you. Think of it as setting yourself up now to get ready for the future.
From Avoidance to Awareness: Making Credit Management Human
Checking your credit doesn’t have to feel intimidating. Credit monitoring services are easy to use and help you stay on top of changes. These tools send alerts when something shifts—like a new account or balance update—so keeping tabs on your score becomes quick and routine rather than overwhelming.
The USAA study also shows Gen-Z isn’t sitting idle. Many are already budgeting, paying off cards and building healthy habits, even if they prefer to manage their finances independently.
That independence, paired with consistent practices like monitoring your credit, automating bills and keeping spending in check, lays the groundwork for stronger credit and long-term stability.
Bottom Line
If we let them, credit scores can end up governing our lives—but Gen-Z can reclaim the narrative. The first move is a small one: Check your score. Let credit score monitoring tools support you rather than intimidate you and focus on behaviors, not the number.