What is the essential purpose of a credit report?

The essential purpose of a credit report is to assess a borrower’s creditworthiness. A credit report contains detailed information about an individual's credit history, including their borrowing habits, payment history, outstanding debts, and the types of credit accounts they have. This information is crucial for lenders when deciding whether to provide credit, such as a mortgage or a loan, and under what terms.

Lenders use credit reports to evaluate the risk of lending money to a borrower. A higher credit score, which is derived from the data in the credit report, indicates that a borrower is likely to repay a loan responsibly. Therefore, the credit report serves as a key tool for financial institutions to ensure they are making informed decisions regarding credit.

The other options—employment history, tracking savings, and insurance claims—are not the primary functions of a credit report. While some lenders may consider employment history as part of their assessment, it is outside the core purpose of a credit report, which is solely focused on an individual's credit behavior and history.