Dating Apps and Your Credit Score: A Match Made in… Data Privacy Concerns?
The world of online dating is no stranger to controversy, but a resurfacing app is adding a new layer of complexity – and potential financial scrutiny. Score, the dating app that initially required a credit score of 675 or higher, is making a comeback, promising a more inclusive approach while still tying financial health to romantic prospects.
From Pop-Up to Permanent: The Evolution of Score
Launched in 2024 by Neon Money Club as a limited-time “pop-up” project, Score quickly gained traction, amassing around 50,000 users during its initial six-month run. The app’s premise was simple: encourage open conversations about finances by creating a dating pool of individuals with demonstrated financial responsibility. Now, founder Luke Bailey is relaunching Score as a permanent platform, albeit with a revised structure.
The initial iteration faced criticism for being potentially exclusionary. Bailey appears to have addressed these concerns, announcing a two-tiered system. A basic, free tier will be open to all, while a premium tier will offer enhanced features to users who voluntarily verify their credit score.
What Does Financial Health Have to Do With Dating?
The idea behind Score isn’t entirely out of left field. Research suggests a growing interest in financial transparency among younger daters. A Credit One Bank survey revealed that 50% of millennials and Gen Z respondents believe a high credit score adds to someone’s attractiveness, and roughly 20% would like dating apps to incorporate financial information.
Bailey frames creditworthiness not as a measure of wealth, but as an indicator of “consistency and reliability.” He believes dating platforms typically measure attrition, while Score aims to assess both compatibility and dependability.
The Premium Perks: What Do You Get for Sharing Your Score?
Users opting for the premium tier will gain access to features like seeing nearby matches, viewing who has saved their profile, sending video introductions, and messaging users who haven’t yet swiped back. These features are designed to incentivize credit verification, offering tangible benefits in exchange for sharing financial data.
Equifax will handle both identity and credit verification through a “soft pull” that won’t impact a user’s credit score, according to Bailey. However, the integration of a major credit bureau into the dating process inevitably raises privacy concerns.
Privacy and Data Security: A Critical Consideration
Bringing a credit bureau into the mix sparks legitimate questions about data security and privacy, particularly given increasing consumer anxieties surrounding data breaches. While Bailey asserts that the app won’t store or share sensitive personal information and that all data will be encrypted, the potential for misuse remains a concern.
A Nation’s Credit Score is Slipping: Is Timing Right?
The relaunch of Score also coincides with a national trend of declining credit scores. FICO data indicates that the average U.S. Credit score fell to 715 in 2025, marking the fastest decline since 2009. This downward trend could potentially broaden the app’s appeal, as more individuals seek resources to improve their financial health.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does Score actually check my credit score? Yes, but only for the premium tier. The check is a “soft pull” which won’t affect your score.
- Is my data safe on Score? The app claims to use encrypted infrastructure and not store or share sensitive information.
- Is the basic tier really free? Yes, the basic tier is open to all users without requiring ID or credit verification.
- What is Neon Money Club? Neon Money Club is a financial wellness platform that initially launched Score.
Pro Tip: Before verifying your credit score on any platform, carefully review its privacy policy and data security measures.
Did you know? Millennial users on the original Score app had the highest average credit scores, with a 11% gap between men and women.
Want to learn more about improving your financial health? Visit Credit One Bank for resources and tools.
