Does Changing Your Name Affect Your Credit Score?

If you're thinking about changing your name, you might be wondering what happens to your credit score. It's a practical question worth understanding before you make the change.



Changing your name should not affect your credit score. Your credit history is tracked using multiple pieces of information, not just your name, so a name change alone does not damage or reset your credit profile.

How Your Credit File Works

Credit reference agencies track your financial history using your date of birth, address history, and name together. When you change your name, your date of birth and address history remain the same, allowing credit agencies to maintain your credit file without interruption.

What Happens When You Change Your Name

When you update your details with banks and other lenders, they report your information to credit reference agencies under your new name. Your credit accounts, loans, credit cards, and payment history transfer from your old credit file to your new one automatically.

Updating Your Financial Records

To ensure your credit file updates correctly, you need to inform organisations that hold your financial records.



Update your name with your bank accounts, credit card providers, loan providers, mortgage lender, and any other financial institutions you have accounts with. Provide them with your deed poll as proof of your name change.

These organisations will update their systems and report your details to credit reference agencies under your new name. You do not need to contact the credit reference agencies directly.

Credit Monitoring Tools

If you use a credit monitoring service such as ClearScore, Experian, or similar tools, you will need to create a new account under your new name.

These services are free to use. Once you create an account with your new name, your credit history will appear there as lenders report your details under your new name.



Your old account under your previous name will show your accounts disappearing as they migrate to your new file. This is expected and nothing to be concerned about.

Your Loans and Credit Agreements

Changing your name does not affect the terms or status of any existing loans, mortgages, or credit agreements. These remain your responsibility under your new name.

Lenders will update your name on their systems when you provide your deed poll. Your agreements continue as before with no changes to terms or conditions.

When applying for new credit after changing your name, use your new name on the application. Lenders will check your credit file under your new name and see your full financial history.

If you apply shortly after changing your name, you may need to provide your deed poll as additional identification while your credit file is transitioning.

Apply for Your Deed Poll

Change your name with confidence knowing your credit score should not be affected. Apply online with Deedly and receive your deed poll within days.