Equifax

Corporate brand

A multinational consumer and commercial information-services company and one of the three largest credit reporting agencies in the United States.

Last updated November 4, 2026

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First read: Nov 4, 2026
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Overview

Equifax is a United States-based information-services company best known for collecting, organizing, analyzing, and supplying consumer and commercial credit data. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, it is one of the three largest consumer credit reporting agencies in the United States, alongside Experian and TransUnion. Its customers include banks, credit-card issuers, retailers, insurers, healthcare organizations, utilities, telecommunications providers, landlords, employers, government bodies, and other institutions that use data to assess creditworthiness, verify identity, manage fraud, market products, and make decisions about risk. The company began in Atlanta in 1899 as the Retail Credit Company, founded by Cator and Guy Woolford. During the early twentieth century it expanded through the United States and Canada and became a major provider of consumer and insurance-related reports. By the 1960s, its files covered millions of people. Its activities extended beyond traditional credit reporting into insurance investigations, employment-related reports, and the compilation of extensive personal information. The breadth of those files and concerns about inaccurate, intrusive, or discriminatory information attracted substantial criticism. Congressional hearings in 1970, following the computerization of the company’s records, contributed to the passage of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which established important consumer rights concerning information held by reporting agencies. Retail Credit Company adopted the Equifax name in 1975 as part of a broader effort to present a more modern and less controversial identity. Over subsequent decades, Equifax diversified and reshaped its portfolio. It expanded into commercial credit information, healthcare-related data, identity verification, fraud prevention, analytics, and software. It sold or spun off several businesses, including its digital certification operation and payment-services division, while acquiring companies in identity authentication, business intelligence, international credit reporting, and commercial payments. The acquisition of Veda in 2016 strengthened its position in Australia and New Zealand. In 2023, Equifax announced the acquisition of Brazilian credit bureau Boa Vista Serviços, expanding its Latin American presence. Equifax operates primarily as a business-to-business data and technology provider, although it also markets credit-monitoring, credit-protection, identity-theft, and fraud-prevention products directly to consumers. Its offerings include consumer credit reports and scores, commercial credit reports, income and employment verification, identity authentication, device intelligence, marketing analytics, insurance data, and data concerning telecommunications and utility payment behavior. The company also participates in the United States system through which consumers can obtain periodic free credit-file disclosures from the major reporting agencies. Equifax’s reputation has been heavily shaped by data-governance and cybersecurity controversies. The company disclosed a 2017 breach in which attackers accessed sensitive personal information relating to approximately 145.5 million U.S. consumers, with later revisions increasing the affected U.S. population to approximately 147.9 million. Consumers in the United Kingdom and Canada were also affected. The incident generated investigations, lawsuits, regulatory action, executive changes, and a settlement valued at hundreds of millions of dollars. Separate insider-trading prosecutions involved former and current employees accused of trading before public disclosure of the breach. In 2022, Equifax acknowledged that inaccurate credit scores had been supplied to lenders for some consumers, prompting additional litigation and criticism. Today, Equifax positions itself as a data, analytics, and technology company rather than merely a traditional credit bureau. Its central business challenge is balancing the c…

History

Equifax traces its origins to 1899, when Cator and Guy Woolford founded the Retail Credit Company in Atlanta. The business initially supplied information used by merchants and lenders and gradually built a network across the United States and Canada. During the twentieth century it became an important credit bureau, but its activities also included insurance investigations, employment reports, and extensive background information. By the 1960s, its files contained data on millions of people. The company’s collection and distribution of personal information generated criticism during the 1960s and 1970s. Critics objected to the breadth of the information gathered, the possibility of inaccuracies, and alleged discriminatory effects on racial and sexual minorities. The computerization of its records made the information easier to retrieve and distribute. Congressional hearings in 1970 helped produce the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which established rules for consumer reporting agencies and gave individuals rights to inspect and challenge information held about them. Retail Credit Company changed its name to Equifax in 1975, a rebranding widely understood as part of its attempt to modernize its public image. Equifax later moved away from its earlier concentration on insurance reporting and developed a broader information-services portfolio. It expanded commercial credit reporting in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, while also entering healthcare information, identity services, analytics, and consumer credit protection. Its insurance-information operations were separated into ChoicePoint in 1997. Equifax sold its digital-certification business to GeoTrust in 2001 and spun off its payment-services operation as Certegy the same year. Certegy later became associated with Fidelity National Information Services after a reverse merger. In the 2010s, Equifax emphasized software, analytics, fraud prevention, and international expansion. It acquired Anakam in 2010 for identity-verification and text-message authentication capabilities, and purchased business-intelligence company eThority in 2011. Its acquisition of Australian credit bureau Veda in 2016 expanded its presence in Australia and New Zealand. It also acquired Ansonia Credit Data in 2020, adding commercial payment and accounts-receivable information used in sectors including transportation and logistics. The company’s history was profoundly affected by the 2017 cybersecurity breach. Attackers exploited an unpatched vulnerability in an internet-facing system and accessed sensitive data relating to nearly 148 million U.S. consumers, along with information concerning residents of the United Kingdom and Canada. Investigations criticized the company’s patch management, security controls, governance, and public communications. The breach led to executive departures, regulatory investigations, criminal prosecutions involving insider trading, consumer litigation, and a large settlement with U.S. authorities. Equifax continued investing in cloud infrastructure, data products, and international credit information after the breach. In 2022 it disclosed that a technical error had caused inaccurate credit scores to be transmitted to lenders for some consumers. In 2023 it acquired Boa Vista Serviços in Brazil, further extending its presence in Latin America. Equifax now presents itself as a global data and technology company serving both businesses and consumers, with its traditional credit-reporting role combined with identity, verification, fraud, workforce, commercial, and analytics services.

2023
Boa Vista Serviços acquired
[5]Ansonia Credit Data acquiredinvestor.equifax.com
Equifax acquired the Brazilian credit bureau to expand its Latin American information-services business.
2020
Ansonia Credit Data acquired
[5]Ansonia Credit Data acquiredinvestor.equifax.com
The acquisition added commercial payment, invoice-receivables, and accounts-receivable data capabilities.
2017
Major cybersecurity breach
[2]FTC Equifax Data Breach Settlementftc.gov
Attackers accessed sensitive information associated with approximately 145.5 million U.S. consumers; the later revised estimate reached approximately 147.9 million.
2016
Veda acquired
[1]Equifaxen.wikipedia.org
Equifax acquired Veda, then Australia’s largest credit-reference agency, expanding its Australasian operations.
2010
Anakam acquired
[1]Equifaxen.wikipedia.org
Equifax acquired identity-verification software company Anakam, which developed text-message-based two-factor authentication capabilities.
1997
Insurance information operations spun off
[1]Equifaxen.wikipedia.org
The company separated its specialist insurance-information operation, including the CLUE database, into ChoicePoint.
1975
Retail Credit Company becomes Equifax
[1]Equifaxen.wikipedia.org
The company adopted the Equifax name as it sought a more modern corporate identity.
1970
Congressional hearings and credit-reporting reform
[1]Equifaxen.wikipedia.org
Hearings concerning computerized consumer files contributed to the enactment of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
1899
Retail Credit Company founded
[1]Equifaxen.wikipedia.org
Cator and Guy Woolford established the Retail Credit Company in Atlanta, Georgia.

Products and positioning

A global data, analytics, and technology provider that helps organizations evaluate credit and business risk, verify identities and income, prevent fraud, and support consumer financial decisions.

Consumer credit information
Consumer credit reports and scores
Equifax compiles consumer credit-file information, including account and payment history, and supplies reports and scores used by lenders and other authorized organizations to evaluate credit risk and determine product eligibility or pricing. Consumers can also obtain and monitor their own Equifax information through consumer-facing services.
Business information
Commercial credit reports
Commercial products provide financial and non-financial information about businesses. Customers use these reports and related analytics to assess suppliers, borrowers, trade counterparties, and small-business applicants.
Identity verification and fraud prevention
Identity and fraud solutions
Equifax offers identity-verification, authentication, device-intelligence, and fraud-prevention tools. These products are designed to help organizations distinguish legitimate applicants and account users from suspicious or synthetic identities.
Employment and income verification
Workforce Solutions
Workforce-related services provide employment and income verification data to lenders, government agencies, employers, and other authorized users. The information can support underwriting, benefits administration, and workforce-related decisions.
Consumer services · 1999
Consumer protection and monitoring
Equifax markets consumer-oriented credit monitoring, credit-protection, and identity-theft prevention services. These products can provide access to credit information, alerts, and tools intended to help consumers detect changes or potential misuse.

Controversies

2022
Incorrect credit scores supplied to lenders
Equifax acknowledged that a technical issue caused inaccurate credit scores to be provided to some lenders. The disclosure prompted criticism and litigation from consumers who alleged that the errors affected borrowing terms.
Source
2020
Equifax settlement resolves class-action claims over 2017 hack
A court in Georgia ruled that Equifax would pay $380.5 million to resolve outstanding claims in a class-action lawsuit filed by people whose data was stolen in the 2017 hack. The ruling addressed remaining claims in the class-action litigation brought by affected individuals. The settlement amount was set at $380.5 million. The decision was issued by a Georgia court.
Source
2020
Equifax agrees to settle Indiana data-breach lawsuit
Equifax agreed to pay the State of Indiana $19.5 million to settle a class-action lawsuit concerning the 2017 data breach. The settlement also requires Equifax to correct Indiana’s security deficiencies and safeguard consumer information in the future.
Source
2020
Chicago reaches $1.5 million settlement with Equifax
Chicago’s Department of Law reached a $1.5 million settlement with Equifax over the 2017 cybersecurity breach. Chicago had alleged that Equifax lacked adequate data-security measures to prevent a data breach.
Source
2019
Insider-trading prosecutions related to the breach
Former CIO Jun Ying pleaded guilty to selling company stock before the breach was disclosed. Former manager Sudhakar Reddy Bonthu also pleaded guilty in a related insider-trading case.
Source
2017
2017 data breach
Attackers exploited a known vulnerability in an Equifax web application and accessed highly sensitive personal information belonging to approximately 147.9 million U.S. consumers, as well as some U.K. and Canadian residents. The incident resulted in regulatory action, consumer lawsuits, executive consequences, and a major settlement.
Source

2023
Acquire Boa Vista ServiçosM&A
Background
Equifax pursued additional scale in Latin American consumer and commercial credit information.
Action taken
Equifax acquired Brazilian credit bureau Boa Vista Serviços.
Aftermath
The acquisition expanded Equifax’s Brazilian operations and regional data footprint.
Transaction value. Approximately US$596 million (2023)
Source
2016
Acquire VedaM&A
Background
Equifax sought to expand its international credit-reporting and analytics operations.
Action taken
Equifax acquired Australian credit-reference agency Veda.
Aftermath
The transaction strengthened Equifax’s presence in Australia and New Zealand.
Source
1975
Rebrand as EquifaxStrategy
Background
The former Retail Credit Company faced criticism over its extensive personal-information files and reporting practices.
Action taken
The company changed its corporate name to Equifax.
Aftermath
The new identity became the basis for the company’s later expansion as a broader information-services brand.
Source

Recent events

2026.10.20
Reported2026.10.20
Equifax cuts 2026 revenue guidance[10]Equifax下调2026年营收指引themarketsdaily.com
Equifax cut its full-year 2026 revenue midpoint to $6.66 billion, citing pressure from a weaker U.S. mortgage market expected to continue through the rest of the year. The article also reports third-quarter revenue growth of 10%.
2026.10.20
Reported2026.10.21
Equifax reports third-quarter earnings[11]Equifax公布第三季度业绩themarketsdaily.com
Equifax reported quarterly earnings of $2.26 per share, above the $2.20 consensus estimate, and revenue of $1.69 billion.
Unconfirmed
Reported2022.03.15
Equifax acquires Data-Crédito[12]Equifax 收购 Data-Créditoprnewswire.com
Equifax acquired Data-Crédito, the Dominican Republic’s largest consumer credit reporting agency. The release says Data-Crédito is now part of Equifax’s International business unit.
2022.03.11
Reported2022.03.11
Autonomy and Equifax announce partnership[13]Autonomy与Equifax宣布合作prnewswire.com
Autonomy and Equifax announced a partnership under which Autonomy will use Equifax InstaTouch ID and Equifax data and analytics to support digital electric-vehicle subscription transactions through a consumer's smartphone.
2022.02.07
Reported2022.02.07
Equifax completes acquisition of Efficient Hire[14]Equifax完成对Efficient Hire的收购prnewswire.com
Equifax announced that it had completed its acquisition of Efficient Hire, a provider of cloud recruiting, onboarding and HR management solutions. Efficient Hire became part of Equifax's Workforce Solutions business unit.
2021.12.13
Reported2021.12.13
Equifax introduces OnboardConnect[15]Equifax 推出 OnboardConnectprnewswire.com
Equifax introduced OnboardConnect, a commercial solution that combines business verification, compliance, fraud-checking and credit information tools. The company said the solution was available immediately.
2021.12.07
Reported2021.12.07
BOXX launches US$1 million identity theft coverage[16]BOXX 推出 100 万美元身份盗窃保障prnewswire.com
BOXX Insurance launched US$1 million coverage for identity theft and loss, supported by Equifax.
2021.12.07
Reported2021.12.07
BOXX Insurance and Equifax partner on identity theft coverage[16]BOXX 推出 100 万美元身份盗窃保障prnewswire.com
BOXX Insurance partnered with Equifax to launch US$1 million Identity Theft Protection coverage.
2021.10.01
Reported2021.10.01
Equifax completes acquisition of Appriss Insights[17]Equifax完成对Appriss Insights的收购prnewswire.com
Equifax completed its acquisition of Appriss Insights, a provider of risk and criminal justice intelligence products and solutions. Appriss Insights became part of Equifax Workforce Solutions.
2021.09.29
Reported2021.09.29
Equifax announces partnership with NAMMBA[18]Equifax 宣布与 NAMMBA 合作prnewswire.com
Equifax announced a partnership with the National Association of Minority Mortgage Brokers of America to support the association's efforts to assist underserved communities and address their housing needs. Equifax said it would work to expand access to credit for underserved and marginalized borrowers.

Sources28 sources

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