Credit unions working with members to make them more aware of their credit scores might find a company called Credit Karma a useful information source.

Credit Karma (creditkarma.com) bills itself as a “pro-consumer credit score company.” The firm provides consumers access to their credit scores at no cost. The cost of providing the scores is covered by firms that make consumers offers based on those credit scores.

In addition to the credit score, which consumers can access as often as they like for free, the firm also provides tools explain credit scores in plain language and even see how an impending action, such as opening or closing a credit account, could impact their credit score.

“Consumers not only learn their score, but they can identify what behaviors will positively impact their score and then gain preferred product pricing based on their credit score range,” the firm said.