The use of credit scores in home and auto insurance is a poorly understood phenomenon with a huge economic impact on Americans. It’s also a practice that creates wide racial disparities. This report presents an overview of credit scores, which are three digit numbers designed to predict risk based on a consumer’s credit record. The report also summarizes the multitude of studies showing the discriminatory impact of credit scoring. It analyzes these racial disparities in light of recent research about the enormous racial wealth divide and its historical origins.