Why Nearly 90% of Consumers Fear the Credit Score

TomoCredit founder Kristy Kim argues that the modern financial landscape, saturated with information, often exacerbates feelings of shame and inadequacy. According to the survey of over 800 participants, this emotional barrier manifests in three distinct ways: information avoidance, where individuals ignore banking alerts; decision avoidance, characterized by delaying crucial steps like savings or debt management; and conversation avoidance, driven by the fear of social judgment.

These behaviors cross income and age demographics, fueled by a culture of comparison where high-net-worth success stories are pervasive. Kim, whose perspective is shaped by her own experience navigating the United States credit system as an immigrant, contends that financial platforms often prioritize data over human connection. By shifting toward more empathetic, AI-driven guidance—such as the company's TomoIQ tool—the industry may finally bridge the gap between complex financial requirements and the emotional reality of the consumer.