Around one in five Gen Z and millennial (1) daters say they’d want to know a match’s credit score before agreeing to a first date, and won’t go out with anyone who scores below a 580.
It may sound intense, but as dating meets rising costs and financial stress, money is becoming part of the attraction. It’s even played out through viral TikTok trend (2)s — “a guy in finance, 6’5″, trust fund, blue eyes” — which, while tongue-in-cheek, hint at what people are actually looking for in a partner.
Must Read
A recent survey from dating app Hily (3), found that nearly one-third of respondents said learning someone has an excellent credit score makes them more attractive. As Hily noted, “850 is the new six feet tall,” referring to the highest credit score (4) in the FICO and VantageScore models.
Gen Z appears to be even more selective, with more than a third saying they’d only date someone whose credit score is higher than their own.
So why is a high three-digit number carrying so much weight?
Love and lies
Steve Azoury (5), a financial consultant and owner of Azoury Financial, told USA Today (6) the growing focus on money in dating isn’t entirely misguided. While relationships shouldn’t revolve around finances, he notes that financial stability can play a meaningful role in long-term compatibility.
Still, that heightened attention to money is also giving rise to a new kind of dating behavior: “financial future faking.” The term, described by Fortune (7), refers to when people make big promises about shared homes, lifestyles or long-term financial security early in a relationship but then fail to follow through.
It may be more common than it sounds. A 2025 survey from Credit One Bank (8) of 1,000 Gen Z and millennial adults found that more than half of Gen Z and 48% of millennials admitted to lying about or exaggerating their finances. Online, the conversation is just as candid. On the r/money subreddit (9), users openly share what they consider financial dealbreakers, and the bar can be surprisingly high.
“Not looking to date Dave Ramsey, but also not looking for some of the people who call into that show,” one user wrote.
Another was more direct: “If they have $50K in credit card debt and a low-wage job, it is a financial dealbreaker for me.”
But the reasons why people aren’t always upfront about their finances are more nuanced. Jackie Combs, a celebrity divorce attorney, told Fortune that Gen Z and millennials may be especially vulnerable to financial future faking because of the economic reality they’re navigating.
“They are dating in an era of unprecedented financial instability, defined by student debt, housing unaffordability and delayed economic security,” she said.
Read More: This $1B private real estate fund is now accessible to non-millionaires. Start investing with just $10
Why credit scores are creeping into dating
That’s where a credit score can act as a kind of safeguard. It’s a three-digit snapshot (10) — typically between 300 and 850 (with some more industry-specific models going up to 900 (11)) — of how someone handles money and how likely they are to pay it back. It may feel unromantic, but it can reveal a lot about a person’s financial habits.
And the focus on credit scores is hardly brand new (even if it may be louder on social media). Back in 2015, a Federal Reserve study (12) found that people with higher credit scores are not only more likely to form relationships, but also more likely to stay together.
At its core, a credit score reflects habits: whether someone pays bills on time, how much debt they carry and how responsibly they use credit. In fact, the Hily study found one in five Gen Z users and about a quarter of millennials think dating apps should include a credit score filter (1).
A strong credit score can come with real advantages. For instance, when couples apply for a mortgage, lenders look at both partners’ credit profiles, not just their income. A higher score can unlock better rates, potentially saving tens of thousands over time, while a lower score from one partner can limit options or drive up costs.
Finding financial compatibility
Finding the right partner can already feel like a scavenger hunt, and figuring out whether your financial habits align adds another layer. The good news is you don’t need to ask for someone’s credit score to get a sense of how they think about money.
“If you ask what they would do if they won the lottery and they say buy a Ferrari and list a bunch of things that just blows the money away, that’s one thing,” Azoury told USA Today (6). “But what if they said they’d give some to charity, pay off their house?”
Questions like that can reveal a lot. Asking a date what financial security looks like to them or what they worry about most when it comes to money, can give you a sense of their priorities. It can also help to pay attention to everyday habits. Do they talk about saving for future goals, or mostly about spending? Are they stressed about money, or do they seem to have a plan?
For couples who start getting more serious, experts often suggest having open conversations earlier than you might think. That doesn’t mean laying out every dollar and debt right away, but being transparent about general habits — saving, spending and financial goals — can help avoid unpleasant surprises down the line.
You May Also Like
Join 250,000+ readers and get Moneywise’s best stories and exclusive interviews first — clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now.
Article Sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines.
Hily (1),(3); TikTok (2); Chase (4); Azoury & Associates (5); USA Today (6); Fortune (7); Credit One Bank (8); Reddit (9); Equifax (10); Experian (11); U.S. Federal Reserve (12)
This article originally appeared on Moneywise.com under the title: Young Americans think dating apps should filter their matches by credit score — why good credit is suddenly so coveted
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
