Definition: A credit ratings agency is a company that assigns credit ratings to institutions that issue debt obligations (i.e. assets backed by receivables on loans, such as mortgage-backed securities. These institutions can be companies, cities, non-profit organizations, or national governments, and the securities they issue can be traded on a secondary market.
A credit rating measures credit worthiness, or the ability to pay back a loan. It affects the interest rate applied to loans - interest rates vary depending on the risk of the investment. A low-rated security has a high interest rate, in order to attract buyers to this high-risk investment. Conversely, a highly-rated security (carrying a AAA rating, like a municipal bond which is backed by stable government agencies) has a lower interest rate, because it is a low-risk investment. These low-risk bonds are available to a wide range of investors, whereas high-risk bonds cater to a narrow investing demographic.
Companies that issue credit scores for individuals are usually called credit bureaus and are distinct from corporate ratings agencies.
[edit] Big Three
The top three credit ratings agencies in the United States are:
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