Credit Score Guide
Understanding your credit score and how it affects your financial options.
What is a Credit Score?
A credit score is a three-digit number that represents your creditworthiness. It's based on your credit history and helps lenders assess the risk of lending money to you. The most common credit scoring model is FICO, with scores ranging from 300 to 850.
Poor
300-579
Fair
580-669
Good
670-739
Very Good
740-799
Excellent
800-850
Higher credit scores typically qualify you for better interest rates and loan terms, potentially saving you thousands of dollars over the life of a loan.
Factors That Affect Your Credit Score
Payment History (35%)
Your track record of paying bills on time is the most significant factor in your credit score. Late payments, collections, and bankruptcies can significantly lower your score.
Credit Utilization (30%)
This is the ratio of your current credit card balances to your credit limits. Lower utilization rates (under 30%) are better for your score.
Length of Credit History (15%)
The longer your credit history, the better. This includes the age of your oldest account, newest account, and the average age of all accounts.
Credit Mix (10%)
Having a variety of credit types (credit cards, retail accounts, installment loans, mortgage) can improve your score.
New Credit (10%)
Opening several new accounts in a short period can lower your score. Each application for credit can cause a small, temporary decrease in your score.
How to Improve Your Credit Score
- Pay all bills on time
- Keep credit card balances low
- Don't close old credit accounts
- Limit applications for new credit
- Dispute inaccuracies on your credit report
- Consider a secured credit card if you're building credit
- Become an authorized user on someone else's credit card
What Hurts Your Credit Score
- Late or missed payments
- High credit card balances
- Applying for too many credit cards at once
- Closing old credit accounts
- Collections, foreclosures, or bankruptcies
- Errors on your credit report
- Identity theft or fraud
How Your Credit Score Affects Loan Options
Your credit score directly impacts the loan options available to you, including:
- Interest rates offered
- Loan amounts you can qualify for
- Down payment requirements
- Loan term options
- Approval odds
At SecureBridge, we work with lenders who consider borrowers across the credit spectrum. Even if your credit isn't perfect, we may be able to connect you with loan options that fit your needs.