Oct 6, 2023
Having a good credit score is important: It gets you access to lower borrowing rates, higher credit card limits and may even improve your apartment and insurance options. But to land the best of these opportunities, you don't need the absolute highest credit score.
“Typically, once you hit the mid-700s, you’re considered to have excellent credit and there’s no practical benefit to scoring any higher,” Ted Rossman, Bankrate’s senior industry analyst, told CNBC in an interview. “It’s just bragging rights above that threshold.”
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The ideal score will vary based on the lender and the product you apply for, Rossman said. For instance, 740 to 750 is all you need for the best credit card and auto loan rates, but for the best mortgage rates you'll want a 760.
First step is to find out your credit score, then use these three tips to reach that ideal mid-700s range.
Catch-up on late payments first
Credit card delinquency rates are on the rise across the country. So if you are one of many Americans with past-due bills, the next step to improve your credit score is to catch up on those delinquent accounts:
Payment history is the most important factor in determining your credit score. That said, one or two late payments won't ruin your score, according to myFICO, the consumer division of the company that invented the FICO credit risk score. But making sure all your payments are on time can still go a long way towards improving your credit score — and will save you from the snowball effect of stacking interest charges and late fees.
If you’re in a debt hole and having trouble digging your way out, a debt consolidation loan could help you roll all those debts together into one payment and interest rate. The faster you get these outstanding debts paid off, the faster you can work your way up the credit score ladder.
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Be careful how much of your credit you use
Another crucial factor that sets your FICO score is "accounts owed," or how much debt you carry. But your total debt isn't as important as the proportion of available credit you use, called your credit utilization rate.
For example, someone who carries $30,000 of debt with $60,000 of available credit is utilizing 50% of their available credit, while a person with $90,000 of available credit and $30,000 debt is only utilizing 30%.
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Experts recommend keeping your credit utilization ratio below 30% but lower is not always better. You don't want a credit utilization rate of 0% because lenders want to see that you manage your available credit well.
If your credit utilization ratio is more than 30%, you can lower it by carrying less debt or getting a credit limit increase on your accounts. But be careful asking for credit limit increases as they can result in a hard inquiry, which may temporarily lower your credit score. This impact is usually less than a five point drop and only lasts for about a year. Still, too many hard inquiries can start to chip away at your score.
Also, a credit limit increase could lead to carrying more debt if you're not careful with your spending.
Don't close old accounts
The next greatest factor that determines a FICO score is your credit history. This one is harder to manipulate as you can't go back in time and open more accounts.
You can, however, refrain from closing old accounts, which may have the added benefit of increasing your overall available credit and lowering your credit utilization ratio, especially if you don't use them. Just watch the account closely to make sure no fraud occurs behind your back and no errors make their way on to your credit report. Making a habit of regularly monitoring your credit report can really pay off when it comes to making sure you're clear of errors and staying on track toward that coveted 750.
If a lack of credit history is preventing you from accessing new credit, you can also apply for a secured credit card. You pre-fund these by giving the lender a deposit as collateral. They're a common first step for individuals trying to build their credit history.
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Coryanne is an investing and finance writer whose work appears in Moneywise, U.S. News and World Report, Kiplinger, USA Today and Forbes Advisor, among other publications.
