While precise numbers vary by source, recent data suggests a significant portion, potentially over half of Australians, have excellent credit scores, with the national average score often falling into the "excellent" category (e.g., above 800 for Equifax), indicating strong financial health despite economic challenges, though definitions of "excellent" differ between credit agencies.
Different credit reporting bodies calculate your credit score slightly differently. If your credit score is out of 1,200 then as a rule of thumb a score above 853 is excellent while above 661 is good. If your credit score is out of 1,000, above 690 is excellent and above 540 is good.
Looking at Equifax credit scores, a score between 661 and 734 is considered 'good', a score between 735 to 852 is 'very good', and if your score is above 853 it's viewed as 'excellent'.
A 900 credit score is typically only possible when auto lenders or credit card issuers use the older industry-specific FICO® Bankcard Score model. If the FICO Bankcard model assigns someone a 900 credit score, it means they're very likely to pay back their debts. However, lenders don't usually rely on that model.
Quick Answer. As of March 2025, 1.76% of U.S. consumers had a FICO Score of 850, according to Experian data. Some notable traits of consumers with a perfect credit score include an above average number of credit cards, lower credit utilization rate and lower than average total debt.
Yes, a 700 credit score puts you in the "good" to "very good" range, making it very possible to get a $50,000 loan, though approval and rates depend on income, debt, and lender; you'll likely qualify for better terms than someone with a lower score, but still might not get the absolute best rates compared to scores over 740. Focus on lenders like online platforms or credit unions for better options, and pre-qualify with multiple lenders to compare offers without hurting your score, as lenders also check income and debt-to-income ratio.
Generally speaking, negative information such as late or missed payments, accounts that have been sent to collection agencies, accounts not being paid as agreed, or bankruptcies stays on credit reports for approximately seven years.
The 2-2-2 credit rule is a guideline lenders use to assess a borrower's creditworthiness, requiring two active revolving credit accounts, open for at least two years, with a history of on-time payments for those two consecutive years, often with a minimum limit of $2,000 per account, to show financial stability for larger loans like mortgages. It demonstrates you can handle multiple credit lines responsibly, not just have a good score, building lender confidence.
The credit limit you can expect for a $70,000 salary across all your credit cards could be as much as $14000 to $21000, or even higher in some cases, according to our research. The exact amount depends heavily on multiple factors, like your credit score and how many credit lines you have open.
3 Credit card habits to help build a solid credit score
Yes, a 700 credit score puts you in the "good" to "very good" range, making it very possible to get a $50,000 loan, though approval and rates depend on income, debt, and lender; you'll likely qualify for better terms than someone with a lower score, but still might not get the absolute best rates compared to scores over 740. Focus on lenders like online platforms or credit unions for better options, and pre-qualify with multiple lenders to compare offers without hurting your score, as lenders also check income and debt-to-income ratio.
There isn't one single "most accurate" credit score in Australia, as the three main bureaus (Equifax, Experian, Illion) use different data and algorithms, but Equifax is often cited as very comprehensive due to its extensive data, including positive credit reporting (CCR). For the most complete picture, you should check reports from Equifax, Experian, and Illion, as lenders use these, and scores can differ significantly.
At-A-Glance. Factors like your age, state, and income level don't affect your credit score. Yet there are correlations between average credit score and age, state, and how much you make. For example, the older the age group, the higher the average credit score.
It follows an alphabetical indicator of 'AAA', 'AA', 'A', 'BBB' etc., with 'AAA' being the highest possible rating. The PCI scale and definitions used by Australian Ratings.
However, transitioning from fair to good credit (700-749) might take a few additional years of responsible credit behavior. Reaching an excellent credit score (750 and above) is generally a long-term goal and may require at least five to ten years of consistently responsible credit habits.
The "777 rule" in debt collection, also known as the 7-in-7 rule, is a guideline under the CFPB's Debt Collection Rule (Regulation F) that limits how often debt collectors can call you: generally no more than seven times in seven days for a specific debt, with a mandatory seven-day waiting period after a phone conversation before another call. This rule, established by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), aims to prevent harassment by setting presumptions for acceptable call frequency, applying to personal debts like credit cards and medical bills.
There are other items that cannot be disputed or removed due to their systemic importance. For example, your correct legal name, current and former mailing addresses, and date of birth are usually not up for dispute and won't be removed from your credit reports.
High-income professionals with strong credit histories are more likely to be approved. This includes: A “good” to “excellent” credit score—the typical $200K loan credit score is 700 and above. Some lenders may approve scores in the 660 to 699 range, but with less favorable terms.
According to Experian, a target credit score of 661 or above should get you a new-car loan with an annual percentage rate of around 6.51% or better, or a used-car loan around 9.65% or lower. Superprime: 781-850. 4.88%. 7.43%.
Quick Answer
You can negotiate a lower interest rate on your credit card by calling your credit card issuer and asking for a rate reduction. While the issuer isn't guaranteed to say yes, you're most likely to find success if you have a history of on-time payments and your credit score is good or has recently increased.
Credit histories vary so much that what helps one person might not help another. The sense of randomness is especially frustrating for people with spotless credit, like Michell. For over 20 years, he paid his mortgage on time and avoided credit- card debt. But, finally, he did it: a perfect score of 850.
The "15" and "3" refer to the days before your credit card statement's closing date. Specifically, the rule suggests you make one payment 15 days before your statement closes and another payment three days before it closes.
One late payment on a credit card, personal or auto loan, or mortgage might have an immediate negative effect, though it would likely be small if it was only a single late payment. Consistent on-time payments for those credit-related bills helps improve your credit score.